Hooked On Her: Ice Kings, #3

by Stacey Lynn

  With the exchange rate, I can’t do the math in my head, but it’s a significant amount. I’ll take that for certain.

  She twists her iMac monitor in my direction, clicking a thousand different buttons and clicks of her mouse showing me the system the team uses for scheduling their trips and a million different colored boxes appear detailing which department does what and when.

  By the time she’s done, I’m ready to quit. Sweat clings to the back of my silk blouse, one of the few nicer shirts I purchased on my shopping trip with Debbie a couple weeks ago.

  Among my hurried scribbles on the notebook she provided is a circled note to go do more shopping. Immediately. I had no idea I’d walk in here today and be hired before I could give this woman my name and when Debbie and I had gone shopping, I’d only bought a few dresses, some more casual clothes, that one dress I haven’t had the guts to wear for Jason again and one outfit—this one—for an interview.

  “There. You are all set and good to go.”

  I barely manage not to flash her a wide, terrified look before schooling my features. She has to be joking. I’m ready to go? Perhaps to the doctor for as much as my head is spinning.

  “Um. Sure.”

  “Your office is next door. Find Emmy. Come to me with questions.”

  She drawls out questions like it’s a curse word and I inwardly cringe. Sylvia is possibly the most terrifying woman I’ve ever met. And something tells me if I don’t master everything she’s shown me in twenty minutes by the end of the day, she’ll be looking for another new assistant. If I ever dare actually ask her a question, she’ll throw me out on my rear-end.

  I jot down a reminder to ask Jason exactly how quickly she goes through assistants on my notebook and stand.

  She’s turned to her computer and picked up her phone, angrily punching in numbers like she’s ready for war and yeah… this job is something else. So is Sylvia. Oddly, I kind of like her which might say more about me than her.

  I don’t realize I’ve been trembling with nerves until I stand and my ankles wobble. Considering I’m wearing flats and not high heels, that’s concerning. Still, I make my way out of her office, listening to her thick Russian accent become heavier the faster she speaks and barks orders to whoever the poor soul is on the other line and find the empty office next door.

  Windows. In my office. So much better than a cubicle where the only light I get is fluorescent all day. We’re on the third floor of the training and admin facility to the Ice Kings and below my window is the flat roof to what I know is the ice arena where Jason and Sawyer and the rest of the team are having a quick, early morning skate before their first pre-season game tonight.

  I stare out at the roof for a moment, the sunshine and the trees. The city. It’s so beautiful here. I swear the sky is bluer than I’ve ever seen in Toronto. I can practically feel Jason’s presence… so close…

  I grab my iPad and stack of notes and head out to the lobby where I stepped off the elevators only a half an hour ago, nervous and prepping for an interview. Geez. The very last thing I figured would happen today would be actually getting hired.

  How in the heck can I fill out paperwork when I still have a job?

  Just go through the motions today. Give it the day. See how it feels. Make the decision later. That can’t be too bad, right? So I take the day, see how I feel. Surely if I decide this won’t be for me I can just call and have the paperwork stopped, right?

  Sure. Then that’s what I’ll do.

  I head straight to the desk where there’s a guy sitting. From only my short time in there earlier before he sent me back to Sylvia’s office, I remember his name is Troy. He’s older than me, dressed in a navy blue polo shirt with the Ice Kings logo embroidered on his chest. He’s on the phone as I walk up, so I take a minute and inhale a deep breath.

  This could be a completely new chance for me to start over, creating an entirely new life around family I love and adore, getting the chance to travel, spend more time with my brother. Snuggle my niece or nephew whenever I want. And all of it without the mistake of Will clinging to me like a weird growth.

  “Leaving us so soon?” Troy asks, a teasing smirk on his face. Yikes. It’s possible working for Sylvia might be really difficult.

  “Actually no. I’m hired and she’s put me to work.”

  Troy laughs. “Of course she did. You’ll learn, and hopefully quickly, that’s how Sylvia is. She wants something, she wants it now, and doesn’t tolerate much.”

