I blow a frustrated breath, making that childish flappy sound. “JJ,” I whine.
He chuckles. “Yes?”
“I was hoping to work out by myself.”
He shakes his head, his eyes sparkling. “Too bad. You are my coach, aren’t you?”
I glare at him.
He grins. “So teach me, Coach, I’ll be a good boy, I promise.”
The space between my legs tightens in response. Dammit. I glare down at the offending body part. Traitorous hussy. She’s been hanging out with Josie and Savannah too much lately.
Head dropping back, JJ lets out a laugh that ricochets around the room. “Did you just tell your pussy to stand down?”
“JJ.” I hiss between my teeth. “You can’t talk like that to me.”
Focus fixed on my reflection, he pinches his thumb and index finger and drags them across his lips like he’s zipping them. Then he pretends to throw away a key. All the while, his eyes dance with amusement. Shit. I can practically hear him promising to be a good boy again.
And dammit, I grin. Thank god I’m only his coach for a little while longer. This is fucking torture.
While JJ’s in the shower, I sneak out of the house and head to Langfield Corp, where I’m set to meet with the GM.
The Bolts’ general manager also happens to be my uncle. Noah married my dad’s sister Sienna when I was young. He also played forthe Bolts back then, and he might be the most down-to-earth of my uncles.
“We’ve talked to Sidney.”
I’m seated across from him at his desk with Brooks on my left and Gavin on my right. Like this, I feel like I’m part of the mafia.
“How’s he doing?” I ask. We’ve been traveling, so I haven’t had a chance to visit him.
Noah frowns. “He’s unlikely to come back this season. That means he’ll be on the LTIR, which gives us room in the cap to negotiate. You should have your agent review our offer.” He slides a piece of paper across the desk.
I stare at it, awkwardness taking over. “Uncle Noah?—”
“In here,” he says, scanning the office that once belonged to my father, “I’m only your GM. I can’t look out for you like I would if you were going to play with any other team, Adeline. My loyalty is to the Bolts.”
“Mine isn’t.” Brooks heaves himself forward and snatches the paper from the desk.
Gavin groans. “We shouldn’t be in here.”
“Oh, will you stop it?” I say to them. “Whatever you offer, I’m sure it’ll be fair. I probably shouldn’t say this, but I’d play for my PWHL salary.”
Noah coughs. “Adeline, we’re offering you more than the PWHL has in their annual salary cap.”
Eyes bugging out, I tug the paper out of Brooks’s hands. “Two million dollars?” I gasp. “You’re offering me two million dollars to suit up as goalie for my favorite team?”
Brooks sighs and tilts my way. “Ask for two point five.”
“Three,” Gavin demands.
Noah rolls his neck and pulls the black frames from his face, then squeezes his eyes shut.
I can’t imagine how exhausting it is to work with the Langfield brothers like this. Every one of them is a master at steamrolling. Then again, he can probably handle it. He married their baby sister, and Sienna is definitely not a pushover.
“Like I said,” he grinds out, “I think an agent would be a good resource right now.”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Three sounds good to me.”
