Just Don't Fall (Sweater Weather, #1; Appies, #1)

by Emma St. Clair

Boss.” I’m saved from my dark thoughts when a big man fills the doorway. His eyes go from Parker to me, and he grins. He’s got a dark beard, darker eyes, and a shaved head. Probably one of my teammates. I realize now I should have looked at the roster before arriving. But I was too stuck in my head to even think about it. Now I’ll just look like some egomaniac who thinks he’s a big shot. “Van,” Parker says, leaning back in her chair, which makes a loud pop. I wait for it to break, but it holds. For now. “Aren’t you supposed to be with the trainer right now?” “Just stopped by to say hi,” he says, and I don’t like the way he’s smiling at Parker. More like—he just stopped by to flirt. Parker wiggles her fingers in a cutesy wave. “Well, then, hi. While you’re here, this is your newest teammate, Logan Barnes.” I stand, shaking his hand as we size each other up. He seems like a friendly guy, and I’d appreciate it more if he didn’t keep smiling at Parker like that. Since when am I the possessive type? Especially with someone I’m not even dating? But the tension in my shoulders doesn’t ease until Van is gone after “welcoming” me. Okay, what he actually said is that he’s looking forward to tearing me up on the ice, but it’s the same thing. Parker leans forward again, looking like she’s about to launch into whatever she planned to tell me when she lured me in here, but another guy shows up. “Boss,” he says, knocking on the door frame. He doesn’t smile—doesn’t look capable, actually....