Roughing (Ottawa Titans Book 1)

by Sarah Hegger

  By the time he’d finished, the poor kid was brick red to his ears.

  His buddy muscled forward. “I dunked you.”

  “Did you now?” Sam gave him a stern stare. “You know I’m gonna have to pay you back for that?”

  “Sure, Sam.” The kid side-eyed his buddy, not sure if Sam was kidding or not. “Of course you do. You’re Sam Stone and you always deliver payback.”

  “You know it.” Sam gave him a light punch on the shoulder. “Consider yourself paid back. How much did it cost you to dunk me?”

  The kid snorted a laugh. “It took me three goes.”

  “Then we’re even.” Sam grinned at both of them.

  The mom bustled up behind them. “Sa…Mr. Stone, I hope these boys of mine aren’t bothering you?”

  “Nope.” Honestly, the kids never bothered him. Their love of hockey was pure, and their hero worship not based on what they could get out of him. “Always glad to chat. Although now I’ve got to get Elizabeth back to work.”

  “Elizabeth.” The mom nodded at her.

  The taller boy swallowed and cleared his throat. “We seen you on Instagram.”

  “Yeah.” The smaller stared at her as if suddenly struck. “Are you Sam’s girlfriend?”

  “Alex.” The mom gave him a reproachful look.

  Elizabeth looked up at Sam and gave him her big, beautiful smile. “No, we’re just friends.”

  “Right.” The mom grinned. She ended on a wink. “Just friends, we get it.”

  The taller boy gave Elizabeth a slight leer. “Nice, Sam,” he said as his face exploded into a fiery adolescent blush.

  Sam gave him a stare. “You eyeing my girl?”

  “Nah, Sam.” Both boys giggled. “We wouldn’t dare.”

  “Right.” He gave the mom a conspiratorial smile. “Let’s keep it that way.”

  “Come along, boys.” The mom gave him another grin, like they now had a secret code. “We’ll be watching the game tomorrow,” she said. “Not the same without you, though.”

  “I appreciate that.” Sam shook the woman’s hand and then let the boys show him some complicated hand clasp thing before he drew Elizabeth away from them and back to her office.

  “Actually.” He hadn’t lied when he told her he came to take her to lunch to see her, but Guy had suggested something to him yesterday and it occurred to him that it would be that much easier with Elizabeth next to him. “Speaking of the game tomorrow night?”

  “Yup.” She stared up at him, gauging him.

  He intended to make it so she stopped bracing for bad weather around him. Forcing his facial muscles to relax, he said, “Want to watch it?”

  “Sure.” She looked thrilled that he’d asked. “Actually we should call Chris and see if she wants to join us. Her and Maddy, of course.”

  “Umm.” He tightened his fingers around hers. “I meant go to the actual game.”

  “Go to the game?” She stopped and blinked at him. “You want to go to the stadium and watch the game live?”

  “I’m not sure want comes into it.” He dodged the penetrating stare she gave him. “I’m pretty sure being there and not being on the ice is going to suck, but Guy suggested I do it.”

  Elizabeth frowned. “If he knows how you feel, why would he do that?”

  “Because it looks good,” he said, and he knew Guy had called this one right. “Instead of me sulking in Mom’s bathrobe, I go along to the game and support the team.”

  She got them moving back toward her office. “I suppose that could be a good idea.”

  “It’ll be a lot easier if you come with me.”

  Her soft heart came swooping to his rescue and her face softened. “Of course it will. It must be hard for you.”

  Sam raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”

  “Hmm.” She grimaced. “I’m not so sure about that, but I shall do my best to be a proper hockey girlfriend, dutifully by her man’s side.”

  He knew she was being sarcastic, but he really liked the notion. “You’ll be a great hockey girlfriend.”

  Chapter 20

  There really was only one person for Elizabeth to ask about being the perfect hockey girlfriend. Maddy came around and dropped off a selection of teeny T-Shirts.

  Sam arrived on time to pick her up. She liked that about him.

