CHAPTER 1
ASHER
Irefrain from stabbing the pumpkin-shaped butter, even though it’s tempting. The fall season and especially Halloween are not for me. Kids in superhero costumes annoy me. And I don’t have time for goblins and candy. It’s the start of the hockey season, and we need to start strong. No distractions. I hate the marketing department when they steal one of my players away for a hot minute for some ridiculous social media post. The other day it was for our rookie to paint a pumpkin. Alas, hockey isn’t only on the ice, which is why I’m sitting at the Dizzy Duck Inn in Lake Spark with the Spinners team owner and one of our major sponsors.
Charm. Obligation. And tableware and food saluting the autumn season in a small town.
That’s my life right now.
I’m well aware that my name does not match the impression people have of me. Asher means “happy one” in Hebrew, and for the most part, I believe people see me as anything but. Not exactly grumpy, but determination can come off wrong.
“I’m glad that you’re on board, Asher. I was gettingworried last season. The guys didn’t seem the same,” Hudson Arrows reflects as he cuts into his steak. Seems like a man who needs his protein supply, as he is in good shape for a guy the same age as my father. He’s one of the major families in Lake Spark. For years he was one of the best coaches in professional football. Imagine the world’s surprise when he decided he would sponsor a hockey team. But his reason is compelling; watching hockey was always his relaxing pastime, and now Lake Spark is his home.
Technically, we are a Chicago team, but we train a good distance outside of the city. It makes it easier to focus, to be honest. Small-town life mellows out the guys too. Maybe even me on occasion.
“They just needed a coach with new direction.” Declan Dash grins at me. He is younger than Hudson but has kids in college. He’s the team owner and used to play hockey himself. He lives and breathes our team.
I take a quick sip from my glass of wine. “We still have work to do, but there is only one way to go.” No shit we have a lot of work to do. Their former coach had no strategy, always changed plays and lines, and couldn’t be professional in any press conference. The team was fed up, which means a few unrestricted free-agent players escaped over the summer, and the coach was fired. The former coach left nothing positive in his trail except the job opportunity for me.
“That’s the spirit.” Hudson smiles.
Thankfully dinner hasn’t been miserable. Hudson and Declan are laidback and invested. It’s just that I could use the downtime to gear up for the next two away games. I didn’t want to stay with the expansion team in northern Wisconsin, and being closer to my parents in Chicago was appealing. Plus, teams that are used to not doing well tend to see a light at the end of the tunnel eventually, and then thethirst to win is unstoppable. That’s why I’m with the Spinners.
“It will be great at the team Halloween party. Seeing the guys with their kids is always a laugh. I forget if we are doing the puppy adoption booth this year. They normally use those photos for the holiday calendar.” Declan is so damn happy that it nearly causes the corner of my mouth to stretch an inch.
Nearly.
“I’ll take off my coach’s hat, I promise.” I’m only half joking, but he probably doesn’t realize. I don’t hear his reply because my eyes have latched on to a woman who just entered the restaurant.
Sure, she is probably a little younger than me, late twenties maybe to my forty but age has never been a deterrent to me. Long legs highlighted by a mocha-colored dress, light brown hair that falls to just below her breasts, which are perfectly pert and full. I sense that her smoky brown eyes that latch on to mine are dangerous, an instinct of mine. I’ve seen her a few times before at hockey events.
It’s only a brief moment until we lose the connection, but she walks with purpose straight to our table, which has me wildly curious. She arrives with a friendly smile before leaning over to hug Hudson.
“Hey, Daddy.”
Ah, his daughter.
The man looks elated by this surprise. “Why am I so lucky today to see my beautiful daughter? This is my daughter Gracie,” Hudson quickly mentions to me.
“Or just Grace because I’m no longer a child,” she humorously reminds her father. She gives Declan a friendly nod hello before her eyes land on me, not even blinking, and she gives me the once-over real quick beforeturning her attention back to her father. “Mom said you would be here, and I wanted to say hi, as I have a yoga class at the spa next door.”
For some reason, everything about that sentence is ripe with privilege. I have visions of her being spoiled and having life handed to her on a silver platter.
“You’ve met our new coach, right?” Declan directs his assumption to Gracie.
“I have not. But the team actually won a game recently, so I figured that we probably have a new coach.” Her sass is a little brazen, but Declan seems to be used to it and only chuckles.
Me? My brows rise from her candor.
Hudson clears his throat. “Excuse my daughter. Her humor is from... I’m not sure which side of the family.”
I smirk smugly at her when her lashes flutter at me. “No apologies needed. At least she acknowledges a win.”
“It was one. I think you still have about eighty more games this season before we can throw the confetti.” Her fire is refreshing.
“Gracie,” her father mutters her name as a warning.
Declan just chuckles under his breath. “She reminds me of the days she would babysit Willow, my daughter, and she would be a protective wolf at the playground. A little ruthless with the parents, too.”
