I turn and skate back to the line for the next drill.
It’s gonna take more than a hockey goal to crack her.
CHAPTER 4
TORI
Ahormonal glitch.
Strictly physiological. A temperature shift beneath the skin, nothing more.
I discreetly pull my blouse away from my chest, fanning myself with one hand.
This reaction makes zero sense, considering I’m sitting in an icy arena watching hockey players chase a puck around.
One hockey player, in particular.
At least he’s delivering. Daddy will be happy about that.
And if I were into hockey players — which I’m not — I might find his skill, confidence, and speed a massive turn-on.
Because as aggravating as Bennett is, I have to admit he’s good at the game.
Better than good.
On the ice, he’s unstoppable.
Focused.
Not that I’ll ever say that out loud. Especially not to him.
I pull my phone out, half-hiding my flushed cheeks behind emails, keeping my posture straight and my face straighter.
This whole handler situation is beyond inconvenient. I need to keep it professional, but Bennett Steele’s making that very hard, goading me every chance he gets.
“Mind if I sit?” A woman in a dark blazer and slacks motions at the seat next to mine. She’s put together, professional, a team lanyard around her neck.
“No problem.” I slide my bag out of the way and she unfolds the dark blue arena seat.
“I’m Leighton Sparks, the team psychologist. I don’t believe we’ve met yet.” She offers her hand to me and I shake it, noting how warm her fingers are. She must have just come in.
“Tori Prince. Max Prince’s daughter, here in an unofficial capacity.”
Dr. Sparks sizes me up through the lenses of her dark-rimmed glasses, then glances out at the ice. “He’s having a good practice.”
I nod and force my voice to stay neutral. “He is.”
“It must be tough juggling your career with all this.” She gestures at the ice, and my chest squeezes.
“It’s not easy. But I can make it work for a bit. It’s a temporary arrangement.”
“Not the easiest of positions.”
My gut twists at the truth of her words.
“Certainly not. But I owe my dad a lot.”
“Family responsibilities can be heavy. Especially on daughters.”