  He stood on her doorstep in a ball cap and holding up a hockey jersey. “Okay, you can say no, but I thought maybe it would look good if you wore…” He cleared his throat. “I mean, you don’t have to, but it would make us look…would you mind wearing my number?” He winced. “Too much?”

  “Way ahead of you.” Maddy smirked and appeared behind Elizabeth. “Show him.”

  Elizabeth opened her arms to show him her T-shirt. Figure hugging and the Titan’s colors, the T-shirt played peek-a-boo with her belly above her jeans. But the best part. She whirled around to show him the back. “Ta da.”

  “Um…Lizzie?”

  “What?” She peered over her shoulder, nervous about his tone. “Do I have the wrong number? Maddy assured me—”

  “No.” His tone carried a warm undertone. His eyes hadn’t moved off her ass. “The number is perfect, but who the hell would notice that anyway.”

  Elizabeth couldn’t resist preening a bit as she turned back to the front. “You think?”

  “Oh, yeah.” His gaze strayed to her breasts. “That’s a much better shirt than I had in mind.”

  “Hey, Sam,” Randy yelled from right below. He must have been standing there the whole time. “Watching the game tonight?”

  “Sure am.” Holding out the jersey, Sam said, “You got a home sweater?”

  “I do not, Sam.” Randy sounded way too eager.

  Dropping the jersey over the edge, Sam chuckled. “Now you do.”

  “Wha—” Randy gasped.

  Safely zipped into her coat, Elizabeth locked her apartment. “So where are we sitting? I’m sure the team has a box.”

  “A few.” He grabbed her mittened hand. “But we’re sitting with the fans.”

  “What?” Elizabeth couldn’t believe him. “Won’t you get mobbed?”

  “Nah.” He didn’t look even a little concerned by the prospect. “Canadian fans are chill, but in case someone wants to be a tough guy, I’m in disguise.” He tapped his cap, which shaded most of his face.

  “Not much of a disguise.” Elizabeth didn’t hide her disdain.

  Sam gave her a roguish grin that brought a flush to every part of her. Every. One. “Lizzie, nobody is going to be looking at me. Not when you’re standing right there.”

  The strangeness of their situation struck her. This was Sam looking at her with those bedroom eyes and flirting with her. The same Sam she’d been having a vendetta against since they were babies.

  Sam jogged down a couple of steps, stopped and looked up at her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Not wrong exactly.” She came down slower. “More weird.”

  He cocked his head and shoved his hands in his coat pockets. “What’s weird?”

  “This.” She motioned between them. “Whatever it is that we’re doing here. Sometimes it strikes me that less than a month ago I was ready to remove your balls with a spoon.”

  “Damn, Lizzie.” He shuddered. “Remind me not to piss you off again.”

  “Where’s the fun in that?” The moment passed, and she stopped on the step above him. He wore a strange expression. “Now you’re looking like you find something weird.”

  “You know I’ve always had a crush on you, Lizzie,” he said.

  He looked like he meant it as well, and it was similar to what he’d said to her before. Still, he couldn’t have had a crush on her and she’d never noticed. Could she? “I’m not so sure you did.”

  “Be sure.” Grabbing her hand, he walked them to his car. “We can work on that.”

  The locks beeped and Sam opened the door for her.

  Elizabeth slid into the plush interi
or. “What are my chances of getting you to call me Elizabeth?”

  He grinned and shook his head. “Not a one.”

  * * * *

  Elizabeth reckoned she must be one of the only Canadians to have never attended a live game.

  Sam had a pass that got them into the parking beneath the building. It made sense as he did still, technically, play for the Titans.

  “Sam! Stoner!” The guard grinned at him. “You’re late if you’re planning on playing.”

  “Not tonight, Quentin.” Sam took his pass back from the guard. “This time I’m bringing the win from the seats.”

  Quentin fired his forefinger at Sam. “That’s our boy. It’s good to see you.”

  “You too.” Sam maneuvered through the parking lot.

  The subtle lines of tension around his mouth and eyes concerned Elizabeth.

  He parked between a Mercedes and a BMW SUV and opened her door.

