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"Nice saves at goalie tonight," Stella said, striking up a conversation with Avery

"Thanks"

"Can’t believe you let that one in the third period slide by you, though Were you napping back there?"

"Oh, tough critic," Trick, Drew’s felloard said with a wide grin He signaled the waitress "Beer, Stella?"

"Definitely And you have room to talk, Trick You missed an easy pass frohed "I like her She has balls"

"Well, no, I don’t, but I don’t hed, then turned to Carolina "What can I get you to drink?"

She grabbed a chair "I’ll have a glass of wine Soht up" He went up to the bar and ordered a glass of cabernet for Carolina, watching as Stella engaged the players Deep in conversation with theht at hoaze tracked back to hi at her, she slipped off her chair and joined Stella in conversation with the other guys

Okay, he liked that she didn’t want hi him

She liked him He knew it, and he understood the history between them and why she ary

His fault, really, but he was the one as going to have to do solass of wine

"I was just telling your friend Trick here that he’d better get his ass in gear if he wants his stats to be as good as yours before the season starts," Stella said

"Oh, a statistician in our , because I’ve outshot you three to one"

"My , Trick Just ask Carolina"

"I’ht on that," Carolina said

"Yeah? Hoould you know?"

"She’s a hard-core hockey fan, and follows every player on the Travelers She probably knows your stats better than you do"

Trick leaned back to observe Stella "No shit Are you sohed "No I’ood at math"

"So, you’re smart and beautiful Score two for you, Stella"

Avery moved over and pulled up a chair next to Carolina "And you’re soht?"

Carolina smiled at Avery, surprised he re at the ner was it again?"

"Clothing"

"Oh So you’re big into fashion and stuff"

Carolina smiled "Yes You could say that"

"And you’re friends with a hockey stats geek"

"Hey," Stella said, giving Avery a glare

Avery laughed "Touchy, touchy Sorry A beautiful, dancing, hockey stats genius"

Stella nodded "Better And now you owe ood are you at pool?"

Stella slid off the stool "I’ll kick your ass at pool Especially after that geek comment"

Carolina shook her head and watched Avery rack the balls Stella shrugged off her jacket, uys

"Get over here, Carolina," Stella said "You’re going to play, too"

"I haven’t played pool since college"

Drew caet beat?"

"Not a chance" She took off her jacket and went to pick out a cue "Stella, let’s show these boys how it’s done"

Two hours later, she had o games and lost two All in all, not bad Stella, of course, was kicking ood she was at pool

"Your friend is a hit with my friends," Drew said as they stood and watched Stella line up her shot

Carolina grinned "Men love Stella And she’s a natural with theuys"

"And you’re not?"

She shrugged "Men don’t naturally gravitate toward hed "You must be blind, babe, because every set of male eyes in this place has been on you since you walked in the door"

She looked around, and caught several gazes quickly darting away

Huh

"Plus the guys on lare at all of them to keep them away from you"

She turned back to him "And ould you do that?"

He leaned in closer "I think you knohy"

She waraze direct, his intent obvious

"I don’t pay much attention to men"

"Maybe you should Because they sure as hell pay attention to you I sure as hell pay attention to you"

And then it got hotter in there and she lost herself in the beauty of his face, the way his shoulder brushed against hers It was like they were all alone in the bar despite the shouts of his friends and Stella’s raucous laughter

"Why did you text uys"

"Is that the only reason?"

"Yes Of course"

He cocked a brow "You didn’t want to see me"

"Why would I want to do that?"

He tucked her hair behind one ear "Because you o hang out with Stella, but so about him, about the way he looked at her, held her there

"I didn’tabout me--at all"