Cooper could use a little craziness tonight so he headed toward the table. Halfway across the room, he noticed Coach Gorst sitting at the table with the guys.
As team captain, Cooper took his obligations seriously. Even though he wanted to turn on his heel and head the other way, he kept walking toward them. Brick snagged a chair from nearby and dragged it between him and Rush, effectively putting him across the table from Coach.
Cooper respected his coach. Who wouldn’t? He was the youngest coach ever to win the Stanley Cup, had been a tough player himself until injury forced him out, and he coached the game like Cooper played it—with everything he had.
Any team would be lucky to have Mike Gorst. The Sockeyes lured him away from his former team by paying him more money than any coach in NHL history. Sure, Coach said it was about the challenge, but Cooper knew better. Money talked and so Mike had walked. If Cooper was being a little honest with himself, the situation with Mike’s old team had gone south with new ownership who was cheap and interfered in every aspect of the team business. Gorst couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
Cooper loved playing for Gorst; too bad it had to be in Seattle. The guy was tough, energetic, and a proven winner.
“Cap, ready to kick some ass on this road trip?” Brick grinned at him and saluted.
Cooper faked a cocky grin and saluted right back. “As ready as you are.”
Brick grinned even wider and poured himself another beer. Cooper glanced at Coach who nodded at him. Coach stood and yawned, making a show of being tired. Cooper knew he was leaving because the team captain had shown up. Not that they didn’t get along—they both had enormous respect for the other—but their relationship was slightly strained since Cooper had made it clear to his coach that he wasn’t staying in Seattle.
“Now that Coop’s here to babysit, children, I’m going to hit the hay. I’ll have four hours of watching film and hashing out game plans before any of you gentlemen hit the ice for the morning skate.”
The guys turned back to swapping tales, and Cooper sat back to listen, but his mind drifted to Izzy. He really missed her, and he’d never missed a woman like this before. He missed her so much that his stomach ached thinking about it, and they’d only said goodbye this morning. He was a sorry lovesick sap, and hell if he knew what to do about it. He fished his phone from his pocket, relieved to see a message from her.
Hi, what’s up?
Wish you were here or even better, I was there, he texted back to her.
Me, too.
He grinned when he read that.
How’s Riley? It occurred to him that he’d never asked about Riley before.
Fine, we just got out of a movie with Betheni.
Oh, so that’s where they’d been. He was an idiot. Did he do his homework?
Of course, he did. He’s a good kid, and you’re turning into a good uncle.
Cooper blushed. Yeah, he actually blushed. Thanks. What’re you wearing?
Nothing, wanna see?
Oh, crap. A smart man would say no, considering he sat at a table full of jocks who’d enjoy razzing him, but Cooper wanted to see.
Yeah.
Several seconds later a picture came through of Izzy completely naked in the bathtub. The suds covered strategic parts and made it even more erotic than if she’d been stark-ass naked.
You’re fucking beautiful.
Your turn.
Shit, he couldn’t exactly strip in front of the boys to take a photo of the goods. In hotel bar with the guys.
Go back to the room. I need text sex.
Cooper stood and pushed back his chair so quickly that it fell to the floor. Every guy at the table stared up at him in open-mouthed shock.
“Gotta go. Don’t miss curfew,” Cooper said as he hurried from the room.
He heard Brick say, “Must be a woman.” The rest of the guys chuckled. Cooper didn’t care. He punched the Up button on the elevator, punched it harder, punched it again. A beautiful leggy blond slid up next to him. Her over-powering perfume filled his nostrils.
“That won’t make the elevator come any faster, but that kind of forcefulness might make me come faster,” she whispered in his ear in a low, husky tone.
“Thanks, but no thanks.” Cooper backed away from her and stepped into the elevator as the doors opened. She followed him in, not the least bit deterred and ran a hand down his arm. Cooper shot her a murderous glare.
“What part of ‘I’m not interested’ do you not understand?” He was being rude and didn’t give a shit.
Her pretty face turned damn ugly as she frowned at him. “Fine.” She turned away, hands across her chest and focused on another man who stepped into the elevator after Cooper.
When his floor was reached, Cooper shot out of the elevator and ran for the room, praying Cedric was still out with whatever woman he’d picked up earlier. Even if he was there, Cooper would lock himself in the bathroom.
I’m in my room, Cooper texted.
What are you wearing?
A smile. He grinned as he pulled off his clothes.
Show me.
Cooper hopped on the bed and took a picture of himself sprawled on it with his dick standing up proudly. He pressed Send and waited while he stroked himself and wished it was her.
God, I miss you. And Dick.
Ditto, he typed.
Call me and turn on the video.
Fuck, but Cooper loved technology.
Cooper wouldn’t appreciate Izzy dragging his nephew to the party she was crashing, but she didn’t have a choice. Besides it was Tanner’s party, and she wouldn’t let him down. She’d helped him plan every aspect, and he’d invited his teammates’ families which guaranteed the event to be G-rated.