Puck Battles: A Complete Sports Romance Series

by Kristen Echo

  As the familiar hotel came into view, she slumped into the seat. His team always stayed there. So much for getting him out of her mind.

  The check-in process took longer since the reservation was in Terry’s name. She told the clerk more than once she’d forfeit the suite and take a regular room, but he wasn’t listening. A radio hidden somewhere under the desk had the volume turned way up. He was distracted by the start of the hockey game. Winnipeg took the lead within the first minute of play. A moment later, she got a high five and the access card to her suite.

  All hotels seemed the same. Impersonal and stuffy. This was the one they’d always stayed at when traveling with the team. It had recently been updated with a fresh coat of light grey paint and matching carpets. Two queen beds dominated the space. Jill rolled her bag to the side and flopped down on the bright, white comforter. A mix of exhaustion and boredom set in as she stared at the tray ceiling. Instead of reading, ordering room service and hiding from the world, she listened to Leonora’s advice.

  Opposite the bed, hung a floor-length mirror, and she caught her reflection. At thirty-five, she had a few wrinkles at the corner of her eyes, but the years had been kind. Jill shrugged her jacket, stood and cupped her breasts. They weren’t perky, but they still filled her hands nicely. Her fingers moved over her stomach and she lifted her blouse over her head. Unzipped her skirt and let it fall.

  Three children had changed her body. Faded stretch marks decorated her skin. Her breasts and hips had filled out. She loved this body. Full of curves and character. Terry’s infidelity had damaged her confidence, but she refused to own his mistakes. She had to get him out of her head. As she analyzed her imperfections, she smiled.

  “You look good girl,” she said out loud and twirled around, laughing at herself. She untied her bun and let her dark brown hair cover her chest. “Time to let loose.”

  She unpacked her bag and splattered her products across the bathroom vanity. Taking her time, she primped and curled her hair until it flowed down her back. She changed into a purple wrap dress. It hugged her breasts, showing a decent amount of cleavage. The fabric swayed above the knee, making her feel sexy. She’d packed it to torment Terry. Wanting to show him everything he was missing.

  A late dinner at the hotel restaurant went better than expected. They sat her next to the fireplace, and she relaxed with her book. Without her boys interrupting every other minute, she enjoyed a hot meal and a glass of wine. The game ended mid meal. Based on the loud cheers, the home team won. The waiter’s smile was extra-large for the rest of the night. Every person who walked by seemed happy. It was contagious.

  After her meal, she walked into the lobby as a group of well-dressed businessmen stepped off the elevator. Several had silver sprinkled through their hair and looked to be in their late thirties or early forties. They smiled as they passed. Her eyes tracked them across the posh lobby as they headed into the adjacent pub.

  Acting on instinct, she followed them. Her heels clicking against the tile. She opened the heavy, wooden door and glanced around the dark room. The only light came from two crystal chandeliers, which added a regal touch to the space, but provided little light. There were half a dozen customers at most. A waitress greeted the men as they settled at a booth. Jill suddenly felt silly for following them. She had no plan and the thought of going over to talk with them caused her stomach to flip. The bar stools were empty, and she headed towards them.

  She plopped her butt on the wooden stool, put her elbows on the bar and buried her face in her hands. Her friend had made it seem like meeting a man required zero effort. As easy as going over and saying hello. Not that she would ever be that bold. But then what? Jill had no idea how people moved from pleasantries into the bedroom within a first encounter. She’d been married for too many years and couldn’t recall life before Terry.

  Knots bloomed at the idea of approaching a man. She wasn’t opposed to meeting someone new. However, attractive single men in their thirties weren’t lurking around her children’s school or trolling the grocery stores. Hockey players or anyone associated with the NHL were off limits. She never wanted to go down that road again.

  “What can I get you?” The bartender set his hands next to her elbows.

  “A glass of your house Shiraz is fine,” she answered without look up.

  “We only sell Shiraz by the bottle. I could make you one of my specialty drinks. They’re always a hit,” he offered.

