Meet Your Match (Kings of the Ice, #1)

by Kandi Steiner

But that was the infuriating truth, wasn’t it? Any woman who wasn’t smiling and laughing and being amicably pleasant was a bitch. I wore the insult with pride.

“Interesting that you’re still thinking about her this morning.”

“Well, I haven’t been insulted so many times in a ten-minute period since rookie camp, so let’s just say she left an impression.”

“Maven King is her full name, by the way. You should look her up.” “With all my free time,” I joked.

pulled up Instagram and typed in Maven King.

how I was going to survive a month up close and personal with the cockiest sonofabitch I’d ever met. And the hottest one, too.

“I’m an angel. It was you who insulted me the first night we met.” “I imagine your ego is inflated enough to handle the blow.”

“Just pretend like I’m not here.” “Easier said than done when you look like that.”

“I’m not wearing your jersey,” I shot at him, folding my arms over my chest. He turned, walking backward through the tunnel on his skates. “Wanna bet?” “Only if you want to lose.” Vince shrugged, smiling like he’d already won. “I’ll take my chances.”

“But so far, it feels like normal. She told me to just pretend she isn’t here.” Will snorted at that, which told me he was wearing those headphones more for show than anything else. “I agree with Daddy P,”

Show her some respect, or I’ll make you show it.”

“We won’t rag on your girl.” “Don’t hit on her, either,”

“No can do, peach. I’ve got long legs I need to stretch out.” “More like he’s afraid of flying and being too close to the window makes him shit his pants,” Carter chimed in.

“And don’t call me peach, either,” she said. “What should I call you, then,” I asked. “Girl of my dreams? Siren of the seas?”

“How about Maven, since that’s her name,”

“We call him Daddy P, though,” Jaxson cut in. Maven’s brows tugged inward. “Why?” “Well, because he’s a daddy —

“But also because he’s iron-fisted and hands out punishment like a dad,” Carter explained. “And he treats the puck like a boy trying to take his daughter on a date and his daughter is the net. No access granted.”

“Because his last name is Fabri,” Jaxson interjected. “And because his game with the ladies is absolute shit, so calling him Fabio is ironic.”

“What’s your nickname?” “Mr. King.” She frowned. “Why?” “Because when we get married, I already know you’re too independent to take my last name, so I guess I’ll have to take yours.”

“He’s Vince Cool to the outside world, but with us, he’s Tanny Boy,”

“Because on our first night out he got wasted on car bombs at O’Briens and kept requesting ‘Danny Boy’ even though the band was playing Southern Rock, not Irish music.”

“You can call me whatever you want to. Just make sure you like the name you pick.” I leaned in a little closer, lowering my voice. “I have a feeling you’ll be saying it a lot. Maybe in different decibels, too. Might want to try screaming it loud and high-pitched, just to make sure it feels right.”

“You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?” she asked. I leaned even closer. “Be honest. You would hate it if I did.”

He didn’t shave on game days, and he also brushed his teeth not once but twice — once after he finished his coffee and another time after he had his pre-game snack, which was a piece of wheat toast slathered in peanut butter and topped with bananas.

He got dressed in a very particularly order, and he packed his bag to take to the stadium in a very particular way, too. When we were getting close to ready to leave, he dropped to the ground and did four pushups. Only four. Then, he surprised me further by calling his little sister.

“Come on, sis. Gotta give the people what they want.” “Isn’t what they want supposed to be you scoring goals?” “Yes,” he said. “And making them cream their panties.” “Ew!” she screamed at the same time I said, “Gross!”

“What’s next? Going to hop on one foot, rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time?” At that, Vince gritted his teeth, the muscle of his jaw flexing under his skin. “Can you stop being such a bitch?” My jaw fell open at that. “What did you just—” “A bitch. That’s what I called you. Because that’s what you’re acting like.”

“Maybe this isn’t important to you. Maybe all you can focus on is getting your little photos and videos and likes and shares. But just like that’s your career, this is mine, okay? It’s my whole fucking life.” He stepped even closer. “It’s important to me. And if you can’t respect that, then we can’t work together.”

“You’re such a bastard,” I said, lifting my chin to let him know I wasn’t backing down. “So, what? I’m a bitch because I didn’t smile

tell you how adorable you are when you do idiotic, superstitious stunts before a game?”

“Fine,”

“I’m sorry. How dare I not understand why it’s so important to turn on your closet light before a game? I promise to be more respectful of your precious little rituals.” I smiled sweetly. “Okay, Tanny Boy?” His hand shot out so fast I couldn’t register it.

The next, he had my chin gripped tight between his thumb and forefinger, his knuckle guiding my chin up even farther so he could properly look down at me. He was just above me, his lips maybe only an inch from mine, so close I could smell the mint on his breath when he spoke. “If only you had something better to do with this smart mouth of yours.”

I should have been appalled. Intimidated. Scared, even. Instead, I was aroused.

All I could focus on was his hazel eyes and how they darkened the longer he stared at my mouth.

never said they were stupid,” I defended. “But… does this mean we have to fight before every game now? Because we did, and you won, so…” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw with a devilish grin.

“Sounds like fun to me,” he said, his eyes following the line of my necklace where it dipped under my blouse. “But only if we get to kiss and make up afterward.” He waggled his brows as I flattened my lips.

just… I am a creature of habit and routine, especially when it comes to game days. I can get a little crazy, I guess.” “I’m sorry, too,” she

“For making fun of the process. I was curious at first, but then, I admit I found it a bit bizarre.” She chuckled at that. “And then I saw how worked up you were getting and I…” “You wanted to push my buttons.”

Then, her smile leveled out, eyes searching mine, and I wondered if she was remembering what I’d done...

“It’s okay,” I told her. “I like to push yours, too.”

“You picked a good girl to date, son.” “Oh, she’s not my girl,” Vince said, his eyes twinkling a little bit when they met mine. “Not yet, anyway.”

was spending part of his day off with people most of the world turned their back on. Therefore, the world could wait. Right now, in this moment, Vince Tanev was for my eyes only.

“I’m… free. Free of expectations, free of the pressure I put on myself in every other aspect of my life. If I fuck up,” he said, wetting the wheel a bit before firing it to life. The clay spun centered and beautiful for just a moment before he pushed too hard on it and it warped, nearly flying off before he cut the

power on the wheel. Then, he quickly reshaped the clay and put it back in place again, as if it’d never happened. “I just start over.” My chest tightened as a smile found my lips. “That’s kind of beautiful.”

“What’s his last name?” “Why?” “Just think I should know his last name before I wipe him from the face of the planet.” I blinked at him, and then I laughed, tilting my head back and letting it bark out of my chest. “Shut up.”

“I just haven’t found the right person yet.”

“I just want someone who challenges me, who fires me up and makes me want more. Someone who makes my life better.” He swallowed then. “Not someone who just wants me because of what I do, of who I am, of what they think they can get from me.”

“Hey, I’m not a virgin anymore.” “Does it count if it’s just the ass?” Maven asked. That made us all laugh harder.

“Alright, alright, alright.” We quieted at that last one. “I’ll come.” Her eyes found mine when she said those last two words. And I couldn’t help but lick my bottom lip, hoping for the chance to make that statement true.