Major Misconduct (Aces Hockey #1) (3 page)

“It’s sweet,” Jenna said.

“Thank you.”

“Uh…Marc?”

Marc blinked and turned to Angel. “Yeah?”

She tipped her head to one side. “I just asked when your next home game is.”

“Oh. Uh…tomorrow night.”

“Oh wow. I’d love to go.”

His gaze was drawn back to Lovey as she laughed, flipping her hair back and smiling at Brent, then picking up her drink to take a sip. She leaned closer to Sadie and said something in her ear, which made the other woman smile. You’d think they’d been best friends for years.

What was it about her?

“Marc?”

Once more he looked at Angel. She gave him a crooked smile. “You want to move down there?” She jerked her head toward Lovey.

“Uh…no. Sorry.” He shook his head. Damn, he was being rude. “Gotta hit the men’s room. Be right back.”

He slid off his stool and made his way through a door and down a short hall to the men’s room. Shit. He could not be lusting after Army’s little sister. That was all kinds of wrong. All kinds of trouble. He needed to get his shit together and ignore her. Especially since they were sharing an apartment for the next…who the hell knew how long.

When he returned to the table he discovered everyone was looking at menus, preparing to order food. This was good. He was starving. He didn’t even need to look at the menu to know what he wanted—call him predictable, but he ordered the same burger—the Chicago Cowboy with spicy barbecue sauce, bacon, sautéed onions, and cheddar cheese—every time he ate there. Rupper kept nagging him to try something different, but he knew what he liked.

His eyes were drawn back to Lovey again, as she kept asking Rupper questions about the menu. “So what kinds of cheeses are on the Cheese-lovers’ burger?” She flashed him a dimpled smile. “I’m a knowledgeable cheese girl.”

“Jack, cheddar, and Swiss.”

She pursed her lips, eyes moving over the menu. “I don’t know…”

“Do you like things spicy?” Rupper asked her.

Her lips twitched up. “I do like things spicy.”

Flirt.

Rupper laughed. “Good to know. How about spicy food?”

She grinned. “Yeah, that too.”

“Then I suggest the Cajun burger.”

“Okay.” She slapped her menu shut. “Done.”

Several baskets appeared on the table, compliments of Rupper—sweet potato fries, fries tossed with truffle oil and sea salt, onion rings, and deep-fried vegetables. Everyone helped themselves as they placed their orders.

Marc was trying to ignore Lovey, he really was, but the next time he glanced her way, she was looking at him. Like,
really
looking at him. And she didn’t let her gaze bounce away, like sometimes happens when you get caught staring at someone. She smiled in a way that squeezed up her eyes and shot heat straight to his gut, then lifted her drink to him in a little toast.

He couldn’t stop himself from smiling back. She was just so damn appealing.

Apparently Angel had given up on him and had shifted in her chair to talk more to Stoykers and Jenna. On his other side, Army chatted with Rupper. Marc glanced at Lovey again. She was watching him again, smiling. Then she slid off her stool, picked up her second pineapple margarita, and moved toward him.

Fuck. Nowhere to run.

Why did he want to run? Jesus. She was Duncan’s sister.
Sacrament,
he could at least be nice to her. She seemed nice. Maybe a little flaky. Flighty. Absolutely not the kind of woman he was usually interested in. He almost rolled his eyes at the thought. Marissa had been way different…a mature, stable woman who took her banking career seriously, carefully planned each move, knew what she wanted and how she was going to get there.

But then again, she’d ditched him because he wasn’t romantic enough. It still boggled his mind that she’d wanted romance. Apparently he was supposed to send her roses and take her on a horse-drawn fucking carriage ride downtown. She was so smart and mature and career-oriented, he’d had no clue she wanted sappy shit like that.

Lovey slipped in between him and Angel. Angel glanced at Lovey, lifted her eyebrows, then turned back to Brent.

“Hey,” Lovey said, leaning on the table. “You look left out.”

Great. He repressed a grimace. Nice to appear pathetic. “Nah,” he said. “Having fun?”

“Yes!” She leaned closer and he caught a whiff of her scent…for some reason, she smelled like cupcakes. Delicious. “This is a great restaurant. Army brought me here last time I visited him in Chicago.”

“That when you met Jared?”

“Yeah.” She nodded, smiling. “And Brent. And a couple of other guys…but not you.” Her forehead creased. “Maybe you were busy.”

“When was that?”

“Ummm…I came for a weekend last spring. First round of the playoffs.”

“Yeah. Well, I don’t go out a lot during the playoffs.”

