Page 14 of No Pucking Way

Carter signed her notebook with a flourish, and the girl clutched it tightly to her chest, beaming with happiness.

Meanwhile, Jack was chatting animatedly with a group of kids who were eagerly asking questions about the game. He seemed patient and engaging, making them feel like they were the most important people in the world.

They seemed so down-to-earth at the moment, paying complete attention to the kids despite the bevy of babes waiting nearby.

It was kind of…cute.

“Kennedy,” my boss’s voice called from behind me. I turned and saw Todd standing there in the doorway.

“Management’s throwing a little reception for the team and the donors to celebrate the win. Any chance I could convince you to stay a little longer and help?”

I opened my mouth to politely say no—because I was exhausted.

“The pay would be overtime,” he cajoled, and my mouth promptly closed.

I wasn’t going to say no to time and a half. Not with how expensive living in this city was.

“Sure,” I said, and he shot me a wide smile. I liked Todd. He was respectful and fair, and he hadn’t hit on me. A winning combination for a boss in my book.

Picking up a few more stray glasses, I followed him down to the bar kitchen and dropped off the glasses for the cleaning crew before heading to where they were holding the reception.

I entered the bustling events room, slipping through the crowd unnoticed as I wound my way towards the bar where I’d be working for at least the next hour. The room was a whirlwind of activity, a blend of excitement, and chatter that filled the air.

My eyes scanned the room. There were the donors, easy to pick out because most of them were guys in suits, with the general air that they pissed excellence. Then there were the players from the team, their mere presence commanding attention. And in the midst of it all, there were the girls, each with her own strategy to capture the players' attention. Some engaged in subtle flirting, while others took bolder approaches. Like a crotch grab.

I’d definitely just seen that.

My reverie was abruptly shattered when the air seemed to shift. The atmosphere changed, and I felt a sudden rush of warmth spreading through me.

I turned my head, and there they were—Jack, Sebastian, and Carter, freshly showered and decked out in their team gear. They looked nothing short of stunning, their chiseled physiques accentuated by the snug fit of their t-shirts…their intense gazes meeting the clamoring crowd's adulation.

My heart skipped a beat as I watched them, my body getting that slightly flushed feeling again.

It seemed like everyone in the room had the same reaction. The room crackled with excitement, and a collective gasp of appreciation swept through the crowd. Women and men alike couldn't help but turn their attention to the trio as they made their grand entrance.

I watched from behind the bar, my own thoughts swirling as I observed the frenzy that surrounded them.

I dragged my gaze away from them, working on drink orders and collecting the tips that would make sure I wasn’t on a ramen diet this month.

Feeling like eyes were on me, I glanced up, only to lock gazes with Carter, who quickly jerked his head away after he’d seen me look. This happened a few more times. Enough that I wasn’t sure I could completely dismiss it as pure wishful thinking.

But why were they staring so much?

One of the guys from the suite I'd been serving earlier that evening sauntered up to the bar. He oozed confidence, flashing me what he thought was another charming grin.

Newsflash, buddy: it still wasn’t charming.

"Hey there, Kennnnnnedy," he drawled, drawing out my name like I should be proud of him for remembering it. "How about you take a few shots with me and my boys.”

Referring to his middle-aged friends as “boys” seemed like a stretch, but he could keep trying to live that dream.

“I’m not supposed to drink on the job,” I murmured, wishing that more people would come over so this guy could move on.

“Come on…one little shot won’t hurt. And then you can go home with me after this.”

I was momentarily stunned at his audacity, since his wedding ring was still glinting on his finger in the light.

I was trying to come up with a response when— “She’s not interested.”