Back to Business

Sidney knocked on Molly’s office door long after she was supposed to be gone before letting himself in. She was hunched over her computer, flustered, hair falling out of the messy curly braid it was in, glasses perched on the edge of her nose as she typed furiously away at her computer.

“Okay workaholic, that’s enough for today.”

“No Sid I still have to fill out this statement for accounting before Tuesday and I need-“ she was cut off as he pulled her rolling chair away from her desk, hands outstretched towards her keyboard as she rolled further away from her work.

“Sid!”

“If I know you, and I do, you’re probably already a week ahead of any work that you actually have to do. Come on, the guys are going out and you’re coming with us.”

She groaned and dropped her head back.
“I told you, I don’t do clubs.”

“No clubs, just dinner. In fact we’re going to a pub. I think you’ll really like it.”

She looked skeptically at her friend, seeing if he was trying to trick her. After all, Friday nights with no game the following day were like goldmines for the party boys of the team.

“Just a pub?”

“I swear.”

Molly sighed and when she opened her mouth to argue she was hit in the face with a ball of fabric.

“I took the liberty of grabbing your bag out of your car. No excuses about how you’re overdressed. Meet me in the parking lot in ten. I’m driving.”

She huffed as the door shut behind him and grumbled while pulling on her extra pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt. She met Sidney five minutes later and hopped into the passenger side of the Rover.

“If you’re dragging me out with the guys then we are at least listening to my music before we get there.”

She didn’t wait for Sidney’s response before plugging in her ipod turning the volume to full blast as Luke Bryan’s voice came through the radio. He laughed as she sang along in a fake southern accent to her favorite country singer for a few seconds before turning the volume down to a more manageable level.

“So who’s gonna be there tonight?”

“I don’t know, Max and Jordy. I think Tanger might be there with his girl, not sure about the rest.”

“And they don’t mind that I’m coming?”

“Why would they?”

“I don’t know, we haven’t ever hung out with them before.”

“They all love you Moll. Don’t worry about it.”

“Alright, if you’re sure.”

Sidney smiled at her across the center consol.
“I’m sure.”

They had to circle the block a few times before finding a parking spot. Molly pulled her jacket tighter around her body and shivered. It had seemed as if the temperature had dropped overnight, leaving her grossly underprepared in her light spring jacket.

When they stopped in front of the bar Sidney grinned at her. A dark green awning with the name ‘Molly Malone’s’ had Molly rolling her eyes before following him into the pub. The establishment was dark, with an old mahogany bar and booths around the perimeter. They didn’t need to look too hard for the guys, Jordan’s tall blonde head easily seen in the somewhat crowded area.

The guys said their hellos, Max gave her a nod and a wink which she returned with an eye roll. She politely said hello to Kris’s girlfriend, feeling a little self-conscious in her jeans and Henley compared to the skinny jeans, blouse and heels the woman was wearing.

Whatever , she thought, they were in a pub and seriously, who wears heels in a pub?

To her utter shock the night turned out to be pleasantly fun. She had really just been spending time with Sidney, the rest of the guys seemed to actually have social lives that didn’t involve hanging with their media relations manager, but she was able to get to know them in a situation that didn’t involve fixing their scandals.

She politely listened as Kris’s girlfriend talked about the trials of finding just the right shade of lipgloss, nodding along as the woman complained about having to constantly reapply the sticky stuff. Luckily she was saved by Max and spent a majority of the night nursing a Guinness and watching in amusement as he flirted his way through every girl in the bar.

“So, do any of those lines actually work?”

The guys howled and Max dramatically clutched his chest in mock pain.

“You wound me, mon amour! I am simply waiting for the right woman to sweep off her feet,” he grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, looking up at her with an impish grin on his face. “What do you say, ma belle?”

Molly laughed despite the heat in her cheeks and patted him on the head like the misbehaved dog that he was.
“I don’t date French guys.”

Cries went up from the Francophiles on the team and Sidney laughed out loud as Max pretended to die at Molly’s feet.

Looking back, Sidney realized that it was one of the few nights he had gone out with the team that he actually recalled having fun.

Halloween came and went with a ridiculous party at Geno’s that Molly wasn’t in attendance for. She had given Sidney a load of shit for his thunder thighs that he showed off in his gladiator costume, much to his chagrin. The season looked promising and although she urged Sidney to go out with his teammates he normally found himself lounging with Molly on his couch, either playing video games or getting roped into watching one of her ridiculous BBC series.