  “I’ll take a bottle.” She didn’t trust herself to drink anything hard, but with the direction her night had taken, a large amount of wine wouldn’t hurt. “Thank you,” she added.

  “No problem.”

  Her previous conversation continued to echo through her mind. Flirt. Mingle. Let loose. So much easier said than done. The first glass disappeared, which helped ease her frazzled nerves but gave little courage to leave her seat. She glanced over her shoulder at the table of men and stood. All she had to do was say hello. Jill left her glass on the bar and took one step towards the booth. Then her heels carried her out of the pub and into the darkness of the night.

  She needed air. A cool breeze slapped against her skin, chilling her within seconds. The official start of summer was only a few weeks away, yet the strong wind made it seem cooler. She rubbed her arms, but didn’t head back in. As Father’s Day approached, she should have been mending her family not trolling for men.

  A few deep breaths later, her stomach settled. She peered into the darkened street and saw something small sitting in the middle of the road. The light overhead had burnt out and the hotel pub was set back from the road, making it difficult to decipher the form. She stepped closer to the street. From a distance, headlights illuminated the white fur on the small dog.

  “Come on, boy,” she cooed at the animal to coax it off the road.

  It wouldn’t budge. She stepped forward as the vehicle loomed closer. The roar of the engine increased in volume. Any second that dog would get hit if it didn’t move. Jill was too far away to grab it. Her gaze landed on the car which showed no signs of slowing down.

  “Get off the road,” she yelled, running towards the street. Her heart leapt into her throat as the gap between the dog and the speeding hunk of metal narrowed. “Stop!”

  Seconds before the car zoomed by, a man scooped the dog and rolled onto the ground a few feet in front of her. The car didn’t stop, and neither did she. The man groaned when he stilled on the concrete by her feet. This person risked their life to save an animal. She’d never witnessed anything so brave and stupid in her life.

  The man grumbled and held out the puppy for her to take. He wore track pants and the hood of his jacket covered his head, preventing her from seeing his face. Their hands brushed as Jill took the shaken mutt. She tucked it against her chest.

  “Wow. That was… something else. I’ve never seen anything so selfless. Thank you for saving him.” She scratched the soft fur on the dog’s head and watched the man rise. Her breath hitched, and she swallowed hard as he towered over her. The man had a solid build; at least double her width. Intimidating. “This little bundle owes you his life. I wonder where he or she came from.”

  He dusted himself off. As his hood fell back, her jaw dropped past her knees. He was stunning. His hair was cropped short, drawing her eyes to his strong brow and ruggedly sexy beard. He had dark and hypnotic eyes. His gaze was sharp and intense, capturing her breath and holding it hostage. He looked young enough to be her kid, but hot damn he was attractive. Her inner Mrs. Robinson switch flicked on.

  The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but she fidgeted under his scrutiny all the same. He didn’t speak a word as he looked at her. First at her lips, then her throat. Her heart rate sped as the seconds ticked by. His gaze swept down her body at such a slow and sensual pace. She shivered, and it had nothing to do with the slight chill in the air. She felt ready to combust by the time their eyes connected.

  “OMG. Thanks for not letting Harry get crushed,” a girl
said, jogging up to her on the sidewalk.

  Jill had been so mesmerized by the handsome stranger she hadn’t heard the couple approach over the distant traffic and the loud thunder in her chest. The teenager collected the puppy and fussed at the animal

  “That tuck and roll maneuver was epic,” the boy announced, tossing an arm over the girl’s shoulder. The pair was decked out in Puck Battle hockey gear.

  The stranger shrugged his shoulders, dropped his chin to his chest and rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t respond. It seemed as if he didn’t want the praise. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He shoved his hands in his pockets like he was ready to bolt and stepped back from the group further into the shadows.

  “You should have a collar on him,” Jill admonished the kids.

  The boy pulled one from his pocket. “He wriggled loose when we weren’t looking. Anyway, thanks for finding him before something bad happened.” The two turned and raced across the empty street with their pet.

  A few moments passed and neither of them spoke. Her pulse raced as his eyes flirted with her exposed skin. “Hi, I’m Jill,” she said, breaking the silence.

