Pucking Around: A Why Choose Hockey Romance (Jacksonville Rays Book 1)
Pucking Around: Chapter 96

“This is the last one,” I say with a tired sigh, snapping the buckle closed on one of our wheeling medical boxes. Moving a hockey team isn’t all that different from moving a rock band. It’s an elaborate dance, with everyone knowing their roles. I release the brakes on the box and wheel it forward. Two of the assistant EMs step forward and grab it, adding it to the line of boxes being loaded onto the truck.

What a disaster of a game. Between Jake getting himself booted out, and Novy opening his face on the ice, I’m ready for the world’s largest glass of chardonnay. Poor Novy. It was a total freak accident. He got dropped to the ice and a Toronto player tripped over him. Only problem is that they all have sharpened metal knives for feet.

One look at Novy’s gushing face, and I sent him straight to the ER. It’s a gnarly cut, following the line of his jaw up under his ear. I’m a glorified physical therapist, so I wasn’t about to do stitches. And Novy is a playboy millionaire with a string of fashion brand endorsements. Leave it to a plastic surgeon to fix him up nice and pretty.

Poor Langley looked like he was going to be sick at the sight of all the blood. And Poppy was a shrieking mess, tears streaming down her face as she all but shoved me into the back of the ambulance, shouting that someone had to go with him.

By the time one of the cops at the hospital brought me back to the arena, the game was over. To add to the drama, all my guys seem to be missing.

I pack up the last of my odds and ends, shoving them into my backpack. “Hey, Teddy,” I call as he walks past. “You seen Compton around anywhere?”

He shakes his head. “Nah. Sorry, Doc.”

With a sigh, I sling my backpack onto my shoulder and start walking in the direction of the locker room. We only took two cars here today and I have no keys. Unless I can replace one of my guys or steal their keys, I’m stuck here. I can’t imagine they left without me.

I turn the corner and a deep voice calls from the far end of the hallway.

“Rakas!”

I spin around with a relieved sigh to see Ilmari marching towards me, a wide smile on his face. My stomach does a little flip. Damn, he’s so handsome. Brooding Ilmari makes my pussy purr with excitement. But a beaming Ilmari? I may as well be pregnant. And with the way he’s looking at me now, with that devastating smile that reaches all the way to his eyes—

“Ohmygod,” I gasp, my heart suddenly fit to burst. I know why he’s so happy. In the chaos of tonight I forgot all about the scouts. “Oh my god!” I cry, dropping my bag to the floor and rushing forward.

We collide, my hands going to his shoulders as his drop to my waist. My senses fill with the comforting scent of him, freshly washed from the showers. His hair is still in a wet knot on his head, his pregame Rays shorts and hoodie tight against his bulging frame.

“Kulta, what—”

He silences me with a kiss, groaning out his need for me as he glides his hands over my ass, pulling me closer. I know what he wants. On instinct I jump, and he lifts me, growling into our kiss as he turns me into the wall. My legs wrap around his waist, and I let him feast, my fatigue utterly forgotten.

“Kulta—baby—” I pant between kisses. “Tell me.”

“I got it,” he says on a breath. “It’s mine.”

“Oh, thank god,” I cry, trying to hold him closer, wanting to share his skin. “I’m so proud of you, Ilmari.”

“Mä rakastan sua,” he mutters. “En voi elää ilman sua. Mennään naimisiin.” He pulls back, his hips holding me pressed against the wall as his large hand lifts to frame my face. Those beautiful dark blue eyes stare into me, unraveling me. “Mennään naimisiin,” he repeats, his voice gravelly. “Sano joo, Rakas.”

Tears in my eyes, I shake my head with a smile. “I only caught maybe half of that. You know I love you too, right? I love you so much.” I kiss him again, slower this time, savoring each one.

“Oh, what the hell is this?” comes a deep voice.

We break our kiss and Ilmari and I both turn our heads to see Doctor Avery standing there with his backpack slung over his shoulder. He scoffs, shaking his head. “You riding the players now, Doc? Is tonsil check a new service we’re offering?”

Ilmari loosens his hold on me as I shimmy down to the floor. He keeps his body pressed in close against mine, like he’s trying to block me from Avery’s view.

Shit. This does look bad. But I really don’t care. I’m not going to let Avery ruin this moment for Ilmari. Putting a smile on my face, I place a soothing hand on his arm. “Ilmari was just offered the starting spot on the Finnish Olympic Team,” I call down the hall. “We got a little carried away celebrating.”

Avery huffs, grabbing my discarded backpack by the handle and walking towards us. “And what does he get if he makes the medal stand?”

I tense, hating his smug fucking tone. He thinks he’s catching us. He thinks this is a dirty secret and he means to use it if he can. I square my shoulders at him. “Hmm, I hadn’t thought,” I say, tapping my chin with a finger. “I’ll probably offer to sit on his face. I know how much he likes that. Gold medal will definitely have to be something special. Maybe I’ll finally let him get me pregnant.”

“Rakas…” Ilmari mutters low in warning, his hand wrapping around to grip my hip.

Avery stills, his gaze darting between us. “Wait—you guys are together? Like, for real?”

“Not that it’s any of your goddamn business, but yes,” I reply. “Ilmari and I are together. So, you can take whatever shitty ideas you have about holding it over on us and forget it.”

He huffs a laugh. “Oh, this is rich. I was coming to replace you, Doc. Coach is looking for you. Apparently, your other boyfriend finally got himself caught with his pants down tonight.”

I go very still, trying to school my features.

Avery smirks. “Judging by your expression right now, he wasn’t caught with you. Good to know. That just won me a bet.” He turns to Ilmari. “Oh wait—did you not know, Mars? About the other guy? Or maybe you’re the other guy.”

“Don’t,” I murmur, holding tighter to his arm. “He’s not worth it.”

Avery just huffs again. “Just one guy’s opinion, but I’d hold off on knocking her up, Kinnunen. Sounds like she may already be pregnant…with another dude’s baby.” With that, he drops my backpack to the floor at my feet and saunters off back down the hall.

“I hate that man,” Ilmari growls.

“Forget him,” I say.

“He won’t stay quiet. He’ll tell everyone.”

“Sounds like it may already be too late.” Dropping my hand to my side, I take his, weaving our fingers together. With my free hand, I duck down and grab the strap of my backpack. “Come on. We need to replace the guys.”

“Doctor Price!”

Ilmari and I both spin around, hands held fast.

Coach Johnson is standing at the opposite end of the hall. He waves us down. “We’ve been looking for you! Come on. You too, Kinnunen.”

“Oh shit,” I murmur. “Off the ice, and into the fire we go, huh?”

Ilmari gives my hand a squeeze. “Lead the way, Rakas.”

Taking a deep breath, I hold Ilmari’s hand and walk us down the hall towards our fate.