Power Play
Page 16
She sent Troy a quick text canceling their lunch date before grabbing her bag and left the dressing room. Fuck him! He can go cry to his supermodel bitch since she’s so damn great.
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Alex strode outside with head held high, slid into her car, and followed Jax’s Ferrari to an opulent residence located outside of the city.
She gasped at the splendor of his home. “Wow, Jax; my whole place could fit into your living room! Have you lived here long?”
“I bought this house five years ago when I returned to Pittsburgh. How’s your new apartment?”
“Fantastic! I love being able to cook and eat what I want, come and go as I please, have company, watch trashy TV, read trashier novels, stay up late on off nights, and drink coffee and Diet Pepsi anytime I like without having Troy’s nose up my ass every five minutes. Don’t tell him that, though.”
“Your secret’s safe with me. Do you play poker?”
“I never had the pleasure.”
“I’ll teach you and make sure no one tries anything funny.”
“I’m holding you to that promise.”
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She spied something of interest outside his living room window. “Oh my God, is that a tennis court?”
“One of two,” he replied. “The other is an indoor court. Do you play?”
Alex shook her head. “The most I’ve done outside hockey and archery is ping pong and badminton.”
“How about a quick lesson while we’re waiting for everyone?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll get you a racket and fire up the ball machine.”
She bit her lip and watched Jax leave the room. This afternoon is already getting more interesting than having some routine lunch with Troy.
***
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“She went where?” Troy shouted in disbelief.
“Ivanka invited her and a few guys to his place,” Brian replied. “She already took off before I could do anything.”
Troy drew in a shuddering breath. “Son of a bitch, I should’ve known something wasn’t right when she blew me off at practically the last minute.”
“No one wanted to say anything, but some of us have an idea why Alex acted like she did today. Rumor has it she’s pissed you’re going with Kelly Stafford to Center Ice and took up with Ivanka in retaliation.”
“I thought she was cool about Kelly and me. Jesus, Brian, she’s my protégé and friend; it’s not like we’re married.”
“You need to have a long talk with her, my man.”
“Oh we’ll talk all right,” Troy replied, still fuming.
“Calm down, Talmadge. Another argument won’t solve anything.”
“Why would Al tell me one thing when she feels another?”
“Maybe she doesn’t want to appear possessive or hurt your feelings. You know how women are.”
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“Yeah, nature’s least understood species.”
“Can you be honest with me for a moment? I have a question that needs a straight answer.”
“Go ahead and ask.”
“How do you really feel about Alex?”
“I care a great deal about her.”
Brian gave him a dubious look. “Are you sure? Our conversation won’t leave this room.”
“Of course I’m sure. Don’t you feel the same?”
“I care about Alex in a brotherly manner, which I believe far differs from your type.”
“Then why do people treat ‘my type’ of caring like it’s some capital offense?”
“Maybe because you’re denying or haven’t yet explored your true feelings for her. I have firsthand experience from going through a similar situation with Hannah.”
“Oh come on, there’s no way I’m–”
Brian put up a hand. “Don’t bullshit me, Troy.”
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“What?”
“Your recent actions speak louder than any words. Smoke practically curled out of your ears when I said Alex was at Ivanka’s. There was moving her in with you, busting ass to get her signed with your agent, preparing her for the draft, co-signing her car loan, dinner dates, the movie premiere, all the money put down for her apartment, giving her your furniture from the Nova Scotia house and that fancy custom made crystal charm bracelet…should I continue?”
“I help people I care about all the time.”
“Not to the extent you have with Alex. You’re not a person who blows scads of money without good reasons. You went through this same scenario a year ago and the person left because you trailed them along instead of being honest.”
“You’re referring to a whole different story, Brian. There’s a reason why that relationship wasn’t made public, but don’t want to risk ruining things with Al. I…I…uh, I think she may be ‘the one’.”
“Yes! Now we’re making progress.”
“Don’t jump to any conclusions. I doubt she’ll view me the same way.”
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“Make the time for a talk with her, Troy, but don’t wait too long. Knowing Ivanka, he’ll find some way to charm Alex with a bunch of bullshit any young girl wants to hear, and then you could lose her forever.”
