The game
Tessa Rowe tugged her hoodie lower over her eyes, pretending the scent of sweat, ice, and testosterone didn’t make her want to scream.
The Briarwood Wolves hockey team was a pack of gods in skates—and every one of them acted like they owned the place. Especially him.
Logan Maddox.
Center. Golden boy. Living, breathing hockey highlight reel.
She hated how he made her heart skip like a scratched vinyl record.
And right now, he was limping—again.
“Off the table, Maddox,” she snapped, crossing the training room with her clipboard. “That shoulder’s not healed and you damn well know it.”
Logan smirked, lifting one brow. “Relax, Doc Barbie. I’m golden.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You missed rehab. Again.”
“Had a thing,” he said casually. “You know. Puck to score. Ice to shred. Dreams to chase.”
“Careers to wreck,” she muttered, then louder:
“You keep ignoring the rehab plan, and you’ll be benched before playoffs.”
He stood up slowly, towering over her. “What are you going to do? Snitch on me?”
Tessa clenched her jaw. She didn’t have time for this—school, rent, and now Logan Freaking Maddox’s drama? Nope.
But before she could fire back, he stepped closer, voice dropping.
“I’ll make you a deal.”
She blinked. “A what?”
“You keep my secret. Help me get better without telling Coach. In return…” He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ll be your date.”
“What?”
“I overheard you talking to Evie. The engagement party. The ex. You need a fake boyfriend, right?”
Her face flushed. “That was a private conversation.”
“Yeah, and I’m a desperate man.”
He held out his hand, grinning that stupid crooked grin.
“What do you say, Rowe? You fix my shoulder… I fix your image.”
Tessa stared at him, her world spinning like a puck mid-shot.
She should say no. She wanted to say no.
But then again—revenge looked damn good in slate of ......
