Power Play (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 2)

I take the pen.

This hot chick taught me a lot. Need her number?

She eyes me with a small smile.

Behave, you. Don’t make me poke your eye out with this pen.

Hey, you poke me, I’m gonna poke you later. More screaming is a promise.

She looks up at me, and the heat in her eyes is uncontainable. I don’t know if anyone is watching, but if they are, they’re getting turned on too. “I look forward to watching you execute my play.”

I start to skate off, but then I lean in and murmur, “I look forward to seeing you naked later.”

Her eyes widen as I skate away, a shit-eating grin on my face. As I line up with Wes and Aiden, Wes glances over at me. “Well, someone is excited they get to play.”

I nod. “Fucking yeah. I hate being benched. My spot is with you losers.”

Aiden agrees. “It is. We’ll show her.”

My boys.

“Three! Three! Three!” she hollers, slapping her stick to the ice. I fall back a bit, letting Aiden and Wes go before me, Wes with the puck. I enter, going in an S-formation just as Wes drops the puck to me. I deke, but instead of shooting, I send it over to Aiden, who goes top shelf and into the goal.

Just how my hot girlfriend told us to.

I high-five the boys as we head up the ice toward Posey, but she’s already coming in our direction. She taps her stick to the ice and nods. “Great job, boys. Exactly what I wanted.”

“Can’t break up the McBroenes line,” Aiden says with a laugh as he high-fives us. “Shelli told you that.”

She raises her brow and snaps, “Well, when Shelli starts coaching, let me know.”

Aiden presses his lips together, and I clear my throat. “I think Coach knows what she’s doing.”

They both look at me, of course, and Posey’s eyes are in slits. “I don’t need someone to defend me, Hoenes. I got this.”

Now I’m the one pressing my lips together. Wes looks between all of us but doesn’t say a word. I watch as Posey swallows hard, almost as if she is composing herself, before she says, “Let’s try it again, but now I’m on the ice to cause havoc.”

Or, in other words, to block my pass and make me feel the size of a toddler.

I furrow my brow. “I don’t want to play with you.”

Wes, Reeves, and Aiden all laugh.

“Scared?” she asks, her eyes burning into mine.

Yes. Fucking terrified. “No. But I can’t seem to pass on you.”

Fire fills those usually blue, but today dark green, depths. “Then you can’t pass against anyone.” She turns her body toward me, glaring up at me. I don’t know how I pissed her off, but damn it if I don’t want to take it back. “You have to come on to this ice ready to fucking win, Hoenes. Ready to pass against the greats. You should skate up this ice like you’re about to pass against Wayne Gretzky.”

The urge to fall to your knees in worship for the great Wayne Gretzky is instilled in all little hockey players, but I refrain. In all honesty, I’d rather face Wayne Gretzky than Posey Adler.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t call me ma’am.”

“Yes, Coach?”

“Better,” she snaps, and I look at Aiden.

“Way to go, asshole.”

He shrugs. “I don’t know why she is so mean to me. I’m about to be in her family!”

Hell, I sleep with her, and she’s about to block all my shots and make me look like a peewee player. I don’t say that, obviously. Mostly because Posey slaps her stick to the ice to get us to set up. I do a little self-talk before we get started.

You can pass on her. Yeah, she’s hot and a damn good player, but that doesn’t matter. You will pass on her. You’re gonna make her dread the day she challenged Boon Hoenes!

She blocks my pass four times in a row.

I head back to the end of the ice, and I know everyone is getting frustrated. I honestly don’t get it. She’s a fucking genius. I know she knows the play, but I’m passing with all kinds of purpose! She watches from the blue line, and I’ve never seen a hotter woman in my life. She stands with confidence, and she has this essence around her that says not to mess with her.

But I am going to pass on her.

“Change it up,” I say under my breath. Both Wes and Aiden look back at me.

“Huh?” Wes asks, and I cover my mouth.

“I’m gonna pass to you. You shoot, but stay low.”

He nods, and Aiden grins. “Yes, buddy. Yes.”

So, we start. Posey is at the blue line as we come in. She knows the play, so she follows me, ready to break off my pass. I pull her back, and man, she is fast and aggressive. She’s got great hands, and her eyes are like lasers as she comes for me. When she tries to poke check me, I spin around her and send the puck to Wes, who hits the back of the net with ease. Wes and Aiden skate to me, tapping my helmet, and then Posey drops her stick and her gloves.