Puck Battles: A Complete Sports Romance Series

by Kristen Echo

  This remarkable man loved her. She’d been hoping and praying for love again, never expecting to find it. All of a sudden, she’d found it. It sat within reach. All she had to do was grab it, but she was scared. The fear cast doubt on his words.

  Her lips hovered over his. “You’re so full of life,” she breathed. “I love that you have no filter. I love your strength and your ability to speak your mind. Dating is all new for me. I don’t know how to do this. I’ve been with Terry since I was a teenager.”

  “You’ve loved only one man. I have loved many women, but none of them compare to you.”

  A combination of hope and love bloomed in her chest, but the fear remained. “That’s just it. What if you change your mind in a week? I’m not saying you’re too young to love. I was happily married by the time I was your age. It’s not the age difference.”

  He raised his eyebrow and wrapped her hair around his fist. “Do I look like a man who changes his mind on a whim?” She shook her head, pressing her lips together as he continued. “Some love is meant to teach you how to grow. My first was never meant to be my only. I was too young and too stupid to appreciate her. I learn from my mistakes and don’t repeat them. What holds you back.” He wouldn’t relent. “Why do you keep your ex around if you say you are done? Explain.”

  “He’ll always be family,” she admitted. “My kids want us to be together, and I hate disappointing them. It’s complicated. Luka, you could be with someone who doesn’t have so many issues. You could find a woman who—”

  He covered her mouth with his hand. “I have found the woman I want. My attraction and need for you is something I can’t explain. It didn’t stop when I saw you with him. I have been the other man before and I don’t care for it. I won’t do that again.”

  She kissed his hand and pulled it away. “This is not an affair. Relationships have many variables and if we have a baby…” She covered her mouth.

  “If I put a baby in your belly, would this make you sad?”

  They were laying all their cards on the table. He held nothing back and she wouldn’t either. If he could love freely and openly, then she’d follow his lead. Her hands moved over her stomach, and she smiled.

  “More like the opposite of sad. If we were blessed with a child, I’d be thrilled. No matter where this relationship goes, I’d be happy to have a baby growing in my womb. That said, I think we should use condoms for now. At least until you’ve met my kids. You don’t have to prove anything to me.” She chuckled at the serious expression on his face. “I can see why women your own age might be frightened by you. You really do go all in when you want something.”

  He flipped her onto her back and rolled on top of her. Despite the tight quarters, they made it work. “Will you introduce me to your family?” He pushed her hair away from her face and ground his erection against her sex.

  She smiled. “One day, I’d love for you to meet my kids. I don’t think they’re ready for me to have a boyfriend. Can you give me some time? I mean if you’re serious about me and about meeting them.”

  “I don’t say things I don’t mean.” He swiveled his hips, teasing her. “They are important to you and you are important to me. The sooner we meet, the better.”

  Hearing she mattered to him, made her heart swell and skip a beat. How had she gotten so lucky? “How are you so perfect?”

  He laughed. “Far from it. I say the wrong thing all the time. My friend Theo says I’m too blunt. His girlfriend, Carly, doesn’t laugh when I tell jokes. Not perfect.”

  “You’re perfect for me, even if you’re not funny.” She kissed him and sighed as his hands found their way inside her panties.

  “It is funny I play for Winnipeg while you and your family root for the enemy. I am sleeping with the enemy,” he joked, pushing two fingers inside her center.

  Her eyes fluttered shut. They were together again. Jill undid his pants and stroked his length. She pushed his fingers aside, pressed the head of his cock against her entrance and lifted her hips. “I’m making love with the enemy.”

  Chapter 12

  Being with Luka and making love had done a world of good to her mood. The physical connection had rocked her, leaving no part untouched. The side effects left her walking funny and her heart soaring. As much as she loved the intimacy, she valued the conversation more.

  Too bad the stolen moment wasn’t enough to satisfy her craving for him. She wanted more time, but it wasn’t possible. Parting ways was bittersweet. Jill yearned for a day when they could spend an entire day together uninterrupted. She anticipated it would be awhile before that happened.

