I pull up to the arena twenty minutes later and meet with a few of the guys in the parking lot before heading into the massive conference room. The complete team management is here and nearly all the players but what I don’t expect is to see Elle sitting in the corner, looking completely out of her comfort zone.
Her eyes clock me the second I walk through the door and some sort of relief takes over her as her body relaxes into her seat. A secretive grin crosses her lips which she desperately tries to cover up but fails miserably.
The need to go to her comes over me but I know she wouldn’t want that, especially right now with the whole of management here to see.
I find Jax up the back of the room, helping himself to the massive spread of food on offer, so naturally, I do too.
With a full plate on my lap, I get comfortable as the rest of the team, complete with the trainers, coaches, players and even the PR team make their way through the door.
It’s been twenty minutes of meeting Elle’s eyes from across the room when Tony, one of the higher member of management finally gets off his ass and gets the party started. “Thank you all for being here on such short notice. I know it’s a Saturday and for most of you, that means it’s your day off, so we’ll make this as quick as we can.”
A few of the guys call out and give Tony a hard time but we all know they’re joking and Tony takes it in stride, but what do you expect from a group like this. The room is full of testosterone, minus the small handful of chicks.
“Alright, settle down,” he warns. “First item on the agenda. You will notice there’s a bunch of new players sitting in our ranks today. We have six new additions to our team and I encourage each and every one of you to go out of your way to make them feel welcomed, after all, these players are the future of our team.”
With that, Tony goes around and one by one and introduces each of the new players, which of course, includes Jax, who naturally plays it cool. Elle’s face brightens up at his introduction and something about it warms my heart.
“Alright, other changes this year,” he says. “A few of you may have already had the pleasure of meeting with our newest Physiotherapist, Elle.” With that Tony indicates to the back of the room towards Elle and a chorus of wolf whistles follow. Elle’s face flames but she manages to give a quick wave before her eyes settle on me once again.
“Shut it,” Tony demands. “Elle is one of the best therapists we’ve had so you guys better keep it in your pants and treat her with respect. The last thing we want is to scare her away.”
The message is well received as the guys pull their shit together. Which to be honest, I’m grateful for. I know Elle is freaking dynamite but I don’t want all these bastards appreciating her. She’s mine.
“Now,” Tony continues. “Speaking of Physio. You may notice that Dave is not here and has also not been here for the past few weeks. He’s currently being investigated on child sex offenses and has so far been charged with possession of child pornography. With that being said, his employment with the Denver Thunder has been terminated.”
What. The Fuck? Gasps and shock echo around the room while other’s voice their opinions.
I knew he was a fucking creep but I never would have realised it would go that far. I mean, he has a family. A son and a wife.
I look over at Elle and raise my eyebrow, asking if she knew about this. She shakes her head at me and shrugs her shoulders but it’s the look of absolute horror on her face that brings her message home. She had no idea that’s why he wasn’t here.
A feeling of disgust flows through me, knowing that man had his hands on me and the fact that the area he was working on was that close to my junk… It’s a feeling I can’t describe but I know for sure, it makes me want to throw up. The only relief I have is knowing that management were smart enough to cease his employment but that was inevitable, he’ll be spending his time in prison from now on.
After giving us a moment to come to terms with the news, Tony continues on with the meeting. “Now, if this situation affects any of you, the team counsellor is on hand. Even if you just feel you need to talk. So, with Dave out for the count, Elle will be taking over until the start of the season when we will hire a new senior therapist.”
The words come spitting out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Why don’t you hire Elle as the senior therapist?”
My eyes cross to her to find her jaw practically on the floor. “Umm… what?” she says in shock.
“Why not?” I ask looking to Tony. “Like you said, she’s one of the best physio’s we’ve had.”
Tony looks momentarily baffled before composing himself. He looks to Elle. “I mean… is that something you’d be interested in?”
“Well… yeah, but… doesn’t a position like that usually go to someone with a lot more experience than me? I mean… I just graduated.”
“Yes,” he says in a way that tells me he’s deep in thought. “Usually it does. Do you feel capable of taking on a role with such responsibility?”
“Yes,” she says as she sits a little straighter.
“Hmm…,” he says slowly. “I’ll make you a deal.” The whole team practically leans forward in their chairs as they listen to what’s about to happen. “I’ll hire a new senior therapist on a twelve-month contract. If you can prove yourself by then and show you have what it takes, then come next season, the position is all yours.”
“Are you shitting me?” she asks in excitement before her eyes go wide, realising how she just worded her excitement with the whole of management here to see.
“No, Elle,” Tony laughs. “I’m not shitting you.”
“Thank you,” she grins as the whole room bursts out with their approval. “I won’t let you down.”
“I know,” he says.
Elle looks to me with absolute joy in her blue eyes. ‘thank you’ she mouths before the guys start to crowd her. Her chair is suddenly thrust up into the air and she lets out a squeal as she holds on for dear life. Laughter rips from her throat and I have to admit, I absolutely love the look on her but if even one of those bastards hurt her, they will have to deal with me.
