Lucky Score (The Hawkeyes Hockey Series Book 6)

I wake up before my alarm this morning, planning to get an early start to the day and get out of the house before Brynn gets up.

I let out an annoyed groan as I take a deep inhale, and my lungs fill with the smell of Brynn still on my bed sheets.

But when I walk out to the kitchen, Brynn and Rita are already sitting at the table with a cup of tea, and breakfast is already made.

‘You’re here early. Is everything okay?’ I ask, a little surprised to see Rita in my kitchen.

‘Well, good morning to you too,’ Rita says, pretending to be offended. She’s been around long enough to know what she gets with me. ‘And yes, everything is fine. Marie called this morning and said that their power is back on. I figured I should drive down to check on my house, too. Then I saw Brynn in the kitchen window and decided to stop in first to invite you both over for dinner tonight. Just a little thank you for yesterday.’

Dinner with Brynn?

Spending any more time together than absolutely necessary has proven not to be a smart idea.

‘Tonight isn’t exactly a good night. Cammy’s flying in tomorrow, and there are still a lot of repairs I need to get done before she gets here,’ I say.

Brynn looks over at me when I mention my niece’s name, but I don’t feel the need to explain that Cammy is my eighteen-year-old niece.

With Cammy coming to visit, I’ll need the guest bedroom back. Otherwise, Cammy will be sleeping on the pull-out couch in the living room, and that’s not my favorite scenario. I want Cammy to always feel like she has her own space and that I prioritize her.

Back in Seattle, during the season, Cammy and I don’t see each other as much as I’d like. Between my out-of-town games and her taking on extra classes in order to fast-track her sports management degree, I typically can only count on seeing her during my home games. But I’m happy to see her sitting in my seats every time I play on home ice.

She’s family, and since I’m not speaking to anyone else, I’m glad to have her living close, though I don’t like how some of the rookies look at her when she meets me down at the locker rooms at the end of the game.

As soon as Silas calls me back this morning to let me know if they have any availability,  I’ll know if I can move Brynn into a hotel room by tomorrow morning.

After last night, I think it’s time to put some distance between us.

I walk over to the coffee maker, load a single pod into it, and then push the start button.

‘Don’t be a buzzkill. I’ll make your favorite,’ Rita entices.

‘What’s his favorite?’ Brynn asks, pulling her cup up to her pink lips.

I wish I didn’t know how good her mouth tastes… or every other inch of her. And if I’d been able to control myself with her last night, I wouldn’t have her sweet taste still lingering on my tongue.

‘He loves my signature jambalaya, fried Cajun shrimp, hush puppies, and dirty rice. But I make it with a flare. It’s a family secret recipe,’ she tells Brynn. ‘If you want to win Seven over, the quickest way is to his stomach. Which I can already see that you figured out.’

I follow Rita’s attention over to the piles of food that Brynn made this morning. I hope that she didn’t slave away on Rita’s advice because what happened between us last night is beyond what a tall stack of pancakes can fix.

‘Actually, breakfast is more of a thank you and a sorry for last night,’ Brynn says.

I glance over to find Brynn sending a quick look my way. I don’t know if the thank you is for the multiple orgasms last night or for scaring off the asshole who grabbed ahold of her, but I have a damn good idea of where the sorry is coming from.

‘Those boys sitting at that table? I can’t believe what Marie told me had happened. It was a good thing that Seven was there to kick them out. I’m so sorry that you experienced that situation last night. I always want people to feel safe in our establishment. ‘

‘It’s okay, really,’ Brynn says. ‘And dinner sounds delicious; thank you for the offer. I can’t speak for Seven, but I’m free. Can I bring anything?’

‘Just yourself,’ Rita says and then looks over to me. ‘And can you put something in the firepit for tonight? I think a celebratory bonfire that our houses are still standing is in order. Brynn over here told me that you haven’t had one while she’s been here yet.’

When exactly did she think we would have had time?

The night Brynn showed up at my house attempting to break in? Or the night after that when a hurricane was threatening to blow down both of our houses?

‘We haven’t had a bonfire yet because we were a little busy trying to stay alive, Rita,’ I tease her.

‘Oh, you and your excuses,’ she says, waving me off. ‘Tonight is the night then. And I have the perfect bottle of wine to pair with it. I’d better get back to the house and get to cooking. See you two later.’

I watch from the kitchen island, sipping on my just-brewed coffee, as Rita gets up, leaves her mug of tea on the table, and then walks out.

The door opens and then closes behind her, and I watch out the window as Rita strolls back over to her house.

‘I made breakfast,’ Brynn says.

‘Rita’s wrong about what she said. Food isn’t the way to my heart.’

I feel stupid for even repeating it.

