“Your body is slammin’, Stella. You can afford the pizza. You dance it all off, anyway.”

She enjoyed the compliment. “See, now why aren’t you my choreographer?”

“Because I can’t dance for shit?”

“I wouldn’t know about that, but you sure can dance on the ice.”

“I’ll have to take you dancing sometime.”

She couldn’t even imagine. “Now that I’d like to see.”

“Anytime. Though I’m better on the ice.”

“Ice dancing? Thinking of an Olympic career?”

“Ha. No. But speaking of ice—without the dancing, that is—are you coming to the game tomorrow night?”

“Wouldn’t miss it. It’s a Friday night and the start of my weekend, which means no rehearsals. At least right now.”

“Great. I’ll leave tickets at the window. Are you bringing anyone?”

“You mean like a date?”

“You’re funny. You don’t want me to have to hurt someone, do you?”

Her lips curved at the possessive tone. They’d never laid claim to each other. It had always been a very open relationship, with no strings. Exactly the way she wanted it. But just now? She couldn’t help the little thrill of excitement that ran through her.

She didn’t know how she felt about that.

“No, doofus. I’m not bringing a date. But maybe I’ll bring a girlfriend.”

“Oh, so you want a threesome.”

She rolled her eyes. “Now you’re being an ass.”

He laughed. “Go enjoy your bath. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“Okay. Play good.”

“Don’t I always? See you, Stella.”

She hung up and slid her phone onto the side of the tub, thinking about seeing Trick tomorrow. Her body tingled at the thought of getting her hands all over that man again.

She’d have thought she’d have lost interest. In the past years, she’d tired of men after only a few rolls in the sack. But seeing him again the other night sparked her up all over again.

That shouldn’t surprise her. He was inventive, sexy, had a body that just didn’t quit, and he’d learned her body fast. Every time with him had been like the first time, and she always eagerly anticipated seeing him.

There was something about him that completely frazzled every nerve ending, but at the same time, gave her a sense of calm in her whacked-out world. It was crazy. She was crazy for starting up this relationship—

Correction. She was not having a relationship with Trick. She did not have relationships. Not anymore. Not since that epic mistake she’d made. She’d vowed to never again give a man that much control over her heart, her soul, and her life. No one was going to hurt her so deeply again.

So far, it had worked. She was much happier controlling her own destiny. She’d worked her way up the dancing echelon in New York City, and now she was one of the lead dancers in a show that was going to premiere on Broadway next spring. She’d worked her ass off to get here, and it was because she’d let nothing and no one distract her.

Not even the incredibly hot man she was going to see tomorrow.

Chapter Four

“Pull your head out of your ass and focus on the puck, Niemeyer.”

“My focus is on the puck, Hogan.” Trick skated past his friend and teammate, Drew Hogan, and shot the puck toward the net, where the Travelers goalie, Avery Mangino, waited and easily used his stick to shove it out of the way.

“Shit,” Trick muttered.

“Come on, Trick. You made that one too easy for me,” Avery said. “How am I going to hone my goalie skills if you don’t give me something to work with?”

It had been a long practice this morning, and Trick’s head wasn’t in the game. He’d even missed an easy shot on goal while Ray Sayers, the other Travelers forward, had distracted Mangino.

“I hope you don’t play like that tonight, Trick,” Drew told him. “Or we’re screwed.”

Leave it up to his teammates to call him on his shitty play.

“No problem. I’m working out all the kinks during practice.”

It was a home game tonight, and he played best on home ice. They’d lost their last road game, and that sucked. It had been a close game, too.

He intended to play better tonight.

After sitting in the sauna for an hour to relax his tense muscles, he went home for a couple of hours, put his earbuds in, and listened to some music. After, he did an easy workout, trying to stay pumped up for the game tonight. Then he grabbed a small snack to eat and went back to the Garden to get ready.