Shut Out (Bayard Hockey #1)(7)

I spot a closed door and test the knob to see if it’s unlocked. It turns and I shove it open. Whoops.

The blond Rapunzel I’d been making heavy eye contact with earlier is in there, buttoning her cutoff shorts. Her eyes widen and she yelps.

“Sorry!” I back out and slam the door shut.

I slump against the wall and close my eyes. Jesus. That could have been so much worse.

The door jerks open and she glares at me. “What the hell?”

“Sorry!” I hold my hands up. “Why the hell didn’t you lock it?”

“I thought I did!”

I frown and step past her into the bathroom. I jiggle the doorknob, then shrug. Yep, it’s broken. “Hey, you wanna wait and stand guard for me outside?”

She rolls her eyes. “Seriously?”

I give her my best grin. “Hell yeah. I don’t want anyone walking in on me.”

And then someone appears at the top of the stairs—Tiffany. Somehow I know she followed me up here. Her gaze moves between Rapunzel and me and she hesitates, one hand on the big newel post.

“I need to wash my hands,” Rapunzel protests.

I grab her wrist, yank her into the bathroom, and close the door.

“Hey!” she protests again. “What are you doing?”

“Wash up.” I gesture at the sink. “Take your time.”

“What?” She gapes at me.

Damn, she’s pretty. White teeth, small nose, big eyes. Her mouth is a little wide but sexy.

“Go ahead and wash your hands.” I move closer and she edges back, her eyelashes fluttering. “Oh hey, you don’t need to be afraid of me.” I lower my voice. “I think that girl followed me up here.”

Rapunzel scowls. “Really? Because you’re that irresistible?”

I give a cheeky grin. “Yeah.”

“Ugh.” She cranks the water on and squirts some hand soap from a container, then rubs her hands together. “That’s some ego you have there.”

“Is that what you were looking at earlier?” I fold my arms across my chest and lean against the wall. “My ego?”

Her eyes fly open wide. “Wow. It is huge.”

“Yeah, that’s what she said.”

For a moment, she goes still, then her head bends and her hair falls over her face…but not before I see her lips twitch.

“Come on, Rapunzel, that was funny.”

She lifts her head and, yeah, her lips are curved into a smile and her eyes are dancing. Her eyes are brown, a light golden brown. “Rapunzel?”

“Sorry, I don’t know your name. But I noticed your hair earlier. It’s gorgeous.”

“Um, thank you.” She hesitates. “I’m Skylar.”

“Jacob.” I extend my hand. “I’ll shake your hand now that you’ve washed up.”

She rolls her eyes, still smiling, hangs the towel back on the hook beside the sink and takes my hand. Hers is small and soft, but her grip is firm. I like that.

We make eye contact again and my skin heats. “I like the pink.” I release her hand and gesture at the under layers of her hair.

She runs her fingers through it. “Thanks. It’s new for me.”

“Can you see if Tiffany’s still out there?” I jerk my chin at the door.

Her eyebrows pull together. “Are you avoiding her?”

One corner of my mouth lifts. “She was coming on pretty strong.”

“Ah.” Her top teeth drag over her bottom lip briefly. “It looked like a lot of girls down there were.”

I smile. “You noticed that, huh?”

Color floods into her cheeks and, damn, it makes her even prettier. “How could I not? It was embarrassing for womankind.”

I laugh. “Oh, come on.”

“Those girls who stalk the hockey team, the football team, the basketball team…” Skylar shakes her head. “They’re shameless.”

“Sometimes, yep.”

“Aaaargh. You’re a pig.”

“I’m a guy. I like girls.” I shrug. “Also, luckily, I didn’t really have to take a leak that bad or I’d be in pain by now.”

She shakes her head, but her lips twitch again. “You are avoiding her.”

“So that means I’m not a total pig, then.”

When I meet her eyes, it’s like there’s a crackling energy snapping between us. Damn. I just jumped out of a frying pan and into a goddamn fire. I know she feels it too, because she stares back at me for long seconds before she reaches for the doorknob. She peers out into the hall through the crack of the barely open door, then glances at me over her shoulder. “There are three girls out there now.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“Come on, dude. They’re not all after you.”

I lay my hand on my heart. “Ouch.”

Skylar laughs, a low, warm laugh that makes my groin tighten. “You’re impossible.”

“Will you guard the door for me?”

“They’re probably wondering what the hell we’re doing in here.”

“They’re probably jealous of you.”

“Oh my God!” She glares at me but when she sees my smile, she starts laughing. “Fine. I’ll guard the door for you.”