Chapter 30 Fish
FISH
Istand in front of my mirror in the navy suit, the silver tie that I’ve chosen to wear to match Collette knotted at my throat, and I think about a woman I’m going to have to pretend doesn’t own my heart tonight.
This is going to be our greatest performance, trying to act like I don’t know what she tastes like, or how she feels underneath me, or the sounds that she makes as I fuck her.
The Rose Hotel ballroom is stunning, with twinkling lights everywhere, a massive Christmas tree in the corner, and tables draped in white linen with gold accents.
The Mavericks have gone all out this year.
I scan the room as we walk in, nodding at the boys, shaking hands with the coaching staff, and grabbing a champagne from a passing waiter.
Then I see her.
Collette is standing near the bar with Jo, wearing a silver dress that makes her look like she’s been dipped in liquid metal.
It clings to every curve, catches every light in the room, and she looks like something from another planet.
Her hair is down, falling over bare shoulders, and she’s laughing at something Jo said.
The sight of her, happy and beautiful and mine, hits me in the chest like a slap shot.
She hasn’t seen me yet, so I take the opportunity to just look.
To memorize this moment, the way she stands, confident, one hand on her champagne glass, the other gesturing while she talks.
The way every man in this room is stealing glances at her, and she doesn’t notice because she doesn’t care. That’s my girl, fuckers. Mine!
Then she looks up, she must feel me. Her eyes find mine across the ballroom, and I watch them drop to my tie.
The silver tie. The tie that matches her dress.
Something passes across her face, surprise, then something so soft and raw that it nearly takes my knees out from across the room.
She bites her lip. I adjust my tie. And that’s our whole conversation.
Across a crowded ballroom, in front of everyone, saying everything without saying a word.
“You’re staring,” Evan says beside me.
“I know.”
“Stop. It’s fucking obvious.”
“I can’t.”
“Her brothers are ten feet away.”
“Fine,” I grumble to my best friend.
I force myself to look away. Pierre and Issy are arriving.
Felix and Harper are right behind them. I watch as they greet Collette and Jo, and the joy and love she has when she sees her family.
Even though her brothers may be a pain in her ass, she does love them dearly, so going against their wishes in dating me … I guess she thinks I’m worth it.
Dinner is three courses of torture. I’m at a table with Evan, Sully, Bouch, Nelly, and some of the coaching staff.
Collette is three tables over with her family.
Every time I glance in her direction, she’s laughing or talking or being effortlessly magnetic, and I have to pretend she’s just a colleague.
“You keep looking over there,” Sully says.
“I’m looking at the dessert table,” I tell him.
“The dessert table is behind you.” His eyes narrow.
“Fine, I’m looking at Pierre and Felix.”
Sully doesn’t buy that. “Looks like you’re looking at Collette.”
I still. “No, I’m not.”
“You’ve looked at her six times since the entrée.”
“You’ve counted.”
Sully shrugs. “I’m guessing whatever happened between the two of you is now fixed?”
“Excuse me?”
“It got awkward there for a while,” Bouch adds.
I look at Evan, and all he does is shrug.
“Did you try to hit on her?” Nelly asks.
“What? No. I would never.”
The table erupts into laughter. Assholes.
“Did something happen, because the two of you have always been flirty, and then it stopped?” Bouch asks.
“Do you think I would be stupid enough to do something with a St. Pierre?”
Everyone at the table nods and agrees that I would do something stupid. How are these guys my friends? But I guess they aren’t wrong.
“Her brothers would kill me.”
“So would the team,” Nelly adds. “You know Cap’s rules, don’t touch teammate’s sisters.” Cap gives me a grimaced smile but doesn’t say anything.
“And we have a real chance at winning the cup this year. We don’t need your dick fucking it up,” Bouch adds.
Oh.
Shit, that is a kick to the balls.
“He won’t,” Evan cuts in, defending me with two words. He gives me a knowing side eye.
“Evan, you know how Fish works, just hold him on a tighter leash,” Bouch says.
“He’s not my dog,” Evan argues for me.
“Okay, guys, I think you’ve gotten your point across,” Cap says, shutting down the conversation. The boys seem surprised by it but leave it be, for now.
After dinner, the dance floor opens up. Cap approaches the St. Pierre table, and I watch from my seat. He asks to dance with Jo, which takes balls the size of watermelons, given that Pierre and Felix are right there.
“Hell yeah, Captain, I trust you. Unlike all these other fuckers.” Pierre grins. There’s a slight wince on Emmett’s face when he says it.
“Good idea, Cap, come join us,” Felix says as Harper pulls him onto the dance floor.