  Once again, Jill returned to the hotel floating on clouds. As fun as it would have been to stay wrapped around him all night, she had to get back to her boys. Luka had a ton of post-game activities and commitments preventing him from staying locked behind that closet door all night.

  The only way her night would be better would be if her daughter were with her. She drifted through the lobby in a daze as she texted Rianne, hoping to coax her back to the hotel. “Have you eaten? Room service?” She waited by the elevators, not expecting a response, and shrieked when her phone rang.

  “Hey girl,” Jill answered. She’d all but written her daughter off for the night.

  “I’m starved. Mom, can you order me the Chicken Parmesan?”

  “Absolutely,” she said with a smile. Maybe the trust and freedom she’d allowed her after the game had cracked a window in their relationship. She dared not hope for too much, but this was a great start. Especially, since phone calls weren’t her thing. “Do you want to share a dessert with me? I’m in the mood for something sugary. You can pick.”

  “Um, hold on a sec.” The line went quiet for a moment. Rianne must have lowered her phone or covered the mouthpiece because the next few sounds were indecipherable. She covered her other ear and picked up a muted discussion. Her ears perked, catching a distinctly male voice.

  “See you again,” he said.

  Rianne giggled. “Yeah, for sure. I’ll be back in a few days for the next game.”

  “Too bad it isn’t sooner.” A breeze or something muffled the line, making it impossible for her to hear the rest of the conversation.

  Sweat broke out across her brow and she leaned against the wall. Her teenage daughter was with a boy. Not a boy from her school, but a stranger she’d never met. This wasn’t the time to freak out she reminded herself. It could be harmless. Nevertheless, she wanted to crawl through the phone and see what was going on and who she was with.

  “It was nice meeting you too. Bye. Hey, sorry. Mom are you still there?”

  Her foot tapped against the tiles at a fevered pace. “Sure am.” She wanted to bombard her with questions about this young man but held back. “Should I order now or wait?”

  “Anytime. I’m only five minutes out. We could share a brownie or anything chocolate sounds good to me,” Rianne answered.

  The elevator doors opened, and she stepped on. “I might lose the call shortly, but I’ll see you soon. I love you.” As if on cue, she lost reception and dropped the call.

  Once in the suite, she hugged her boys and smiled at her mom. No words needed to be said between them because her mother knew. A mother always knows when their daughters have been up to no good. A simple head nod was all she got, but it meant more than words. Her relationship with Luka wasn’t a secret she had to carry alone, and she had her mother’s support. She breathed easy until her daughter stepped in the door.

  When Rianne joined them, she too seemed to be floating on clouds. The smile on her face and the dreamy look in her eyes definitely meant something. There were a few blades of grass in her hair, and Jill didn’t say a word as she picked them out. She kept the conversation generic, trying not to pry. Pretending she hadn’t overheard her talking with a boy took every ounce of her self-control.

  Dinner came and went without so much as a peep about her after game activities. They were both keeping secrets, and she didn�
��t like that one bit. Even though Rianne hadn’t opened up, Jill considered the evening a win and one step forward in rebuilding their relationship.

  She retired to her room after putting the boys to bed and watching a movie with the girls. The night was almost perfect. The only thing missing was Luka. He would have enjoyed the low-key evening and confirmed as much when she called him.

  “Hotel’s never have enough blankets.” She stretched under the covers, tugging the sheets to her chin. The air-conditioning had turned on, freezing the room.

  “If you were with me, you wouldn’t be cold,” he said.

  “If we were together, you wouldn’t get any sleep and you need your rest,” she shot back.

  He laughed. The deep rumble warmed her like a hug. “Do you think your girl will sneak out again? I don’t live far. You could—”

  “Don’t tempt me,” she threatened. They’d decided it was best to spend the night apart, since he needed his rest and she had an early morning flight. “And I don’t think she will. She passed out on the couch and probably won’t move until sunrise.” She had filled him in regarding Rianne’s overnight walk, her conversation with a boy and her behavior afterward.

