Chapter 8
MAVERICK
North End is jammed with players and fans when we get there. Every high-top table has at least six people surrounding it with pitchers of beer and air horns mixed with phones and bags.
When we walk in, the room goes crazy. Fans chant, the bartenders pass us shots. It’s really cool.
“The girls are in the back.” Owen bumps me with the back of his fist. “I’m going to find Gina.”
I nod, wanting to go with him, but I’ve got people holding my shoulders, giving me shakes and high-fives. “You were on fire tonight, Mav!”
Another shot is shoved into my hand, but I don’t drink it. I’m not looking to get totally wasted, plus it’s not really smart to take mystery shots from a crowd of fans. I don’t think anybody would try to hurt me, but you never know who’s in the crowd.
“What the fuck got up 24’s ass?” somebody yells, and I hold up my hands, shaking my head.
I didn’t expect to get jumped like that in the first period, but fighting goes with the territory. It’s part of hockey culture as Maddie likes to remind us.
That little girl is a trip. Owen raised her right, in the arena, just like I want to do with my kids.
“Stop playing coy.” Akers walks up beside me throwing an arm around my neck. “He’s always ready for a fight. Don’t let him fool you.”
A lot of the girls are the same ones from when we were here the last time, and I spot the girl Saxon was dancing with that night. Again, she’s got her eyes on me, watching, and I decide to follow my future cousin-in-law to where our people are waiting in a semi-private area in the back.
Last thing I need is drama with my teammates, so I lean into Aiden’s ear. “I’ve got family waiting. Take over for me here.”
“Who caught that bad call in the third?” he yells, and that sets off a string of complaints and booing.
I gotta hand it to him, Aiden Akers knows how to work a crowd. He’s the best goalie in the league, and people love him. Even if Coach Leek is still getting his head out of his ass to see it.
Our new coach situation is disappointing, but I’ll sort it out at a later date. Tonight, I’m thinking about the pretty blonde sitting in the back with Owen and Gina. Having her in the stands tonight, wearing my jersey, was like a hope I gave up on a long time ago.
Until tonight, I’d made peace with everybody but me having somebody special in the stands cheering for them. I didn’t even expect Dove to attend any of my games. She doesn’t know anything about hockey.
Then I looked up and saw her standing with them like a drop of sunshine. Her smile was magnetic, drawing my eyes to her every time I glanced in that direction.
I watch the three of them talking and laughing before I join them. Her blue eyes are warm, and the way her lips curl with her smile, her body… She’s fucking Marilyn Monroe, a total pinup—wearing my jersey.
“Are you going to join us or not?” Gina rises onto her knee in her chair, and I shake away my fantasy.
I pull on my confidence, walking forward and taking a seat right beside Dove. She scoots to the side, putting her back against the wall and facing me with a little laugh.
“Hey!” Her voice is soft and low with a sexy little rasp. “Glad you could make it.”
“Sorry, I got mobbed there for a minute.” I study her, thinking about how it’s been the last few nights. “Are you getting hoarse?”
“Yeah, we were screaming so much for you guys. I’m surprised I didn’t lose my voice.”
Everything about that is hot. It’s been so easy and relaxed these last few days. We’ve talked about so many things. Now it’s charged and electric. I can’t keep my thoughts under control. I want to touch her body, slide my hand up the inside of her thigh, claim her.
“You really are a star.” She gives my shoulder a light shove. “I counted, and every third female in that arena was wearing your number tonight.”
My eyes move across the oversized white jersey covering her small body. “Only one mattered to me.”
Her eyebrow arches curiously. “Oh, yeah? Which one?”
What the hell? Am I going to show my entire hand, just like that? I’ve only had one drink.
Clearing my throat, I shift in the booth, glancing across the table at Owen and Gina. They both have smug expressions on their faces, like they won a bet or something.
“Maddie,” I quickly recover. “She said she’d wear my jersey tonight. I thought I saw her in it…”
“You are so full of shit.” Gina shoves my leg with her foot under the table, and I lean forward, pretending to be injured. “Maddie only wears her Daddy jersey to the games, and you know it.”
“She said she would for me. Did she forget?” I hold out my hand, but Gina balls up a napkin and throws it at me.
“If it makes you feel any better, Haddy surprised me with this one.” Dove holds out the jersey she’s wearing, and I’m a little less excited knowing Haddy made her wear it…
Until her cute nose wrinkles and she smiles up at me.
“I hope you don’t mind me joining Mav Nation. Now I know what all the fuss is about.”
