Quick Trick (A Rough Riders Hockey Novel Book 1) by Skye Jordan, Joan Swan Read Free Book Online Page A

shooting a questioning gaze toward Taylor. “Well, if you stick around long enough, he’ll be here. He’s been in at least three times a day for the last two days.”
    “Really?” Caleb said.
    Dwayne strolled past Caleb, patting his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Caleb, he’s here for a few weeks. But you’d better get all that excitement out before you hit the ice this afternoon. He wants you kids focused and ready to work.”
    “Yes, sir,” he said, serious and stoic. “I will, sir. I promise.”
    Dwayne chuckled, said hello to Taylor and waved good-bye to Faith.
    Before Faith could ask Taylor or Caleb about Grant—more specifically why Caleb wanted his autograph—Caleb looked at Faith and said, “How old would I have to be to work here, Aunt Faith?”
    Faith’s brows shot up. “Well, that’s new. You didn’t want to have anything to do with helping out a few months ago.”
    “So you’ll let me?”
    Faith lifted her gaze to Taylor, grinning. “I’ll talk to your mom about it.”
    “Thanks, Aunt Faith.” He turned to his mother. “Can I go look at the fishing poles?”
    “From hockey to fishing in a split second.” A little of the excitement leaked from Taylor’s expression. “Sure.”
    Caleb hurried in the direction of the outdoors department where Faith carried a limited supply of recreational gear for tourists, and Taylor came toward Faith.
    “That’s who you met at the bar the other night,” she said, voice lowered. “The guy you said asked you out, right? Grant Saber?”
    “Yeah.” Her stomach tightened. “Why? Who is he?”
    “He’s a center for the Rough Riders.” Her voice and expression held as much excitement as her son’s.
    But Faith was having a hard time placing the Rough Riders. “I’m guessing that’s a hockey team?”
    That accounted for his great build. This celebrity Faith couldn’t appreciate was obviously why he’d thought she should have known him. It also seemed to be what he was looking for every time he came into the store.
    “It’s an NHL team, Faith.”
    “Don’t say that like I’m supposed to know. You know I don’t have time to watch television. And I only pretended to watch sports to keep Dad company.”
    “Why has he been coming in? Did he ask you out again? Because you should go. He’s hot. And he’s loaded.”
    “And he’s just looking to get laid like his brothers.” She gave Taylor a look. “You hate his brothers. You turn them down every time they’re in town. Why would you suggest I go out with Grant?” Suddenly, she was mad. “Do you really think I’m so bad off that I need to go out and fuck some slutty player? Because I’ve got more important things—”
    “No.” Taylor’s hand closed over Faith’s forearm, her voice level again, her eyes serious. “That’s not what I meant.”
    Faith shut her mouth and lifted both hands to her face to rub at her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m tired.” She’d lost sleep over Grant. Grant and all the little fantasies he’d stirred in her head. She swept a gesture over the lighting extravaganza equipment. “And Dwayne just dumped this project on me.”
    She crouched and started winding light strands from palm to elbow, palm to elbow.
    “What I meant,” Taylor said, “is that he’s not his brothers. He’s never been in town. This is the first time he’s been back since he went pro.”
    Now she was sort of impressed that he hadn’t told her that he was a pro hockey player, or that he was here to help coach the local teams when he’d come into the store. And she didn’t want to be impressed. Because she didn’t have time or patience for this shit. “That doesn’t matter. He’s still looking to get laid. What is it about these guys? Do they think we’re all hard up because we’re out here in the boonies? It may be true, but it’s still insulting.”
    Taylor laughed. Hard. Which brought a reluctant smile to Faith’s lips.
    “It is really cool to see Caleb excited about