Free Closing The Gap (Dangerous Pasts, #1) by Colleen Charles Page A

seductive power.
    “Hmm ... sounds dangerous, but exciting with very high stakes.”  She hesitated for a few seconds but pressed forward, saying the words that would change the course of both their lives.
    “You’re on.” 
    Her confident voice echoed through the arena with the answer he’d secretly hoped for but hadn’t expected.  Damn , she’d become pleasantly full of surprises.
    Scrutinizing the net, Lake lined up her shot.  Josh noted her seriousness.  Her body wavered back and forth as she tried to decide which angle gave her the best opportunity to put the puck in the net.  With that kind of laser focus, he wouldn’t be shocked if she broke out a measuring tape and a rifle scope.  This was a woman that gave her all to everything she did.  Like a right hook to the gut, he realized her actions would help her avoid his kiss.  With that tenacity, he might never get one. 
    He shuddered to consider the thoughts that might be running through her head as she stared at the net.  Probably, that she wouldn’t kiss his nasty ass come hell or high water.  Was she contemplating if he had a venereal disease?  His reputation had preceded him since high school.  He had never regretted his checkered past until this very moment.  A date with John the Baptist wouldn’t be enough to make him clean and worthy of Lake Harrison.
    Enough already , he shook his head from side to side and flung the negative thoughts from his mind.  He’d put forth a valiant effort making her comfortable and now it was okay to take part of that comfort away and just let her sweat it out.  In spite of her obvious distaste at his idea, his own excitement rose volumes by the prospect of tasting those sensuous, pink lips.  He started chanting, silently, hoping she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
    Miss! Miss! Miss! Miss!
    Would those full lips move under his own?  How did she taste?  Long, passionate kisses weren’t normally his favorite thing.  They were too intimate and gave women false hope of a relationship that wasn’t there, at least on his end.  He preferred the main event but tonight, he wanted to kiss Lake with a desperation he’d never known before.  Dear God, please let this woman miss.   He didn’t want one regret after this date.  What would one little kiss hurt?  He just had to taste her and this bet made it spontaneous taking that normal first date pressure away.
    Lake yanked her wrists towards her body with everything she had.  Josh stared with rapt fascination as if the scene appeared on a slow motion replay in a cheesy sports movie.  The stick flew back; her aim true.  Was that slight indigestion or butterflies in his stomach?  This might not go his way.  If she put enough on it, it looked like it was going to be a shot on goal.
    Shit.
    The stick rushed forward.  A look of sheer concentration and focus remained planted on her face.  Damn, he had never seen a woman look hotter than Lake Harrison did in that moment holding her hockey stick with silver steeled determination flashing in her green eyes.  What happened next he’d never have believed if he hadn’t fucking seen it with his own eyes.  At the last moment, she brought the stick down to the left and deliberately shot the puck into the left-hand boards.
    “Oops.”

    First, there were rumblings.
    Then, there were flashes.
    And now, there are sparkles everywhere you go.
    Lake, your greatness is starting to show.
    All bow~
    The Universe

Chapter Nine
    W hat in heaven’s name had possessed her to do that?  She’d intended to take her shot.  It must be the devil.  Yeah, the black haired devil with eyes like the bluest, clearest ocean .  It couldn’t have been worse if she’d just turned her face up to him and begged him to ravish her.  Why did he cause her to act so out of character like a wanton harlot?  Maybe an external force had taken over her arms and made the shot for her.  Well, at least Summer would be delighted by her