Shootout Save

Chapter 2

PROLOGUE

(When it all Began)

Alison quietly crept away from Hailee, as Dom tried his best to get her friend to warm up to him. She saw the glint in Hailee’s eye; his efforts were working. But Dom still had a lot of work to do. Dom helping Hailee around the rink was much more romantic than Alison helping her friend. He definitely had smooth moves. She just hoped Hailee would finally let him in.

Alison skated towards the exit, where there were hockey players from the Renegades hanging out there. She liked hockey players. They were all tall, built, and handsome. But as she scanned the group of men, one stood out to her.

He had blond hair and a sexy smirk, and she was sure he looked familiar. She’d never been the world’s greatest hockey fan, but she knew some of the players. She’d always been a fan of the team captain, Tyler. But she was sure she knew this player. More recently, when she’d watched the game, she’d been taken with his skill, not to mention his looks… and in real life, he was even more impressive. Pretty sure that’s the goalie, Kaden O’Conner. Mmmhmm, he is a cutie.

Chills ran through her when she felt his eyes travel over her as she skated by.

“Hey there doll, you looked good out there on the ice.” He smirked and quickly nodded his head, while his eyes glided over her. “I like a girl who can skate.”

Stopping dead right before the ramp that exited off the ice, Alison spun around and flashed a sheepish smile. He’d called her “doll”, and so what if it was just a line; she liked it. “I teach ice skating, actually.”

“Oh yeah? Maybe you can teach me a few things. Eh?” The handsome blond hockey hero winked at her, suggestively. And she liked that, too. “So doll, where are you headed when you’re done here? Not going too far away, I hope.”

“As soon as my friend over there is done flirting with your teammate, we were just headed back to my place. It’s already been a long day.”

“So, I guess you wouldn’t want to accompany me for drinks after our team charity event is over? I always feel better with a cute blonde on my arm.”

He was so obviously a player, and normally that wouldn’t appeal to her, but at least he wasn’t trying to hide it. His frankness was actually kind of refreshing. And he was so hot, he could dissolve panties. She allowed herself to look him over the same way he had to her. I’d feel a lot better on his arm, too.

She answered before her brain gave his words too much thought. “Sure, why not?”

“Great. I’m Kaden, by the way.” He put his hand out for her to shake.

“Alison.” Did I just agree to meet him at a bar? Like a date? She wasn’t normally so bold, but what harm could it do just to spend some time with him? He might turn out to be a jerk, but she could still enjoy just looking at him.

“Well, Alison. You’re friends with Hailee? Make sure she tags along. I’m sure Dom would appreciate that.”

If she was going, so was Hailee; that was for damn sure. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Convincing her friend to tag along wasn’t easy but was worth the fight. Hailee needed some one-on-one time with her ex, Dom. And Alison needed to meet up with Kaden. It was always a dream of hers to be asked out by a hot hockey player, and while Hailee was pushing her hockey player away, Alison wished she had one. If not for the long haul, then just as a temporary distraction. Fun, that’s what she needed. She hadn’t had fun in… well, a long time. Then came Kaden.

Waiting at the bar for the hockey guys to show, Alison’s nerves had her trembling inside. They were hockey stars, after all, and had their pick from any of the gorgeous women pursuing them. But once she spotted them from across the crowded room, Kaden grinned wide as his glance met hers, and all nerves left her body. This might end up being a night to remember.

Approaching her from the side, he slid his arm around her waist and kissed her on the cheek, nestling his nose in her hair. “Mmm, don’t you smell good?” His words were soft in her ear, his hot breath tickled.

Her feminine senses came alive in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. The way her body hummed, she realized with surprise that she wanted to be with him anywhere but here. But she had come along with Hailee, and to be honest, she was just happy for some alone time with Kaden while Hailee was occupied.

It wasn’t long before Dominic Zanetti, Hailee’s ex, wanted to get out of there and go someplace quiet. But, Hailee being Hailee, strong willed, bull-headed, and anything but cooperative, she refused to leave. She purposely struck up a conversation with some college guys who were star-struck at first by Kaden O’Conner and Dominic Zanetti being at their hole-in-the-wall bar. That quickly changed.