I walk over to the cabinet and take out two plates. It doesn’t look like she’s eaten either.

‘I have no motive except to apologize for what happened last night. I figured that making you breakfast would be a good start.’

I look over at her sitting at the table, not getting up to make her own plate of food.

‘You don’t need to apologize. It happened, now it’s over. In a week’s time, we’ll both be back in Seattle, and we can forget this ever happened.’

She withheld some vital information that I would have liked to have known before I fucked her until sunrise, but she didn’t cheat on the guy. And it’s not as if she and I were starting a relationship—it was just sex.

She doesn’t owe me anything, but this situation is too close to mirroring my past, and I’m not interested in repeating it.

Brynn is about to say something when my phone starts ringing.

It’s Silas.

‘I have to take this,’ I tell her.

I slide the unlock button and answer the call.

‘Hey, thanks for calling me back,’ I say.

‘I wouldn’t thank me just yet. I wish I were calling you back with better news, but after discussing the vacancies with my assistant manager and taking into account all the people still sleeping on our lobby floor and needing a room, I don’t have any availability. I should have some vacancies as soon as the airlines start catching up with rescheduling everyone today or tomorrow.’

It was worth a shot, though I knew the odds weren’t good.

‘I appreciate you for trying. We’ll figure out another arrangement. Let me know if a room opens up, will you?’ I ask.

‘You’ll be my first call.’

I could always ask Rita about Brynn staying in one of her two other guest rooms. Now that the power is back on and no storm is in view, it’s safe for Rita and Brynn to stay in the house.

‘I’ll let you get back to work. Drinks this week at the bar?’ I ask.

‘As soon as things slow down over here.’

We say our goodbyes, and then I set my phone on the countertop and start dishing up my food.

‘Was that Silas?’ Brynn asks.

‘Yeah. There aren’t any rooms right now, but he thinks maybe tomorrow. My niece is supposed to be flying in tomorrow morning, and I could use the guest bedroom for her.’

Brynn’s eyes drop to her mug, and she wipes at the rim as if trying to wipe off a lipstick smudge.

‘Right, I understand. This was always supposed to be temporary until I found somewhere else to go or got a flight back home. I’ll find somewhere; don’t worry about me.’

I don’t know where she thinks she’s going to find a place to stay. Rita’s is the best option that I can think of for the next couple of days, at least.

‘I’ll check in with Rita tonight about a spot for you. Are you going to eat?’ I ask.

‘Eventually. I think I’m going to take a shower first and then I’ll take a plate of food to my room. I have a lot of writing to do today.’

‘I’ll be outside most of the day doing repairs.’

Brynn stands up out of her seat.

‘I’ll see you before dinner at Rita’s then?’

‘Yeah, I’ll see you tonight.’

I continue to dish up, watching in my peripheral as Brynn walks out of the kitchen with her mug still in hand.

Ten hours later, I walk back into the house feeling spent from completing all the repairs and moving brush off the beaches.

I head for the bathroom first for a shower. I still have thirty minutes before dinner and I can make it fast.

As I enter the hallway, Brynn’s bedroom door opens, and I watch her step out of the guest bedroom.

‘You’re back,’ she says, jumping a little in surprise.

She looks beautiful, her hair down in loose waves cascading over her shoulders. It’s the first time I’ve seen her in makeup, and whatever she did to her eyes made the blue shine even brighter.

She’s wearing a tight-fitting white dress with a blue flower pattern that fits like it was made for her. If I thought she looked good last night, then I should call off dinner because staring at Brynn all night is going to be hard to resist.

‘I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m just headed to the shower and then I’ll be ready for us to head over to dinner.’

‘Oh, did you want me to wait for you? I just figured you’d come over whenever you’re ready, but I can stay—’

Shit, that was stupid of me to think that we would walk over together. She doesn’t need to wait for me. We’re not one unit. And Rita’s place is less than a hundred feet away.

‘No, that’s fine. You don’t need to stick around. I’ll see you both when I’m done.’

Her eyebrows downturn a little like she’s torn.

‘Are you sure because I can—’

I cut her off again. The last thing I need is for her to think that I have any attachment to the idea of us walking over together.

‘No, you should head over now. She’s probably popped that bottle of wine already and is looking for someone to pour a glass for. I won’t be long.’

‘Okay, see you over there.’

I nod and then turn into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

I took a longer shower than I originally planned and used the time to gather my thoughts. Tonight, I’ll ask Rita if she can take Brynn for a night or two until I get her a hotel room or a flight back to Seattle.

Once we both get back home and forget that the other person exists, life can return to normal, and I won’t think about the woman who showed up on my porch one night in Mexico and narrowly had me debating whether I was ready to date again after all these years.