“Ah.” She nodded. “Right. Duncan said you’re very focused.”

He’d also had a girlfriend who’d been very focused on spending time together. But he didn’t say that.

“He calls you Captain Codger.” Lovey tipped her head. “What does that even mean?”

He sighed. “I have a reputation for being serious about my game. My career. The guys figure I’m an old man.”

“Oh.” She gave him a look, one corner of her mouth kicking up, one eyebrow lifted. “That sounds…admirable.”

“You mean boring.” He’d heard it before. From Marissa, among others.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You were totally thinking it.”

She grinned. “Captain Codger, you have a little complex, I think.”

Marc frowned. “I do not have a complex.”

“No?” Lovey studied him. He totally did. Why was that? “So you’re not boring?”

“I like to have fun as much as the next guy.”

“Unless it’s playoff season.”

His eyebrows jerked together again but he caught her eye and seemed to realize she was teasing him. His face relaxed. “Yeah.”

“So you’d be up for some wild partying tonight? It’s my first night in Chicago. Let’s go crazy.”

“Uh…I have an early morning skate. And a game tomorrow night.”

She smiled and lifted her chin. “That’s a no, then?”

He sighed. “Okay, I
am
boring.”

“Oh come on.” She nudged his upper arm with her shoulder. “There are lots of ways to have fun. I was totally kidding about a wild party night tonight. Okay, maybe not totally.” She flashed him a smile. “But it’s understandable that you wouldn’t party all night the day before a game.”

“Some guys do,” he muttered.

“Those guys are not team captain. In fact, those guys are probably third or fourth line players who will never be Stanley Cup champions or all-stars or Olympians. Am I right?”

He drew back a little bit and regarded her with raised eyebrows. “Uh…yeah.”

“You’re a professional. One of the best players on the team. In the entire NHL.”

“How do you know that?”

She smiled at him. “I’m not an idiot. My brother plays for the Aces. I watch games.”

“Huh.”

He seemed surprised by this.

“I grew up watching hockey.” Her fingers moved on the stem of her margarita glass. “I guess it kind of sinks in through osmosis.”

“Yeah. You coming to the game tomorrow night?”

“You going to get me tickets?” She met his eyes, smiling.

“Sure.”

Lovey turned to look at Angel, who had just made a noise…an exhaled “guh” that sounded like exasperated disbelief. Angel rolled her eyes and turned away. Lovey blinked. When she looked back at Marc, he had his hand to his forehead, rubbing it, eyes closed. Then he shook his head and straightened. “Army’ll get you tickets.”

Lovey tilted her head and looked back and forth between Marc and Angel. When she’d walked in, she’d immediately seen the other woman’s interest in him, Angel hanging on his arm and fluttering her eyelashes at him. Lovey wasn’t sure why it had bugged her, since she’d barely met the guy and had no claim on him whatsoever.

She leaned in closer to Marc and whispered in his ear. “Sorry! Am I stepping on toes?” She moved her head in Angel’s direction. “Were you getting
her
tickets to the game?”

He shook his head. “No. And no.”

“Were you getting lucky with her?”

He choked on his beer. “Uh…”

“She’s interested in you. Want me to back off? I don’t want to cramp your style.”

He gave her a long look, and their faces were so close she could see the dark ring of blue around his lighter blue irises, his insanely long eyelashes, the faint white scar above his upper lip. She wanted to touch that scar…trace it with her fingertips. Kiss it.

“Fuck,” he muttered. “Don’t look at me like that.”

She swallowed and widened her eyes. “Like what?”

He shook his head. “Never mind. You’re not cramping my style, but your big brother is giving us looks that indicate extreme displeasure.”

Lovey swiveled her head to look at Duncan. Yeah, he was glaring at them. He jerked his chin up and narrowed his eyes at her and she could read the words, “What the fuck?” in his expression. She grinned.

She leaned in closer, her lips next to Marc’s ear. “Guess what? I’m not afraid of him.”

“I am,” Marc muttered.

She laughed and patted his forearm where it rested on the table. “Right. You’re bigger than he is.”

“Not by much and he knows how to throw a punch.”

“I’ve seen you fight,” she said. “I think you can defend yourself. However, this is crazy talk since he is not going to be beating you up. I’ll handle him.”

“I have no doubt about that. But Lovey…don’t use me in your manipulation tactics with your brother. Duncan’s my friend.”

Lovey’s mouth dropped open as she absorbed his words. “Hey. I’m not using you.”

“No?” Again their eyes met and held. Again, something passed between them, a definite tug. He felt it too…didn’t he?

