Nikki Worrell - The Enforcer (NHL Scorpions)

“Well, I’ll tell you one thing. We’re lucky we get to sit in the suite again. It would be damn cold if in these outfits if we were too close to the ice.” As it was, Lacey was taking a blanket to put over her legs and a white satin shawl to drape over her shoulders.

There was a big group from the organization going to the game. Some were office workers and some were wives and girlfriends of the players. They were meeting early to mingle – it was kind of an impromptu Halloween party. Jody was picking them up, but then he would go straight to the locker room when they got to the arena. The guys played some soccer and wall ball before the games to warm up and get themselves in game mode.

Jody pulled up to the house right on time. They were halfway down the stairs when Zoe noticed two things: first, Jody was out of the truck storming toward them, looking like he was going to blow a gasket; and second, Vlad was sitting in the back seat. Crap. Zoe didn’t feel like dealing with him.

Jody was talking to himself as he walked over to Lacey. Okay, okay, breathing in, breathing out. One, two, et cetera, et cetera. Is she fucking kidding me with that costume? I’ve seen more clothes on pole dancers. Jody tried to tell himself that she could damn well dress anyway she wanted and that he knew she loved him and blah, blah, blah.

“Seriously Lace? Is this a test for me? Because I don’t think I can pass this one.” She couldn’t possibly be thinking of going to the game in that strip of cloth.

“Yeah, it’s a little skimpy, isn’t it? You don’t like it?” Lacey did her best to look innocent with her breasts spilling out of her corset.

Jody walked over to her and tried stuffing her breasts down into the bodice. Lacey lost it. She busted out laughing. Oh his face! It was classic. He had a look of such determination while trying to stuff them down.

“Jody, what are you doing? They’re not going to stay in there – trust me, I tried.” He continued stuffing, and Lacey continued laughing until she had tears rolling down her face. “Stop – oh god, Jody, stop.” She just couldn’t stop laughing.

“Lace, stop laughing. You’re making them jiggle. Help me get them in there.”

That set Lacey, and now Zoe, into fresh peals of laughter. Lacey batted his hands away. “Jody you’re killing me. Oh God, my stomach hurts, I can’t laugh anymore.”

“Fine, but don’t blame me if I lose my cool when you’re getting ogled, got it?” He knew he had control issues, but really, that outfit was just too much; however, he was going to roll with it like a good boy. And he was going to ask her to wear it again – in bed – with garters – and four-inch heels. Oh hell yeah.

Lacey reached up and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “Thank you. I know it’s hard for you, but remember, I go home with you. I have no interest in anyone else, okay?” Jody grumbled his acquiescence and walked her to the truck.

When they got to the truck, Vlad leaned over and opened the door for Zoe. Zoe wasn’t dating Sebastian anymore, which made Vlad happy, which in turn pissed Zoe off. “Why are you here? Your car break down again?” Honestly, Zoe would never understand why someone who made as much money as Vlad did would still drive an old ’69 Camaro. Yes it looked nice, but it was in the shop more often than not.

“No. I just wanted to see you.” Vlad wasn’t giving up on the feisty Zoe. The meaner she was to him, the more he wanted her. He understood the rules; he just didn’t care about them. Maybe he was being selfish, but he couldn’t help it. She’d been under his skin for years. Well, almost. One year, eleven months and three days to be exact.

Zoe rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Christ, Vlad, let it go. You know the deal. Can’t happen. Accept it.”

“Nope. I’ll wear you down.” Vlad gave her a killer smile and then started a conversation with Jody, as casual as ever.

The suite was halfway filled by the time Lacey and Zoe got in there. Lacey was glad for the chance to get to know the other girls. Some of them she had already met at the skating party, but there were quite a few new faces. Mostly, though, she hung out with Zoe.

“Do you believe Vlad told me that he wouldn’t leave me alone? Oh my God, Lace, what am I going to do about him?” Zoe was equally pissed and happy. What an impossible situation. She had seriously tried to feel something for Sebastian, but it just wasn’t there. She had even come close to sleeping with him, but after some heavy petting, she confessed to him that she wasn’t feeling it. Seb was a total gentleman and took her home. He admitted that, even though he liked her, he wasn’t feeling a real connection either.

“Zoe, I don’t have an answer for you. I wish I did, sweetie, I truly do. It’s a shitty situation. I know you have strong feelings for him. Is there any possibility you could talk to management?”

“I’m afraid to. Lace, I love my job. I can’t lose it, even if it means giving up a chance with Vlad.”

“Okay. Well it seems like you’ve made your decision, so, as my therapist would tell me, ‘suck it up, Buttercup.’” Lacey gave her a sympathetic smile. “I honestly don’t know; I guess you just have to live with it, or be willing to find another job.” Lacey felt bad telling Zoe to forget about him when she was so happy with Jody.

Zoe sighed like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. “I know you’re right, it just sucks. I’m so drawn to him, but I get totally pissed off that he won’t back off.” Zoe laughed, “It’s kind of crazy, right? He’s very sweet most of the time. I wish he was an asshole.”

“Well, I don’t think you should stop dating, that’s for sure. Seb was nice, but didn’t do it for you. Find someone else to date, and try it again.”

Jody was looking forward to this game. Philadelphia was a tough team and one he had always respected. He knew he’d be in the lineup, since they were known for their physical play. Slightly concerned about their enforcer, he’d gone to a boxing gym a couple of times the week before the game to brush up on his pugilist skills. He wanted to take Brash down if he had the opportunity, but Brash was, hands down, the biggest, toughest enforcer in the league. If Jody was being honest, he hoped he wouldn’t have to drop gloves with him, but if he did, he wanted a decent showing at the very least.

By the end of the first, the Scorpions were up three to one. Vlad was a stud in the net, and the boys were shooting like crazy. The players were all on the same page, and Jody hoped it stayed that way for the next two periods.

Back in the locker room for intermission, Keith was making the rounds, talking to teammates. “Hey Chief. You might get lucky if Philly keeps quiet for the rest of the game. You won’t have to take on that behemoth.” Keith knew, without a doubt, that Jody would do whatever was asked of him, but damn – no one wanted to go up against Brash.

“True enough, but if we keep scoring, they’re going to go after someone just to shake things up. Most likely you.” Keith had scored two of the three goals. Having that C on his jersey could make him a target. Some players would leave the captain alone for the most part, but the C wouldn’t protect Keith from any Philly players.

Marcoux had scored the other goal. It was a typical Brandon goal that Philly’s goalie should have seen coming a mile away. He skated behind the net, came out the other side, and did his trademark wrap around to stuff the puck over the goal line right between the net post and Brody’s pad.