OFF LIMITS

CHAPTER FIVE - This is the Worst

MACK

"She'll be hanging around during the season to help me out, and I expect you all to treat her how you would treat any other staff member." Hartley's voice echoes through the ice, but I hear it like a loud speaker inside my head announcing how my pretty devil is off-limits.

I read that Hartley had three daughters when I was doing my research. Katharina is the oldest. She's a figure skater. A three-time national champion. A fucking Olympic medalist. What is she doing helping her dad with the hockey team he coaches?

Karma is hitting me hard. Every bad thing I've ever done is coming back to kick my ass. There's no other explanation as to why the best sex of my life and possibly the woman of my dreams is my coach's daughter.

This is the worst.

An elbow to my ribs wakes me up. I look to my right, and there's Myers scowling at me, "Pay attention, Ev."

"As most of you may know, Everett McKenzie starts training with us today." Hartley directs his eyes to me, and suddenly, everyone's eyes are on me. But the only ones I care about are the big brown doe eyes of the woman I spent all night talking and laughing with.

Kat locks eyes with me again, but this time, her cheeks are red, and her eyes are full of questions and worry. This did affect her. She didn't know either.

Fuck. How did we get into this entanglement?

Katharina. Kat. She doesn't look like Hartley, so there's no way I could connect the dots.

And even if I had connected the dots, I'm not sure it would've stopped me from taking her anyway. She's way too tempting to resist.

"Welcome to the Grizzlies, McKenzie," Hartley says, looking at me. Let's hope he didn't catch me staring at Kat; otherwise, my fantasy of being kicked out of the team on my first day might come true.

What a lovely welcome, right?

***

I make it my purpose to show off during the drills to start winning over Hartley. And maybe a little because I know Kat is looking. Being a hockey player has always been my most successful lady magnet.

Not that it would work on Kat. She's a figure skater, and they're notorious for disliking hockey players and–

I need to stop. I need to get Kat out of my head somehow. What happened last night can't happen again. She's my coach's daughter.

Who, by the way, is not my biggest fan. Rhett wasn't exaggerating about him not liking me. So, if he doesn't like me as a player, he definitely won't like me as a son-in-law.

Hartley has stared at me all practice like he's deeply unhappy with my presence and would be happy to have me gone.

I got it, okay? If he could choose who gets traded to his team, I would've been his last choice, but I'll change his mind. I have to change his mind.

I do my best to show him I'm a good player during practice. Which I am. I also do my best to mingle with everyone on the team so he can see I'm a team player. And lastly, I do my best not to stare at Kat, which was the most challenging part. But my coach's scowl is still set on his face whenever he looks at me.

When practice ends and Hartley is busy talking to another player. I look around for Kat, but she's not here anymore.

I need to talk to her.

Yes, nothing can come out of our night together, but I still need a conversation, and I'm sure she does too.

I'm done for the day. I quickly get off the ice to catch Kat before she leaves. I take off my gear and shower at lightning speed. But when I head out of the changing rooms, a hand on my shoulders stops me.