The Trouble with #9 by Piper Rayne

Iblink to make sure that that’s actually Paisley in the booth, that I didn’t conjure her up in my mind. After a shitty game where I spent more time in the sin box than on the ice, I need a few shots and a good meal.

Ford heads toward the other guys while I beeline to the other side of Carmelo’s and slide in next to Paisley. “What’s up, doc?”

Her eyebrows raise and I chuckle. It’s a well-known fact the Fury hang here after every home game, so she can’t be surprised to see me. Some of us only stay for a meal and others will be here until closing.

Rachel, the usual waitress, comes over and places a glass of red wine in front of Paisley and a martini that holds more olives than vodka in front of Jana. “Usual, Maks?” Her hand rests on my shoulder.

“That’d be great. Thanks.”

She smiles and walks away.

Paisley’s having some kind of nonverbal conversation with Jana, but when Jana spots me watching, she smiles and sets her attention on me. “Nice game, Maksim.”

“We both know it was a crap game and your dad’s gonna have my ass for it.”

She waves me off. “No. He loves you. Thinks of all you guys as his sons.” She fishes an olive from the glass and slides it off the toothpick.

“You seemed more angry than usual,” Paisley says. I’m surprised to hear her chime in.

“I thought you didn’t watch hockey,” I say, remembering her telling me that on New Year’s Eve.

She shrugs. “Jana drags me to some games.”

“What?” Jana’s forehead wrinkles. “Ouch.” She leans down and rubs her leg, giving her best friend an evil stare.

I don’t call them out on their bullshit. I’m confident I’ll get it out of Paisley in due time.

Rachel brings me my vodka straight up. “Hungry tonight?”

I glance at the two women seated at the table. “Are you guys eating?”

“No,” Jana says at the same time Paisley says, “Yes.”

Again, they have some conversation with their eyes. Watching their friendship play out reminds me of Armen and me. We were like brothers.

“What are you having?” I ask Paisley.

“Pasta.”

I look at Rachel. “I’ll have the mussels dish I usually get.”

“Coming right up.”

I stretch my arm across the top of the booth and Paisley watches the move intently. “So, what brings you ladies here? Don’t be shy, you can say it’s me.”

Jana laughs and shakes her head. “Hockey players and their egos.”

“We came here as babysitters because Ford can’t seem to stay out of the press.”

Paisley speaks the truth. Ford’s been a little out of control, but now that he’s gonna be a daddy in a few months, I’m sure he’ll calm down. Or knowing him, he might try to get it all out of his system.

“Maybe I need a babysitter,” I say and wink at Paisley.

She sips her wine, ignoring my flirtation.

“You need one on the ice,” Jana says. “Why are you so angry out there?”

I look at my boss’s daughter, hoping what I’m about to say will get back to my boss so he will get off my ass. “I’m not angry. I’m protecting my boys. Someone has to do it when the ref has a blind eye.”

She nods. “That’s kind of noble, but don’t you care about your own game?”

“That is my game. I’m a defender. I defend.”

“Some would say that you’re taking the rules into your own hands,” Jana argues, poking another olive with her toothpick and bringing it to her lips. Jana’s not my type, but if she were and she wasn’t the boss’s daughter, I’d find her eating an olive highly erotic.

Maybe I can convince Paisley to have one.

“Maybe.” I shrug. “Some might say that, but I make sure my boys skate off that ice at the end of every game.”

Paisley takes another sip of her wine, pretending she isn’t listening to our conversation.

“You’re an interesting person, Maksim.” Jana smiles, so I’ll take it as a compliment. “I’m heading to the jukebox before Ford takes all the songs.” She slides out of the booth.

“Guess that only leaves us.” I grin at Paisley.

She sets her glass down and her fingers twirl the stem in a circle. “Feel free to join your teammates.”

I glance over my shoulder where some are already hanging with the groupies while others are shooting the shit with one another. “I’d hate to leave you alone.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“According to you, I do though.” I smile brightly and get rewarded with a small chuckle that she stops abruptly.

“Actually, I said Ford.”

“Looks like Jana’s got that under control.” I nod across the room to where Jana is lecturing Ford about something over by the jukebox.

Rumors have spread that Jana might end up taking over the team soon because Gerhardt wants to bring another professional sports team into our town. The change would be interesting, that’s for sure.

“She’s tough,” Paisley says.

“How long have you guys been friends?” I ask before taking a sip of my drink.

“You do know there’s an empty side of the booth over there.” She points at the other side.

I chuckle. “I’m fine where I am, but thanks for your concern.”

Rachel brings our dishes at the same time, placing them in front of us.

