Hot Puck (Rough Riders Hockey 2)

“Eden,” Lily whined, leaning right and left. “I can’t see.”

Eden stood, lifted Lily into her arms, then hoisted her onto her shoulders. No doubt she wouldn’t be a favorite of the people behind them, but with everyone standing, a girl had to do what a girl had to do to see her man. And let his daughter see her dad in action.

“Eden,” Tina said beside her. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”

“I’m okay,” she told Tina without taking her eyes off the action. “She’s nothing compared to the patients I lift at work. Can you see your daddy now, Lily?”

“Yeah, I see him. I see him,” she cried with excitement. “He’s got the puck.”

“Two minutes,” Sarah said on Eden’s other side, voice tight.

“He’s got this,” Jake said from the other side of Tina.

With thirty seconds left, an Indians defenseman took Beckett down hard. Eden sucked a breath and grimaced. But as he went down, Beckett reached with his stick, shoving the puck toward Tate, who scooped it up, skipped it toward the net. And scored.

The whole stadium surged to their feet. Bells and sirens and lights and smoke filled the space. On the ice, the guys skated into a circle. Around Eden, Lily, Rachel, and Amy covered their ears.

With the second period over, fans started toward the stairs and refreshments and restrooms. The teams skated off the ice. And Eden sat back down, surrounded by Beckett’s family with his daughter still on her lap.

Eden wrapped Lily in a bear hug and rocked her side to side. “Your daddy’s killin’ it on the ice tonight, baby.”

She giggled and looked over her shoulder. “You know what that means.”

Eden leaned back and grinned, and she and Lily responded together. “Ice cream.”

Then high-fived each other.

But Eden also knew that meant something extra special for her tonight too. After games—win or lose—Beckett always brought more energy to the bedroom. And Eden’s whole body tingled in anticipation.

“If you’re headed out to the refreshment stands,” the announcer’s voice came over the stadium speakers, “you may want to wait, because we have something very special planned for tonight’s second-period break.”

“Oooh,” Eden said, pulling Lily close. “What do you think it is?”

“Excuse me, Ms. Kennedy?” Eden turned toward the aisle where one of the Rough Rider cheerleaders stood, a big smile on her perfect young face. “Can you and Lily come with me?”

“Um…” She looked at Sarah, then at Tina and Jake, searching for guidance. When she got none, she turned back to the girl. “No, I don’t think so. Thanks.”

“Eden.” Sarah laughed, surprised by her refusal. “Go.”

“Mmm, nope.” She shook her head. “I didn’t even want to go out on the ice to throw your brother’s injured butt on a gurney. I sure don’t want to go now.”

The cheerleader continued to cajole Eden.

The announcer’s voice boomed over the sound system. “It looks like our participant needs a little encouragement, folks.”

On the Jumbotron, Eden’s name flashed in sparkling lights, and the crowd chanted along with the appearance of her name.

“E-den. E-den. E-den…”

Eden’s mouth dropped open, and she looked at Beckett’s parents again.

Tina’s eyes sparkled with her grin. “Go, Eden. Don’t keep the fans waiting.”

“Oh, jeez.” She covered her eyes. “I’m going to kill Beckett.”

“Come on, Eden.” Lily slipped off her lap and pulled on Eden’s other hand.

With a groan, she relented, passing Sarah with “Your brother is so dead.”