What’s the worst thing about musicals? They’re unrealistic. I mean seriously, how many people do you know who would be strolling down the street with their friend one minute and dancing the next? In the real world, life isn’t like how it’s portrayed in musicals. Why? Because behind those movies are a choreographer, talented dancers, and a shitload of practicing. That is how they make everything look so effortless.

Which was the exact opposite of how Josh, my seven teammates, and I looked as we tried to do the simple—in Holly’s opinion, not mine—dance routine.

We hadn’t even made it past the first few steps before we were crashing into each other.

“It’s turn to the left on the third step,” Holly said, her Aussie accent still as strong as it was when I met her two years ago. She smiled in a way that was supposed to be encouraging. And it might have worked—if we were five-year-olds.

We knew we sucked.

Holly didn’t have to tell us that.

The difference between Holly and Coach Fusco? Fusco would have been yelling at us to get our act together.

Fortunately, skating without landing on your ass, even with the other team body checking us, was a lot easier than dancing.

We were in the dance studio that Holly had lined up for us so we could practice during the next few weeks. The friend of one of her colleagues owned the place and was happy to let us rent the space before the evening classes began.

“All right, let’s try that again,” Holly said and demonstrated the steps once more.

By the third time, we didn’t come off quite as incompetent as we had in the beginning. But it was still close.

“Hopefully by the time we tear off our shirts,” Mark said, “the audience will forget how bad we are.”

“Someone care to remind me again why we’re torturing ourselves this way?” Sean asked.

“Christ, you sound like a bunch of fucking old ladies.” That was Josh.

“At least then we would know what the heck we’re doing,” Sean pointed out.

Holly wrapped her arms around Josh’s waist. “Honestly, you guys are doing great. And like Mark said, the women won’t care if you aren’t perfect onstage. You’re just there to fulfill their sexual fantasies.”

“Don’t tell that to Bridget,” Sean said. Mark nodded in agreement as did the two other married players.

The rest of us thanked God we were single. Or at least I was positive the other three single players were thinking that. The show was scheduled prior to the beginning of hockey season, which meant Emma and I would still be pretending we were an item. And since Granny and her cronies were planning to attend the event, it meant I wouldn’t get to appreciate the benefits of being single when it came to some of the horny women in the audience.

What did the Rock organization think about what we were doing? Yes, I did have a meeting with several members, including the general manager. Because the proceeds were going to charity, they were on board with it—as long as we followed a lengthy list of rules.

The #1 rule? Keep it family friendly.

No lap dancing.

No grinding.

No bare asses.

No removal of our pants—unless we were wearing family friendly shorts underneath.

Even though the guys and I were still a long way from nailing the first part of the dance, Holly taught us what came next. An hour later, we were dripping with sweat and looked like we had just finished playing the third period of a playoff game.

The door opened and in walked Emma, followed by a woman who I recognized as Josh and Holly’s nanny.

Yes—the woman who resembled a fifty-year-old male boxer. And equally as attractive.

But as scary looking as she was, she was amazing with their eighteen-month-old daughter. Lily adored her. Holly adored her. So all was great.

Josh walked to the woman, grinning in the way I’d only seen him do with his daughter, and scooped Lily out of her nanny’s arms.

“How’s my big girl doing?” he asked her in the singsong voice he saved for his daughter. But it worked for him—and I didn’t just mean with Lily.

Apparently babies and cute toddlers were babe magnets. I kid you not. If a woman walks around with a baby strapped to her chest, guys take a wide berth around her—as if afraid the baby will turn into a repulsive two-headed monster.

Not so when a man has a baby strapped to his chest. Then every baby-craving female in a ten-mile radius will hone in on the pair. Although in most cases, the man isn’t looking for a baby mama. He already has one.

But hanging out with your friend while he’s carrying around a babe magnet doesn’t mean you’ll get lucky once the girls realize he isn’t single. It doesn’t matter if most times you have no trouble getting laid, hanging out with your friend and his child is an instant babe repellent for all us kid-free men.

I know—completely unfair.

Emma joined me and I introduced her around—including to Holly, Josh, and Lily.

Yes, I noticed the similarities between Holly and Emma too, with the bright auburn hair. But as hot as Holly was, she didn’t incite the same reaction in me that Emma did.

Emma had a sexy, adventurous look about her, thanks to her mess of curls. It made me believe that she’d be a wildcat in bed.

My cock twitched, seconding that assessment.

“How’s it going?” Emma asked us.

“Not bad at all.” Could she tell I was lying? Hopefully not.

Although from the way the guys squirmed at the question, she might have guessed I was being less than truthful.

“Can I see?”

“See what?” Yes, I knew exactly what she was asking.

“The routine.”

A smirk grew on my face. “Impatient much? Hate to see what you’re like at Christmas.”

“Santa and I have an understanding that he never lets me wait.”

“Sorry, sweetheart, but I’m going to have to disappoint you this one time. But I promise you, this will be the only time I’ll disappoint.” No hidden innuendos there at all.

No siree.

Her gaze dropped momentarily to my package. “I’ll have to take your word for it.”

“You do that.” I winked.

“So,” Mark said in his okaaay-moving-right-along voice, “are we done here?” He looked at Holly, his expression hopeful.

“Yes, we’ll resume tomorrow where we left off.”

With that, the guys grabbed their stuff and bailed.

“Aren’t you just adorable?” Emma said to Lily, who was now in her mother’s arms while Josh toweled the sweat from his body.

Lily giggled her agreement.

Emma grinned at her, but that wasn’t the only emotion on her face. I recognized the yearning in her eyes. She longed for what Holly had—a man and a child.

Fortunately, it wasn’t the same expression she leveled at me. Did I feel bad that our deal kept her from finding a man in the meantime?

Not at all. For some strange reason, satisfaction paraded through me. Besides, it wasn’t like she would be my fake girlfriend forever. It was only for four and a half more weeks. Surely that wouldn’t make a difference in her long-term plans.

After she finished gushing over Lily, I asked her if we were still on for tomorrow. We’d planned to paint the wall blue where the mural would be located at the youth center.

“I’ll be there,” she said, smiling.

For a second, I thought she was going to kiss me like she had in the car the other day, but instead, she and Holly started talking.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed that she didn’t even try.

And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t contemplating what it would feel like to be burrowed deep inside her. Unfortunately for my cock and me, Emma was the one who had the final say in that.

And from the way things were currently going, it looked like my cock and I would continue to be disappointed…for a very long time.