I couldn’t be prouder. If anyone deserves this position, it’s her. She’s already proven to me that she has what it takes and now she has a shot to show everyone else, and I know without a doubt, she’ll do just that.
“Oi,” Tony demands. “I want to get out of here just as badly as you guys do. Put the girl down and get your asses back in your chairs.” With that, the team slowly calms down and takes their seats
“Now… Logan,” he says drawing the attention to me. “What’s going on with this groin injury?”
Snickers break out across the room but I ignore them as best I can. “All good, Tony. I’ll be back on the ice soon,” I tell him before looking to Elle for confirmation.
“Yeah,” she agrees. “Maybe another week and he can get back on the ice for basic training, nothing too strenuous just yet.”
“Excellent. We can’t have our Captain out for the count,” Tony says.
“Alright, so with all those announcements out of the way. There’s just one more thing to cover.” He looks around the room and the look in his eyes tells me he’s nervous to break whatever news it is he is about to break.
“Let’s hear it,” one of the guys call from the back.
Tony swallows before letting us have it. “Ok, with all the new changes this year, management have come together and decided a bonding exercise will benefit you all to come together as a team. So… we’re all going camping.”
What?
Every eye in the room looks to Tony in disbelief. “You’re kidding right?” someone calls out.
“No. I am not kidding,” he says. “This trip is mandatory. Every last person in this room will be in attendance. That includes managers, coaches, trainers, therapists. Every single one of you.”
I can’t help but look at Elle and have to cover a laugh at how her jaw is hanging wide open for the seco
nd time during this meeting. This trip isn’t looking so bad.
“Alright. This is happening next weekend so call your wives, your girlfriends, your mums, I don’t care just clear your schedules and I’ll see you then,” he says with a smirk before wrapping up the meeting and heading out the door with the rest of management.
I’m heading out the door with Jax by my side when that velvety voice that has been haunting my dreams calls out to me. “Logan,” Elle says.
I turn and watch as she rushes to catch up to me and I have to admit, watching her run to me is like a dream come true. I know she doesn’t want to date me but still, it’s nice to pretend, I just need it to happen in slow motion with background music and the wind in her hair, then this moment would be perfect.
“What’s up,” I say as she catches up to us.
“I, uh… just wanted to say thanks,” she says. “You didn’t need to do that in there.”
“You’ve got nothing to thank me for. They would have seen that you’re the right person for the job eventually,” I tell her honestly.
“Yeah, but you spoke up for me,” she says looking up at me with emotion in her eyes.
Knowing I can’t come out and kiss her, I put my arm over her shoulder and pull her into my side. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”
For once in her life, she actually lets me have my way and walks with me while Jax trails along. “Hey,” Max, one of the younger players says as he jogs up before us and turns around so he can talk to us face to face. His eyes flick over Elle with appreciation before he gives her his signature cocky, smirk. “I’m Max,” he says before thrusting his hand out in front of her.
Elle reluctantly takes it before pulling it away when he drops down to kiss her hand. “She’s not interested, man,” I say.
His eyes flick between us with curiosity. “Ah… I see. Is she spoken for?” he questions.
“No,” Elle cuts in. “’She’ can speak for herself.”
Max’s hands fly up in surrender before he turns to Jax. “So, what’s your story?” he asks.
“Not much to say,” Jax says a bit standoffish and after knowing him since he was twelve years old, I can tell he doesn’t care for Max and nor should he, the guy is a twat.
“You excited about the camping trip?” he asks, not getting the hint.
“Yeah, I guess,” Jax says but I know he is lying. Camping is not his thing. “Should be good.”
“You got some bitch to clear it with?” Max asks with a grin.
Nope. I know Max is just trying to get on board with Jax but this shit ain’t going to fly with me and not to mention, if I don’t intervene, Jax would probably annihilate him for calling Cass a bitch. The guy would deserve it but I need him in tip-top shape for the season, can’t risk any more injuries. “Watch it, Max,” I say gaining his attention. “That bitch is my little sister.”
His face drops instantly. “Sorry, man,” he says with a cringe before swiftly excusing himself.
“What a douche,” Jax murmurs before taking off to his car.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Elle says under her breath before looking up at me. “What do you think you’re doing giving him the impression something’s going on here?” she questions as she peels herself out from under my arm.
“Because something is going on here,” I tell her.
She rolls her eyes and lets out a frustrated groan. “You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
“I don’t doubt that,” she murmurs as we get to her car.
She stops at her door to turn and face me. I take a step closer and impose on her personal space before slowly leaning in. Her breath catches and I have to stop from grinning in victory as she eyes my lips. “I’ll pick you up on Saturday. We’ll go together.”
“Yeah… no. There’s no way I’m going camping.”
“It’s mandatory, babe. You don’t get a choice in the matter.”
“Logan,” I hear my name being called by Coach Robinson from across the parking lot. “Leave the poor girl alone.”
Smugness comes flying across her face. “You heard the man,” she smirks.
