Love In Moments (Love Distilled #2) - Scarlett Cole Page 0,15

we could stop this lovefest, that quite frankly should have stayed in your apartment, and get on with some work?” Olivia said.

“On it. Think about the videos, Liv. You’d be great,” Emerson said as she left the office with Connor.

You’d be great.

Would she? She still didn’t have the easy confidence she used to. There was only one time in the last nine months she’d felt confident, and that was in a hotel room with a hockey player who was good with his hands and even better with his mouth. He’d become the bar every other guy she came into contact with had to measure up against.

And he was what seemed like a million miles away.

Anders stepped out of the limo in front of the Cheesman Park home, never more grateful that his brother had married a Denver real estate agent. Only she would have been able to find him a partially furnished rental home like this with a few hours’ notice.

The neighborhood was completely silent, unsurprising for four in the morning.

Traded.

He ran his hand along his jaw. He’d been traded without a contract extension agreement. Denver had wanted him so badly, they were willing to run the risk he wouldn’t sign with the team long term, just to get him into their organization before his free agency kicked in. Or at least, that was what his agent had told him as he stood wrapped in a towel in the Canyon locker room after a solid win.

A little bit of research had told him the Denver Rush were down two centers right at the peak of their run for entry into the playoffs. A quick call with Karl had confirmed it. They were desperate.

And the Canyon organization had been coolly complimentary. They’d assured him they were grateful for what he’d brought to the organization, that it was purely a business decision, and wished him well. His teammates had been split. He’d overheard Scott Boland, the Canyon’s goalie, question who the hell could fill the gap on center ice. Meanwhile, defensemen Dmitri and John had barely shook his hand, not that he cared. If the two of them had worked harder, they might have been headed to the playoffs too, just like Denver was.

After that, he’d been on autopilot. Two hours in his condo to throw together what he thought he’d need in the short term while the rest of his belongings were shipped. Offers of a hotel had been accepted until he’d spoken to Karl and ultimately Sarah, who’d made him a better offer. A rental house a couple of minutes’ walk from theirs in the upscale neighborhood.

A private jet, courtesy of the Denver Rush, complete with dinner and a beer, followed by a limo, had brought his tired and totally overwhelmed ass here.

He didn’t have the energy to process exactly what the move meant. Only that Denver needed a center to continue their playoff run. Even the concept of making the playoffs was beyond his current mental faculty. He’d resigned himself to another playoff season cheering for his brother, and now he would be a part of that action for the first time in his major league career if the Rush kept up their current streak. He loved that he was in playoff contention but was nervous about playing for the same team as his brother. When they’d played on the same junior league team, Karl had never quite separated being an older sibling from being a teammate. Blurred roles weren’t healthy for either of them.

Tomorrow he’d think it all through properly. For now, he’d settle for eating some food before landing face down on whatever bed was in his new home.

Fuck, the steps to the front door looked such a long way off to his tired legs.

“Need a hand with those?” Karl stepped out of the house, wearing joggers and a Rush hoodie.

“Does it make me a pussy if I say yes?”

Karl slapped him on the shoulder. “Quite a night, huh? When I left you after the All-Star break last month, I thought I wouldn’t get to see you until the postseason.”

He huffed out a laugh and walked with Karl to his luggage. There were four huge cases and an equipment bag perched on the curb where the limo driver had left them.

Between them, they dragged everything up the driveway.

“You didn’t need to stay awake.”

Karl shrugged. “I’m not usually in bed until three. What’s an extra hour or two? And there’s no game tomorrow. Just practice to get you