  “Well, isn’t that a ringing endorsement for my new boss?”

  “On the plus side, if you get on her good side, she’ll fight to the death to protect you.” He drums his hands on his desk. “So what can I help you with?”

  “She said I need to find Emmy to deal with paperwork?”

  “Ah. Of course. Human Resources is two floors above. Emmy will be in the third office to the right. And congratulations. I’m sure you’ll love it here.”

  It’s not like me to take a chance, but in reality, I have nothing to lose. So, leaning in, I quietly ask, “Are you sure? Because Sylvia really does seem scary.”

  “You’ll get used to her.” His too-perfectly waxed eyebrows pull together. “Unless… do you cry easy?”

  “Not normally.”

  “Then done.” He clasps his hands together. “You should be just fine.”

  “Thanks. I think.”

  Later, once I’ve found Emmy and filled out all necessary paperwork, I’m back in my office where Troy has already called someone from the tech department to come in and set up my computer for the network. In the meantime, I’ve settled myself in a chair at a small conference table... and holy cow! I have a conference table! This job might be worth it for the awesomeness of my office alone!

  I’ve somehow managed to get through most of the long list of items Sylvia gave me this morning which really entails verifying confirmation of travel for the first few weeks of away games and as I’m checking off item after item, I’m feeling more accomplished. An excitement is thrumming in my veins.

  I’m working for the Ice Kings. It’s crazy!

  It’s time to really see if I have a future here, and if so… if this future is what I want for me. Not for Jason. Not even for me and Jason. Or my brother and Debbie, as much as I love the idea of being close to them. For the first time in three years, I get to finally think of no one but myself, and make decisions based solely on what’s best for me.

  “There you go, Miss Chauncy.”

  I swivel in my chair and smile at Raul, the tech who’s been working in my office. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  “Need me to help show you around?”

  “I think I can manage it. Sylvia said most of the programs are on the iPad I’ve been using today. But I can call you if I run into problems?”

  “Absolutely. Have a great day and welcome to the organization.”

  With another thank you, I wait until he’s left the office before I run to the chair and spin in circles. A grin breaks out.

  I don’t even know why I’m hesitating! This job could be incredible. The office certainly is. I have nothing adding up in the con column of taking this job except my own hesitation of starting over.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Jason

  * * *

  The crowd is incredible. The energy is electrifying. From the moment I first strapped on a pair of skates, begging my father to teach me how to skate like he can when I was probably too young to complete full sentences, I’ve never felt more at home than here. We’re halfway through the second period and Jude, while killing it on the ice, is late with his passes, slow to receive. He’s nervous, and I don’t blame him. The game with Boston is just over a week away and this is his first time back in game mode since his injury. The other guys are picking up his mistakes. I’m not worried. My brother’s made of metal and he’ll shake off his fears and nerves within the week.

  Lights flash. The crowd cheers. Across from me, I’m
getting ready to face-off against Edmonton’s toughest winger, Marx Kauffman. He’s burly. Their enforcer. I’ve known him since he played for a different university in college than Sawyer and I did.

  “Looking pretty tonight,” I tell him through my mouthguard.

  Marx is one of the meanest looking men I’ve ever seen and when he smiles it looks like he’s getting ready to eat you for breakfast. “Ready to lose again?”

  We lost 2-3 last night in Edmonton. They’re always one of our toughest competitors, but tonight we’re already up 4-2.

  “That’s a nice fantasy you have there.”

  “Actually, what I like to fantasize about is the women who leave you and come to me for something bigger and better.”

  Normally, his trash talk would roll off my shoulders. He doesn’t even know about Tessa. No one does. But still, I miss her like fucking crazy and I’m not about to let him even think of her.

  “That’s enough—” the ref says, holding the puck up in the air and prepping for the drop.

  Unfortunately, for some stupid reason, possibly because I have a head full of a beautiful blonde, Marx gets the jump on me.