“Looks great. Thanks, Rach.” I slide over to the other side of the booth, and Paisley looks at me as though she’s trying to figure out what I’m up to. I answer her unasked question. “I like you, and if you’re a loud chewer, I don’t want that to ruin this budding relationship.”

She stares blankly at me.

“Come on. Haven’t you ever been interested in someone just to find out they have some trait that drives you crazy?”

She unwraps her silverware and places the napkin in her lap. “Can’t say I have.”

“Well, think of it this way, I like you too much to find out if you have one just yet.” I wink, and she shakes her head and forks her pasta. “I will say one thing though, I love that you ordered food.”

“Do most people you’re interested in not eat?”

I laugh, but more times than not, they don’t. Or they eat something super small, like a side salad, definitely not a plate of pasta. “They do, but it’s different.”

She sets down her fork, wipes her mouth. “I’m curious, how many girls are we talking about?”

“Do you really want to compare numbers right now?” I arch an eyebrow.

She shrugs. “I don’t care anyway.”

“Doesn’t matter, I guess. Even if you say one person, that’ll be too high for me. I hate the idea of you with another man.”

Her fork slips from her fingers this time, resting on her plate of pasta. “What are you doing?”

Is my game that off?

“I thought my intentions were clear. I’m hitting on you.”

“I’m your therapist. You can’t hit on me.” Then she mumbles something, but all I make out is the word Jana.

“Okay then, let’s just enjoy a dinner together.” Maybe that will help her relax.

She forks her pasta once again and continues eating, never looking at me. We eat in silence for a while.

I glance around the room to see where Jana disappeared to, but I find her with Aiden and Saige, all of their eyes on Paisley and me. “Don’t look now, but we’re being watched.”

Paisley shakes her head. “I never should’ve come here.”

“Why do you say that?” I down a mussel and pick up my fork.

“Because people are now speculating about the two of us and I have to remain professional. Having people think I’m your postgame piece of ass isn’t going to earn me the respect I need in order to do my job.”

The bite in her tone makes me smile. I like this feisty side of her. Still, I never thought about how it would look to the other guys. I’m not known for sleeping with puck bunnies, but if they start speculating that I’m nailing the therapist… she’s right, they might not take her seriously. And because I have too much respect for her, I decide to cool it with my flirting.

“I’m sorry. You’re right. How about we just eat our meals?”

Her fork hovers over her plate of pasta and she gives me an appreciative smile. “Thank you.”

A few beats of silence pass, and I hear Ford’s voice carrying over everyone else’s in this place.

“So… I might actually be a big fan of hockey,” she says.

My fist pounds on the table. “I knew it.” Then my gaze scatters across the room. The music is too loud for anyone to hear me. “Favorite position?”

“Goalie.”

I snap my fingers. “Damn. Should I call over Roadie?”

She shakes her head. “No. Plus he’s married with two kids.”

Although that doesn’t stop some players, I don’t say that. “True, but I’m sure he’d sign your tits.”

“Maybe my ass too?” She feigns excitement.

I laugh because we both know she’s not that kind of woman. “What is it about hockey? What spurred your interest?”

“Mr. Gerhardt buying the team. I didn’t know anything about the sport until he brought the Fury down here. Jana always dragged me along to the games because she didn’t want to go alone. I fell in love with it.”

“I’ve loved it since I was old enough to skate. Probably before that. My dad played on a men’s team when I was younger, and my mom would take me all the time. Funny enough, that’s how I met my best bud, Armen.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.

Her eyes widen and I love the genuine interest in them. “Does Armen play?”

“No,” I answer truthfully without giving her any other information. She’s my therapist, and if I go into Armen’s story, I might as well open a vein and bleed out my pent-up emotions all over her.

“I guess I assumed you both played professionally for some reason.”

“Nope.” I shake my head and press my lips together. “You and I meet again in two days.”

She nods.

“I heard someone say you’re traveling with us?” I ask, hoping it’s true. I might have to cool it in front of my teammates, but who cares what happens behind closed doors.

Her face scrunches up. “No, I don’t think so.”

“That’s what I heard.”

She must hear the conviction in my voice because she puts down her fork and pulls out her phone, scrolling through. Her jaw falls open and she looks at me. “You’re right. Mr. Gerhardt just sent me an email.” She shakes her head. “Good thing I don’t have too many clients to maneuver around.”

“Just wait. Do you know how to play Oh Hell?”

She shakes her head.

“I’ll teach you.”

Her eyebrows shoot up.

I place my hands in the air. “Platonic. I swear.”

Maybe I need to take what I can get for the time being, but I’m not giving up.