Skate the Line: A Single Dad Hockey Romance (Blue Devils Hockey Book 2)

“She’s moving in?”

I move my skates off to the side and start lacing my shoes. “Well, she sort of already has. I’m picking up new furniture today.”

I don’t explain why I practically forced my new, young, agonizingly attractive nanny to move into my house, because I’d rather not face the jokes that would follow. It’s true that I felt sort of protective over her, but she and Ellie have hit it off, and she’s the first nanny that I’ve ever been able to trust for more than a day.

Of course I don’t want anything to happen to her.

She’s making my life a whole lot easier….until the recent memory of her stripping my jersey slips in, but I’m able to block the thoughts.

She makes my life easier.

Those thoughts do not.

Emory snorts. “Well, that was fast.”

I scoff. “Says the guy who married some woman he didn’t even know.”

He rolls his eyes. “It all worked out. Plus, you love Scottie.”

Kane inserts himself to the conversation. “We all love Scottie.” His shit-eating grin pulls Emory from his seated position. Kane rushes off with his laughter following.

Kane isn’t immature. He’s simply acting his age.

I’m just the grumpy old veteran of the team who apparently needs to lighten up—at least, according to Malaki and some of the younger players.

Even Sunny had mentioned something along those lines too.

She didn’t come right out and say it, but I made a simple joke, and it completely silenced her.

I sigh loudly when Malaki comes up beside me. “What do you want, Young?”

“I was just going to ask if you needed some help getting the new furniture in the house?”

I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder. I eye him suspiciously. “You want to help haul heavy boxes of furniture up two sets of stairs?”

He shrugs. “I have nothing else to do.”

I narrow my gaze. I see right through his helpful gesture.

Malaki is curious. The entire team is. Word has spread after the last game where Kane purposefully pissed me off, per usual, by mentioning my new nanny and how hot she was to the entire fucking team.

If we hadn’t won, giving my mood an uplift, I probably would have strangled him.

Nonetheless, I do need help carrying the boxes.

“Fine, but if you make some comment about fucking my nanny…”

Malaki pretends to be offended. “I wouldn’t do that.”

Half the team laughs.

Matthew steps forward and says he’ll help too, since his fiancée is out of town. I thank him and head out the locker room where I find Emory out of breath from chasing Kane.

“You and Scottie busy here in a few?” I ask.

“No, why?”

I hate asking for help.

“Can you pop over and help carry some furniture upstairs?”

Emory nods. “Yeah, man. Sure.”

I thank him.

At least two out of three who are helping won’t beat their dick off to Sunny later on. That’s better than nothing, I guess.

I pull up in my truck and grumble.

Malaki isn’t in his car.

No surprise that he’s already inside, probably trying to sweep Sunny right off her feet.

They’d be perfect for each other, actually. She’s a bundle of sunshine, and he isn’t too far off.

I sigh loudly and open the front door. I’m immediately hit with the sound of loud laughter echoing from the kitchen. I see Sunny’s shoes by the door, and Ellie’s are right beside hers. It’s sort of…nice to see.

I specifically told Sunny that she didn’t have to clean my house, but since moving in a few days ago, I’ve noticed that she isn’t listening.

It smells nice in here.

Maybe it’s her.

Maybe it’s the floors.

Either way, I’m not going to complain.

The farther I walk through the house, the more worried I get. Who else is here?

“Oh, and get this…” someone says. “She literally left a trail of her bras in the hallway to lure him into her bed.”

My shoulders tense. I told him that in confidence.

Sunny’s soft laughter spills onto my irritation and calms it. Barely.

“It’s no wonder he was so skeptical of me,” she mutters.

“How could anyone be skeptical of that face? I’d marry you right now.”

I pause.

My jaw flexes.

That voice belongs to Kane, who I specifically did not invite.

“Nice try,” Sunny says. “I don’t date.”

“What? Why don’t you date, love?”

An Australian accent?

For fuck’s sake. Why is Cooper here?

I slowly make myself known, though Sunny is unaware. Her back is to me, and I do a very good job at keeping my eyes to myself, even if she is wearing a shirt that I’m sure could fit Ellie. Sunny’s tanned skin peeks from below, and I’m certain it would catch the eye of a blind man.

I wait for her answer before walking farther into the kitchen—mainly because I’m also wondering.