  He asked a lot of questions. His interest and concern were touching. “Keep an eye on her while she’s in this city. Teenagers have been targeted lately.”

  “What’s going on?” Her voice became a few octaves higher as she sat up.

  “A bunch of kids got caught up with some bad men in a huge drug ring. They shut it down but didn’t catch all the masterminds. You probably have nothing to worry about since I’m sure the players are long gone.”

  She exhaled and relaxed into the pillows. “My daughter doesn’t use, but I’ll watch for any signs. Because we’ve moved around so much, we’ve talked a lot about the type of people to avoid. I appreciate the heads up.”

  “Sometimes the devil is tough to spot. Look, the sun will rise soon. If I can’t convince you to come to me, then I must say good night. I love you. Feels good to say. I’m glad we cleared the air.”

  Her body sung as he said those three little words. She’d never tire of hearing them come from his lips. She’d never get enough of his lips. “I love you. Sweet dreams, Luka.”

  Saying it back rolled off her tongue. No hesitation. She meant it. After Terry had ripped out her heart and stomped on the pieces, she’d thought she’d never love again. She’d resigned herself to being a single mom of three and had made peace with it. Luka was a game changer. On the ice and off it.

  She fell asleep with his scent on her skin, giving her nothing but sweet dreams. The dead didn’t sleep better, which posed a problem since she woke up late. Their flight was scheduled for the crack of dawn and the sun hovered over the prairie horizon when she opened her eyes. Rushing was not a great way to start the day.

  Luckily, they made it to the airport on time and returned home without issue. The flight provided ample time for her to figure out what to do about Luka and her new relationship. Hiding wasn’t an option. She no longer wanted to live a half life.

  Terry deserved to know she’d moved on. She feared him finding out about her and Luka by some other source. As soon as they touched down in Quebec, she called and invited him to come over after his meetings. He agreed.

  The last thing she wanted was to hurt him. Telling him she wanted the divorce had been hard, but explaining she’d fallen in love with another hockey player would be next to impossible. As she rehearsed her speech, her nerves accelerated. Sweat drenched her palms and dripped down her back. She dreaded the confrontation.

  As she sat at the desk, she stared at the hockey mementoes. An old jersey from three years prior hung on the wall. Terry had been considering retirement that year. They’d been pregnant with TJ and weighing the options when the offer from Montreal came. She often wondered how different their lives would have turned out if he’d given up hockey. So many things might have turned out differently.

  She shook her head, letting go of the past. It had held her back long enough. Terry wasn’t the same, and neither was she. The divorce papers sat on top of the desk, strengthening her resolve.

  No matter how difficult the conversation ahead would be, she loved Luka. He was worth it. Being with him was like being at the top of a mountain. A rush with a beautiful view. How anyone could meet him and not love him seemed impossible to her.

  “Dad’s here,” Wayne announced, poking his head in the office.

  She followed her son and joined the rest of her family in the kitchen.

  Terry looked like a ragged mess. His hair poked at all angles and he’d buttoned his shirt cockeyed. She’d never seem him so worn out.

  “Is everything all right?” she asked, approaching his side.

  “No. I took some hard hits yesterday and my shoulder is killing me,” he said, leaning over with his head pressed against the countertop.

  Instincts took over, and she massaged his shoulders. Before she realized her actions, her fingers kneaded the tight muscles. It was out of habit and the moment he moaned, she regretted her decision. Not that touching him repulsed her, but it sent the wrong message.

  “Are you icing it?” she asked, removing her hands and shoving them in her jean pockets.

  “That helped. Thanks. I’m following everything the trainer says as usual,” he said, twisting his face towards her. He smiled, and the sweat returned to her palms. “I’ll survive.”

  Yes, he would. He was strong and always rebounded. “Are you ready for tomorrow?”

