Hot Puck (Rough Riders Hockey 2)

Eden’s gaze turned thoughtful. Her gaze lowered. While one arm remained curved around his waist, the other slid down the front of his dress shirt, where she slipped her fingers beneath his tie and toyed with the buttons. Her tongue stroked her lower lip, leaving it shiny and making Beckett so damn hungry.

“My body wants to jump. Wants to trash all caution and good sense and run with whatever you’ve got in mind.”

The hesitation in her voice dampened his edge of excitement. “But…?”

She lifted her gaze to his, and something new floated there. Something…nervous. She smiled, but that too was the slightest bit shaky. “Let’s start with chocolate, and see how that goes.”

This wasn’t the reception he’d expected. Not the reception he was used to. He might be turning the puck bunnies down to go home to Lily now, but that didn’t mean nights out at local haunts weren’t usually filled with a lot more of what the two women who’d hit on him earlier had offered—a little two-on-one action, no small talk, no foreplay, no follow-up required.

But Eden wasn’t a puck bunny, which was why he was standing here with her when he’d turned the other women down. Lily’s presence in Beckett’s life had changed more than his knowledge base about things like educational toys and girl clothes. Lily had changed almost everything, including how he related to everyone in his life—especially how he treated women. And at some point over the last year, Beckett had—unfortunately for his sex life—outgrown puck bunnies.

He smiled at Eden now and gave her waist a reassuring squeeze. “At least one of us has their head on straight.”

A waitress skimmed past them and set down the chocolaty dessert, then glanced at Beckett. “Hey, Beck. You were on fire tonight.”

“Thanks. How are you doin’, Toni?”

“Can’t complain. Can I get you two anything else?”

“I’m good,” Beckett said, then looked at Eden. “Eden? Another drink?”

“Oh no. I’m half a drink over my one-drink limit. Water would be great, though.” When the waitress disappeared behind the swinging door into the kitchen, Eden looked at Beckett. “You do come here a lot.”

“Used to come after every home game. Now I stop by once in a while.” He glanced at the table where Eden had been sitting and picked up the martini glass, half-filled. He sniffed the drink. The sugary lemon scent made him grin at her. “I thought you tasted kinda like a Lemonhead.”

She gave him a silly frown. “Lemonhead?”

“The candy.”

“Oh wow.” She laughed. “Haven’t thought of those in a long time.”

“But way sweeter.”

“And spiked.”

“Amen. You certainly make my head spin.” He set the drink down and picked up the cash.

“No.” She covered his hand with hers. “That’s for the—”

“Tonight’s on me.” He curved his free arm around her waist and eased her against him. Man, she felt great, all warm and curvy. She smelled good too, a soft floral fragrance that filled his groin with blood. His gaze slid over her pretty face and rested on her plump lips. “Showing up is your only required contribution.”

When he pressed the bills into her hand, appreciation shone in her eyes. “Thank you.”

He lowered his head for a feathery kiss. “Thank you. Seeing you again is the highlight of my night.”

That made her smile deepen. Damn, she had a beautiful smile. This woman was racking up points.

But he forced himself to pull his gaze away and glanced down at his second choice of desserts tonight with a contemplative “I think I might be able to swim in that.”

Eden laughed. “They said it served two.”

“Two hungry hockey players, maybe.” This small table wasn’t going to work for the cozy chat Beckett had in mind. An open corner booth caught his eye, and he picked up the dessert plate in one hand and slipped his other arm around Eden’s waist. “Let’s take this somewhere more comfortable.”

At the booth, he set the plate down and ushered Eden onto the padded seat. Toni came by with the drink Beckett had left at the table and Eden’s fresh water. He pulled his wallet and offered her his credit card. “Can you put this together with her earlier drinks? And those idiots are all mine tonight.”

She shot him a knowing smile, took the card, and smacked his arm. “You deserved MVP tonight.”

Beckett was returning his wallet to his pocket when Eden said, “Why are you picking up their drinks?”