Shea nodded. "I appreciate the help, of course."

Benji tapped gloves with him as he went off the ice to find Elli Adler kissing on her daughters. "Y'all did so good! I'm so proud. Boys, get off there!"

Benji grinned at where her three boys were jumping off the stands.

"They're boys, babe, let 'em be."

She shot him a look. "Oh, stay-at-home dad now, think you can handle broken bones?"

He cringed but still kept a grin on his face. "Hey, I've had my fair share. I can handle it."

Sending Benji a sideways glance, she rolled her eyes. "He'd cry."

"Hey!" Shea complained and Elli shared a laugh with Benji before patting his chest.

"Glad to see you out."

He grinned and shrugged. "It's good to be out."

"Angie, honey?" They all looked to where Lucy was standing, her eyes on Angie. "Ready?"

"Yeah, Mom. See ya, Coach. Come on, Benji," she said, pulling him along.

"Lucy, how are you?" Elli called to her and Lucy smiled, taking Angie's hand before coming toward them.

"Good, you?"

"Good, thanks. How's Baylor? I haven't gotten an update."

Lucy shook her head. "I haven't either. My brother is currently ignoring my calls."

Elli's brows rose and Shea laughed. "He didn't tell her he wasn't coming tonight. Sent Benji instead."

Elli tsked. "Brat, but hey, Benji is wonderful."

"Yeah, he is," Angie agreed and Benji's face warmed from the praise. But when he glanced to Lucy, she didn't seem convinced.

"Yeah, I might make it to where Jayden can't have children. Haven't decided." She said it so matter-of-factly, like it was as easy as swatting a fly.

Scary.

Elli and Shea grinned as Benji winced. "As long as he can skate and score, I don't care what you do to him."

Lucy grinned, pointing to Elli. "I got you, boss."

"Thanks, love, and I'm very excited about our appointment at the end of the week."

Shea looked confused. "Appointment?"

"She's gonna decorate our summer home in Florida."

Shea made a face. "God, how much is that gonna cost? We're poor now, Lucy. I don't play anymore."

Lucy laughed and, wow, what a sound. Watching as her face lit up and she shook her head, Benji found himself smiling too. Laughing looked so much better on that girl. She really should do that more. "Sure you are, Shea. Don't worry, y'all get the family discount."

"Thank God," he breathed and Elli smacked him.

"Anyway, let me know when you want to have a sleepover for the girls. Shelli and Posey have been asking for Angie to come over."

Wrapping her arm around Angie, Lucy nodded. "Will do. See y'all. Great practice, Shea."

Shea beamed. "Thanks! See ya Wednesday, Angie."

"Bye!"

When Angie started to pull Benji along, Lucy looked down at their hands and then to Angie. "Let go of the replacement, Angie."

"Mom! His name is Benji." Angie laughed and shook Benji's hand. "Plus, he's gotta ask you something."

Lucy's face twisted in confusion before looking up at Benji. Her eyes bored into his, and man... Was he breathless? Jesus, she was gorgeous. "Yeah?"

Confused, Benji looked at Angie. "I do?"

Still laughing, she rolled her eyes. "Yes! About Wednesday."

"Oh!" he laughed, tapping her head again, but when he looked up at Lucy, she was glaring at him. Man, Sinclair wasn't kidding about that resting bitch face...such a pretty girl, though. Hm. Well, it was about Angie, not her. "Yeah, I was wondering if you could bring her earlier Wednesday so we can get some pickup time in before everyone else hits the ice."

Lucy's brows came in, a little wrinkle appearing between her brows. "So you're, what, doing this full time now? Did you talk to Jayden?"

He shook his head. "No, not at all, but I had a great time tonight and decided to help out as much as I can."

Her face didn't change. "Don't you have to play?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, but I'll work it out. I might miss more than I can come, but I want to come when I can."

Still unsure, she held his gaze. "So you willingly want to do this when you have no child on the team? Or do you?"

Swallowing hard, he shook his head. "No child on the team, but I enjoy it."

"Hanging with a bunch of seven- through ten-year-olds?" she asked, deadpan. "I'm sure you have better things to do."

"Mom!" Angie complained. "You love hanging with me."

"'Cause you are my everything," Lucy said simply, her eyes never leaving Benji's. "I'm not trying to be rude-"

"No?"

She faltered a bit. "I'm just saying, seems like a guy like you would have something better to do."

Benji smiled. "Considering you don't know what a guy like me likes to do, I find your assessment of me a little unfair. But I'll tell ya a story-I'm boring and this was a lot of fun."

Lucy's eyes narrowed but she nodded slowly. "I'll see what I can do about Wednesday. I have a meeting that day, so getting her here at five is cutting it close."

"Can't Jayden bring me? I can play with both of them!"

