Face Off (Seattle Serpents, #2)

by Teagan Hunter

This place belongs to Rory Sinclair, the twin sister of my teammate’s girlfriend. She’s standing right in front of me. And she hates me.

The words trail off as the stranger lifts his head. Because this isn’t a stranger. Not at all. This is someone I know. Someone I hate. Fine, maybe I don’t hate him, but I certainly hate everything he is—a total playboy who thinks he’s God’s gift to women.

“Just get over here. She clearly wants you to.” A slow grin curls his lips. “Does she now?” I narrow my eyes, knowing exactly what Lawson is insinuating—that it’s me who wants him closer. Not a chance, I tell him with my hard stare.

She’s smitten with him because of course she is. I’m sure every woman—other than me, of course—in a hundred-mile radius is obsessed with him. He’s just that kind of guy.

She’s pushing into him, trying to climb out of the heated blanket and toward him, but he doesn’t let her. I like that he doesn’t let her. That means he knows how important it is for her to get warm.

I would think his Christmas traditions would include baking cookies with Satan or stealing toys from kids with the Grinch and Max, but I guess spending it at the movies works too.

“How did you do that?” The words sound harsh even to my ears, so it makes sense that Lawson gives me a smirk I want to slap away. “Chicks just dig me.” I groan, unsure if it’s because of what I just had to hear or because there is a tiny, minuscule—and I mean so, so small it’s practically nonexistent—part of me that wants to laugh at his lame joke.

Lawson beams—but not at me. No, he’s too entranced by the puppy, who is now licking at his hands, kissing him like he’s the greatest thing she’s ever encountered, and to her, he likely is. The needy thing just doesn’t know better, I guess.

Sure, she’ll get adopted quickly because everyone loves puppies, but I like the idea of Lawson taking responsibility. I have a feeling it’s not something he does too often.

She grunts. “Lawson.” I can’t help but smile at how she says my name, like she’s completely annoyed by me. It’s not the first time I’ve had it happen, and I’m almost sure it won’t be the last time. I’m a bit of a handful for just about everyone.

“Could you please just get to the point?” I’d ask her if she’s always this grumpy, but I know she is.

“Don’t feel too flattered. That’s not exclusive to you. I love watching the world burn.”

I have nothing else to say, not really. I just don’t want to get off the phone, and I hate talking on the phone. Am I that desperate for companionship?

“Out with it already, hockey boy.” I smile. Only she could be this grumpy on the most joyful holiday there is.

When Hutch first brought Auden around, I thought she was gorgeous. Then I met Rory and realized, as pretty as Auden is, Rory is even more beautiful. They may be twins and look alike, but they couldn’t be more different in the way they carry themselves.

“Miss me that much, Rory?” “In your dreams, hockey boy.”

“You, Lucas Lawson, are a player. And I don’t mean a hockey player. You use. You take, take, and discard like it’s nothing. You think you’re a godsend to everyone and walk around with a smug, obnoxious grin. You’re the exact kind of guy I want nothing to do with, and your whole schtick of playing cute and innocent with rescuing the dog last night isn’t going to work on me. I see through you, and I don’t like what I see.”

It’s no secret I don’t do commitments of any sort outside of my hockey contracts. But am I truly that bad, or does it just sound bad when she says it? I feel the answer to that question isn’t what I want it to be.

“Maybe, but she gave me the look when I tried to leave, and well, call me a sucker because there was no way I was going to leave her home alone after that.” “Sucker.” She says it so matter-of-factly. So…Rory-like.

Most women in my presence would be tucking their hair behind their ears or fluttering their lashes to get my attention. Not Rory. Never Rory. I like that. She’s wholly her. A little grumpy and gruff, but her.

I’m too enraptured by Rory tossing her head back, her body shaking as she makes the most awful noise. It’s terrible. Truly so loud and embarrassing. Yet, somehow, I can’t seem to look away…or hate it. I should really, really hate it, and I should really, really not want to hear it again. But I do.

“It’s…” I glance down at the dog, who hasn’t bothered to move an inch since we sat down. She’s completely dead to the world, and completely adorable. “Daisy.” “You totally pulled that out of your ass, didn’t you?” “Of course not.” I grin, but it’s a lie, and we both know it. Somehow, the name fits her perfectly, and I couldn’t imagine it being anything else.

And then goes back for more. And more. We’re sharing popcorn, our hands brushing repeatedly, but Rory doesn’t move to take her hand away, and neither do I. This is not at all how I expected this day to go, but I can’t remember the last time I was so content.

That’s how I ended up spending a holiday with the guy I can’t stand, the same guy who snuck in a damn puppy to the movie theater. Who even does that? And why…why do I find it so adorable?

Lawson and hot? Yes. I have eyes; it’s very clear he’s attractive. Lawson and annoying? An even better combo. But Lawson and adorable? No. They don’t work together, ever…except for when they do, I guess.

