Read Skating on Thin Ice: Seattle Sockeyes (Game On in Seattle Book 1) for Free Online

businessman or the handsome charmer. She’d rather deal with the businessman because she was too vulnerable to the charmer. “I’ll defer to your better judgment next time.”
    “Thank you.” Lauren fought hard to keep the smugness out of her voice. Her daddy had taught her never to be a cocky winner. More often than not, that type of behavior would come back to bite her.
    “You’re welcome. Let’s get some coffee. I’d like to discuss the game.”
    Several minutes later they sat in a sports bar near the hotel, sipping coffee and comparing notes. Ethan didn’t say much, but he certainly listened to every word she said, making notes on his iPad, as he asked insightful questions about every player on the team. Lauren kept her comments positive and criticisms to a minimum.
    Finally she sat back and wrapped her hands around her second mug of strong, black coffee. “Tell me what you think.”
    “I’m not a hockey guy, remember?” One corner of his mouth kicked up in a decidedly sexy half smile.
    “You’re into sports, correct?”
    He nodded. “I played some football and baseball in my day.”
    She looked him up and down, pondering what position he might have played. Being tall but lean and definitely preferring to be in charge, she guessed immediately. “Quarterback?”
    “Which of my sterling qualities gave that away?” He sat back, enjoying himself, and signaled the waitress for a beer, as if to indicate the business portion of the evening was over. “What’ll you have?”
    “I’ll take a pale ale. Whatever’s on tap.”
    Ethan nodded to the waitress, who hurried off to fill their order. “So which of my many qualities clued you in?” Apparently, he wasn’t letting her off that easily.
    “Total honesty?”
    “Absolutely.” He was way too amused.
    “Your stubbornness, your absolute belief you know best, and your need to take charge.”
    “Fair enough.” Ethan thanked the waitress as she delivered the drinks.
    “A quarterback is like a center on a hockey team. A good athlete is a good athlete whether he’s on skates, throwing a football, or hitting a baseball.” Lauren sipped the cold brew, savoring the taste as it slid down her throat. She loved a good beer.
    “My thoughts exactly. But each sport requires different talents.”
    “You don’t think you could take an outstanding football player and turn him into a hockey player?”
    “I’m guessing I could.” He shrugged. “If I were a hockey guy.”
    “Touché,” Lauren snorted and took a long pull on the cold beer.
    Ethan raised his beer to her in a friendly salute, his blue eyes shining with pure mischief. God, he was incredible. Absolutely incredible and so unlike any other guy she’d ever hung out with.
    Lauren enjoyed their current conversation too much to drop it. “Look at Cooper for instance. He’s our team captain, a take-charge guy, big enough to intimidate and fast on his skates. There’s no one faster. He could’ve played other sports but he chose hockey.”
    Ethan rubbed his chin. “Or hockey chose him.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “When you have the passion, it chooses you. You can’t stop it any more than you can stop breathing. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you take that passion to its highest level. If you’re not, you become a fan, and you live through those guys in the rink or on the field.”
    “Spoken like a man with a true passion.” She stared at him, feeling as if she’d just been given some insight into him, even as she rejected what he was not-so subtly telling her. “And hockey is your passion?”
    “Sports are my passion. Purely as a spectator. Of course, as you continue to point out, I didn’t grow up with a stick in my hands, and I have a lot to learn. That’s where you come in.”
    Lauren absorbed this information as reality dawned on her. “They’re going to make a spot for you in their organization, aren’t they?”
    The smile wavered on his face and those shutters dropped over