“Mav Nation, ay?” I take the pint glass Owen just poured for me. “I like the sound of that.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?” Gina teases.
“Sure!” Dove looks over at her, scooting closer and putting her hand on my arm. “We’re supporting all the guys.”
“What do you think of hockey, Dove?” Owen asks. “It was your first game, right?”
“Yes!” She gulps the sip of beer she just took, setting her glass down quickly. “I couldn’t believe when that fight broke out.” Her slim hand grips my forearm again, and she jumps around to face me. “They just let that guy hit you—and you’re the star player!”
“I get a lot of attention.” I shrug. “It makes me a target more than anything.”
“I would think the coach would want to protect you,” she continues. “Don’t you need your star players to win games?”
“There’s a lot of talent on the team.” I glance at Owen, who returns my uneasy look.
“What’s that face about?” Gina doesn’t miss a thing.
Owen clears his throat. “We got a new coach this week, and we’re all kind of… adjusting.”
“You didn’t tell me that!” She frowns up at her fiancé.
“It happened really fast,” he explains. “Yesterday was his first day.”
“What happened to Coach B?”
“His dad’s been sick a while,” Owen says. “He would comment on it from time to time, so it wasn’t a complete surprise… But this new guy is not what we’re used to.”
“I’m sorry.” Dove frowns. “It must be unsettling to have such a big change in the middle of the season like that.”
“Yeah.” I’m not sure if she’s talking about Coach B or us… or both, more like it.
A girl walks up to the table at that point. She’s tall with long, black hair and tanned skin. She’s dressed in a tight black dress that shows off her hourglass figure. Her eyes are wide, and she smiles up at me as she leans forward in a way that shows me her entire cleavage.
“I don’t believe it!” She puts her hand on my forearm. “Maverick Murphy in the flesh. It’s like a dream come true.”
Dove’s full lips part in surprise, and years of PR training kick in. My neck prickles, but I smile, doing my best to keep my tone platonic and friendly.
“Hi, there.” I gently move my arm away, with a polite, friendly smile. “That’s really nice. I’m honored…”
“June,” the woman says.
“June,” I repeat.
“It was so great to see you play tonight. You’re magical on the ice.”
I sit straighter, keeping it formal. “It’s all practice, teamwork…”
“I’m your number one fan.” Her eyes narrow catlike, and I’m pretty sure she’s teasing.
I hope she’s teasing…
I see Dove’s eyebrows rise in my peripheral vision, and I shift in my seat. “Thanks for your support.”
“Walk with me.” Her voice is a low purr, her hand on my arm again. “Let’s get to know each other better.”
Not so long ago, I’d have considered her offer. Not so long ago, it was only me. I was alone. I didn’t have any prospects. I only wanted to play hockey, and if a “number one fan” like June had approached me, I might’ve gone for a walk with her—even if I knew walking wasn’t all she had in mind.
Now everything has changed. Dove is here, sitting right beside me, living in my house.
My entire adolescence, I only cared about two things: hockey and her. Hockey consumed my time, all the way to keeping it a secret from my mom.
The space that was left, when I had a few quiet moments, when I wasn’t planning my next record-setting play or thinking about how I was going to sneak my way into the NHL, I thought about Dove.
I wondered what she was doing. I remembered sharing secrets and running up that hill. I imagined her standing in the golden sunlight, looking out over acres and acres of peach trees.
I wondered if she’d found someone who loved that place as much as she did. I wondered if loving her as much as she loved that place would be enough.
Dove Rhodes was everything no woman I’d ever met could ever be.
The last thing I want is for her to think anyone could take that place.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m here with my family.” I gesture to Gina. “And my teammate Owen Stone…”
Another kick under the table, and I don’t have to wonder who did it. Gina’s kicking me for throwing her guy into the conversation like a steak to distract a hungry panther.
Dove puts her hand on my other arm, giving June a pointed smile. “It’s really nice that you’re Mav’s biggest fan, but he’s not going anywhere with you.”
Gina’s lips press tight, and she leans back in her chair, eyes flashing. I glance over at Dove and see she’s smiling, but she’s not joking.
Her pretty blue eyes are steely, and even though her smile is friendly and calm, I can tell she means business.
June slides her hand off me, lifting her chin. “Sorry if I interrupted your family time. I didn’t mean to offend your sister.”
“She’s not—” I start, but Dove interrupts me.
“I’m not his sister. I’m his friend.”
I never knew the word friend could sound like a threat.
June’s eyes narrow, and she takes a beat before turning on her heel and stalking away.