Shot at Love: Renegades 8 (Renegades #8)

“Yeah, I think it’s just the normal team Halloween party pictures for the internet. The ones that go on the team page, and the PR stuff. Mel probably knows,” Dom added.

“The internet?” Oh crap, she hadn’t considered that. Of course they were going on the internet.

“You shy, sweets?” Luc asked her. “Don’t need to be. I love showing you off in that Supergirl costume.” His words were dripping with lust. She was surprised he wasn’t drooling. Then Luc shoved his phone in Dom’s direction. “Zanetti, take our picture. Hailee, jump in here, too.”

“Yeah, we’ll be on the team’s web pages,” Hailee agreed. “They highlight the players’ costumes every year. But this year the team’s most sought-after bachelor has a beautiful lady on his arm. I’m sure the fangirls will eat that up. Sorry Kass, but your name is going to be everywhere by the end of the night,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “It’s really not that bad. You’re a sweet girl, and you’re good for Luc.”

“Wait, so you’re serious? I’m really going to be on the team’s web pages?” Kassie questioned, while trying to keep her cool.

“Honey, you’re going to be on the WAGS pages, too,” Paige added. “And you will be retweeted and shared and whatever else they do online. We all will. Every single girl is going to want to see who finally tied down Luc Marcella.”

“The Puck-Star,” Luc added.

Kassie shook her head at Luc’s comment, but her bigger concern was the social media. “Yeah, I really doubt that, Paige. No one even knows who I am. And I doubt they even care. I’m just the chick in the Supergirl costume.” This was all too much. She wasn’t a WAG; she was just dating Luc. But that did make her a WAG, didn’t it?

“They do now.” Paige pointed at the many people taking pictures. “Most of those are going to end up on the internet sometime tonight or tomorrow.”

“I need a drink.” Kassie turned to look for the bar, but Luc grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into a warm, loving hug. It relaxed her enough for the moment.

“Hey, have you seen my wife? I think I lost her in the crowd somewhere,” Sam asked, scratching under his chef hat.

“Nice apron, surfer dude,” Luc commented. “Does it come with a surfboard?”

Why wasn’t Luc worried like she was, about all the attention she was going to get tonight? Maybe because there’s nothing to be worried about. She tried to think back to when Ali started to date Kaden, when the paparazzi did the same thing, taking candid pics of them and putting them online. This time it was team members posting them. But it was really no different.

“Not now, Rock-Star.” Sam cocked his head, changing his mind. “Okay, maybe for a second. No surfboard, but nice tights, boy wonder.”

“Hey, as long as my Supergirl likes them, that’s all that matters.”

“Oh, she likes them.” Trina appeared behind Sam.

“There you are! You doing okay, babe?” Sam asked.

“Fine, just fine.” Trina rubbed her belly and took a few quick breaths. “Did you try the buffalo dip? I think you’d like it. I may have already had too much.”

“There’s buffalo dip? Where?” Sam’s attention shifted to the search for the dip, and he and Trina wandered off.

“I think something is going on with Trina,” Kassie whispered to Luc.

“Why do you say that?” Luc ran his fingers down the back of her neck, tickling her and causing chills up and down her arms under her superhero costume.

“She keeps grabbing at her belly. Isn’t she due like any day now?” Kassie asked.

“I don’t know, I guess. She does look like she’s ready to pop.” Luc’s attention got pulled away from their conversation and to a commotion in the corner. “What the hell is going on over there?”

“Oh no.” Kassie moaned once she saw what was happening. It was Quinn and her boy toys.

Quinn was in the corner with JJ and Travis. She was dressed as a sexy teacher, and they were both dressed as nerds. They were the perfect costume choices, because the guys followed Quinn around like puppy dogs, and that was on a normal day, not just while they were dressed up for Halloween. Party goers were hooting and hollering as Quinn drank from a beer bong that Travis was holding, and JJ was cheering her on.

“Who’s the girl with Travis and JJ?” Patrick asked, joining the conversation. His wife was at his side. They were dressed as Super Mario and Princess Peach from the video game.

“Quinn, their date. She’s also Kassie’s friend,” Luc answered, fighting a smirk.

“Ugh.” Kassie attempted to hide her embarrassment. “She’s actually a really nice girl,” Kassie said.

“Yeah, she looks very friendly,” Dom said, before Hailee smacked him. Then he backpedaled. “What’s wrong with that? Hailee, you can’t say she doesn’t seem friendly.”

Kassie loved Quinn like a sister, and she knew what a wonderful person she was. But right now, Kassie had her own nerves to deal with, being here at the team Halloween party. She didn’t have the mental capacity to deal with Quinn and her boy toys as well. Plus, she trusted that Quinn knew what she was doing and could handle it. She was a grown woman, and this wasn’t her first rodeo.

“I think the ones you need to worry about are those boys. Quinn just might chew them up and spit them out,” Kassie laughed. “Are any of you going to be there to pick up the pieces after she’s done with them?”

All the guys shook their heads no.

“I’m sure someone back on their AHL team will be more than willing to deal with that, if it came to it,” Patrick said, observing the three of them. “But I’ve had limited interaction with them, and it appears they can handle anything she has to offer. They seem to be holding their own so far.”

“Enough about them.” Paige took a picture of them all and did a few things on her phone. “We need to worry about getting photos out there of you all. The fans love to see what you’re all dressed up as. A lot of them look very forward to this time of year.”

“Paige, you need to get in there, too. I’ll take the photo,” Kassie offered, but for her own selfish reasons.

“No way, Kassie. You need to be with your man. People want to see you guys,” Paige countered. “Mel, can you take our photo, please?”

Melanie, the other public relations person, took over Paige’s phone. “Say Renegades!”

As soon as Paige got her phone back, the DJ turned up the music, and people started to dance. It was a rap song, and Sam grabbed Trina, dragging her to the dance floor. He had their attention as he danced like a fool, singing to the music like a rap star.

Luc recorded it on his phone, most likely for later blackmail, but Sam didn’t seem to mind. “You go, surfer boy! Shake what your mama gave you!”

Sam only responded with flipping Luc the bird. He continued to sing and dance until the rap song was over. Once the song changed to one with more of a dance beat, Luc turned to her.

Melody Heck Gatto's books