  She’d done it. She’d made the first move. Now what?

  Chapter 2

  She didn’t extend her hand for a proper introduction because it seemed too formal. Plus, he seemed a little skittish, and she didn’t want to scare him off. Jill chewed her lip, hoping he’d respond.

  “Good evening,” he finally said. He spoke with a heavy Slavic accent. “I’m Luka.”

  Jill smiled. “Well Luka, you were at the right place at the right time for that pup. Are you okay? You took a mighty tumble there.”

  He pulled his hands from his pockets, inspecting them. They were huge, like everything else about him. Her eyes darted towards his pants and back up. He caught her and smirked. “No harm done.” He turned to face the street. Even his side profile was striking. Strong and chiseled.

  “Um… were you out for a run or something? It’s kind of chilly out.” She rubbed her bare arms as the wind picked up.

  “Energy to burn,” he responded. The way he said burn ignited a fire over her skin. As if his touch alone would brand her for eternity. “Are you cold, Jill?”

  The May weather was far from warm, but this was the first conversation she’d had that didn’t revolve around her kids or hockey. She wasn’t ready for it to end. “Can I buy you a drink? A reward for your bravery, or something.”

  The desire to facepalm was difficult to resist. No wonder she never left the house. Flirting was not like riding a bike.

  “I’m no hero, but I am thirsty.” Luka tilted his head towards the hotel.

  She nodded. “Yes. Great.” Jill clapped her hands and turned towards the hotel.

  He opened the door for her and she smiled. They entered the pub, and she headed towards her abandoned bottle of wine. There still weren’t many patrons. The group of men in the booth and a few couples.

  “Is this okay?” She pointed towards the vacant bar stools. “Or we could get a table. There’s no shortage of spots to sit.”

  “The bar is good.” He waited until she sat before sitting next to her.

  Their knees touched as she pivoted towards him. She didn’t move away as heat transferred, spreading towards the apex of her thighs. She cleared her throat, which sounded more like a whimper. “So how has your evening been so far? Her hands balled the fabric on her thighs, exposing more of her legs.

  The corner of his lip lifted, but not enough to be considered a smile. “Some would say successful. But there’s always room for improvement. How about you?” He placed his large hands in front of him and splayed his thick fingers wide over the wooden bar top.

  “It—”

  “Didn’t expect to see you tonight, Luka. Can I grab you the usual?” the bartender interrupted her.

  “Yes. Thank you, Mitch,” Luka answered never taking his eyes off her. “You were saying.”

  Jill pinched the stem of her wine glass. “How do you know the bartender?” She wanted to follow it up with the clichéd line of ‘do you come here often’ but didn’t.

  “I’d rather talk about you. What brought you here tonight? Besides chasing puppies in the street.” His smirk chipped away at some intimidation.

  “I’m only here for one night. This is my first solo trip in forever. It’s been a little lonely to be honest.” She couldn’t believe she’d told a stranger she was lonely. “I’m so used to having my kids around,” she added.

  His eyebrow lifted. “You have children, but no wedding ring.”

  She glanced at her empty ring finger. It had been void of jewelry for over a year. “That’s very astute of you to notice. The marriage didn’t work out, but I have three fabulous kids. Two rambunctious boys and a girl.” She pulled her phone from her purse and showed him the home screen. Seeing the photo of her kids, made her heart ache.

  The bartender delivered a tumbler filled with a clear, bubbly liquid and an orange slice as a garnish. She quickly put her phone away and dismissed the rising guilt. Talking with this man wasn’t wrong. A woman living only half a life was wrong. That had to stop.

  “Add them to my tab Mitch.” Luka twirled the glass on the bar in a semi-circle before raising it to his mouth. A sliver of his tongue poked out and connected with the rim of his glass. Three large swallows later, he emptied the contents. The liquid left his lips wet.

  An urge to taste them swept through her. It would be as simple as leaning forward an inch and she’d be sampling the excess moisture. That was insane, given this man was half her age. Mingle and flirt, but that’s it.

