Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
He walked in to the pub, went to the bar, and sat down. Shea, Tate, and some of the other guys were going to try to stop by later, but he doubted they’d make it; they were pretty beat after practice and wanted to be fresh for tomorrow’s game. Looking around the pub, he took in the manly décor. Sports memorabilia was everywhere. Pictures of hockey greats like Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, Patrick Roy, and Gordie Howe hung on the walls. Glancing around for a bartender, he leaned against the bar, grabbing a few peanuts from the bowl on the counter and popping them into his mouth.
Finally, a tall redheaded man came out of the back. When he set eyes on Jordan, he turned around and yelled in a thick Irish accent, “I swear on everything holy that if I didn’t love you guys I’d fire you! We have a customer!” Turning to look at Jordan, he said, “I’m so sorry; my family is very lazy.”
“No worries,” Jordan said with a smile. The man reminded him of his own redhead. “Can I get you a beer?”
“Yes, please, draft,” Jordan said, getting his wallet out, but the man shook his head. “Thanks, but it’s on the house as long as I can have an autograph,” he said, placing
Jordan’s beer in front of him before holding out his hand. “The name is Bowie, and I’m a fan. You’re a fantastic goalie.”
Jordan took his hand and shook it. “Thank you; it’s great to meet you.” Bowie’s grin was familiar, and suddenly it clicked.
“Do you have a daughter?”
“I do, six. Are you looking for a wife? My Aynslee is a peach.”
Hell yeah, she is, Jordan thought, as Bowie pointed to a picture of Aynslee. Jordan didn’t know how he had missed it, but it was something else. The photo must have been taken years ago, because she looked like a teenager, but even then she was gorgeous.
Jordan reached across the bar again to shake the man’s hand once more, and Bowie looked bewildered. He then said, “I know you know me as a hockey player, sir, but I am also
dating your daughter.”
Bowie blinked twice and then let out a hearty laugh. “Excuse me?” “Aynslee Shaw, spelled A-y-n-s-l-e-e? That’s my girlfriend.” “You’re dating my Aynslee?”
Jordan nodded as Bowie eyed him suspiciously.
“You’re not her normal type. She usually goes for fairy-looking guys.” Laughter sputtered out of Jordan as he said, “Thanks, I think.”
Bowie let out another hearty laugh, turning to face the back of the barroom before yelling out, “Tully! Sweetheart!”
Jordan looked past him to see a short round woman with blond hair walking toward them. “What do you want, old bat? You yell at me, saying I’m lazy, but then I try to cook and
you bother me,” she complained as she came up beside him.
Bowie snickered before pointing a thumb at Jordan and saying, “This man says he is dating our Aynslee.”
Tully looked over at Jordan and raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?” “Yes, ma’am. Has she told you about me?”
Tully’s green eyes were still locked on Jordan. “She did. But I was expecting a fairy- looking guy.”
Jordan chuckled as Tully flashed him a wide smile, taking his hand in hers. “I’m Tully Shaw, Aynslee’s mother; and you are?”
“Jordan Ryan. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too. I have a bone to pick with my daughter: She didn’t prepare me for someone so handsome.”
Jordan laughed as he pulled his phone out and said, “Let’s call her together.”
He hit Aynslee’s contact and put it on speakerphone. When she came on the line, Jordan smiled as she said, “Hey, you.”
“Hey, beautiful, guess what?” he asked as Tully and Bowie both beamed at him.
“No, first you have to guess what! Guess what I bought for your welcome-home gift?” she giggled into the phone. “And let me just say, it starts with crotchless.”
“Oh, shit,” Jordan said, quickly picking the phone up and taking it off speaker.
“That’s right,” she cooed into the phone, as Jordan looked up to see a shocked expression
on Tully’s face and Bowie glaring at him.
Fuck.
“Baby, I had you on speakerphone,” he said, covering his face. It was probably not a good idea to laugh, but he couldn’t help it, and soon she laughed along with him.
“Oh, crap, did the guys hear me? At least they know you’ve got it good, huh?”
Tully’s eyes widened, and Jordan realized that she could still hear Aynslee. When she yelled, “Aynslee Kathleen Shaw!” Aynslee’s laughter stopped.
“Please tell me that wasn’t my mother.” “It was.”
“Why are you with my parents when I am talking about crotchless panties?” “I was trying to tell you where I was, but you busted that out before I could!” “Oh, my God, did my dad hear me?”
Jordan glanced over to see Bowie standing tall, with his arms crossed over his chest, looking very scary and Irish.