  Their feet clipped across the concrete as he led her to a bank of elevators. This time, she took hold of his hand and gave it a squeeze. It would be all right and she would be right beside him to make sure of that.

  The lift took them into the belly of the stadium. People scurried around, most of them too busy to notice another pair of bodies making their way toward the dull roar of the crowd above them.

  She lost her way as Sam twisted them around and through a number of corridors and eventually into the lobby.

  They startled a security guard by opening the door right behind her.

  Looking for people trying to get in, she hadn’t expected someone coming from that side of the stadium. “Sam,” she whispered. “What are you doing?”

  He handed her a couple of tickets. “Looking for my seat.”

  “You’re watching the game?” Hope dawned on her craggy face. Sam nodded, and she broke into a huge smile. “That’s awesome. The team has missed you. So have the fans.” She reeled off some letters and numbers into her shoulder mic before turning back to them. “I’m getting someone to take you to your seats. I would”—she grimaced at the door—“but someone has to keep a sharp eye out.”

  “You always do a great job.” Sam smiled at her.

  She melted into a girly puddle and batted her eyes at him. Her glance strayed to Elizabeth and swept her up and down. Clearly not impressed with a woman accompanying Sam, she watched the busy foyer.

  Fans streamed past them in a variety of jerseys, clutching food and plastic cups of beer.

  “Wait here.” Elizabeth ducked to the nearest concession stand. The game was due to start and the crowd thinning, so she got to the end of the line quickly and was served almost immediately.

  Sam waited by the security guard, hands in his pockets, chin down and his cap hiding his face.

  “Here.” She shoved a beer and a hot dog at him. “If you’re going to be here as a fan, you may as well go large.”

  The gesture won her a reluctant smile of approval from the guard. She straightened. “There he is.”

  An older male guard sauntered up to them. “Hey, Lynn.”

  “What took you so long, Trent?” Lynn gave him a glare that would have scared a braver man. “I called over five minutes ago.” She jerked her head at Sam. “VIP needing assistance.”

  “Eh?” Trent tried to peer beneath Sam’s cap. “I didn’t hear about any VIPs at tonight’s game.”

  “I’m afraid I didn’t let anyone know.” Sam looked up.

  Trent took a step back, ducked his head and stared at Sam. “Stoney,” he whispered. “Jesus, Lynn, it’s Stoney.”

  “I know that.” Lynn rolled her eyes. “Now take him to his seat and see that he gets to enjoy the game without this lot bugging him.”

  “Are you supposed to do this?” Elizabeth whispered as they followed Trent.

  He kept his chin tucked in. “I didn’t bother to ask.”

  “Is this what Guy suggested?” People streamed around them, not even looking twice at Sam.

  Sam shrugged as they ascended the staircase to their seats. “He didn’t go into specifics.”

  Music pounded through the speakers. Around them, people chattered, laughed and found their seats.

  Trent showed them to a pair of seats, tucked against the player’s entrance and right behind the glass separating the player’s bench.

  Leaning in close, Trent lowered his voice. “We’ll make sure nobody comes down here who doesn’t have a seat.”

  “Thanks, Trent.” Sam held Elizabeth’s beer for her while she got settled in. Residual chill from the ice made the stadium cool.

  The announcer was reeling off stats as images flashed across the JumboTron.

  Some of the crowd responded, others went about their business of getting settled. The excitement surrounded her and stirred inside as Elizabeth looked around her.

  “I loved coming to games as a kid.” Sam had a whimsical smile on his face as he looked around him. “Of course then I was way up in the nosebleeds.”

  He’d worked so hard to be on the other side of the glass, given up so many things to make it happen. As a teen, he’d rarely had time for parties or messing around. Always, Sam had to be on the ice somewhere. “You’ll be back there soon.”

  “Thanks.” He kissed her knuckles.

  She nudged him with her shoulder. “How about we enjoy the game and get back to brooding afterwards?”

  The lights dimmed and the announcer’s voice filled the space to the rafters. “Ottawa, please welcome your Ottawa Titans.”

  Along with the crowd, she and Sam cheered and hollered. He put two fingers between his lips and whistled.

