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

I smile to myself as I walk down the busy streets of Chicago. My feet hurt, but I don’t let that deter me. Granted, I won’t be able to walk to and from the arena after working as the mascot, because I’ll likely be too fatigued, but right now? It feels pretty damn good not to rely on Kane.

He didn’t think I’d take the job, but I’ve got news for him: he’s not going to bully me into hating it here. It’s not like I’m going to up and move away just because of his insults and unexpected hatred toward me. I’m here for a reason—many reasons, actually—and none of them have to do with him. Not that he’s privy to that information, but it’s not like I’m here because of him. It’s a total coincidence that my health has led me to the same city he’s residing in.

The job, though…that’s all him.

A slight chill wracks through me from the gust of wind, and I find that ironic considering I was thinking of Kane at the same time. There’s no coincidence there. He’s cold—especially toward me.

“Hey, pretty girl.”

I quickly look to my right and stare into the eyes of a rugged man with a crooked grin. My mouth forms into a half-smile because though I’m not rude, I am leery.

“Are you lost?” he asks, glancing at the map on my phone screen.

I shake my head and continue to walk past. “No, I’m okay. I’ve got my map.”

Before I know it, he’s walking in stride with me. I peek at him and watch him check me out, head to toe. My stomach flips, and my finger hovers over my phone screen with the thought of calling Kane. But then, a rush of defiance flows through my veins. I’d rather drop-kick this man in the balls than call on the past for a little rescue mission.

“I can help you get to where you need to go,” he says, continuing to walk beside me. He attempts to grab my hand before I can rush out my refusal.

I move backward and put space between us. “I appreciate it, but I’m fine.”

My pace starts to quicken, but I’ve lost track of where I am. I pull my attention back to my phone and see Kane calling me. After hitting ignore, I realize that I’ve missed my next turn.

Shit.

“You can go this way.” The man’s hand lands on my arm. He begins to pull me toward a dark alley that belongs in the next Purge movie.

I put the brakes on. “I’d rather not get kidnapped.”

Does this guy really think I’m going to follow him into an alley? I mean, I do have some blonde to my hair, but not all blondes are stupid, okay?

The man’s laugh is gruff, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled out candy and tried to lure me with it. Now, if he had a plant or something, then maybe I’d consider it for a second.

“I’m not going to kidnap you, honey.”

My nose scrunches. “Honey?”

He thinks for a moment and places his hand on my arm again and gives it a tug. “Baby? Sweetie? I’ll call you whatever you want to be called.”

“How about you call her nothing.” Like a bullet to my chest, I stop breathing.

I hate the relief that comes with the sight of Kane, but it’s hard not to be thankful, considering the man drops my arm and puts distance between us. He shrugs with feigned innocence. “Hey, man, she was lost. I was just helping her.”

Kane’s dark gaze slides to me, as if he’s asking me to confirm the guy’s alibi. One second passes and then another. He flicks his chin to his car, and I begrudgingly drag myself over to it because if I have to make a choice between Kane Barlow and Creepy McCreeperson, I’m choosing Kane, even if he hates me.

He remains in the same spot, a yard away from the man. I glance at his flexing fists by his sides and a protectiveness that I haven’t felt in years sweeps over me.

“Kane,” I say, half inside his car.

A faint growl climbs from his throat as he watches the man turn and head down the alley—without me. As soon as Kane turns and catches my eye, I dip down into the passenger seat and shut his door.

I’m only able to escape his scrutinizing glare for a few seconds before he’s slipping into the driver’s seat to stare at me disapprovingly.

“I didn’t realize you’d still be naïve after all this time…” His reprimand lingers in the interior of his car like a stench I can’t escape from. “Especially since I was the one who took your innocence.”

I’m able to keep the shock off my face as I slowly turn in my seat and face him head on. Our eyes crash, and the air is swirling with our heated anger. “I am not naïve,” I say angrily. “And was that you who took my V-card? I couldn’t remember who it was.”noveldrama

He scoffs so loudly his hot breath hits my face. “You couldn’t forget about that night even if you tried, Daisy-Petal.”

He’s right. Because trust me, I’ve tried.

“Don’t call me that.” I cross my arms over my heaving chest and turn away from him.

“Why? Does it bring up some memories for you?” The tone of his voice strikes a nerve.

“Probably the same ones it brings up for you,” I grumble.

Kane pulls out onto the road with a chuckle. “That would require me to think about you, so no, it doesn’t bring up any memories for me.”

“Is that so?” I only half-believe him.

He pulls into the parking garage for the apartment complex without answering me. I practically fall out of his car trying to get to the elevator first. Unfortunately for me, he catches right up with his chuckle hitting the back of my neck.

