Scoring Off The Ice (Ice Kings #2) - Stacey Lynn Page 0,32

though. Please, come over anytime.”

Her body relaxes, leans into me. And it’s the same sensation I felt earlier when I held her. Heat swirls and pulses and even though there’s a baby in my arms I still want to pull her to me and do more.

“Mikah,” she whispers my name like a warning. “This… I don’t know… I think friends is good for us. You know? With you… Angelo… we’re both busy.”

“We can start with friends.”

But I’ll push for more. Another night. Soon.

Chapter Twelve

Paisley

* * *

“Hey Maggie? You like sports, right?”

I can’t believe I’m asking this. I can’t get Mikah out of my mind. It’s Wednesday and Maggie and I are in a study in the room in the library. We’re supposed to be focused on researching teaching techniques for children who have been diagnosed with disorders such as ADHD and ADD and the differences of what will help both learn most effectively.

We’ve been friends since our first year in college. Her attire when she isn’t being a teacher assistant is usually leggings or shorts and a wide variety of tank tops and sweatshirts showing off sports teams like the Raleigh Rough Riders, the professional football team in North Carolina.

But she’s also talked about going to basketball games and she’s excited about the new professional soccer franchise coming soon to Charlotte.

I know all this because Maggie talks. A lot.

“What? You know I do. Why?” Her question is barely a mumble and she doesn’t bother looking up from her computer screen. Something I should be more focused on.

I shouldn’t have started this conversation, but I can’t stop thinking about it.

About Mikah.

About one of the last things he said to me. We can start with friends.

Like he wants more. I flew out of his condo so quickly it’s a wonder I didn’t slam through the wall on my way out, leaving a hole in the shape of my body.

He’s clearly not thinking straight what with the lack of sleep and major life shift he’s experiencing. We barely know each other!

But his touch.

I shiver at the memory of his arm across my stomach, hand falling to my hip, his thumb that brushed against my side through my shirt.

“No reason,” I mutter. I need to kick him out of my mind. It’s best for everyone.

“Oh, no no no.” She swivels her chair and rolls it toward me, feet pushing her forward. She looks ridiculous and every time she jolts forward in her chair, her dark brown hair wrapped in a thick messy bun on the top of her head wobbles. “You’re asking for a reason and you’ve never asked about sports. We’re talking about this. What’s going on?”

She’s never mentioned hockey. Maybe she doesn’t like it. Maybe she doesn’t know anything.

“Do you like hockey?”

My mouth needs to sync up with my brain. Stat. Why am I continuing this? I have work to do. So does she.

“I mean, it’s okay. I love it during the playoffs when it’s really intense, and I like watching it live. Asher gets tickets through his company a few times a year and we can watch from a suite which makes it that much cooler. And when they fight on the ice? That’s so sexy.”

“They fight?” I try to imagine Mikah throwing a punch. I can’t do it. He’s so quiet and sweet. Sexy and built, sure, but his personality doesn’t seem like someone who can lose their cool.

Now, the guy… Byron who came to his house last Friday? Him I can see fighting for fun.

“Yes. And it’s awesome.” Maggie is nuts. She has to be. “But for the most part, I spend most of the fall watching football. Once that’s done though, I follow hockey. Why?”

“I finally met my neighbor.”

“The hot one?” She leans forward, hands curl around the edge of the chair like she’s about ready to jump out of it.

It’s possible I’ve mentioned my obsession with Mikah a time or twenty, and now I’m wishing I hadn’t because understanding dawns in her dark brown eyes.

“Are you telling me your hottie neighbor is a hockey player? For who?”

“Ice Kings,” I mutter. Now I wish I wouldn’t have brought it up. I can’t tell her how I met Mikah. I promised I wouldn’t say anything and even if I trust Maggie, I don’t like hiding information.

I’ve teased her before that she should have had a career in journalism with as much as she loves to dig into other people’s business.

Case and point… she’s already jumped out of her chair