He looked up, blinked, then looked around, convinced someone was playing a joke on him.

“Um ...” He shook his head, confused about what he should say to the man sitting across from him. “Do ... do you need something, Mr. Novikov?”

“Peace. And. Quiet.” Bo Novikov looked up from the menu he was studying. “If I have to listen to one more rookie whine about me shoving the Zamboni at him when he wouldn’t get out of my way, I’m going to go off. And you can call me Bo or just Novikov. Calling me Mr. Novikov makes me feel like your dad.”

“But then wouldn’t you be Mr. Crushek? Or I’d be Mr. Novikov?”

The pair stared at each other until Novikov said, “That was a really bear moment.”

“Yeah. It really was. Sorry.” Unable not to ask the question, though ... “So you shoved a Zamboni at your teammate?” Crush had no idea how much those things weighed, but they were motor vehicles designed to keep the ice on a rink smooth. And since there were few motorized work vehicles that were light, he’d guess there was much poundage involved.

“He annoyed me.”

“Okay.”

“I didn’t think it was a big deal, but then your girlfriend told Blayne.”

“My ... my what?”

“Malone. Your girlfriend, right?”

“She’s not—”

“She always goes for the jugular, that female. She’s lucky she’s a good player.”

“Or you’d throw a Zamboni at her?”

“Nah. Wouldn’t be right. She’s a woman. I was raised better than that.” There was silence for several moments while Novikov finished looking over the menu and placed it on the table. “I did, however, toss her out a five-story window once into a Dumpster, but she’s feline. She cleared the Dumpster and totally landed on her feet. So you wanna stay and have lunch with me or what?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

After spending the week chasing down drug-dealing bears and tips on Whitlan, Crush was grateful when the weekend came and he had a whole Saturday to sit at home with Lola, relax, and watch the Islanders game. It was still early and he had no intention of getting up for several more hours, when he heard the purring. No. That wasn’t right. He didn’t hear purring. He felt it. All over his body. And wow! That was kind of amazing. So amazing, he woke up. Unfortunately, as soon as he woke up the wonderful spell was broken and he was forced to face the reality that his house had been broken into—again.

“Why are you here, Malone?” he asked, even as he reached for her.

“We had a date.”

“No, we didn’t.”

“Ice Party. You’re supposed to come with me as my date.”

“But I specifically told you no.”

“That was before you kissed me.”

“You kissed me. Besides, Islanders game today.”

“You’re saying I am less important than the Islanders?”

“Yes.”

She stroked a finger across his chin. “I think you’re lying,” she purred. “I think you’re absolutely fascinated with me and you’re dying to go to the party.”

“Look, I’m sure there are a lot of guys out there who haven’t gotten to know you who would be really glad to—oh, God, please stop doing that.”

She was licking and grazing her teeth against his jaw, making Crush’s toes curl, his hands clench. But he had to fight it.

But she’d started purring again, her hands sliding up his arms, gripping his shoulders, and her hips rocking back and forth against him. They weren’t even naked! She was fully dressed and Crush had on his sweatpants. And yet he felt like he might come at any second.

Deciding he needed control, he grabbed Malone’s arms and rolled her onto her back. But, Crush quickly realized that only made things worse. Because now he had her right where he really wanted her. On her back, his cock between her legs.

Pinning her to the bed, both of them panting and gaping at each other, Crush was moments from pawing off her clothes with his claws. And the way her fingers tightened on his shoulders and her legs wrapped around his waist, he got the feeling she really wouldn’t mind.

But before Crush could do anything, a male voice from downstairs bellowed, “Celly! Let’s go!”

“Who’s that?”

“My brother. He drove me here.”

“Your brother is in my house and you’re ...”

“Rubbin’ up on ya? Yeah.”

“And I could totally hear it!”

Malone cringed and yelled, “Shut up, Tommy!” She let out a breath, looked back at Crush. “I didn’t bring him in. I swear. He just—”

“Broke in? Like you?”

“That’s one way of putting it.”

Crush released the feline and rolled away from her. “Out.”

“Okay, fine.” She sat up. “Don’t come. But my Aunt Deirdre swung at me earlier today.”

Confused, Crush lifted his hands. He felt like he was praying for guidance. “Why is your elderly aunt swinging at you?”

“Because I’m not afraid to tell her that her soda bread sucks.”

“It totally sucks,” Tommy agreed from the first floor.

Ignoring the male cat, Crush asked, “Still, it seems a little overly aggressive. Are you sure she doesn’t have dementia of some kind?”

“No. She just doesn’t like me.”