Page 29 of Puck Shy

Then I kept going. “I wanted to take you out to dinner and get to know you from the start. My thoughts were jumbled after the game, but I swear to you I didn’t sleep with you again or ask you to work for me so that I can win games. I asked you because I’m selfish, and I want to get to know you. And because I’m hoping you’ll eventually change your mind about giving me a shot,” I admit.

She shifts a bit on her feet. “Lucas, I…I think I was right; this is a bad idea.”

“You said you quit your job already, Stevie. You’re going to work for me. And I promise I’ll do my best to let you do your thing. I meant what I said earlier. I swear it.”

Her phone buzzes, and she looks down. “My Uber is one minute away.”

“Please, Stevie. I’ll make this up to you. I promise I’ll be a good boy.”

That comment makes her smile before she takes her lower lip into her mouth. “You’d better be.”

“You’ll do it? You’ll keep the job?”

After a tense moment, she nods. “Like you said, I quit my job. I need this to work. So if you can promise to keep things professional, then I’ll do it.”

I nod vigorously as I breathe a sigh of relief. Then I hold up my hand for a high five. She stares at it, her face coloring with amusement.

“A high five?”

I shrug. “I panicked.” Which is true, because I would’ve much rather kissed her.

She laughs and hits my hand as her car pulls up.

“I’ll have one of the assistant coaches email you all the game information. Be here three hours before the game tomorrow, and we can go through what I need and take some pictures for my social media,” I say.

“Sounds good.” She opens the door and confirms her name with her driver before she makes eye contact with me one last time. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Boss.”

I cringe, wanting to reiterate that I made Leo her boss and me more of her manager. I know that sounds stupid, but I can’t fire her. Only Leo can. It’s something I wanted written into her contract to make things cleaner and more comfortable for her if anything were to happen between us. I know my brother made that clear to her when he offered her the job as well. But I don’t remind her of that little fact. Instead, I keep my mouth shut and wave goodbye to her.

As I watch the car drive away, I think I might’ve screwed all of this up before it even started. But at least everything is out in the open now. I’ll just have to see where things go from here.

Chapter thirteen

Stevie

“This is a bad idea,” I say to Nia through the phone as I pull up to the arena.

“Are you kidding, Stevie? You landed your dream job. One that pays you enough to kick your stupid roommate to the curb. You’re making the big bucks now, Gorgeous.”

I smile through the phone. She’s not wrong there. “True. But is the money worth it?” I ask. Mostly to myself. Because I’m thinking of all the things that could go wrong by me taking this job. In the end, I’m the one taking a risk. If things go south, I’ll be out of a job, and it could also affect my relationship with Riley and her partners.

“Umm, you’re an idiot.” She laughs.

I give my name to the security guy at the back entrance, and he directs me to where I should park. Once I drive off, I say, “I don’t think I’m an idiot, Nia. More like a smart woman who’s trying not to do something idiotic.”

“Okay, but the way I look at it, you’ve walked into an amazing opportunity. You get to use your skills, do what you’re good at, and you get to spend time around smelly hockey players who are probably missing teeth. I know you’re into that shit.”

I bark out a laugh. “Lucas has all his teeth.”

“Golden Boy is special that way.”

I find an open space and turn off my car. “What if this all goes south, Nia? What if I end up back where I started from but with a sister who hates me because I fucked things up with her partner’s brother?” I ask, voicing my earlier thought.

“I’m going to stop you right there. Your sister loves you, and from what you told me about your interactions with Lucas—and from what I saw on Valentine’s Day—I don’t think he’s the type of guy to hold grudges. You’re both adults. If it goes bad, you’ll work it out. Don’t let this doom-and-gloom future you’ve dreamt up stop you from living your life. This job was made for you.”

I blow out a tense breath. “You really think this was the right choice?”

“I’ll miss our shows at the club together,” she says. I swear I can hear her smiling through the phone.

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