Lucy cupped her face and smiled. "Ew, you're gross! All sweaty," she laughed. "But, yes, if your uncle ever answers my calls and he's alive, then we'll have him bring you."

"Well, if he can't, let me know and I'll come get her for you."

Why in the hell did he say that?

Lucy looked up, her eyes wide, and Angie grinned happily. "Cool! Mom, that works, right?"

Her look said, no, no it didn't. Benji knew that but he smiled just the same. "Not trying to sound like a creeper-"

"Eh, riding the line, buddy," she said more under her breath, but he heard her loud and clear. Who could blame her? Some strange dude asking to pick her daughter up? He'd punch a guy who said it, so he didn't blame her. He still felt a little dejected as he met her gaze, though, praying she saw he wasn't a creepy bad guy.

"But I can help out if need be."

Lucy only nodded, her eyes burning into his. He didn't think she thought he was a perv, but it was obvious she didn't trust him. Hell, he was sure she didn't trust anyone, which was sad and only made him believe he was right about the ex. As he held her gaze, her eyes staring into his, he swore he saw a little heat in her eyes. Then, maybe he was an idiot because just as quickly, she was nodding as she said, "Yeah, okay. Angie, say bye. Let's go."

Angie grinned up at him and held her fist out for him to bump. "Thanks for all the help. You really helped me out."

"Anytime," he said, bumping her fist. "I'll see you Wednesday."

"Cool," she cheered and then she looked up to Lucy. "Mom?"

"What?" As Angie jerked her head to Benji, he smiled as Lucy looked over at him confused. "What?"

"Don't you want to thank him?"

Lucy made a put out kind of face but quickly masked it with a winning, fake grin. "Thank you so much for helping my daughter on the ice. You are by far the coolest dude ever and not creepy at all."

Benji laughed. "Have you ever heard that you attract more bees with honey than vinegar?"

Holding his gaze, her lip quirked. "Good thing I don't like honey...or bees."

"Guess so," he agreed, her eyes darkening in color. "But either way, it was really nice to meet you. When I woke up this morning, I really didn't think I'd meet someone like you."

"One of a kind," she said with a wink, her lips quirking once more, almost like she was going to laugh. Instead, she waved. "See ya around."

"Look forward to it."

And he did.

She was sassy and she was suffering from resting bitch face, but maybe all she needed was someone to make her smile. Someone to make her laugh. As she walked away, she looked back, her eyes playful before replying to whatever Angie had said. All Benji could do was watch her walk. Her ass was killer and his palms itched to touch it. He wondered if she knew he was thinking of holding her ass because she glared before rolling her eyes.

When a hand came crashing down on his shoulder, he looked over to meet Vaughn's profile.

"She turned me down. Called me an idgit."

"Idgit?"

"Yeah, she's an angry one. Stay away from her," he said, shaking his head, but when he glanced back at Benji, he let his head fall back. "Shit, you like her?"

Benji shrugged. "She's different."

"Yeah, mean as a possum!"

"A possum?"

Vaughn's eyes widened. "Yeah, dude. Mean. Those things are mean. She's mean."

Shaking his head, Benji grinned. "No, she just acts mean to keep people away."

"Yeah, so stay away."

"Don't know if I can."

Letting out a long breath, Vaughn shook his head as Benji watched her untie Angie's skates. He wasn't sure if what he was saying was true, but a part of him really believed he wanted to know Lucy. Past the snark. Past the angry persona.

The real Lucy Sinclair.

"It won't end well," Vaughn warned.

Benji knew that.

So that meant one thing.

It couldn't end.

"Benji is so cool, Mom, like, really. He was so funny and kept, like, telling me I'm awesome and everything. Everyone loves him. He challenged all of us. And, come on, he plays in the NHL, Mom. He's, like, the best. But he let all of us win! He's so cool. Don't you think he's cool?"

"He's something," Lucy said under her breath as she pulled out of the parking spot and drove off. Something like hot and supernice. She couldn't help but watch the guy on the ice. He was huge! And he treated those little girls like they were in tutus with crowns on their heads. He was so attentive. So sweet and she didn't miss how he kept looking at her. She wasn't sure why, but it was nice.

When she actually allowed herself to enjoy it.

"That's wonderful, baby," she said to Angie and she beamed, continuing on about how wonderful Benji Paxton was.

But as much as Lucy wanted to listen and maybe even agree that Benji was supersweet with the kids, she couldn't shake the earlier text exchange with Rick.

Rick: Hey, I'm picking up Angie early Friday. I'll pick her up from school.

Lucy: I told you she has hockey on Fridays, that we'll be about 30 mins late to meet you at Walmart.

Rick: Okay, well that doesn't work. Heidi wants to take her to get her hair done.

Lucy: She doesn't need her hair done. I just had it cut the other day.