Kane sees me and grins like a fucking maniac before putting his eyes back on her. “You off the market, babe?”

Babe?

She shakes her head, and again, I feel a weird sense of protectiveness come over me.

I step forward and save her the trouble. “I made her sign a contract that says she won’t fraternize with any of you womanizers.”

Malaki stands and throws his hands up. “Is that even legal?”

Sunny spins quickly and seems shocked to see me. Her cheeks turn a bright pink.

I catch her eye and shoot her a reassuring look. Don’t worry. I’ve got this.

Leaning against the table—that I can’t help but notice is clear of any of its usual clutter—I cross my arms and glance to my teammates. All of them. “What are you all doing here?”

There’s an obvious chill to my question.

Malaki smiles to himself and sits back down on a barstool. “I was invited.”

Oh, he thinks he’s off the hook?

“Yeah, but why are they here?” I point to Kane and Cooper—two of the biggest man-sluts on the team.

“Someone spread the word that you needed help moving some furniture.”

I wiggle my jaw back and forth and stare at Kane. If it weren’t for Sunny being in the room and him being so good with my daughter, I’d probably punch him right in the jaw.

“I had it covered,” I say, coming around the countertop to grab a beer out of the fridge.

I’m going to need a drink so I don’t accidentally throw Kane and Cooper down the stairs later.

The popping of the tab draws Sunny’s attention to my hand. When she pulls her eyes back to mine, I’m half-tempted to ask her if she wants one.

“Ellie is looking at the paint swatches with Scottie and Emory.”

I tilt my head with confusion.

“For my room. I hope it’s okay that I had Marco take us to the hardware store to grab some paint swatches.” Her soft laugh is no more than a wispy breath. “She was pretty insistent we paint it.”

I gulp my beer when my phone dings with an alert telling me that someone is approaching the door. “I sure hope you didn’t let her pick the colors,” I joke.

Sunny rolls her lips together.

Oh, great.

“Let me guess…” Malaki taps his fingers against his chin. “She picked some shade of…pink?”

I grab my phone while still giving Sunny my attention.

“Yes…and…”

I raise my eyebrows.

“Purple?” he asks.

“Mm-hmm…and…”

I chuckle. “The rainbow.”

Sunny smiles brightly and points at me. “Ding, ding, ding.”

I shake my head. “You do not have to paint your room in rainbow colors.”

Although…it’s sort of fitting.

“I told her she could pick. I’m not going back on my word now. It’s all about trust, remember?” She throws her hands up in defeat, and I keep myself from grinning by glancing at my phone.

I slice my attention to Kane, and he’s looking anywhere but my face.

“Did you tell the whole goddamn team to show up?” I hiss.

“Who, me?” Kane acts completely nonchalant. “Must have been Coop.”

“Oi, mate. Don’t throw me under the bus.”

I place my hands on the counter and drop my head.

Sunny clears her throat, and I glance up at her. “This really isn’t necessary. I could have just carried the boxes myself.”

Malaki, Cooper, and even Kane stare at her like she’s insane.

I don’t think she’s insane, but I do think she’s used to doing things on her own, or making due with whatever issue comes her way, just like staying in a house with a broken lock and creaky windows.

I stand upright, and everyone looks at me. “Since you’re all so eager to help, go get the boxes out of my truck. You can put the furniture together too.”

“We’re manly men,” Malaki announces. “We’ve got this.”

They all shuffle toward the door, glancing at Sunny on their way out. I scowl when Kane winks at her before heading in their direction.

I do the same because the quicker this is done, the better.

“This really is too much.”

I stop right away and look back at her. She’s nibbling on her thumbnail. “The twin bed was fine,” she adds. “Or if anything, I would have helped you carry the boxes.”

“What kind of man would I be if I made you lift heavy boxes up two sets of stairs?” I ask.

She crosses her arms defensively.

“I could have done it.”

My lips twitch. “Oh, I have no doubt.” The more I get to know her, the more I can see that she’s Miss Independent. “But again, I’m a gentleman, Ms. Edwards—something you clearly are unfamiliar with.”

Angry lines appear around her pursed lips.

I turn and smile to myself as I head for my truck. My amusement disappears as soon as I catch my teammates staring at Sunny from the entryway.

“I’ll have Coach Jacobs make you guys skate suicides until you vomit,” I warn.

They scatter like marbles because they know I’m not kidding.