Poor Dom did his best to steer Hailee away and get her to go home with him, but she insisted they stay and play a drinking game called “Quarters”.

Rolling her eyes out of annoyance, Alison lightly kicked her friend in the shin to show her displeasure. “It’s not every day I get to spend time with a hot hockey player. I don’t have that kind of luck like you, Hailee. Can’t you just give me that?”

Ignoring Alison, Hailee insisted on playing the drinking game with the college guys. Dom of course joined in to make sure she didn’t get taken advantage of, and unwilling Kaden was asked to join, too.

Giving Alison an apologetic look, he held out his arm to her and nodded for her to come close. “I promise we’ll get out of here as soon as we’re done here, but for now, I’d like you by my side,” Kaden said, with a devilish look in his eye. By his side was a good place to be.

Alison hung onto Kaden while they tossed quarters and drank shots. Hailee seemed to be losing miserably, and she wasn’t holding her liquor as well as she thought she was.

“Hail, don’t you think we should go?” she whispered to Hailee. “Can we find somewhere quiet where we can all talk? I’d love to get to know Kaden a little better, you know. I might not get another chance to come out with him.”

But her stubborn friend was in no mood to back down, not even to help Alison out in her desire for the hockey player.

Dom saw the game tilting in the wrong direction and made sure he and Kaden got most of the drinks that were left. Then he mumbled something about being done dealing with spoiled college brats, and dragged Hailee out of the bar.

Kaden’s weight was against Alison, and her body pulsed at the sensation.

“So, you wanna go somewhere, doll?”

“What did you have in mind?” He was flirting with her and she was enjoying every minute.

Kaden traced her jawline with his finger. Tipping her chin up so her lips met his, he kissed her. His lips were warm and soft, and moved against hers with a gentle, simmering passion. Ending the kiss just as she opened her lips to him, he backed away and pulled her with him. “Let’s go get a coffee, get to know each other a little.” Pulling her to his side when they hit the sidewalk, he whispered in her ear, “Then if you’d like, we could go back to my place for some fun.”

Yes, fun please. I’d even be willing to skip the coffee. “Hmm, sounds like a plan to me. I do like fun.”

“Good, so do I.” Kaden squinted his eyes in a sexy, devilish way. Then he dropped her arm to the side. “Hang on a minute, I have to tell Dom one thing before we go.”

She watched him walk down the cold sidewalk to Dom, because he was sure fun to watch walk away in those tight jeans. He quietly said something to Dom, then came back to her. “Hailee doesn’t look too good.”

As much as she wanted to get to know all of Kaden O’Conner, Hailee was her friend, and worry filled her mind now. “Wait, I should take her home.”

“Doll, that’s up to you, but Dom is a great guy who cares more about Hailee than she realizes.”

Alison looked over to where Dom was helping Hailee walk. His arms held her with such care, and the way he looked at Hailee with such reverence, reassured Alison that her friend was in good hands. They had history, and it wasn’t all bad like Hailee wanted to believe. It might actually be good for Hailee, who always thought she had to be in control, to allow Dom to take care of her for once.

Alison turned back to Kaden. “You’re sure he’ll manage?”

“You know he’s crazy about her. He’ll take care of her, no worries. I promise.” Leaning in close to Alison again, Kaden quietly added, his voice edged with l**t, “And I want to take care of you, if you’ll let me.”

Chills ran through her at his words and hot breath. He was a hockey player, emphasis on “player”. She wasn’t a fool. She knew this would be just a one-night thing. It was possible that he just considered her another puck bunny, but right now she didn’t care. She wasn’t sure why. There was just something about Kaden that made her want to be crazy, to let go and just enjoy the moment. His sexy smile warmed her to the core, and the way he flirted with his eyes made her knees weak. She was already in; to hell with her rules.

“Doll, do you like fun?” That sexy smirk did things to her body.

All she could manage was a nod. She would surely like the kind of fun that he had in mind.