The Wingman (Vancouver Storm, #3)

by Stephanie Archer

He jerks his gaze up. “Yeah? Why?”

Reflexively, I set my hand on his knee. I skim my hand over the smooth fabric to calm him, but his whole body jolts, and he knocks his water g...

“Shit.” He scrambles for his napkin to mop ...

I stare at him in amused confusion. I’ve never seen him like this. “What is up with you tonight? You’re supposed to be the cool, ...

His smile is sheepish, and a wash of pink spreads across his cheekbones as he swallows. “...

“Sure, you have.”

“Darcy, don’t be ridiculous.” His expression turns serious. “I already checked, and they don’t have Jell-O shots here.”

I burst out laughing, and a pleased grin cracks across his handsome features, like he loves to make me laugh.

“And maybe you don’t know everything abou...

My pulse trips. Living together, I’ve lost count of the things I never took notice of with him—how tidy he is, how he takes his elderly neighbor’s recycling out, how he’s happy to take a photo or sign something...

I realize with a pinch behind my ribs. Maybe he’s not dating right now, but soon, he’ll be back to normal. Bringing girls home. Sleeping with them on the other side of the wall.

He shrugs. “Just regular things.”

“Fuck,” he mutters, letting out a heavy breath and tightening his hand around mine. “Fucking hell, Darce.”

“Don’t make excuses for him.” His eyes lock on mine, sharp with intensity. “That was a really fucked-up thing for him to do.”

“I don’t want to come between you guys. I just wanted to explain why I freaked out.” His eyes are soft like velvet, so kind and understanding and affectionate that I want to drop myself into his lap, wrap my arms around him, and bury my face in his neck so I can inhale his warm scent and let him comfort me. It was a really fucked up thing for Kit to do, and the relief that Hayden thinks so too has all the tension in my chest dissolving.

Hayden frowns at our hands, then pulls his away, and the moment’s over...

I try not to deflate. He’s a touchy-feely guy,...

“Darcy, no.” His voice is firm as he pays it. “Don’t even try that.”

The server leaves, and I give him a grateful smile. “Thank you.” I pick my napkin up off my lap and drop it on the table, putting on a confident smile. “Let’s go home. I got you a little something.”

“Now?”

“I want to make sure it fits.” Satisfaction thumps in my chest when I catch Darcy’s eyes lingering on my taut stomach. I work hard. My body is my job, and I know what I look like. From the way she’s staring, Darcy does, too. “Excuse me, ma’am.” I snap my fingers, smirking and pointing at my face. “Eyes up here.”

She jerks her gaze up, her face turning an adorable shade...

I chuckle, flexing. “It’s fine. Go ahead and ogl...

“Oh my god.” She turns away as I change positions to show off more muscles. “Stop it, you egomaniac.” An embarrassed laugh s...

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” I flex my biceps, one at a time, and she cackles with laughter. “Are you getting too warm? I...

“I do miss this part,” I murmur against him.

His voice is low, his breath tickling my ear. “Which part?”

“Physical affection.” Nerves tumble around me. I should stop talking. “Cuddling. I miss cuddling.” I miss sex, and every brain cell in my head wonders what it would be like with him. Electricity snaps in the air, tense and sparking like the moments before a thunderstorm. He pulls back a few inches with a serious expression, his breathing uneven, and the hairs on the back of my neck rise. His entire thigh i...

His jaw flexes and he swallows. “Then we ...

Darcy’s eyes widen, pupils flaring past every shade of green in her irises, and my blood drums in my ears. Why did I say that? Because I want her. I want her so fucking badly. Being so close to her is agony, inhaling her scent and feeling the warmth of her skin, watching her pretty, plump lips curve into a pleased smile in response to the present I picked out for her. At dinner, she claimed buying gifts was one downside of being in a relationship, but shopping for her Valentine’s Day gifts was the highlight of my week. Spending money on her gave me an expanding sense of masculine pride. Buying her things could become an addiction if I let it.

My arm is still around her shoulder, and I can’t bring myself to move it. She’s so warm. Her hair smells so good. My control is shredded.

Hayden appears in my bedroom doorway a week later and I slam my laptop closed. “I didn’t even hear you get home.”

I’m trying to figure out why the Vancouver Storm are so bad at power plays when they use all their best guys on them. While watching Hayden’s games on TV this week, something about my old analytical models called to me.

They’re just for fun, though, and it’s not like I’ll ever show anyone. The last thing I want is Hayden telling me to back off. We stare at each other for a long moment, and I try not to think about the cuddling. We’ve carefully avoided it or any mention of Valentine’s Day while we texted all week.

“So, I was thinking—” I start.

“What are you—” he says at the same time.

We both let out light, awkward laughs. “Sorry.” I gesture ...

He shakes his head. “...

That’s when he really starts to remind me of Hayden.

The actor who plays Cadius isn’t as handsome as Hayden, though, and when I read the books, it’s Hayden I picture on those fantastical adventures. At the other bar, the actress who plays Queen Amethyst glances over at us, and an unhappy feeling twists in my stomach. “Queen Amethyst is giving you the eyes.” I try to keep my tone casual as I sip my drink.

“Is she?” Hayden glances at my lips around the straw.

“Yes.” After we walked in, she asked to take a photo with him, but he dragged me into it, too. “She mentioned she hadn’t seen m...

He shrugs. “It’s not like she’s going to have time for sightseeing. They were telling me about their shooting sche...

I can’t tell whether he’s being deliberately obtuse or not. “Hayden, the only sightseeing she wan...

Hayden blinks like I’ve grown another head. “What?”

He looks so serious and stricken that I start laughing. “Hayden, don’t be so uptight. I know you have one.”

His eyes flash with heat, his gaze drops to my mouth, and he swallows. “I don’t know. Depends on the situation and how I’m feeling.” A frisson of electricity runs up my spine at the dark look in his eyes. ...

My stomach dips at the image of Hayden in bed, giving his partner his full attention as he works to make her come. My pulse begins to pound between my legs, and...

“You?” he asks ...

My mind has gone blank, and I can’t remember a single position. I’m just thinking about Hayden in bed and what it would be like. His body is ridiculous, and paired with his thoughtful, fun-loving nature, sleeping with Hayden Owens might be a life-changing experience. No wonder he’s a rumored sex god. I get a mental image of him on top of me, pressing me into the bed with his size and weight. I’m on my stomach, and when he pushes inside me, my eyes roll back at the intense fullness of him, the sensation of his lips on the back of my neck, and the low rumble of his ...