Crashing the Net: Seattle Sockeyes

Chapter 1--Neanderthal on Skates

Izzy could not believe her eyes.

That Neanderthal.

What was Cooper Black doing here? Other than ruining her business one big foot at a time. She turned her back on him and smiled up at Tanner Wolfe, the charismatic and overly confident young quarterback of the Seattle Steelheads.

Tanner cocked his head and leaned close, possessively stroking her neck. Izzy smiled up at him, faking interest when there wasn’t any. After all, it was her job. Tanner wasn’t Cooper, not by a long shot. Sure, he was gorgeous in a drop-your-panties-and-get-naked way, but he wasn’t her type. She seemed to prefer surly and brooding over charming and carefree.

Tanner pulled her close for a slow dance, too close, so she put her hand between them and pushed. Over Tanner’s shoulder, she spotted Cooper pacing on the outskirts of the crowd. Despite her annoyance with him, he was damn sexy when he went all caveman on her, ready to protect her from any perceived threat and throw her over his shoulder, claiming her as his own. He was one-hundred-percent male and made her feel one-hundred-percent female.

Tanner’s hands slipped to her butt, and Cooper pawed the ground like a bull ready to charge. His eyes narrowed, and he stomped toward her and Tanner, pushing guests out of the way in a single-minded effort to get to her. The look on his face didn’t exactly give the impression he was here for fun and games. In fact, he’d obviously forgotten how to shave in the past few weeks, lost the phone number of his barber, and disregarded any and all dress codes. Black tie did not mean jeans and T-shirt.

He was hot as hell and just as mad.

Regardless, Izzy plastered a welcoming smile on her face, hoping to diffuse his obvious anger. Heads turned around the crowded room and jaws dropped open. Elderly matrons of the arts stared in disbelief at the intruder with the manners of a drunken grizzly bear, even as they gazed appreciatively at the man’s fine body and rugged face. They’d be having some good dreams tonight, and so would Izzy.

But she digressed.

Cooper could not interfere in her business like this, despite the jealous streak he’d been displaying recently. He needed to get over it and get a life. Training camp for hockey started in a month; maybe he’d be less smothering once he went back to work.

Izzy stepped away from Tanner, offering the Seattle quarterback an apologetic smile. He opened his mouth to say something but she held up a hand. “Hold that thought. I’ll be back in a few. I have some business to attend to.”

Tanner frowned, as he wasn’t used to women leaving him high and horny. Well, tough. He wouldn’t be scoring with her tonight any more than he’d scored in the last game of the season.

Leaving the quarterback to find a new game, Izzy marched toward Cooper, meeting him halfway. She grabbed his arm and spun him around, her anger giving her strength, and dragged him out of the ballroom, down the hall, and into a small private alcove.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed, ever mindful their voices could carry down the hallway to anyone loitering about the ballroom entrance.

“Looking for you,” he growled right back while his gaze raked up and down her body clad in a form-fitting little black dress which revealed a tasteful amount of cleavage and bare thighs.

“Cooper, I told you I had to work tonight.”

He scowled and stepped toward her, backing her up until she hit the wall behind her. He put his big hands on either side of her face and leaned in. “I don’t like you hanging out with all these wealthy businessmen and athletes who’re salivating after you like tomcats on the prowl.”