She seemed to him like the only friend he’d ever had that was a girl and he enjoyed her company more than he did some of his teammates. They spent most of their nights together, shooting the shit and solidifying a deep, and highly unlikely friendship. She made his blood absolutely boil when she spoke of “her Flyers” and he refused to watch the games with her, if only to not have to listen to her brag about how good their penalty kill was. He would respond along the lines of ‘their penalty kill is so good because they take too many dirty penalties’, and she would simply smirk and nod along with a ‘whatever you say Sid’. But sure enough the next time she’d show up at his house she’d be wearing that hideous orange tshirt with that stupid Flyers logo on it.

A home game in December found the Pens with a win against the Rangers, much to the delight of both Sidney and Molly. The locker room celebration soon overflowed into plans to hit up a nearby club, and invitations were extended to all the staff.

It had become a game of sorts in the locker room, trying to get Molly to come out with the guys. Every single time the team went out to a club they invited her and every single time she declined. Tanger had an arm around Molly, trying to convince her to join them all in the postgame festivities. She was shaking her head, stating that she needed to get home to feed and walk her dog and couldn’t join. Sidney, feeling overly confident after a goal and two assists approached the duo.

“I’ll take you home to feed the dog and then you’re coming to the club with us.”

There was a finality in his voice that shocked even himself. Tanger looked on wide eyed before getting a shit eating grin and nodding his approval. Molly blushed to the roots of her hair before shaking her head and trying to mumble out some excuse but he was having none of it.

“Mon ami! You live right near me. I will take you home and go grab my phone from my apartment and then we will both go to the club!”

Sidney shot daggers as Talbot wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled him to her. She rolled her eyes and socked him in the gut causing him to wince and Sidney to smile.

“Fine Max, but I’m not waiting for an hour for you to make yourself pretty.”

“Ah no wait time needed. I am gorgeous as I am!”

She rolled her eyes and let him lead her out to the parking lot. Sidney ran a hand through his hair and followed his teammates out of the arena and to the club. They had all arrived within minutes of each other and secured the VIP section upstairs. A few lucky girls had been granted access and were currently draping themselves across the closest hockey player that would give them the time of day. Sidney rolled his eyes at their desperation and wondered silently what was taking Max and Molly so long.

“Maxime! You must be outside of your god damn mind, there is no way in hell I’m wearing that!”

Max smiled as he held up the dress.
“Oui. What else in this pitiful wardrobe of yours were your planning on wearing?”

“It’s not pitiful! The only thing I do here is work, therefore I have a work wardrobe.”

Max rolled his eyes and snatched a pair of black patent leather pumps from deep inside of her closest.
“Stop arguing. When’s the last time you went out and had fun? You need to get laid Ms. I’m married to my job.”

Molly flushed and flipped him off before grabbing the dress and heels and heading for her bathroom.

“Moose! Sickem!”
Max looked at the pit mix lying next to him on the bed. The dog merely snorted before rolling over for a belly rub causing Max to laugh and indulge the pooch.

“Jackass!”

Max chuckled as he meandered to her couch to watch sportscenter as she got ready. Twenty minutes later he heard her door open and turned to give her hell for taking so long only to have his jaw hit the floor.

Sidney decided that he was allowed one drink, after all he had scored the game winner tonight, and as long as he didn’t fuck anyone in the back room he was pretty sure he’d be okay. He heard Staalsy let out a wolf whistle and turned to see what the fuss was about. Max led his new flavor of the week up the stairs to the section the Pens were currently inhabiting. Sidney let out a low whistle of his own as he took in Max’s date.

She was curvier than most of the guys liked, with hips and breasts that jutted out like the pure definition of a woman. So unlike the bony fake chested pucksluts that the guys were used to. Her straight blonde hair was long, and didn’t have that dead look that said it had been dyed that color. The black dress she wore clung to her curves at all the right places, leaving a little bit of cleavage on display and the lower part of her legs, which were toned with athletic muscles.

She was nothing like the girls Sidney went for, but she was everything that he ever wanted and he couldn’t help but drool, teammate’s date be damned. Tanger’s elbow jutted into his ribs ripping his gaze from the beauty on his teammates arm.

“So that’s what she was hiding under those suits.”

Sidney looked at him, confused as he glanced back to Max. Max had his hand on her lower back, whispering something into her ear as she threw her head back and laughed, that damn deep belly laugh that he knew.

No.

She took a step to the side and smiled at Max, her gaze glancing around the club before meeting his briefly, his eyes widening in shock. Her deep blue gaze met his and he about fell over as he looked into the eyes he was so used to seeing behind those thick Ray Ban frames and frizzy hair. Her name left his lips in a deep exhale.

