1
HOLDEN
I’m doomed.
If one more thing goes wrong with my schedule, then I’m absolutely unlucky. My eyes slide past my laptop on my desk and land on the photo of my two little devils—my kids. They are such joyous creatures, causing chaos in my life. Okay, I do love them. A lot, actually. I’ll always have a soft spot reserved for them. Lori, my twelve-year-old, and Harry, my ten-year-old. I want to believe they make me a better person. That’s fatherhood, right?
But holy fuck, they are challenging me in a game I’m not sure I know how to play. I’m good at games. I played professional hockey for twelve years. I win, always. Except with them… I don’t.
I huff out a deep exhale and decide to look out the window of my office to find some tranquility in the scene of Lake Spark on this spring day. The blue sky and the bright sun would be perfect, except Illinois in March can be unkind on the temperature front, and it’s a solid high 40s with a breeze.
The Dizzy Duck Inn is my post-pro-athlete life. It was something different and fun. There are so many professional athletes in this town and people escaping Chicago for a weekend away. It’s a prime business opportunity that I snatched up when the old owners wanted to retire, then I packed up and moved my family here a year ago. I have two investors, but it’s me running the show. Lake Spark is a calm little town with an excellent private school nearby that was an extra draw for parenting my kids. After all, my ex-wife decided to exit the picture long ago, leaving me to do it all.
I can be Superman.
Just not lately.
I think I’m on nanny number six in the last year alone.
I sigh as I lean back in my chair and interlace my hands behind my head.“To be fair, I ignored all their attempts to flirt,” I say to myself. Well… that might be a tiny lie. There was one a few years ago who seemed like a good one-night kind of drunken Christmas party thing, my bad. But I’ve been a perfect boss since then. My little angels? Not so much.
I shake my head, knowing that I need to focus on some numbers before the interior designer shows up to start the project of freshening up the look of this hotel. It’s not that it’s in bad condition, I just want to rejuvenate the atmosphere. With the spa and wedding venue here, I want to step it up to ensure guests have to book well in advance. We already have an award-winning chef.
My attention is drawn to the door when I see my friend and business partner Stone Madden peek in. We’re from similar hockey circles, though we never played on the same team. We just hit it off at some charity fundraiser way back and have been friends since.We have one other smaller investor, but he takes zero part in almost everything, as it’s purely the old owner’s wish that his son kept a stake.
“Hey, Holden, you alive?”
I chuckle. “Today, yes. What brings you by, considering you firmly said that you would invest in this place, but I quote, ‘don’t want to do one fucking single thing in regards to management, nor do I want to hear about it.’ End quote.”
He quickly holds his palm up. “I won’t deny that, but I also said I would invest so that one day if I needed to impress someone, then I could slide in this little fact to gain me points.”
My expression flattens. “And?”
“I’m using my part-ownership card. Harlow and I are taking a room for a week or two while the contractors redo our house.”
“This place is getting a makeover too.”
He shrugs. “Yeah, but this place has charm.”
“We do our best.” I grin cheekily.
“By the way, your old coach’s daughter, Lexi, starts today, right? Met her a few times at various sponsor gigs long ago.”
“Something like that.”
I have examined her portfolio, and it’s what I need. Apparently, she had grandparents that lived around here when she was younger, and she has a best friend, Summer, that lives here in town who I see around. Summer also recommended Lexi. I’ve met Lexi a few times. After all, her dad was my coach up in Michigan. Let’s just hope she’s changed since I saw her last, which was a few years ago after she graduated college. I remember running into her once during her college years. A true sorority girl who valued social life just as much as academia. I’m hoping she’s a calm adult now, with baggy jeans and an oversized t-shirt. It’s what I need to keep me concentrating on the task at hand. I can’t afford distractions.
Besides, once you leave hockey, the team rules still apply; stay away from the coach’s daughter.
“Good luck, or rather, keep it locked in. See ya, buddy.” He waves his fingers in the air.
I tip my nose up in acknowledgment, and the moment the door shuts, I’m back concentrating on my task. I must lose time though, because as I’m busy typing away and clicking my mouse, I hear a soft knock on my door.
The door cracks open. “Hi, Holden.” Lexi’s voice sounds chipper, or excited at least. I’m sure she wants to do an excellent job on this massive project ahead.
“Hey, Lexi,” I say as I glance up from my laptop while I press save on my screen. But the moment my eyes hit the image at the door, I instantly do a double-take.
Oh no.
