Chapter 2

As soon as she walked out of the locker room, the guys started in on me. I don’t care, though. They can say whatever the fuck they wanna say about it. I’m probably out of my mind. I just claimed a chick whose name I don’t even know.

She doesn’t realize that I’ve put my mark on her. I saw her sitting there next to the team’s newest PT hire and couldn’t stop staring. It’s not just the girl’s looks that held me captive. There’s something about her. Something I can’t put my finger on. Sure, it doesn’t hurt that she’s hot as fuck. Long light-brown hair, tanned skin, dark-brown eyes. Her lips painted a deep shade of red. I couldn’t help but want to see if that lipstick would smear.

I’ve never wanted to kiss a woman so much. It’s like I was aching for it.

“You do know who she is, don’t ya?” Harrison, the team’s goalie, asks me as we’re walking down the tunnel.

“Nope, I don’t even know her name. What I do know is that she’s going to be mine,” I tell him.

“Yeah, good luck with that. I’ll be sure to bring the flowers to your funeral,” he says right before his skates hit the ice.

I shake off his words. I don’t know what he’s going on about. I also don’t care. My eyes go straight to where she’s sitting. I raise a gloved hand and wave at her. Her palm lifts ever so slightly, like she’s unsure what she should be doing. After skating around, I head back to the bench. I’m not on the starting line. Her head turns in my direction. When the anthem begins to play, she focuses her attention on the flag. I can see her lips moving to the words of the song.

I force myself to stop all thoughts of her and get my head in the game. I can’t be distracted. We need to win. I have a name to get and hopefully a number too. I don’t plan on going home without a win and that woman tonight.

When my line’s called up, I jump over the bench, my legs pumping as I chase the opposing player currently in possession of the puck. I quickly check him against the boards and pass to Melvin, who takes off down the ice. I’m right behind him. He shoots, and I watch as the puck rebounds off the top of the net. It flies back towards me. I catch it with my glove, drop it, and pass to my left. Logan shoots and lands that little black disk into the back of the net.

The lights go red, horns blare through the arena, and the crowd goes fucking wild. I jump on Logan and celebrate the score with a tap on his helmet. When I pivot back around, I look out to the crowd. Right to her. The girl in my jersey. She’s on her feet, clapping her hands and cheering along with the rest of them.

Third period has us up by one. I’m on the edge of my seat, watching my boys out there fighting for that puck. Defending our lead. There’re two minutes left on the clock. A new line goes out and they manage to regain control of the ice. One minute. I look over to where she’s sitting. But she’s not there.

Where’d she go?

Harper’s gone too. Fuck, how did I miss it when she left?

The buzzer goes off, drawing my attention to my teammates. We won. I follow the guys over the bench as we celebrate our latest victory, while I continue to scan the crowd for her. Then I remember that I have her coat. She’s going to want that back.

Sure enough, when I make it to the locker room, my girl’s waiting for me with Harper. Her eyes connect with mine and I smile. I walk right over to her and drop my helmet to the floor. My hand reaches behind her neck and I arch her face upwards before slamming my lips onto hers. My tongue delves into her mouth, tasting every inch of her.

When I pull back again, she smiles up at me. “Congrats. You won,” she says.

“Don’t you worry. By the end of the night, you’ll be the one winning, babe.” I wink at her.

“I just came to get my coat.” She shrugs.

“We won, which means I get your name now.”

“Liliana Valentino,” she says with an expectant look on her face. Like I’m supposed to recognize that name or something. I don’t.

“It’s nice to meet you, Lili. I’m Travis.” I hold out a palm.

She places her small hand in mine. “Uh-huh. Can I have my coat back now?”

“You can. I’m just gonna jump in the shower real quick. Wait for me,” I tell her, and without pausing for an answer, I walk past her towards the stalls. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten out of my gear so fast before. I don’t want to risk her leaving without me.

Liliana. It’s a pretty name. I make quick work of showering before wrapping a towel around my waist and heading back out. Lili is in the corner with Harper and the rest of the team’s sports med department. She has her back to me. But when she senses my approach, she turns around and her eyes widen.

I smirk. It’s not the first time I’ve seen that look on a woman’s face. Although seeing it on hers is somehow a lot more satisfying, especially when she’s wearing my jersey. Lili turns her head back around. She can pretend that I don’t affect her. It’s too late, though. I already know I do.

I throw on a pair of sweats and a team hoodie. And I’m sliding my feet into my shoes when Logan nudges me in the side. “You in some kinda hurry?” he asks me.

“I am actually.”

“You know, because I’m your friend and you’re a damn good player, I’m going to give you some sound advice, advice you should take,” he says, grabbing my attention. “Don’t go there. No chick is worth risking your life. And trust me when I say touching that one is more dangerous than stepping out in front of a bus.”

“Why?” I ask him.

“That’s Liliana Valentino,” he says.

“I know her name, idiot. Why is she so dangerous?”

“Valentino, as in the Valentinos.” He puts her last name in air quotes.

“Still not getting it.” I shrug one shoulder, already bored with everyone’s dramatics.

“Okay, well, I warned you. So when it blows up in your face, I can honestly say I told you so,” he grunts before walking away.

“Congrats, boys. Morning skate, 0700 hours. Don’t be late,” Coach yells out above the chatter of the locker room. Everyone is on cloud nine. There’s nothing like winning.

Picking up Lili’s coat from my locker, I walk over to her. “You ready to get out of here?”

She jumps at the sound of my voice. When she spins back in my direction, her lips tip up at one side. “You sure you want to take me home?”

I run my eyes up and down her body. “Never been more sure of anything in my life, babe,” I tell her.

“Okay then, but we’re going to your place. Mine is… well, it’d be like walking through a minefield.” She laughs.

Taking hold of her hand, I lead her out of the locker room and towards the bank of elevators that will bring us to the undercover garage. “Did you drive here?” I ask her.

“Nope. I came with Harper,” she says.

I nod my head, unlock my Jeep, and open the passenger door. “Your chariot awaits, princess.” I grin while tipping an imaginary hat.

“Not a princess. But thank you,” she mumbles as she slides onto the seat.