  “Fuck!” I shout, heading after him as he passes the puck to their center. Fortunately, Mikah Lutzgo is faster and he snags it before it connects, keeping the puck on Edmonton’s side of the ice. There are two minutes left in the second period and I want this game over immediately.

  Marx has shaken me, not what he said, but what he made me think of all in the span of a few seconds, but I won’t let him get me down.

  It’s been a whirlwind of a few days with the season starting and the pickup from prepping to the insanity of now practically living out of a suitcase always takes a beat to adjust to. I was so exhausted after last night’s game I barely had the energy to call Tessa. We spoke for maybe five minutes. By the time we got back to town, she was at work at the team’s facility all day. I haven’t seen her. It’s been twenty-four hours, and I’m dying without her.

  Worse, ever since she actually took the job, she’s grown quieter. Not at night. When we’re in bed, I can still get her to scream the roof down. It’s the times when I’m not making her come that she seems to withdraw and it has me worried.

  I know she can still leave at any moment, and if she’s unhappy or uncertain, I want her to talk to me about it.

  Getting her to open up is like trying to pry the top off a can of vegetables without a can opener, and every day it gets a little worse, where I have no idea what she’s thinking, what she wants from me. Her. Us.

  I power through the doubts, skating faster than usual and by the time the second line hits the ice with less than a minute remaining, my throat is parched and my entire body is covered in sweat.

  “Nice work out there,” I say to Jude who hops onto the bench next to me.

  “Slow.” His eyes scan the ice, back and forth. He doesn’t take his eyes off Newman and this shit has to stop fucking with his head. Much like my doubts about Tessa have to stop messing with mine. I’ve been going slow, feigning patience, but that shit has to come to an end and soon.

  “You’ll get there.” I punch his thigh. “You’ve got this, bro. And Newman and you aren’t switching, so kick that shit out of your head.”

  “He’s fast. Clean sweeps. Fucker must have worked out double time this summer.”

  “And you’re fucking Jude Taylor. Brother to the best damn winger in the country.”

  “You’re an idiot. We all know I’m better.”

  And there it is. That’s what I’ve been looking for. His confidence.

  “Exactly.” I punch his thigh again, hard enough to get through the layer of padding. “We’re the best there is.”

  He huffs a laugh right as the light goes off behind Edmonton’s goal and we all jump to our feet as Pierce Conan throws his arms in the air.

  Five seconds left in the second period and we’re up 5-2 going into the final period.

  We win the game 6-3 and when we step out of the locker room into the hallway, Tessa surprises me with her big smile, standing close to Debbie, and tucking her hair behind her ear.

  Shit.

  I need to talk to Sawyer. The only thing I want to do right now is slam my mouth to hers like most of the guys are doing to their wives who have come to greet us after the win and I have to stand back, looking like a fool.

  Yeah. This shit ends soon. I have a girl who I want in my arm. Always.

  “Hey,” I say, grinning at Tessa as I walk up to her and Debbie. Sawyer’s usually one of the last guys out. He has a whole thing, a routine he has to make sure he does before and after every game. I quit waiting for him years ago. “You came.”

  “Work to do, you know?” She smiles at me. Full of shit. She came for Sawyer. Maybe me.

  “Ready to head home?”

  Next to me, Debbie hides a choking sound. “Sorry, sorry.” She waves me off and winks. “Just that that’s cute… your home being Tessa’s.”

  The hell? I glance at Tessa who’s gone pale. Did she tell Debbie? Or are we that damn obvious? Whichever. I don’t really care. I kiss her cheek. “Right. Have a good night, Debbie.”

  “You too.” She wiggles her fingers in the air, sounding like she’s singing.

  Tessa takes off, walking a step ahead of me.

  Normally I wouldn’t mind. The view of her ass is a beautiful sight. But tonight it feels like she’s running away and that knot of worry in my gut grows.

  “Everything all right?”

