Rush the Edge: A Brother’s Best Friend Hockey Romance (Blue Devils Hockey Book 3)

River said Daisy needed a job, so I found her the perfect one.

Through her bedroom door, she asks me what the interview is for, but I prefer to keep it a surprise. I’m not even ashamed to admit I’m looking forward to seeing her face when she finds out.

Am I being a bully?

Yeah, probably.

Do I care?

No.

It could be worse, which is something I have every intention to remind her of. Something else I need to remind her of is that I’m doing this for River, not her. She either takes the job, or she can find herself on the stage of Euphoria’s Edge for money.

A quick mental glimpse at that visual and I’m suddenly cracking my knuckles.

“Two minutes,” I shout toward her bedroom with a little more anger than I meant.

My cheek lifts for a second at her curses floating underneath the gap between the floor and her door.

I turn and glance around the apartment, noticing all the subtle changes now that it isn’t just River living here.

It’s like stepping into a fucking garden.

I count the plants near the window in the living room and shake my head before turning around and eyeing five more across the room.

Jesus.

After taking a seat on the couch, I lean forward and swipe one of the books off the coffee table.

The Green Witch.

I snort.

“That’s fitting,” I mumble.

“What is?”

I pop my head up and see her standing there in an outfit that is unneeded for the type of interview she’s about to attend. Her tight black skirt hits about mid-calf, showing off her strappy black heels that click over the floor. Her hair is pulled back into one of those sleek buns that highlights her delicate features, and there are her lips. They’re painted red, and I hate that they have me seeing double.

I’m able to mentally shake myself out of the trap she has me in and tap into the annoyance that amps up when she’s around. “The title of the book.” I toss it back onto the coffee table. “The Green Witch.” My brow crooks when she glares at me. “You get it? Witch.” The insult pops out of my mouth with irritation.

“Yeah,” she snaps. “I get it.”

Back when we were younger, her sweet smile used to get me all riled up.

Now, it’s those blue eyes rolling in my direction.

Offending her is slowly becoming addictive.

“You ready?” I stand up before she even answers.

Daisy throws her hands up. “I don’t know! Am I?” She glances at her outfit. “I have no idea how to dress because neither you nor River will tell me what the interview entails.”

I head for the door. “That’s because River doesn’t know.”

Her heels tapping against the floor stop abruptly. I pause and glance over my shoulder at her.

“Am I interviewing to be your maid or something, because no.” She crosses her arms, and I hold back a chuckle.

“As if I’d want you in my apartment.” Plus, Malaki and I do a good enough job at keeping the apartment tidy.

She pulls back as if I’ve slapped her. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means I don’t trust you,” I say, wanting to wound her.

A look of hurt flashes across her face, but she quickly covers it up with pursed lips and silence. She starts toward me again, and I hold the door open for her to go first. I have the thought to stick my foot out to trip her, but I’m not one to hurt a woman, so I remain still.

I do, however, keep her pinned with a heavy stare until she moves past me. Instead of watching her hips swing from behind, because I refuse, I glance to the little table near the door.

A medical pamphlet catches my eye, likely one of River’s, and I stare at it until I know there’s enough distance between Daisy and me.

I head toward the elevator after she steps inside, except she presses the button before I even manage to shut her apartment door.

Her cheeky smile is the last thing I see before the elevator closes, leaving me to wait alone in the hallway.

I narrow my gaze. Brat.

I keep my face smooth and unreadable while Daisy’s lips slowly part at the sight of the hockey arena. She slams my car door shut with a little too much force and glares in my direction, likely wanting me to explain.

I won’t, though.

Leaving her behind me to gape, I head toward the doors with my hockey bag slung over my shoulder. Practice isn’t for another two hours, but I would love nothing more than to feel her wrath after she realizes what her job interview is for.

She can take it or leave it.

It just depends how badly she wants a paycheck, I suppose.

“Why are we here?” she asks as she trails behind me.

Her heels click just as loudly against the pavement as they did in her apartment.

“Well, I’m here for practice,” I say. “You’re here for an interview.”

“An interview at the hockey arena?” The clicking of her heels stops. I’m sure she is conjuring up the types of jobs that she could be interviewing for, but I doubt any of them are correct.

“I am not going to be an ice girl, Kane!”

I chuckle. See? Far from the truth.

“What’s wrong with being an ice girl?” I peer over my shoulder at her and feign innocence. “They clean the ice in between timeouts. You said you still know how to skate.”

Her red lips form a scowl. “That’s not all they do, and you know it.”

“Those are rumors. They don’t fuck the hockey players…” I pause. “Not all of them, anyway.”

“But the inclination is there! I’m not walking into a hockey arena just to be labeled a puck bunny. No thanks. I’ll find a job elsewhere.”

With a huff and so much attitude it could fill the entire parking lot, she turns and attempts to stomp away, but her heel gets stuck in a crack in the pavement. Out of reaction, I reach out and wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her flush against my front.

Fuck.

My chest tightens when she turns her head and fans her sweet breath against my skin. I look into her soft eyes. I always thought she had the most honest eyes. The truth bled through them every time we were alone, but now that I’m older and wiser, I refuse to fall for them again.

Time stops as I continue to gaze down at her face, but I quickly take control of the moment and immediately release her after she steadies in my grip.

She turns with a blank expression and brushes her hands down her outfit.

“The interview isn’t for an ice girl, so quit being a brat and get inside before you’re late.” My voice is harsh, but that’s the only way I can dismiss whatever the hell I just felt with her in my arms.

Daisy doesn’t make a single peep until we’re in the elevator and heading to the conference rooms. A shaky breath leaves her and floats out into the tight space we’re stuck in.

I’m sort of glad the interview is so early.

I don’t know how I’ll explain to the team that she’s off-limits without them assuming she means something more to me than she actually does. With the number of times I’ve fucked with them about their girlfriends or fiancèes by making some lewd comment or implying innuendos, I’m certain at least one of them will turn the tables and do the same to me.

Only, I have no real claim over her.

I wouldn’t even consider us acquaintances at this point.

More like enemies.

“Go on.” I flick my chin as soon as the door opens. “They’re expecting you in suite two.”

“You’re not coming with me?” she asks, looking down the long hall before glancing back at me.

My lip hitches. “You need me to hold your hand, Daisy-Petal?”

Come on, give me one more eye roll for the road.

As if she can read my mind, she refuses to give me what I’m craving. Instead, she sticks her tongue out in between those red lips and defies me further by flipping me off and disappearing down the hall.

When the elevator closes, I sink back against the wall with sudden exhaustion.

The only thing that’s keeping me going is picturing her face after she realizes the job I’ve scored for her.noveldrama

River asked for my help with his sister, and he surely got it.