Body Check (Blades Hockey, #4)

by Maria Luis

Matt’s smooth voice echoes over the speakers: “Hello, my dear Blades. So good to see you all again! It’s been too long.” A chorus of male voices rise up behind me: “We missed you, Hard-Ass!” “It’s been months, man! You been laid yet?” “Matt, what’ll I have to pay to exchange the shitty crackers you’re about to give me for a big, juicy steak?” There’s a strangled chuckle, and then, “Mr. Harrison, I’ve missed you too. Mr. Hartwell, that answer is between me and my nonexistent partner, thank you very much. And, Mr. Cain, you’ll eat the crackers and you’ll like it.” The sounds of masculine groaning at the back of the plane makes me grin. This back-and-forth ribbing has run rampant for years now. Luckily, Matt knows how to hold his own. Something he proves when he adds, “You all know that I won’t be repeating myself when I say, if I catch any of you watching porn on this flight, I’ll kick you off while flying thirty-thousand feet in the air. No parachute. Your fans will be disappointed—don’t test me. Our travel time is a few minutes shy of three hours, and we’ll have you ready for the Predators by 8 a.m. Sit back and enjoy, gents. It’s good to see you again for another season.”