  He straightened, towering over her. “They got lucky. It won’t happen again.”

  She nodded as the kids monopolized the conversation. They bombarded their dad with questions about the game and about what would happen after. He’d told them win or lose he planned to retire at the end of this season. With the Cup within reach, she doubted he’d follow through. She’d heard this song and dance from him too many times and it never happened. He was an exceptional hockey player. As long as they offered contracts, he’d keep signing.

  After an hour of watching her family bond, she lost her courage. The timing wasn’t right, she reasoned. Terry needed to focus on playing his best. She didn’t want to be the cause if he lost. Instead of pulling him aside and announcing she’d met someone, she remained quiet and fixed a late lunch for the group.

  “All right, your mom and I need a moment alone,” Terry said, patting Rianne on the back. “Go finish your homework. I’m sure you didn’t do it on the flight.” He sat back casually with his arm draped over the back of an empty, wooden chair.

  “No fair. Wayne missed school too, and he gets to watch TV,” the girl protested.

  “We’re letting you and your brother miss school to catch the games, but your grades aren’t allowed to suffer. That was our deal,” she reminded her.

  Rianne huffed and left her alone with Terry at the kitchen table. They sat across from one another. His chair screeched as he stood and rounded the table.

  She gripped the edges of her chair as he stared down at her. “What’s up?”

  His smirk caused the hairs on her arm to rise. “You invited me over. Remember?”

  “Right. I… wanted to make sure you are okay.” She looked away and knotted her fingers.

  “Sounded important. I got the impression you had something significant to tell me.” His hand brushed against her shoulder. “Like you’ve come to your senses about us.”

  She laughed, pushed her chair away from the table and out of his reach. “It had nothing to do with us. The only person who needs to accept reality is you. Sign the papers and we can get this one burden off your shoulders.” She hadn’t planned on pressing him for the divorce, but his behavior needed to be shut down for good.

  He stepped towards her and leaned down, invading her space. “I’m not signing jack shit.” He reached for her and she slapped his hand away. “Why are you so hot and horny about getting divorced all of a sudden?”

  “A divorce?” Rianne droppe
d the glass in her hand and it shattered against the tile.

  Jill thought they’d been alone. This was not a conversation meant for young ears. She rose to her feet only to watch her daughter shrink away from her. “Baby, your dad and I—”

  “Are not getting divorced,” Terry finished. “Your mom’s talking non-sense. It’s only a matter of time before I’m back home. You know I love her, and you guys more than anything. Don’t worry.” He kneeled and picked up broken shards of glass.

  Rianne hadn’t moved an inch, but her eyes filled with tears. “Mom?”

  He always made her look like the bad guy for ending things. She was so sick of it. “Actually…” Seeing the hurt and pain on her daughter’s face felt like someone had sliced her with a knife and twisted it in her guts. “You caught the tail end of a conversation. Please don’t cry.”

  “That wasn’t a no,” she said through clenched teeth before running out the back door.

  Terry disposed of the broken glass, tossing it in the trash. “I need to grab a nap. We’ll talk later,” he said and left through the same door.

  Mission not accomplished.

  Her relationship with Luka remained a secret, and she’d alienated her daughter. She slapped her palm against her forehead. That went horribly wrong. She hoped her next attempt would go better.

  Chapter 13

  The playoff schedule left little time between games. Every other night the men would face off in a battle of willpower and skill. Luka had arrived with his team in the early evening. He’d asked to see her, and she couldn’t refuse. They planned to meet once she’d put the boys to bed. Sneaking out for a few hours required a babysitter since Rianne hadn’t returned home yet.

  Her daughter’s reaction to the upcoming divorce hadn’t surprised her, but she’d hoped to break the news in a more diplomatic way. There was no good way to tell the kids their father would never be coming home. It would take time, but they would all heal. Still, Terry seemed hell-bent on making it more difficult than it had to be. He had to accept the change in their relationship was permanent.