“Molly.”

~~~


“Maxime, I cannot believe you made me come here dressed like this.”

She felt ridiculous, there was so much of her skin showing, legs, arms, back, chest, there was just too much to possibly cover. She could practically feel the extra fat around her hips jutting out, only accentuated by the bandage dress that max insisted she wear.

Her hair was straightened for the first time in months, and her dramatic eye makeup made her feel like a $12 hooker instead of the sex kitten she had been going for when she had courageously donned the stuff.

Max pulled her to his side and whispered into her neck, causing goosebumps to appear on her skin much to her chagrin. Ugh, she was NOT turned on by Max Talbot right now. Mr. Superstar who basically told Philly to go fuck themselves with that stupid “Shh” motion of his. But damnit if the guy didn’t have game.

“You look beautiful love.”

Molly half heartedly punched his shoulder and laughed. She was seriously going to Flyers hell.

“Stop it Max, you’re making me blush.”

“Ah, someone seems to be a little jealous of me taking up all your attention.”

Molly internally rolled her eyes, there were a plethora of beautiful girls here tonight that any guy on the team could go home with. She followed Max’s gaze to meet the hazel eyes that she had come to know very well over the previous months. She smiled and discreetly waved at him, not wanting to ruin his game for any girls that would be in the immediate vicinity.

He grabbed his drink and walked up to the duo.

“Molly,” he took a sip of his drink, “You look… nice.”

Her smile faltered a little at his tone and her hand reached down to pull the dress to try to cover more of her pale thighs.

This dress was a bad idea.

She knew she looked ridiculous and Sidney’s comment had just confirmed her worries. She had no business being here whatsoever. This was not her scene, she didn’t fit in, she wasn’t cut out for this meat market by any means.

She missed the glare that Max sent Sid’s way, and the remorse that crossed Sid’s face as he realized how his compliment came out. She fidgeted in Max’s hold before breaking away and avoiding their gazes.

“I’m going to go get a drink. Do you boys want anything?”

She plastered on her best smile, this was what she did for a living, she could do it now. She didn’t wait for their answer before heading to the exclusive VIP bar and ordering a Jack Honey on the rocks. After receiving her drink she turned to survey the area, it was lateish and by this point everyone had basically paired off with who they would be taking home for the night. The girls were all model thin with miles of tan skin stretched over toned muscle and perfect features. Their hair and makeup were accentuated by their designer dresses and purses.

She felt weird being the extra add on for the evening and decided it would be best to stick to the married or taken group of guys on the team. She didn’t want to be responsible for any catfights, so she made her way over to Marc Andre and Vero.

Max biffed Sidney across the back of the head as Molly practically ran to the bar.

“Are you stupid or something?”

Max’s eyes glowed fire as he stared down his captain. Sid groaned and ran his hand through his hair and then over his face. He couldn’t get the image of her in that dress out of his head. He hadn’t even recognized her at first, her appearance so different from the pantsuits and business attire he was used to seeing her in. His pants were still slightly tight as he thought about the supple chest that she kept hidden behind loose conservative shirts, and those creamy athletic legs that went on for miles and were accentuated by those fuck me pumps she had strapped to her feet.

In an instant she went from platonic unattractive friend to sex kitten extraordinaire. And that was a huge problem.

“Fuck.”

Max grunted and eyed up the man beside him.
“Don’t Sid… just, fuck you have no idea.”

Max swore in French before turning his eyes back to Molly who was currently chatting up Vero and Marc, crossing her legs over each other and causing her dress to reveal more creamy thigh.
Sidney could barely tear his eyes away from the sight. He blamed the alcohol coursing through his system but all he wanted was to throw her up against a wall and bury himself between those silky thighs.

“You should apologize you know.”

“I meant it as a compliment.”

Max rolled his eyes. For all the game that their captain had on the ice he possessed none off of it.

“Sure didn’t sound like one. You do realize that woman isn’t like the others. She doesn’t do this,” he gestured around them to the club, “like ever. It was a miracle to get her here dressed like that and you basically shot her confidence to shit in one sentence. Make it better. Or I will.”

Sidney looked at his teammate, expecting to see the carefree gaze that Talbot had all but mastered but was met with nothing but a serious brow as he nodded and walked off.

Sidney was talking himself up to go talk to her when Max apparently thought he was taking long enough and grabbed her from Vero’s grasp to go dance. She shook her head in denial and claimed she didn’t dance. However Max didn’t take no for an answer and dragged her out anyway. Sidney gripped his highball as he watched Max spin her around and pull her back flush to his front. His hands encircled her waist as they both moved to the beat, Sidney mesmerized by the fluidity of her movements as she moved against his teammate.

