On Thin Ice (The Baltimore Banners Book 8) Read Online Free Page B

Mat Herron.
    "Did you really need to hit me there?"
    "Dude, sorry."
    "Yeah, sure you are." Kenny rubbed at the bruise, waiting for Mat to say something else. "Well? What did you want?"
    "I was just wondering what JP meant when he said 'your ref', that's all. Do you know her?"
    "No, I don't know her. And she's not 'my ref'. Ignore JP. He's an idiot."
    The idiot in question leaned over, looking at both of them. "Lauren."
    "What?"
    "Her name is Lauren." JP nodded his head toward the ice. "Your ref."
    "How do you know that?"
    "I did what any good teammate would do." JP's grin widened. "I sent Taylor over to ask."
    "You did what? You have got to be kidding me. Great. Now she's going to think I'm interested in her or something."
    "Aren't you?"
    Kenny glared at Mat and shook his head. "No, I'm not."
    The lie only stuck a little in his throat. Was he interested? Maybe. No, he was just curious, that was all. He didn't have time to be interested, didn't have time for anything but focusing on his own game. And even if he did have time, she wasn't his type. Of that much, at least, he was certain.
    Mat snorted in disbelief, the sound echoing the same one going on in his own head. He lowered his brows, giving Mat another dirty look. "Shouldn't you be down there with your girlfriend or something, keeping her company while she's taking pictures?"
    A sly smile spread across Mat's face, completely at odds with the faint blush that was turning his ears red. "I keep Nicole plenty company when she's taking pictures, trust me."
    "Oh Christ. Really? I so didn't need to hear that. Did you really need to say that? I need bleach for that unwelcome visual now. Thank you so much." Kenny shoved at Mat, maybe a little harder than he needed to because the man almost fell off the bench. But it was his own fault for even mentioning it. Apparently Mat did a lot of posing for Nicole when they were alone. A few of the wives and girlfriends had gotten an eyeful at JP's wedding a couple of months ago when Mat accidentally showed them some of the pictures. He still hadn't lived it down—but at least nobody was calling him The Saint anymore.
    Mat just laughed and pushed to his feet, climbing over the benches until he reached the bottom. JP nudged him in the other side and motioned toward the ice.
    "Don't worry, my friend. Not even Taylor knows why I was asking so your ref won't know that you're interested."
    "I am not interested." Kenny uttered the words through his clenched jaw. This is what he got for saying anything in the first place. He should have just kept his mouth shut the other day at lunch. If he had, none of this would be happening.
    JP raised his eyebrows in disbelief then muttered something in French that made his wife nudge his leg and tell him to watch his language. But JP only laughed then grabbed her and gave her a quick kiss. He said something else in French, something that had Emily blushing and suddenly looking shy.
    Kenny rolled his eyes and looked away, feeling like a sudden intruder. He was surrounded by men entirely too in love. And no, that wasn't a spurt of jealousy he felt. He wasn't the jealous type, and he certainly wasn't the type to be looking for love. Later, maybe, when his career settled and the future was a little more certain. But not now. Definitely not now.
    He turned his attention back to the game, tuning out everything else around him. Taylor's niece was back on the ice, tapping her stick until one of the kids passed her the puck. She whirled and took off down the ice in a breakaway that had Kenny jumping to his feet, cheering.
    One of the kids from the other team—the same kid as before—launched himself over the bench and took off after her, a look of intense fury on his face. Only this time he didn't go for a hooking. He caught up to Taylor and dove forward, swiping at her skates with the blade of his stick. Taylor tripped and flew forward, hitting the ice on her side as the puck slid away, out of control.
    Kenny knew