“I thought she was you.” He says this while picking his nail.

I hate him so much. “She was blonde and I am not. The only way she resembled me even remotely was because she had boobs and a warm hole.”

Corey sneers. “Still the same bitchy attitude you had back in college. And you wonder why you couldn’t keep anyone entertained for longer than a few months.”

I grit my teeth, aware that he’s needling me on purpose and that if I have an outburst of any kind I’ll be giving him exactly what he wants—a reaction. It will also make me look unprofessional. I have to see his jerk face on a regular basis, so if I feed into this now, it’s just going to make it infinitely more difficult in the future.

“Although if I remember correctly, you could do a few things with that mouth that were worth hanging around for.”

I spin to face him and give him my widest, most syrupy smile. “I think we need to set some ground rules.”

He leans against the closed door. I know it’s meant to make me feel like I’m trapped, but I know all the exits out of here, while he does not. Still, it’s annoying that he believes he can use these kinds of tactics to intimidate me. “I’m engaged, in case you didn’t know, and she’s preggers, so you and every other bunny are off limits. For now, anyway.”

God, he’s disgusting. And worse than he was when I first started dating him all those years ago. I hold up a finger. “One, I’m not a bunny.”

“That’s not what I hear.”

“Ex-fucking-cuse me?”

“Rumor has it you’re chasing guys on the team.”

“Well, rumor has it wrong. Secondly, even if you were the last man on earth and the entire welfare of our species hinged on me sleeping with you, I would gladly forfeit my own life and that of the entire living, breathing universe to avoid ever having your hands or any other part of you on my body.”

“That’s not how you felt in college.”

“It took about six weeks for me to develop a strong aversion to you, since your misogynistic asshole side didn’t come out until we were living under the same roof. You need to keep your mouth shut about what happened between us.”

“You mean when we—”

I hold a hand up in his face. It’s annoying how high I have to reach because he’s so tall and I’m not. “Do not finish that statement. Ever. You will take it to the grave with you, and so will I.”

“Or what?” He sneers, body bowing forward so he can get up in my space.

I try to take a step back, but there’s a piece of workout equipment behind me, so there is quite literally nowhere for me to go. It’s rather unfortunate, because Corey must’ve eaten something spicy and garlicky recently, and he’s breathing it right in my face.

I motion between us. “Does your pregnant fiancée know what happened?”

Confusion mars his expression. For as skilled as Corey is on the ice, he’s sort of an anomaly in the hockey world, since he’s not all that smart. Usually these guys have the brains to match the brawn, and Corey definitely doesn’t. “No.”

I wait for him to process the information. It takes three long, stinky garlicky breaths before he finally clues in. And then the aggressive dick I knew and learned to loathe back in college rears his ugly head. He moves in even closer and barricades me against the machine. “Is this your attempt at a threat, Queenie? Look at you, still running home to Daddy when things don’t work out for you. Just like you did back in college. I mean, how pathetic can you be?”

CHAPTER 18

BACK OFF MY GIRL

Kingston

Today has been amazing. I had a great workout and an excellent practice. One of the best of the season so far, and I’m attributing that to Queenie. And amazing sex. I’m definitely looking forward to more of that.

I whistle as I head for her office, hoping I can convince her to stay at my place again tonight. We have a game tomorrow afternoon, and normally I’d avoid the possible sleep disturbance, but considering how beneficial it seems to have been today, I feel like a repeat would only be helpful.

The sound of people arguing causes me to pause as I pass the gym. I hesitate to get involved, concerned I’m intruding on something I shouldn’t be, until I catch sight of Queenie, chin tipped up in defiance while some huge guy gets right in her face.

I have a low tolerance for any kind of behavior that threatens the fairer sex. Not because I believe women can’t fend for themselves but because men generally have the physical advantage, and this is especially true when it comes to Queenie. She’s petite.

I can’t tell who has her cornered, but there is absolutely no way I’ll allow this to continue. Even if it’s Jake. Especially if it’s Jake.

I yank open the door as the guy grabs for her wrist and she tries to duck out of the way, except he has her pinned up against a piece of equipment. “Hey, buddy, you need to back off. Now.” I don’t recognize my voice, which seems to be more growl than actual words.

The man encroaching on Queenie’s personal space turns around, his expression reflecting irritation. I recognize him, I realize. He’s Corey Slater, forward for Philly, and one of the most difficult players in the entire league. He has more game suspensions than any other player. Even more than Lance Romero in his rookie years, and that’s saying something. But he’s also leading in goals, so while he has a reputation for being a general pain in the ass, he’s one of the top players in the league.

A smug smile turns up the corner of his mouth as he looks me over. “This is a private conversation, buddy, so maybe you need to mind your own fucking business.” He turns back to Queenie, dismissing me.

Anger like I’ve never felt before makes my spine hot and my fingers curl into fists. I step into the gym and let the door close behind me. “Queenie happens to be my girlfriend, so the fact that you’re putting your hands on her and using your size to physically intimidate her makes this one hundred percent my fucking business.”

Queenie’s eyes flare in surprise, and Corey chuckles.

“So it is true. How’s your daddy feel about that?” He shakes his head and glances over his shoulder. “Get out while you can, man. She’s not worth the trouble.”

I take pride in the fact that I’ve never been in a fight on the ice, or ever, really. Even when I was a teenager and hormones made tempers flare, I was always able to keep it together and avoid reacting without thinking.

But the way Queenie’s face has crumpled and her shoulders have curled in, like she’s physically trying to protect herself from his words, and the actual words themselves, cause a spike of rage to short out my entire center of reason. I also realize, based on that one statement, and the way he’s invading her space, that Corey and Queenie know each other, possibly in ways I don’t want to consider too closely.

I grab his shoulder, which finally puts his attention on me. “Do not disrespect Queenie. Not ever.”

His smug sneer pulls higher, distorting his face. “What’re you gonna do about it?”

I edge my way between him and Queenie, creating a barricade. “Do not push me, Slater.”

He has the audacity to laugh. “Look at you, getting all righteous and defensive over some chick. I didn’t think you actually had any balls, Kingston.”

I fist his shirt. In the back of my head I recognize violence isn’t going to help. If anything at all, it’s going to make the entire situation worse, but I can’t seem to stop myself. “First of all, Queenie is not some chick. She is my goddamn girlfriend, and if you talk to her or about her like that again I will not hesitate to put you in your place. Secondly, who the hell do you think you are, coming in here, talking to her like that?”

“First of all, I’m her ex-boyfriend, so Queenie and I go way back, don’t we?” He glances over my shoulder, his smirk growing. “Secondly, I’m your new teammate, so it might be a good idea to reconsider putting me in my place, unless you want to end up watching games from the bench.”

“What?” I don’t know which one of those pieces of information I find more shocking.

“God, you’re such an antagonistic dick, Corey.” Queenie puts her hand over mine and tries to pry my fingers loose from his shirt. “Let him go, King. He’s actually not worth the time or energy it would take to kick his annoying ass.” She squeezes my biceps gently.