His glass almost shattered in his hands as he watched Max brush her hair back from her neck and placed his lips to her bare shoulder blade. He waited for Molly to step away, or throw his hands off her or maybe even punch the guy in the jaw. But much to his dismay she let out a moan he could see more than hear and leaned her head back against Max’s shoulder, moving her hips against his as the dance continued.

He didn’t realize how long he had been staring at them until Tanger pried the glass from his white fingers and placed it on a nearby table.

“She’s a good girl Sidney.”

He just nodded in response, his eyes never leaving the couple on the dance floor.

“Don’t fuck with her if you don’t plan on doing something about it. She’s good people.”

Sidney didn’t understand why Tanger was warning him when it was Max that was currently grinding himself into her. He didn’t get to respond before the defenseman left him alone again. He ordered another Jack and threw it back just as the dancing duo made their way back upstairs again, laughing about something that Sidney wished he had been privy to.

Molly ordered a Jack Honey on the rocks and Sidney just about busted a nut in his pants. There was nothing better than a girl that drank whiskey. Granted it was honey whiskey, but whiskey nonetheless.
Max had an evil grin as he turned to Sidney, his hand still resting on Molly’s lower back.

“Sid, why don’t you take this beauty for a spin on the dance floor. Mon ami, her moves,” he made a move to wipe imaginary sweat from his brow and grinned at her causing her to blush. Molly shook her head and looked from Sidney to Max.

“Nah, Sid can’t do that kind of stuff. Wouldn’t look too good for him to be dancing with the likes of me. Media nightmare waiting-“

“Yes I can.”

Molly’s jaw dropped open, as did Max’s before he quickly shut it and grinned like a madman. He never thought the kid would actually take his bait. Sidney stretched out his hand and took hers before leading them to the dance floor. When they got there she leaned close to him so he could hear her over the beat of the music.

“You don’t have to do this you know. If you wanted to prove a point I’m okay with that we can just go grab a drink from the bar. We don’t have to-“

She was cut off as he turned her around and encircled her waist with his arms, pulling her back into him.

“I said I wanted to dance. I’m a man of my word Moll.”

Millions of PR nightmare scenarios ran through her mind, the pictures, the comments alone, should have been enough to not let it go any further, but the minute his hips pressed into hers all those thoughts flew out the window as she synced up with him and moved to the deep bass.

She secretly loved dancing like this, although it wasn’t something she partook in often. Normally at clubs like this she sat back and watched her friends flirt with the many men that approached them. Molly enjoyed herself when she went out drinking and most of the time it didn’t bother her that she was the only one leaving without a guy for the night.

She very rarely had enough alcohol in her to dance, too many times she had been on the wrong end of a joke or a bet to dance with the grenade. One too many of those had given her a complex that was hard to break. She knew she wasn’t overweight by any means. She had played soccer and lacrosse all through high school and college and had retained her muscular thighs and calves from that. Her shoulders were broader than was deemed “feminine” and she had arm muscles from working out, but they weren’t those toned slim arms that girls in ads for the gyms had.

She might have had a little extra weight around her hips and chest that she had been trying for years to get rid of but when it came down to it she just loved good food and drink too much to really care. She was pleasantly okay with the way she looked, she was also realistic, which is why she was instantly skeptical of any guy out of her league asking her to dance when there were hundreds of, what society would consider, beautiful women all around them.

The reaction Sidney’s body had to her was immediate and embarrassing. His hands ran over the soft curve of her hips, his hands splaying across her stomach and causing him to smile when he felt her suck it in. The flare of her waist was one of the sexiest things he had ever felt, it was all soft, and curve, and woman. So unlike the petite model like girls he was used to. Molly was all ripe natural beauty, and completely unaware of it.

She felt him hard and long against her ass and grinded against him harder, knowing that it was just a guy’s natural reaction to being touched down there and not to take it personally. After a couple of songs her legs started to hurt from being in heels and they made their way back. Most of the team had left with their entertainment for the night. Surprisingly Max was alone, standing up when the couple approached.

“Molly, want to share a cab home? You’re right on the way.”

She nodded and grabbed her purse before turning to Sidney.

“Thanks for the dance. You didn’t have to do that, but I had fun.”

“So did I.”

You are so beautiful.

The words were on the tip of his tongue but he couldn’t bring himself to say them as she walked away with his friend, his eyes on her hips the entire way out.

He groaned and pressed the heels of his hands into his eye sockets.

He was so fucked.

Notes

Ugh I know I suck at updating. This story is really frustrating because I literally have like 100 pages of it written, almost completed but there is a huge gap getting to that point and that's what the next couple of chapters are going to be. Hang in there with me and I promise it will be worth it!