“Do you want me to order dinner instead?”
I give her a consolatory smile. “Can you? You can take off.”
“I stay until you leave,” Anna says.
“You’re the best assistant, you know that?”
She nods, dropping my bag onto the chair in the small sitting area in my office. Furnished with a small sofa, I have to admit I’ve spent a night or two here in the office. Maybe I made it too cozy. But I wanted to be surrounded by a zen space that made it easier to get lost in my work.
Warm grays and pinks are exactly what I wanted.
“You should give me a raise then.” Anna laughs, heading back out to her desk.
It’s something I’ve heard before, even though I pay her very well.
Grabbing my phone, I fire off a text to my date for the night. Maybe if I was more excited, I wouldn’t have to be reminded to leave.
A sweet face pops into mind. A stubble-lined one with dark hair and deep-blue, expressive eyes.
Why in the world am I thinking about our goalie? I don’t need to be having these thoughts right now. I need to let this guy down gently and go back to work.
Work won’t keep me warm at night. I know I need more of a work-life balance, but until then…it’s just another day in the life of a hockey GM.
Chapter Two
NICK
The feel of the ice. The posts behind me. The glove in my hand.
This. This is why I love hockey. Why I love playing goalie. Even as another slapshot comes flying at me, I don’t care. I swiftly pluck it from the air in my glove and drop it onto the ice, passing it to one of my guys.
“Great stop, little Nicky! You’re unbeatable.”
Cash elbows me in the side with his stick as the whistle blows practice to a pause.
“Don’t jinx me. The last thing I need is to fuck up my shoulder again.”
“Or just have issues with your entire body.” Noah winces as he skates over to us and steals my water bottle for a swig.
“Your leg still giving you trouble?” I ask.
“Can’t seem to make this nagging injury I got after that hit from Fisher go away.”
“I think that’s called getting old,” I chirp.
Noah flips me the bird as best he can while still wearing his gloves. “Fuck off. I’m only twenty-nine.”
“That’s ancient in hockey years,” Cash tells him.
“You’re older than I am,” Noah huffs.
“Piper keeps me young.”
“Oh gross!” Noah mocks gagging. “That’s my sister.”
“You made it gross. I didn’t.”
“Could both of you maybe stop?” I grab my water bottle back from Cash and take my own sip. “You’re ruining my zen.”