“I’m just talking to you.”

“Well, maybe you should go back and talk to Sadie and Jenna.”

Her heart tightened in her chest, a hurt feeling she didn’t like. She straightened her shoulders. “Yeah. Guess I should.”

She pushed away from the table, giving him a big smile that felt strained, and returned to the stool she’d been sitting on at the other end of the table.

It was just as well, since a few servers appeared carrying their plates of food. Lovey picked up her burger, but felt unaccountably…something. Disappointed, maybe. She shot Marc a glum look, and dammit, he was watching her again.

He’d been watching her almost all night. She couldn’t help but notice because she kept looking at him too. There was something about him she found so attractive…she’d always liked big guys, again possibly a result of growing up with a brother who hung out with a bunch of hockey players. She liked the shape of his lips, the lean sculpted jaw, his blue eyes. She’d definitely liked his body when she’d seen him nearly naked earlier.
Definitely.
But there was more than just the physical appeal. She liked his amusement at Marc, she enjoyed his self-deprecating humor, which was maybe extra-attractive because he was a mega superstar athlete, and she liked his intelligence. She’d met her share of hockey players who could barely form a complete sentence. Marc was smart.

Then there was that hint of French accent that honestly made her panties nearly catch on fire.

She sighed and picked up a French fry. She’d gone down there to talk to him because she kept feeling his gaze on her. Why’d he push her away when clearly he felt the attraction too?

Men.

She’d never had any trouble attracting guys. The hard part was getting rid of them when they got too serious. What was Marc afraid of? She wasn’t looking for anything long-term. The word “commitment” made her freckled skin break out in hives. What was wrong with having a little fun?

Oh yeah. Captain Codger. Not into fun.

Well, damn.

She nibbled another fry, watching him. Maybe he needed to learn to let loose a little. She narrowed her eyes at him. Yeah.

“I really don’t like that look on your face.” Duncan spoke from beside her. “What’s up?”

She gave her brother an innocent look. “Nothing.”

“Uh-huh.”

He knew her too well.

She smiled. “Just enjoying the food.” She looked at Jared. “This burger is really good, Jared.”

“Told ya.” He grinned. He was also a good-looking guy. He wore his nearly black hair cut short and precise, and dressed stylishly—tonight he was wearing narrow black pants and a gorgeous sweater that buttoned at the neck. He was also single. As was Brent. Hell. She didn’t need to be hurt that Marc had rebuffed her. She’d have fun anyway. And so she set about flirting with Jared and Brent, ignoring the icy waves of disapproval that continued to emanate from Duncan. And from Marc.

Everyone ended up back at Duncan and Marc’s condo later. Booze was purchased, music was blasted, drinks were consumed. A few other players showed up, some of them with girls. Lovey was a party girl and in her element, flitting from group to group, getting to know people, flirting with handsome hockey players. It was two in the morning when she noticed Marc had disappeared.

She looked around for him with raised eyebrows. When had he left? Where had he gone? To bed? Surely not! How could he sleep with all this noise? Why did he want to? Was he okay?

She slipped away from the party and down the hall, gave a soft knock on his door, then cracked it open. The room was dark, just enough light coming in the window to see his bulky shape beneath a big puffy duvet. He didn’t move.

She frowned. Was he sick? She slid into his room and padded across the carpeted floor to his bed. She bent over and touched his shape with one hand. “Marc?”

Still no response.

She grimaced and set her palm on his forehead to see if he was feverish. He bolted upright, flinging his arm out to knock her away, then stared at her in the dark.
“Tabarnak de câlisse!”

She jumped back, hand going to her throat. “Sorry!”

“Lovey?” He pulled earplugs out of his ears and she blinked. “What the hell are you doing in my room?”

“I was worried about you! You disappeared. Why’d you leave?”

“It’s two in the morning! Didn’t I tell you we have an early skate tomorrow?”

“Oh. Yeah. Um…everyone else is still here.”

He closed his eyes. “I should’ve kicked their asses out. In fact, I’m gonna do that now.” He threw back the covers, revealing his big muscled body, and Lovey’s fingers closed around her own throat as her stomach did a little flip. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and her gaze dropped to his lap. Oh thank cheese-its, he was wearing boxers. Or maybe she was a teensy bit disappointed about that. “Goddammit.” He stood, towering over her. “They need to take responsibility. If any of them is yawning and dragging their asses tomorrow, I’m gonna take names, for fuck’s sake.”

He strode toward the door.

“Wait!” Lovely clasped her hands together in front of her.

Marc stopped and turned to her. “What?”

