Puck Bear Brides: Complete Series (BBW Werebear Paranormal Sport Romance Boxed Set) by Anya Nowlan Page A

“but you don’t even watch hockey” died on her lips along with any denial she might have been formerly ready to rattle out.
    “I can’t believe you,” Nicky said with a shake of her head, her expression tight but her smile wide. “You should have at least introduced us!”
    “I was embarrassed, honestly. I mean, we met at a bar and we ended up hitting it off and one thing led to another and then he was in the cab and in the apartment and… God, I’m such an idiot,” April said, letting her head fall on her arms with a thunk, the loud music in the bar one block down from the office drowning it out well enough.
    “Why? I mean, I’m not mad,” Nicky said, making April glance up.
    Nicky’s eyes seemed a little cold and distant, but her smile was genuine enough now. Nicky reached out her hand and put it on April’s, rousing her from the fit of self-pity she’d been trying to disappear into all night.
    “Honestly?” April asked.
    “Cross my heart and hope to d… well, not die, but at least meet the rest of the Bluehawks if I can’t get my claws into Memphis,” Nicky said with a giggle. “I swear, I won’t touch him. I don’t steal from friends!”
    That last part was said a bit too lightly and with maybe a tiny bit of undertone that April was quick to dismiss as Nicky clinked the shot glasses together with her and they both swallowed another bitter mouthful.
    “That’s good to hear. I’m really sorry Nicky. I just don’t really follow hockey that much and even when he said his name, it sounded familiar but I didn’t put two and two together and—”
    “Say no more, I get it! But tell me, what are you going to do now? Is he hitting you up a lot on SassyDate? Have you seen him again?”
    April shook her head, fighting the desire to pick up the phone and scroll through their old messages again like she’d been doing far too often lately. He was sweet and a bit raunchy just like he was in person, but she never felt uncomfortable chatting with him. Quite the contrary. Putting the phone down every night was hard as hell because she just wanted to keep going!
    “I haven’t,” April admitted. “He’s in Idaho for practice games. Though I understand their rink is about to go up so they’re going to start playing in an official capacity again.”
    “Ooh! Do they have a name yet?” Nicky asked, obviously more up to date on the whole world of NSHL and hockey in general than April was.
    “I think they’re calling themselves the Shovelers or something. Not sure.”
    “Ew. Okay. Has he maybe invited you to a game or something…” Nicky asked, trailing off, obviously fishing for information.
    “He has,” April admitted, feeling the corners of her mouth tug up a little. “He has a training camp and a practice game next week that’s supposed to be low-pressure and he and the team would have time to hang out. There’s even some kind of an inn or something near town, but I was supposed to be working and I didn’t really want to go alone.”
    April pursed her lips in thought, shaking her head a moment later as Nicky visibly perked up.
    It’s a stupid idea. You just hung out with him for a few hours, there’s nothing there! And he’s a hockey player, they’re all players… it’s in the title!
    “You know, Sally has been pushing me to grab some time off too. I could totally come with you! Then you wouldn’t be alone, and you have free time now too!”
    “You’d do that?” April asked, surprised.
    “Hell yes! A week of hockey bear hotness? Sign me up!” Nicky hooted, throwing her hands up.
    April couldn’t help but smile. Was she drunk or did that sound like a really good idea? Well, she was definitely a little bit drunk, but that didn’t mean that it wasn’t a good idea, right?
    “Are you sure?” April asked again, trying to find all the reasons why it would be a horrible idea and coming up annoyingly short.
    “I’m sure ! Now pick up the damn phone and text your lover-bear so we