Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“What do you mean, what’s the deal? She watches my kid. She’s good at what she does. End of story.”
North nudges me with an elbow. “Come on, dude… she’s hot as fuck. Surely, you’ve noticed. I mean hell, we all thought you hired her because she’s hot as fuck. If you’re not tapping that there is something seriously wrong with you.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I say with a forced laugh. “I’m a professional. Of course I’m not tapping that and there’s no way I’d let any of you near her either.”
“Why not?” King asks. “We’re all good dudes.”
“Maybe so, but all I need is for one of you guys to break her heart and she quits and then I’m screwed.”
The guys laugh and Rafferty shakes his head. “We’re just fucking with you. But she’s smokin’… you know that, right?”
“Not going to argue with you there,” I mutter. “She’s incredible with Bowie Jane and that’s all that matters to me. Now let’s talk about something more important… like how fucking awesome this team is going to be this year.”
North drums his fingertips on the table. “Beyond awesome but the pressure to live up to expectations will be huge on everyone.”
“Penn’s got the biggest load on his shoulders,” I muse thoughtfully. “Yeah, we’re all good in our own right but that guy is a phenom. One of those players who comes along about every twenty years.”
“The real test will be when we start regular practice next week,” Rafferty says, “and how soon will Penn start clicking with his linemates.”
“Hard to tell since he didn’t play any of the games and drills were done on a rotating basis, so you never played with the same guys more than a few times.”
The waitress returns with our beers and as she sets them before us, her eyes keep drifting over to King, oblivious as he scrolls on his phone. I reach into my wallet and put a twenty on her tray. “Here’s a tip.”
She blinks in surprise before smiling. “Thanks.”
When she leaves, Rafferty mutters. “Yeah… no chance with her but King will get lucky tonight.”
“Get lucky with who?” King asks as he looks up.
“The waitress, man.” Rafferty throws his thumb over his shoulder in the direction she just walked. “Go get her number.”
King shakes his head. “Nah. Not my style.”
“It’s not your style to pick up or take out or hook up with a beautiful woman who’s clearly willing?” North asks with a laugh.
A sly grin forms on King’s face. “Now, that’s just too easy.” His eyes cut to mine, twinkling with mischief. “Your nanny though. What’s her name?”
“Mazzy,” I reply, my throat weirdly dry that attention has turned back to her. I most definitely didn’t want to share her name, but there’s no reason not to.
“Mazzy,” King says, as if he’s trying it out on his tongue. “I like that a lot. She looks like she’d be hard to get. A woman like that would be worth the effort.”
“And I’m telling you don’t bother with the effort,” I growl, and all the guys bust out laughing.
“Oh, man… you got it bad for her,” Rafferty says with sympathy.
“So obvious,” North agrees.
“Shut the fuck up, all of you,” I retort. “I don’t have anything for her. She’s a great person who happens to be a great nanny, and yeah… she’s gorgeous, but none of that means I’ve got anything for her.”
“Got it bad,” Rafferty repeats.
I glance at King who’s nodding. “So bad.”
“It’s totally inappropriate,” I mutter, picking up my bottle and taking a long pull.
“Makes it all the hotter,” North suggests with a waggle of his eyebrows.
I rise from the table, taking my beer with me. “I’ll get the next round. I suggest you find something else to talk about. Here’s an idea… why don’t we talk hockey?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Rafferty says with a wave of his hand. “We’ll lay off the nanny comments.”
“Good,” I say, pointing my index finger of the hand holding the bottle at him. “Because I’d hate to knock your teeth down your throat.”
Rafferty nudges King’s arm. “That’s cute. The forward talking smack to defensemen.”
“I throw a mean punch,” I warn him, but it’s all in jest.
I walk away from their laughter as I head to the bar to order another round. I’m glad for the slight break from the conversation because every time they pointed out that I have the hots for Mazzy, internally, I wasn’t denying it. I think a little of me is in awe of her and she’s a hard woman not to be attracted to.
But like I said… it’s inappropriate and needs to be permanently banished from my brain.
CHAPTER 11
Foster
Mazzy and Bowie Jane’s voices wash over me as soon as I open the door to my bedroom. Only a short hall separates the master suite from the kitchen and main living area. After rolling out of bed, I slip on a pair of workout shorts and I’m pulling my T-shirt over my head as I traverse the few steps before I come into view. Belatedly, I think about running a hand through my messy hair but realize it’s probably so fucked up nothing would help it.