“I’ll be there at nine,” I say with a smirk of my own. I back away before she has a chance to object and have to chuckle when I hear the groan coming from behind me.
I know I’m going to see her at least twice during the week but I can’t fucking wait for next Saturday.
Chapter 10
Elle
A knock sounds at my door on Saturday morning and I groan as I fall out of bed. I slide my eye mask up my forehead and make my way down the hall. If this is Jaz coming to raid my coffee jar again, I’m going to kill her.
I pull the door open with more force than necessary. “What do you… Fuck,” I curse as I realise it’s not Jaz at my door but a very tall, very sexy, very intense hockey player. “What are you doing here?”
“Camping trip,” he reminds me before his eyes travel down my body. A wicked grin comes over his face and I have to look down to find out what’s got his attention.
Shit. I’m wearing his stupid shirt again. I knew I should have given it back straight away but I couldn’t part with it. I mean… it’s smells like him for god’s sake.
I clear my throat. “My eyes are up here, Captain,” I say, moving straight past the obvious. “I could have sworn I told you I wasn’t going to that.”
“Well, fortunately for me,” he says as he moves past me and into my apartment. “You have no choice. So really, I’m saving your ass here.”
I close my door and turn around to find Logan pulling the blanket off Louie’s cage and opening the door to get him out. I lean against my front door before crossing my arms over my chest. “Make yourself at home,” I murmur.
“I will,” he says with a very happy Louie on his shoulder. “Coffee?” he asks as he makes his way into my kitchen and boils the kettle. He starts searching through the cupboards before I decide to put him out of his misery and grab the mugs for him. “I’m assuming you haven’t packed yet?”
“Why would I pack for a trip I’m not going on?” I question.
“Because you are going,” he scoffs.
“The only place I’m going is back to bed,” I say on a yawn as Logan hands me my coffee before giving Louie a little scratch.
“Cool, I’ll come with you.”
“Argh,” I groan in frustration before taking a sip of my coffee. Holy crap. Logan makes a good coffee. Now that I could wake up to every morning.
Logan chuckles to himself before heading down my hallway. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Packing,” he says over his shoulder.
I race down the hallway after him and find him searching through my draws. “Get lost,” I groan. “I can pack my own bag.”
He smirks as he gives in and leans against my bedroom wall.
With a sigh, I give in. I guess I truly don’t have a choice but to go on the stupid camping trip. I open my wardrobe and reach up to grab a bag. I have to jump a few times before my fingers finally latch onto the fabric but I get there in the end.
“I could have helped with that,” Logan says in his smug-as-fuck tone. “All you had to do was ask.”
“Never going to happen,” I tell him as I start throwing the contents of my draws into the bag only to have Loan come and empty it all out. “Are you serious?” I whine.
“You’ve clearly never been camping,” he laughs as he opens my wardrobe and starts launching jumpers and track-pants at me. Once he’s satisfied with the contents of my bag, he asks the most ridiculous question yet. “Where’s your tent?” I give him a blank look and don’t even bother with a response. “Swag?” he asks a little more hopeful. Again, I don’t respond. “You’ve got to at least have a sleeping bag, right?”
At that, the grin rips across my face. “Do I look like the kind of girl who owns a sleeping bag?”
He presses his lips together. “You’re right. You can share with me.”
Oh geez. I can’t catch a break with this guy.
Against my will, Logan slings my bag over his back and drags me out the door. We pass by Jaz’s door to see her kicking out her one-night-stand. Her eyes notice the man-meat beside me before they come to a stop on me. She wiggles her eyebrows at me and I can tell what she’s thinking.
“What’s going on here?” she questions with a smile that threatens to tear her face in two.
“I’m taking her camping,” Logan says, making it sound more like a date than a work thing.
Jaz bursts out in laughter. “Good luck with that,” she says before closing the door and most likely heading back to her bed, a place I’d really like to be.
Logan helps me up into his beast of a car and gets going before I have a chance to come up with another excuse as to why I can’t go.
We pull up at some kind of reservation and park amongst all the other guys, who also have massive trucks which must have costs them all a bomb but I guess that’s the way it is when you’re a professional athlete.
Eyes are swivelled our way when the guys notice the team physio jumping out of the star players car which is exactly what I wanted to avoid but Logan couldn’t look happier. To the rest of the guys, I must look like a desperate hussy, trying to win over the Captain like the majority of the women who are interested in these guy’s.
I mean, I totally took pleasure out of the long car ride with him and I absolutely love the way he seems to keep showing up in my life. There’s just something about him that’s wearing me down and it’s freaking me out but if something is going to happen between us, I need to know that it’s the real deal, I can’t risk it all for nothing.
Logan and I join the rest of the team and wait for the stragglers to show up. “Is everyone here?” Tony asks ten minutes later.
“Looks like it,” some guy who I recognise as one of the players says from the back of the group.
“Ok,” Tony says with way too much enthusiasm for a Saturday morning. “We have about a half-hour hike to our campsite, so let’s get going.”
Logan_Denver Royalty [Book 1] Page 8