“Oh…I…” Oh my God, how do I get out of this? I have fifteen seconds before it’s awkward if I don’t answer, but I can’t think of a single thing to say that will make it perfectly normal to get caught smiling while reading the HR handbook in a public restroom.
The universe must like me today, because her phone rings and her attention is completely refocused. “Ann speaking.”
I quickly turn away from her, partly to give her the aura of privacy but also so I can shove the book in my purse. It’s kind of too big, so I can’t close my purse, but at least it’s hidden. I try not to eavesdrop as I apply my lipstick in the mirror but I can’t help but notice Ann’s voice is getting more excited.
“Yes…Yes…Why thank you…”
I grab my purse and start toward the door because I think she needs privacy and I don’t have any more reasons to be in here. The guests are probably already in the bar, and I should get to work. The players should be here any minute too, which means Elijah will be here. I give Ann a little wave as I start to pass by her, but she reaches out and gently grabs my wrist. She keeps talking into her phone, though, so I wait, worried she’ll want to talk about the HR book again.
“Great. I look forward to reviewing it. Thank you so much and have a good weekend.” She says good-bye, presses End on her cell phone and then lets out an excited squeak and pulls me into a hug.
“What in the world is happening?” I ask, laughing at her enthusiasm.
“I got it!” Ann pulls back and grins wildly at me. “I applied for a director position with Finley Coyne Global in New York and they just offered me the position.”
“Oh my God!” To say I’m shocked would be an epic understatement. I didn’t even know Ann was looking for another job, let alone one on the other side of the country. Finley Coyne is the biggest sports communications firm in the country. A director position with them, at their head office, is an incredible accomplishment. I hug her again. “Ann, that’s amazing. You deserve it, and they’re lucky to have you. But on a personal level, I’m devastated you’re leaving.”
She pulls back from the hug and smiles. “I’m going to miss you and the team, but I’m originally from New York, and I’ve wanted to move home for a while. And this position…it’s a dream come true! They’re emailing me the offer tonight, so please don’t tell anyone yet.”
“Sure.” I can’t believe she’s leaving. She’s been my boss since I was an intern, and she’s been such a great mentor.
Ann reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “I want you to apply for my job.”
“Really?” I’m stunned.
She nods emphatically. “Yes. You want it, right?”
“Of course I do,” I reply automatically. “I really feel like I’m ready for it too, but I don’t know if management will see it that way.”
“I see it that way,” Ann says. “And I’m going to tell them that before I go.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate that.” If I’m promoted to Ann’s position now I’ll be exceeding my own goals. I’ve had a five-year plan mapped out since I started interning here. If I take over for Ann this year, I’ll be two years ahead of my goals.
“Remember…” She lifts her finger to her lips. I make a cross over my heart. “See you out there! I’m just going to call my mom and tell her!”
I leave her to it and slip out of the restroom. I can see the guests pouring out of the elevators at the end of the hall, and I make my way toward them. I’m still reeling with the news that Ann is going to leave. A million questions are flying through my head. Will she really recommend me to replace her? Will Mr. Carling go for it? Have I done enough to prove myself?
I’m lost in those thoughts when I pass the elevator banks, so I don’t notice the doors are opening on not one but two elevators. I end up almost walking into a large group of people, and my heel catches abruptly on the carpet. I stumble and my body lurches forward. For a swift, panic-filled moment I think I might fall face first, but then a strong hand grabs my arm. It stops me from falling but causes my purse to fly off my other arm.
And of course, because it’s not closed, most of the contents fly out across the hotel hallway. Ugh. The person who grabbed my arm to stop me from face-planting is my brother, and of course he was getting off the elevator with a bunch of other hockey players, including Levi Casco, Duncan Darby, Eddie Rollins and Elijah “Fucking Hot as Hell in a Suit” Casco.
“Jesus, Dixie, be careful!” Jude says in his overprotective brotherly voice.
I want to level him with a withering warning stare, but I can’t make my eyes leave Elijah. So instead I gently tug my arm out of his grip and coolly say, “Thank you.”
I think he clues in that he’s on the verge of blowing our cover because he doesn’t do what he’d usually do in brother mode, which is lecture me to wear more sensible shoes or something stupid like that. I still can’t take my eyes off Elijah, though, so I can’t see Jude’s face.
Elijah’s blue suit is wrapped perfectly around his broad shoulders and tapers neatly down his taut torso. His white shirt is perfectly pressed with French cuffs. He’s got the fullest five-o’clock shadow possible without actually being able to classify it as a beard. It’s neat but somehow still gives him a rough, wild look—the smirk he’s wearing and the way his green eyes glimmer as he looks at me also help with that—and it’s in direct contrast with the immaculate outfit. It’s hot as hell.
I clear my throat and drop to my knees—not to blow him, which is actually what I’d like to do, but to retrieve my purse and its contents. Levi and Elijah also bend to help me. “I’ve got it guys, it’s fine,” I mutter and reach for my lipstick and phone.
Levi grabs the purse itself and hands it to me. Elijah grabs my wallet. Eddie bends and retrieves the last item that happened to land at his feet—the HR handbook. He flips it over and reads the title out loud. “Do you carry this with you at all times? What are you going for? Employee of the year?”
Eddie chuckles at his own lame joke and hands me the book. Elijah is staring at me. I can feel it, and when I look up and meet his eyes, he grins. It’s victorious. He knows why I’m carrying that book in my purse. I keep my face passive so he doesn’t get any glimmer of satisfaction that he was right and he is not currently off-limits. I tuck the book under my arm. “I have to get this to our intern, Nadine. It’s hers. You guys can follow me. The party is this way.”
I start walking and I can hear them shuffling along behind me, but I don’t turn around. I wiggle my ass enough to be noticeable but not ridiculous, hoping it’s Elijah who notices and not Eddie, the team manwhore.
The lounge is nearly full when we get there. I turn and look at the guys. Eli’s eyes are slowly making their way up my body to my face. He’s still smirking and it’s still hot. I force myself to look at someone else—and land on Jude. His face is all scrunched up and his eyes keep sweeping over my dress. Brother mode is still on. If we weren’t in public he’d tell me my dress is too tight or something. And I’d tell him to stick it up his ass.