“Where are you?” “Why? You miss me?” “Only in your dreams, Lawson.”

“Good. Because I’d hate to have to miss hockey because I had to fly back home to take care of her.” “You’d do that?” “Since I want to win Best and Hottest Dog Dad of the Year, then yes. I’m expecting big trophies, too.”

Are you going to ask me what I’m wearing next?” “N—” “Because it’s a suit, in case you were wondering. We have the option to wear whatever, but I like how I look in a suit, so I figure why not?” Of course that would be his reason.

“Oooh, sleepy Lawson is sassy Lawson.” “What? You can dish it but can’t take it?” “Oh, I can take it.” The second the words are spoken, I regret them.

His voice is gravelly and low and so…hot. How did I never notice how hot Lawson’s voice is? No. Not hot. Annoying. Lawson is annoying. Everything about him is annoying, especially his voice.

“That smile when I mentioned Auden’s sister. You’re into her, aren’t you?” “Who, Rory?” “Who, Rory?” he mocks with a laugh. “Yeah, Rory. You got a thing for her.” “I do⁠—” “Don’t. Don’t try to bullshit me. I watched several idiots on the Carolina Comets fall in love. I know that look when I see it. You like her.”

Hell, I don’t want her to fall for my shit either, but I’d rather it be mine than his.

“Did you say hi to our daughter?” Rory sighs heavily. “Once again, we’re not co-parents, Lawson.”

“Why? Were you hoping I was June or July? Eager to see me in swim shorts?” “No.” But the word is missing her usual bite. I lean closer. “I’d have to take my shirt off. To match the summer theme, of course.” She swallows. “Ew.”

“I bet you’d be the first to volunteer to rub the oil all over my abs, wouldn’t you, Rory?” I say it to see her squirm, to see if my words affect her, and they do. Her breaths come in sharper, chest rising and falling rapidly. When her eyes slide my way, there’s something churning in them I haven’t seen before: lust. “No, thanks. I’d prefer to keep my breakfast down today.”

It’s what she needed to do, because if Rory had stayed, she just may have had to admit she likes me. And I like the idea of that entirely too much.

I was fighting off his advances without Lawson’s help. He didn’t need to step in and get all growly. Was he jealous? Or was he just being protective because he knows Gregor is married? I don’t know, but I had to walk away after that. Not because I was mad at him for stepping in, but because, if I’m being honest, I liked that side of him entirely too much.

When I finally got my shit under control, he just had to tease me about wanting to see him shirtless and rub oil all over him, which started a whole new kind of marching in my heart.

It would start innocently, then he’d say something stupid and I’d rip his shirt off, running my hands that were miraculously oiled all over him.

It was completely illogical, yet I couldn’t stop my body from responding to it. It makes me hate Lawson even more, the way he got into my head, and now, thanks to him, I’m behind on work. Again.

“Fine. I love you, Aurora Rose Sinclair.” I want to gag at my full name. I hate it. Why would they name me after a Disney princess? Lawson was right—I’m much more like Wednesday Addams than a princess any day of the week. I hate that Lawson was right.

I don’t want her to mean him. I can’t want her to mean him. It’s Lawson. I don’t like him. I’m sure all this heart pounding is because of yesterday and my lack of having sex for over a year. That’s all it is. I look at his name on my schedule again. Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.

I’m not excited about seeing Lawson tomorrow. Not at all. I don’t care what my damn heart says.

I have to keep myself busy. If I don’t, I might stop and think about why I’m all amped up, and I really don’t want to do that.

I’m nearly to his place, and I still haven’t calmed down. Who does Lawson think he is? Wasting not only my time but others’ too?

I lift my hand to knock a third time, but it’s pointless because the door isn’t there anymore. It’s been wrenched open, and standing in front of me is Lawson…and he’s shirtless. No. Not just shirtless. He’s wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung gray sweatpants that leave little to the imagination, and holy hell is my mind running wild. I know logically it’s because of what he said at the photoshoot on Sunday to get me all riled up, but that doesn’t stop my body from responding to the sight before me.

There’s a smattering of hair across his chest and his abs. I didn’t know it was possible to have that many or for them to look that sharp. I figured with hockey, Lawson wouldn’t look bad shirtless. I guess I just never expected he’d look this good either.

The first thing I notice is that he needs a shave. The second is that he looks good unshaven. The third is that he’s wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses that have no business looking so good. And the fourth is that it is very, very clear I woke him up.

He bends to scoop Daisy into his arm, his bicep popping as he snuggles her close. I will not be jealous of a dog. I will not be jealous of a dog. I will not be fucking jealous of a dog.

He lifts his arm, raking his hand through his hair. Why is it suddenly so hot in his building? They must really be cranking the heat. I get that it’s January, but damn.