***
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Chapter 47
Alex giggled with both embarrassment and delight when she missed several tennis balls popping from an automatic server.
“I think I’ll stick to badminton, ping pong, archery, and hockey,” she told Jax.
“Let me show you how to swing smoother.”
“Are you always this nice to women?”
“Only when it suits the occasion, sweetheart.”
Jax stood behind Alex and placed one of his massive hands around her petite one as the other slid around her waist.
Alex shivered a little but enjoyed his take-charge demeanor. I can't believe I'm reacting this way to a teammate. Calm down, girl!
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He had her crouch sideways about three-quarters away from the court’s net, using his hands to position her. Jax’s touch was magical, making her feel awkward and sexy at the same time.
“Okay, let’s try again, sweetheart. I want you to relax and swing with a fluid motion.”
She missed the first few balls, but with his encouragement started hitting more over the net.
“Krásný! Now you're getting the hang of it!”
“Děkuji, but I’m still kind of klutzy.”
“Take home the racket and practice. Everyone should be here shortly so we should prepare for your poker lesson.”
Alex followed him inside. I don’t know why so many people talk shit about this man. Granted I despised him at first, but he turned out an amazing person.
“Jax,” she asked, “are you participating in the Center Ice benefit dinner?”
“Yeah, but…” He paused. “Hold on a second! Talmadge didn’t bother asking you, did he?”
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“He’s taking some Canadian model. Apparently not-so-perfect short female teammates aren’t good enough to join him at Rebels-sponsored events.”
“Time to prove him wrong. You deserve better than sitting at a corner table with other dateless guys from the team. Come to think of it, I’m also on my own.”
“I thought you never dated American women.”
“For you I’ll make an exception.”
He got on one knee and held both her hands. “Alexandra Galloway, will you accompany me to the Center Ice dinner next week?”
Oh, Troy, you’ll really shit your boxer briefs when word gets out who will be my date Friday night…
“Jax Ivanka, I’d be honored!”
***
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Chapter 48
“I hear something about Alex before you come,” Boris said as he and Troy dressed for a game against the Washington Wildings.
“If it’s about her hanging out at Ivanka’s, Brian gave me all the details.”
“Yes, but Jax taking her to Center Ice.”
Color
drained from Troy’s face. “This better not be another one of your jokes, Boris.”
“No joke. I overhear him say to Marty and Lenny.”
“Al told me she was either going alone or with Davy!”
“Davy not back for few more days. Relative died.”
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“Oh, right; I forgot about his great-aunt’s funeral and then helping out his parents in London. Baby Finn looks up to Al and Reggie doesn’t have a date far as I know. Why couldn’t she go with one of them?”
“Baby Finn still underage. Reggie bring sister.”
“Then what possessed her to pick Ivanka of all damn people?”
“She no pick. He ask.”
Troy barely held his temper. “Where did you hear that?”
“Marty say Jax ask Alex and she accept.”
“The thought of Al mingling with that bastard and his buddies all afternoon makes my skin crawl. Now she’s going with him to Center Ice? I guess that explains the smug look he shot me when I arrived.”
“Everything good. You go with pretty model and me with my Lulu.”
“Kelly helped me land the Sport Shop ad in Montreal and I owed her a return favor. We’re professional associates, nothing more.”
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“She okay but I like Alex better.” Boris poked Troy’s chest. “You mess up, Troy. She now with Jax.”
“Al’s only going to the benefit dinner with him.”
“Lenny think she get real close to Jax. He and Vince see them kiss.”
“Usually I’d take anything either say with a grain of salt, but now I wonder if Al’s trying to irritate me by messing with Ivanka.”
“Ahhh, you jealous!”
“Not in the least,” Troy adamantly replied.
“You sound like jealous.”
“Al can do better than some old son of a bitch going through a mid-life crisis!”
“You really like Alex. You no want her with Jax.”
“Don’t start, Boris.”
“I only think. You talk?”
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“Not yet. I’m not in the mood.”
Boris poked Troy’s chest. “You talk with Alex at intermissions after coach meet with team, okay?”