  The team filtered into the player’s box as the opposing team took the ice to a muted response.

  “To fun.” Sam held up his beer.

  Elizabeth tapped her cup against his. “To fun.” She peered at the opposing team. “Now, who are we playing?”

  “We’re playing the Strikers, and we need the two points a win will give us.”

  Elizabeth stared at the other team in their royal blue and white jerseys. “For the playoffs?”

  “Look at you.” Sam grinned. “With all the hockey talk.”

  She laughed and winked at him. “I’ve been practicing my hockey girlfriend routine.”

  “Is that what you are now?”

  The look in his blue eyes made her breathless. “I am for tonight.”

  * * * *

  The puck dropped, and the crowd surged to its feet with a roar.

  Sam went with them, but Elizabeth was ahead of him. Skates scratched across the ice, fans yelled, players thumped into the boards.

  At some point in the first period, he stopped noticing that he wasn’t sitting beside his teammates where he should be. Sure, he got into the game, but the woman with him made for much more entertaining watching.

  “Biscuit in the basket, boys.” She sipped her beer and handed it to him so she could clap. “Let’s get the biscuit in the basket.”

  “I’m fairly sure that’s what they’re trying to do.” Sam put her beer cup in the holder and handed her a hot dog.

  Around a huge bite, Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him. “Please! Are you watching this D? Why don’t they send a written invitation?” The crowd groaned, and she whipped her attention back to the ice.

  The Strikers surged on the goal.

  Defense crowded the paint and tried to push them out.

  The crowd went crazy. Elizabeth going right along with them.

  Guy snapped out a glove and saved a helluva shot.

  “Yes!” Elizabeth hopped up and down and pointed at Guy. “Yes, Guy. I love you, baby.”

  If he were on the ice right now, he would have shouted his encouragement to Guy, but it was hard to concentrate on much but the strip of taut, ivory flesh between Elizabeth’s jeans and that tiny shirt.

  The man behind them had his gaze stuck on her ass.

  Sam looked back until the guy gave him a what-you-gonna-do-boy shrug and went back to the game.

  Des
Jardins, the new power forward they’d taken on this season, snatched the puck on the rebound and took it up the ice.

  Lizzie was back on her feet yelling and screaming.

  Des Jardins passed it wide to the winger. Cabbot snapped it into the net to bring the Titans up one goal.

  That brought Sam to his feet and earned him a happy grin and a hip bump from Lizzie.

  The ref restarted the game, and Sam paid a little more attention. The Strikers would surge hard to close that goal gap. The Titans would surge even harder to make it a two-goal lead.

  The action on the ice heated.

  Sam saw it coming. “Left, left, left!” he yelled, but Des Jardins couldn’t hear him.

  Crowe, the big Striker’s d-man powered into Des Jardins, pounding him against the boards right in front of them.

  A minute or so of pushing and shoving, and Des Jardins shoved himself free.

  Yeah, if Sam was on the ice, Crowe wouldn’t have pulled that shit, because he’d have known that Stone would pound his ass twice as hard.

  As if he’d heard him, Mark Crowe glanced into the fans, caught sight of Sam and did a doubletake.

  “You suck,” he mouthed.

  Elizabeth gasped, and before Sam could respond, she’d rubbed her middle finger over her nose and pointed it right at Crowe.

  Crowe gave her a grin and skated back to his bench.

  “Did you just flip him off?” Sam had never seen this side of Lizzie, and he was digging it big time.

  She went a little pink. “Maybe.”

  “You totally did.”

  The horn went for the end of the first period and the crowd stirred. One goal up wasn’t enough of a lead, especially against the Strikers, and they would need to widen that.

  Elizabeth laughed and pointed. “Look.”

  Normally he missed this part because he was generally having his ass chewed out by coach.

  A couple got caught on the KissCam. The girl giggled and blushed and pointed. The man gave her the kiss the crowd wanted.

  The KissCam moved on and found another couple.

  A very familiar looking couple.

  “It’s us.” Elizabeth turned and gaped at him.

  Sam didn’t need a second invitation. He dropped his cap, grabbed Elizabeth’s face and went to work.