I press against the wall of the elevator to get away from him, but he doesn’t let me off that easy. He turns and stares right at me. I try to avoid his gaze because I know he’s trying to make me feel uncomfortable, but as the seconds pass, I start to think I would’ve been better off with Creepy McCreeperson.

Kane stays ramrod straight with his sights set on me as I watch the number of floors increase. My heart beats so hard it weighs me down.

I move toward the door when we’re one floor away from mine, but then, the elevator jerks, and I almost fall into him.

With one finger on the red stop button, Kane reaches out with his other hand and steadies me around the waist. Everything, including my breathing, comes to a halt. I tilt my chin, and our eyes collide.

“What are you doing?” This can’t be good.

A shallow swallow moves down my throat with the distant memory of us in my childhood bedroom, hidden behind a locked door with secrecy. I remember every single part of him, down to the tiny, faint scar on his forehead.

His hand tightens on my waist as he pushes us both toward the door. My back hits the cool metal, and he traps me there with not only his arrogance but his weight too.

I’m suddenly caged in between his arms and forced to meet his intimidating glare.

“Let’s get something straight, Daisy-Petal.” Kane’s neck moves with his Adam’s apple bobbing, and my nostrils flare from his overwhelming, spicy scent. He smells like ice, cologne, and…the past. He smells like him. “The only reason you’re still in this complex is because of River, and the only reason I set you up with that interview is because River had asked if I knew of any job openings.”

I dig deep for my confidence and level my chin. “The real reason you set me up with that interview is because you assumed I wouldn’t take the job.”

He shrugs. “I should have known better. But don’t get this twisted in that pretty little head of yours…I don’t want you around. You’re River’s little sister. That’s all you are to me, just like from before.”

I take a page out of his book and pretend like I’m unbothered by his words.

My jaw becomes sturdier when he drops his gaze to my mouth, waiting for my rebuttal.

“Funny…” A quiet, sarcastic laugh flows in between us. “I remember the day I said something similar to you… It sure seemed like I meant more to you then.”

His eye twitches. “That was then. This is now. I don’t want you to think that I wantyou here for any other reason than River. If that means I have to help watch out for you, then so be it.”

There’s a burning hole in my stomach that gets bigger the longer he keeps me caged in between his arms. It’s so hard not to be swept off my feet with his masculine scent filling my senses and his dark-blue eyes staring down at me. “Fine,” I finally say.

“Well, then.” Kane nods. “Glad we got that taken care of.”

Annoyed that he still has me trapped and is continuing to waft his warm, minty breath in my direction, I blurt the next thing that comes to mind. “Since you got your business taken care of, now it’s my turn…” I exhale heavily, and his nostrils flare.

I hate that he’s so attractive.

I can’t help but trace the outer part of his steely jaw that leads up to his mouth with my eyes. I try to keep my eyes away, especially when his tongue slips out to wet his bottom lip, but it’s like torture.

To make him as uncomfortable as he’s making me, I press closer to him, erasing all the space between us.

He refuses to move, which is typical.

“Get on with it, Daisy-Petal,” he grits.

I keep my composure, not allowing him to see the sadness that was left from our sudden end. It wasn’t like I wanted to watch him go, especially after I gave him a part of me, but that’s not something I ever intend on telling him. “I just want to make it clear that I didn’t even know you lived in Chicago until you walked onto the elevator.”

He laughs in my face. “I find that hard to believe.”

A hot slash of annoyance slaps against my cheeks. “You think I kept up with you after that night? I didn’t have to follow up on you to know what you were doing, Kane.” I force a smile onto my face and take the knife he just put in my chest and shove it into his by bringing up one of the last things I ever said to him. “How many notches are you up to on your bedpost?”

A twisted grin creeps onto his mouth, and it stuns me for a second. He leans in even closer to me, our faces so close that his nose brushes mine. Something warm coils in my stomach from the touch, and it’s then that I realize Kane Barlow still flows through my blood just as potently as he did years prior.

“Too many to count.”

He winks at me right before the elevator jerks again. I fall forward, and our lips almosttouch. Kane is quick, but he isn’t that quick. The shock skips across his face just like it does on mine.

As soon as the hallway comes into view, I escape the heated space and run to my apartment. I’m still fumbling with my key when the elevator shuts again. I turn and stare with my back pressed against my apartment door.

I slowly slide to my butt and shake my head at the heat he’s left behind.

Even when he’s insulting me and I know I should put space between us, I don’t. Instead, I find myself craving his attention, just like I did when we were kids.