Power Pucking Play: An Enemies To Lovers Hockey Romance (Chicago Blades Series) by Alix Vaughn

Author:Alix Vaughn [Vaughn, Alix]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Lexi

I'm definitely going to walk a hole right into my carpet at this rate.

In my overpriced downtown Chicago high-rise apartment, I've been pacing back and forth for the past hour.

Phone in hand, I've been trying to work up the courage to cancel tonight's interview with Gio. Even ordering my favorite takeout chicken wings and blasting my go-to '90s R&B playlist isn't calming me down.

It should be easy, right? Just a quick call. "Hey, Gio, can't make it tonight. My precious kitten Luna started a fire and my apartment flooded. Rain check?"

Except Luna's sitting sweetly on the couch watching me pace around like a lunatic, and the only thing flooded is my conscience.

I groan, flopping onto my couch. When did my life become a bad rom-com?

My phone buzzes, and I nearly jump out of my skin. It's a text from my editor.

"How's the De Luca piece coming? Remember, we want ALL the dirt. No holds barred."

Ugh. Wonderful. As if I needed more pressure.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I hit Gio's number.

It rings once. Then twice...

"Brookes! Miss me already?" His voice is warm, teasing. My belly does a flip, just like always.

"In your dreams, De Luca." I pause for a second. "Listen, about tonight..."

"Let me guess. You're calling to say you can't wait to see me and you're counting down the minutes?"

I roll my eyes, even though he can't see me. "You wish. Actually, I was thinking maybe we should reschedule. You know, give you more time to prepare your lies and evasions."

There's a pause on the other end, and for a moment, I think maybe he's bought it. Then he says, "Nice try, Brookes. But I know deflection when I hear it. What's really going on?"

I sigh, sinking deeper into my couch. "It's nothing. Just...work stuff. You wouldn't understand."

"Try me," he says, his voice softer now. "Contrary to popular belief, I do have a brain under all this hair gel."

Despite myself, I laugh. "That's debatable. Look, it's complicated, okay? Maybe it's better if we just..."

"If we just what? Pretend this isn't happening? Go back to being adversaries?"

The hurt in his voice is like a knife to my gut. "Gio, that's not what I meant..."

"I know," he says, and I can practically hear him running a hand through his hair. "Look, I've got an idea. Why don't you let me pick you up? I know a place where we can talk. No cameras. No team. No distractions. Just us."

I should say no. I should stick to my plan and cancel. But the thought of seeing Gio, of being alone with him...

"Okay," I hear myself say. "But this better not be some ploy to get me alone and charm your way out of tough questions."

He chuckles, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "That's my backup plan, Brookes. See you in twenty."

As I hang up, I can't shake the feeling that I'm making a huge mistake. But then again, when it comes to Gio De Luca, when have I

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