“You’re…not dressed.” She waved a hand up and down. “Um…there are women out there…”

“Oh. Yeah.” He shoved a hand into his perpetually tousled hair.

For some reason Lovey did not want him strutting nearly naked out there in front of those other women, most especially in front of Angel. “I’ll tell them to go. I’ll get Duncan to help.”

He narrowed his eyes at her, then shook his head. “No. I’ll do it. Give me a minute.” He took a few steps to a chair in the corner of the room and grabbed the jeans he’d been wearing earlier. He pulled them up over his boxers, shoving a hand inside them to unself-consciously adjust himself.

Lovey’s pulse spiked and heat gathered low inside her.

He flicked up the zipper and button and then reached for the doorknob. She sighed. Oh well. A shirt was maybe too much to ask for. Not that she wasn’t enjoying the view. She trailed behind him down the hall to the living room, where music still pulsed, watching his long-legged athletic grace, the many muscles in his back, the bulging muscles of his shoulders and upper arms.

Holy hell and shitfire. Her legs went weak.

“Okay, assholes, get the hell outta here,” he shouted in the living room. “At the rink at ten o’clock, for Chrissake.”

All eyes turned to him.

Lovey bit her lip as she leaned against the wall and watched. Were they going to be pissed? Would they even listen to him?

Duncan reached for the sound system and turned the music off. Silence expanded around them.

“Yeah, sorry, man.” Andrew stood up from the couch. “You’re right, it’s late.”

“If you guys are hungover tomorrow, I’m gonna nail your asses into the boards,” Marc threatened. “Your head is aching, just wait.”

“I’m good.” Jared stood too. “Didn’t drink that much. Chill, dude.”

Marc rolled his eyes.

“Okay, g’night everyone.” Duncan herded people to the door.

Lovey gaped at how everyone obeyed Captain Codger, even apologizing, for the love of cheese. His teammates clearly respected him.

“You’ve got my number, right, handsome?” Sadie said to Duncan.

“Uh. Yeah.” Duncan looked like someone was about to take a slap shot at him.

Lovey rolled her eyes. Her brother was a big redneck goof. She never got why girls thought he was so attractive.

“Got time to nap in the afternoon.” Olaf Pilkvist moved to the door. “No worries, Captain Codger.”

Lovey’s lips twitched. Then she watched Angel assess Marc’s impressive chest. Blergh.

“Sorry, ladies.” Marc shot them a small smile. “Someone has to keep these guys in check.”

“Good job, Captain,” Angel said in a throaty voice. She ignored Lovey standing near the hall. “See you again sometime?”

“Yeah, sure. Maybe.”

Lovey’s smile tugged her lips again. How noncommittal he was. Well, at least she knew he wasn’t an asshole.

The guys grumbled, but the condo was empty within minutes of Marc appearing.

He turned and saw her standing there, watching him. “Oh. Hey.”

“Sorry to barge into your bedroom. I wasn’t thinking.”

“What the fuck, Lovey?” Duncan demanded. “What’d you do?”

She rolled her eyes. “I was just worried about him. He disappeared without even saying good night. I thought something was wrong.”

“Nothing other than the fact that he’s the world’s biggest party pooper.” Duncan didn’t even try to hide the comment from Marc.

Marc just laughed. “Shut the fuck up. You just didn’t have the balls to kick them all out.”

“I was having fun.”

Marc shook his head. “I need sleep. G’night.”

“Christ. Do I really have to sleep on the couch?” Duncan turned to Lovey as Marc disappeared.

“I’ll sleep on the couch. Don’t be ridiculous. You’re way too big for it. And you need a good night’s sleep. As Captain Codger pointed out, you need to be in good shape tomorrow.”

Duncan shook his head, but smiled. “Thanks, Lovey. We’ll get you a bed tomorrow.”

“I have a bed. I’ll just get it shipped. I can sleep on the couch a few nights. No big deal.”

“Monday morning you start looking for a place of your own.”

“Sure.” Sure she would. She wasn’t going to find something she could move into the next day. Even she knew that. But if it made Duncan feel better, she’d agree to it. She also had business things to attend to Monday morning.

“Sorry, Lovey. Wish I had an extra bed for you.”

“Oh, Dunc.” She moved to him and gave him a hug. He’d been so annoyed earlier that she’d showed up with no notice, annoyed that she’d quit her job…again. Trying to get rid of her. Now he was worried about her. “It’s okay. I came here without letting you know. I’ll make do. I have a bedroom, I put my stuff in there. I’m fine sleeping on the couch tonight.”