“Let’s join too,” Issy says, getting up from her chair and holding out her hand for Pierre, who goes willingly.
That’s what I want, to be able to dance with my woman out in the open.
Then Emmett turns to me. “Hey, Fish, you dance?”
“You know I have twinkle toes, Cap.” I chuckle.
“Collette needs a partner,” he says.
I look at Collette and then at her brothers. “Are you insane?” Thank you, Cap.
“Fish, just for tonight,” Felix calls out. “But I’ll be watching you.” He moves his fingers from his eyes to mine.
“Fine,” I grumble, while inside I am so fucking overjoyed.
“Gee, thanks, Fish.” Collette smirks.
“I didn’t mean it like that. Your brothers are scary,” I tell her.
“Don’t do anything stupid, and they won’t have to kill you.” She chuckles darkly.
“Cap, what have I done to you to deserve this?” I groan as I pull her onto the dance floor, which just makes Emmett laugh.
The song changes to something slow. My hand settles on her waist, high, respectable, Pierre-approved, and I take her other hand in mine.
She’s close enough that I can smell her perfume and feel the warmth of her skin through the silver dress, and I have to remind myself that her brothers are watching.
“You matched your tie to me,” she whispers.
“I did.” I smile at her. She bites her bottom lip as her cheeks turn pink. “Don’t tease me, woman. I am holding on by a thread,” I whisper into her ear. “You look incredible tonight.”
“Thanks.” She smiles.
“Fish, that hand has dropped,” Pierre calls out from across the dance floor.
I move my hand back up immediately, and Collette bites her lip to stop laughing. We finish the dance and walk back to the table.
Pierre is grinning. “See? Cap’s a gentleman. He kept his hands in respectable places.”
“It wasn’t me moving my hands,” I argue.
“Sure as hell wasn’t me,” Collette adds with a giggle.
“Oh, come on, you kept moving my hand,” I state.
“You wish.” She grins.
“Respect the sisters, Fish,” Felix adds.
“I do. I would never touch her,” I explain.
“Wow. Thanks,” Collette says, acting offended.
“That’s not what I meant. You’re hot. What I mean is ...”
“What did you just say?” Pierre glares at me.
“Fuck. Nothing.”
“I think he said I was hot.” Collette grins.
“I didn’t mean it,” I say, shaking my head.
“Oh, sorry, now I’m ugly,” Collette continues to tease.
“Fuck. Come on, Lettie. Tell your brothers you’re joking,” I plead with her.
“I’m just teasing, guys. I was the one grabbing his ass.” She smirks, sending a wink my way.
“Fuck.” I groan, scrubbing my face.
“Don’t touch my fucking sister,” Pierre warns, pointing at me.
“I won’t. I promise.”
“What happens if I want him to touch me?” Collette smirks, pushing Pierre’s buttons.
“Seriously? Him?” Pierre looks at her. “Gee, I thought if you wanted anyone on this team, it would be Cap.”
Collette’s eyes widen. And my hand balls into a fist. “Ew. He’s too old. No offence,” Collette tells Emmett.
“None taken,” he says.
“Fine, then Sully would be the second option,” Pierre adds.
I’m starting to get fucking angry.
“I like how you are pimping out your team to your sister there,” Sully adds. Good call, Sully.
“Wait. What? No, I’m not,” Pierre says.
“Kind of sounds like it, babe.” Issy smirks, joining in.
“Bro, I think you’ve had too much eggnog.” Felix chuckles.
“I’m so confused. How did we get here in the conversation?” Pierre says, shaking his head.
“I was yanking your chain, that’s how.” Collette grins.
“You’re so annoying,” Pierre grumbles.
“Sorry, Fish, for involving you in my prank,” Collette tells me.
“So you should be. He was ready to murder me, and I’m too pretty to be murdered,” I tell her.
“Come here, and I’ll make it better.” She smirks, holding out her arms for me. I start to walk over, but Emmett grabs me.
“You’re walking into another trap,” Cap teases.
“Fuck. Lettie, you’re bad.” I point at her, thinking of all the things I’m going to do to make her pay when we’re alone.
“This is payback for all the shit I’ve had to put up with all year from you.” She continues to play the part.
“Me?”
“All your social media troubles,” she says, raising a brow.
“I’m a good boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say.
Collette rolls her eyes at me.
“You’re not such a good boy on your private accounts, are you?” she throws back. I still. We have a private account and um … yeah, I’m not good on it at all.
“How do you ...?” My eyes narrow on her, and then I turn and walk away, because that woman is seconds from having me pull her into my arms and kiss the fucking shit out of her.