  “I offered to buy you a drink, but thank you. What um… so why aren’t you partying outside with the rest of the city?” She mimicked his posture, leaning against the bar with one arm.

  Luka shrugged his wide shoulders, put his empty glass down and rubbed the back of his neck. “Why aren’t you?”

  “Touché,” she answered. “I’m not much of a hockey fan these days. How about you? Did you watch the game?”

  The bartender laughed out loud. She faced him as he covered his mouth. “Sorry. Did he watch it? Ha!”

  “Mitch.” Luka’s tone lowered. He narrowed his eyes at their bartender as his lips curved into a full, brilliant smile.

  Damn. Those perfect teeth and his killer grin were lethal. Her nipples hardened. She thanked her lucky stars for padded bras.

  “My bad. I didn’t mean to laugh.” Mitch held up his hands in surrender but continued to chuckle. “This city is hockey central right now. Round three and all.”

  “Don’t you have other customers to harass?” Luka plucked the orange slice from his glass and sucked the fruit from its peel.

  The non-sexual act brought her straight into the gutter. She pictured those lips on her breasts and then lower. Her neglected core tightened, and her legs twitched.

  “Can do. Either of you need anything before I go?” Mitch asked, and they both shook their heads. “Have fun.” He winked at her and walked away.

  “To answer your question, yes, I caught the game. It was very close,” he said, inching his body closer.

  She smelled the citrus on his breath. Her mouth watered. “It was a win. That’s all that matters for the team.” She picked up her wine and swallowed the last few drops.

  “That’s not the only thing that matters.” He grabbed the bottle of wine, and she nodded for him to top up her glass. One hand covered hers as he poured. “The last thing I want to talk about is the game. I wasn’t in the mood for big crowds, but not ready to be alone either in my apartment.”

  The contact was to prevent the glass from tipping, not flirting. That’s what she told herself to calm the fluttering in her stomach. “Big crowds aren’t my thing either,” she breathed. “With the time change, I’m not the least bit tired. I’m happy to discuss any topic besides the NHL.”

  When he didn’t remove his hand, something passed between them. An invitation of sorts. She couldn’t
explain it, but that one insignificant move now seemed very relevant.

  The rough pad of his thumb caressed the inside of her wrist. One small circle sent goosebumps racing across her arm. He moved his hand and scratched along his beard. “What is your thing, Jill?”

  That was a loaded question. She had no idea how to answer and opted to take a sip of her drink. The crimson liquid spilled down her throat as he waited for her response. She took another sip. Stalling.

  “You’re staying at this hotel.”

  It was phrased as a statement, but she felt compelled to answer. “Yes. I have a suite with an extra-large Jacuzzi. Not that I’ll use it, but it’s there. I have one at home and use it often. It’s a great way to relax, soak and ease sore muscles.” An image of Luka’s wet body pressed against hers clouded her vision. “Sorry, I’m rambling. Have you stayed here? Probably not, since you are from Winnipeg,” she answered her own question.

  “No, I’m not original to Canada, but I live here. For now. I’ve seen the suites. They are nice.” His eyes moved to the exit and then back to hers.

  The move was subtle, but she now understood how these things worked. People didn’t have to come right out and announce their intentions. She didn’t know much about Luka, but she got the impression he was interested in checking out her room. If she took his hand and lead him into the elevator, they’d be kissing before the doors closed. Or it was all in her head. She couldn’t be sure.

  One thing she knew with one hundred and fifty percent certainty was she wanted him to kiss her. Age gap be damned. She wanted those lips on hers. Feel the scruff of his beard against her cheeks. There was only one way to find out if he wanted the same thing.

  Jill sipped her wine and closed her eyes, breaking the connection. There was no way in hell she would ever come right out and say what lurked in her head. Her fragile ego couldn’t handle the rejection. Her hormones were a mess after reading that steamy book through dinner. There’s no way a young stud would be interested in her. It made little sense. She must have misinterpreted his friendliness for more. She opened her eyes and exhaled.