  Tessa hugs her arms to her stomach, barely looking at me. She hasn’t done much of that since we left the arena and she did even less talking in the car after telling me I looked great on the ice.

  My jaw hurts from clenching it.

  More so when she plays with that damn left ear and gives it a good tug. “Just tired. Sylvia’s a hard boss.”

  “She probably is. I’m convinced under all her Teflon there’s a sugary sweet center though.”

  “Right,” she says but she’s smiling. At least it’s something, even if it fades quickly.

  She hurries off the elevator when it opens and is at my door, waiting for me to pull out the key. She yawns as we enter. Who can blame her. It’s late, eleven at night and I’m so damn exhausted it’s a miracle I could keep my eyes open on the drive home. Usually adrenaline kicks in after a game, making me antsy, especially after a win. Thankfully, we don’t have practice tomorrow. I’ll be at the facility watching films for a few hours and working out, but I’ll at least be able to sleep in.

  It still feels like there’s a wall growing between us that I want to smash before it grows larger.

  I drop my bag and kick off my shoes, watching as Tessa heads to the fridge and pulls out a bottled water. She offers me one and I nod, meeting her there to take it from her.

  “What’s going on? And don’t tell me nothing, or that you’re tired. It’s all bullshit, Tessa. I know you too well.”

  It’s then I turn and on the counter is a small stack of pamphlets. I grab one, and it takes a minute to understand. “These yours?”

  I flip through the rest. They’re apartments. Some are nowhere near where I live but out in suburbs close to where Katie and Jude live. Others are closer to Debbie and Sawyer.

  “What do you have these for?”

  “Well if I stay, I need a place to live.” She shuffles on her feet and as she reaches for her left ear, I reach out and take her hand, pushing it back down at the same time my hackles rise like a dog seeing a strange animal on its property.

  I’ll get back to the part where she hasn’t considered staying here. With me.

  “If?” My God. She still really hasn’t decided yet. “I thought with the job…” I can’t. I’m not sure I can handle this. She’s been spending the last week working during the day, the night at my home games or with Debbie furiously planning their wedding. They went shopping over the weekend for baby cribs and other gear and she came back with bags of baby clothes for gifts for them. She hasn’
t spent a night outside my bed since the first night I brought her to it. And it’s all still an if?

  “Well…”

  I give her time. Hard as it is. I wait a beat. Then two. Three. When she still doesn’t say anything I slap the pamphlets down on the counter. “Were you going to talk to me about it?”

  “Stop.” She flashes out her hand like a whip in the air. “You did this last time and felt like a dick afterward. Just give me a minute to gather my thoughts before you get pissy, all right?”

  A muscle jumps in my jaw but I nod. She takes a large swill of her water before taking her sweet ass time twisting the top back on the bottle.

  “I’ve been trying to talk to you about this, and I didn’t know how because it seemed stupid and it’s so soon and I still haven’t fully decided anything.”

  My jaw grinds. It’s hard to stay quiet, so I tilt my chin and bark out, “Okay.”

  “Jason.” She laughs and comes near me. My back and shoulders brace for her touch before she places her palm at my chest. “You scare the shit out of me and it’s not because you’re looking at me right now like you want to tear me in two.”

  “I don’t want to tear you into two. Maybe those apartment pamphlets, though.”

  “Well, see, I’m trying to figure out my future. And before you get all pissy, yes… of course it includes you, so drop your angry man act and listen.”

  Her hand slides up my chest, up my shoulder, down my arms. I ripped off the suit coat I have to wear to the arena as soon as we got into my truck but I don’t miss the way her eyes heat as she draws her finger down my dress shirt.

  “Tessa—” It’s a warning but for the first time it lacks heat.

  “Sorry, you’re just so distracting.”

  “Apartments.” I need to get us back on track before my brain travels south of my waist.

  “Right. Well, if I stay, then I need a place to live, right?”

  Shit. Has this been why she’s been pulling away? I’m feeling like a dick again for being rude, but shit. She has a point and I haven’t realized why this could be an issue for her until now.