“Fine, but we have a rough game ahead and I need to focus much as possible.”
***
Alex sat in her dressing room staring in a nearby mirror and smiled. I never needed men to validate myself, but being Jax’s date for an important social event speaks volumes. Alex, you’re broken quite a few barriers in the last several months. Well played, girl…well played.
A knock interrupted her thoughts. “Yes?”
“It’s Brian. Are you dressed?”
“Hey, come on in! What’s up?”
“Troy’s pissed.”
“He’s always pissed. Tell me something I don’t already know.”
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“He heard about your little afternoon dalliance and tonsil tickling with Ivanka.”
“My ‘dalliance’ consisted of using his tennis court and playing cards with three other guys from the team. Jax and I only had a couple quick friendly kisses and they meant nothing either time. Did Troy send you?”
“No, I came as a friend. Don’t you think you’re borrowing trouble by fooling around with Ivanka?”
“We’ve gotten to know one another better since I raised hell about his sexist views. Jax gives good pointers and respects my game. He’s nice, funny, and probably the most knowledgeable person on hockey I’ve met since Troy.”
“Why go to Center Ice with him when Reggie or Johann would make better choices? I can see why you’d pass on Marty and Vince, but–”
“Jax asked me first. Reggie’s bringing his sister and the total sweetheart Johann is, not only can he not attend because he’s still a minor, but also having a teenager as my escort would look creepy.”
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“Yet a forty-year-old man wouldn’t?”
“Jax aged well. Why all the concern about him being my date for one night? You have Hannah and Troy a gorgeous blonde more his class than I am.”
“Never again think you’re not on Troy’s level, Alex. Do you really want to know why he asked Kelly? He did it as a thank-you gesture because she vouched for him to do the Montreal ad job.”
She shrugged. “Okay.”
“You don’t believe me.”
“Brian, Troy drags me to his favorite hangouts done many nice things, took me to the Pittsburgh Vancouver Venus premiere, and we’ll watch movies at his place, but have yet to attend one Rebels event together.”
“Maybe he feels awkward asking someone with whom he’s so close.”
Alex crossed her arms. “He had no problem bringing his sister to team formals and award shows before we met. If that isn’t an example of closeness, I don’t know what else to say.”
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“I don’t live in the man’s head. Maybe you can find more concrete answers by opening a line of communication instead of running to Ivanka every time you have a disagreement with Troy.”
“Our beloved captain needs to get over himself.”
“May I tell you something else, Alex?”
“Sure. Coach Barry isn’t due for another ten minutes.”
“Troy’s usually a bit introverted and prefers chilling out at home instead of partying on the town. He’s always talking about how much of a homebody he is. The guy’s well-schooled on presenting a favorable public persona so not to stir any potential misinterpretations, but just because he escorts the occasional model or another public figure to events doesn’t make you a lesser person. The Troy Talmadge I know is above such behavior.”
“Seriously?” she asked, still unconvinced.
“He’s really a bit shy with strong protective instincts. You haven’t had much experience handling the public on your own and that concerns him. Troy wants to shield you from anything that could turn dangerous or ruin your credibility.”
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“Isn’t that why the Rebels have a PR department? I’m not some delicate flower that needs nurturing.”
“I think Troy’s in love with you, Alex.”
“Now you’re delusional.”
“There’s only one way to find out for sure.”
“What?”
“Make some time to have a talk with him and share some feelings. Meanwhile, I suggest you cool a little with Ivanka.”
“Let me think over things, Brian. I may have some different perspectives after the game.”
***
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Chapter 49
The Washington Wildings game unfolded as the Rebels’ toughest to date. They still remained scoreless against the Wildings at the conclusion of second period.
Frustrations ran high; Troy’s constant sniping at his teammates and screaming at referees during the entire period put Alex in a foul mood. Her attitude toward him didn’t change when approached during second intermission.
“You and Brian kept racking up penalties both fucking periods! I don’t know which ones were more stupid, his fights or your slashes and cross checks. We’d be further ahead by now if some people scored as many goals as they did penalties.”
She put up a hand with no intention of speaking to him. “I am not even trying to deal with you tonight, so save the bullshit.”
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