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that’s what she told herself when she lay in bed alone at night. Besides, she had no time for a man or a relationship. Her plate was already full. But, then again, she always did have a hard time passing up dessert.
    Ally looked back over at Izzy in time to see her clinging to the player and whispering something into his ear. Ally rolled her eyes at the spectacle and Number 20 laughed at her. It was a warm chuckle that sounded like pure kindness.
    Watching the practice earlier, Ally thought of hockey as an aggressive and rough sport, but there was nothing barbaric about this man standing in front of her. His smile was kind and although he was a few inches taller than her, he didn’t threaten her at all. If anything, he felt protective and gentle.
    “I’m glad you came,” he said, making it sound as if she had been there today just for him.
    Ally looked up at him and his eyes were still on her. She pulled her purse closer to her. Now she wished she had dressed a little bit nicer for the practice instead of wearing her old go-to jeans and tee shirt. But, she could have bet a month’s salary that she wouldn’t meet anyone here tonight. Especially not someone so handsome, who was talking to her, of all people. And he was looking into her eyes.
    “Me too.”
    His masculine smell of sweat and salt and ice filled her senses. Her thoughts wandered to him taking a shower in the locker room later. Washing off the sweat, the water trickling down his bod---
    “Ally!” Just then, Izzy came plowing up to them, grabbed Ally’s arm and started to pull her to the door. “Omigod! I’ve got great news.” Izzy blabbered on like the Number 20 was invisible.
    Right. The six foot two, red jersey wearing, Invisible Man.
    Ally whipped her head back to the Number 20 and waved and smiled as Izzy dragged her out to the parking lot.
    Perfect.
    That was entirely like Izzy to barge in and interrupt. Things were just getting good, too. Ally had been on the verge of knocking him off his skates with her suave charm and brilliant conversation.
    Izzy waved a piece of paper in Ally’s face. “Look, I just got Dom “The Bomb” Devereaux’s phone number! We are going on a date,” she announced proudly.
    Ally wedged herself into the car, wishing they were going back in the other direction. The only number on her mind was the Number 20.

Chapter Four
    Dental Floss
     
    As always, the Red Valley Mall parking lot was full. After the Razors’ practice, Izzy had begged Ally to go shopping with her and Ally had finally conceded. Reluctantly. It was Ally’s day off and she didn’t have anything else planned the rest of the day anyway. When they finally found a parking space, Ally wondered how any of these people could afford to be shopping at the mall. Lately, she found herself stretching her almighty dollar at the Everything Under 99 Cent Store.
    “Why are we here again? You know how much I hate the mall .” Ally slammed the door of Izzy’s car shut. She said the word ‘mall’ like they were visiting ‘the proctologist’ or ‘the landfill’ or ‘the electric chair’.
    “I have a date with Dominic, the cute hockey player, and I need some new lingerie.” Izzy locked the car and adjusted her outfit. With her sequined leggings, off-the-shoulder blouse and platform shoes, she looked like she was ready for a night of club-hopping with Paris Hilton.
    “Iz, you have more clothes at home than you could ever wear in a lifetime,” Ally reminded her.
    Ally knew all too well from a past experience of getting lost in one of Izzy’s three closets. Her fashion conscious friend had rows upon rows of every designer label imaginable. And that wasn’t even counting any of her shoes. Ah, the shoes. Platform, spiky, pointy and none less than four inches tall. Where Ally had her own clothes separated by tee shirts for work and tee shirts for days off, jeans for work and jeans for days off, Izzy had her wardrobe separated by season, color and designer.