Page 8 of Scores Of The Heart

My dad obviously had some serious pull in me getting the position here. I don’t take issue with it, because I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Still, I want to stand on my own two feet and not have people think I’ve had everything given to me. I’ve still worked hard in college and in my job for the Hawks. I don’t feel as if I’m living in my dad’s shadow, even if he is a big ticket name in the ice hockey world.

I know his opinion matters, and I’ve always been the apple of his eye.

I have a younger sister, Caitlin, who works in journalism. Our parents separated soon after we moved from Buffalo, New York, to Seattle. Dad's career took off after he got a teaching job with the youth state team. Mom is well-meaning, but also very absent in my life. Even at twenty-five. Our relationship has been strained on and off over the years for various reasons. She’s still heavily involved in the church and friends with my ex, Damon Hathaway’s parents from Buffalo. She still thinks Damon is the one for me. I think both of our moms do even if I haven’t seen the guy in years, but that’s a whole other story.

“A sixth sense?” I reply to Andrea, who’s looking at me pointedly. “For what, exactly?”

“Ty Peterson doesn’t just come sniffing around for anyone,” she giggles.

I laugh, too. “Well, how do you know he’s sniffing around here after me? He might have his eye on you or any of the office girls.”

“Nope. I’ve even seen him glance in here on his way past. And he ain’t looking at me.”

“You’re not losing your sense of humor, Andrea.”

Little does she know I think Tyler Peterson is very cute. He has the whole tall, dark and handsome thing going on. With hair cropped short, big in the shoulders, and that whole bad boy vibe that I shouldn’t like, but am intrigued by.

I’ve never intentionally gone for the bad-boy type. But the guys I seem to attract just so happen to be exactly that.

The stalking thing in college didn’t exactly help me build confidence with men. Someone grabbed me in the dark one night as I was making my way out to the parking lot. If it weren’t for the tiny pepper spray on my key ring, which I squirted into the asshole’s face, I dread to think what could have happened.

It was all caught on security footage. That, and his wallet came loose from his jeans pocket in the tussle. I found it after he ran off, trying to scratch the spray out of his eyes. The police caught him the same night.

It was, by far, the most terrifying night of my life. I’ve been looking over my shoulder ever since. Apparently the guy was just a random stalker, and had been prowling around on campus for a while.

“I like to keep you entertained.” She smiles. “He is cute. Though I rather like Jake Hudson myself.” He’s the youngest on the team, the right wingman.

“Now he is definitely cute.” I agree.

“Pity all we can do is look.” She sighs, turning back to her computer screen.

We both assist Heidi, the VP of business operations, in the day to day running administration requirements for the team. I’m a point of contact for employees contractual benefits and prepare documents for employee agreements and partnerships. Andrea handles more of the HR side of the operations; dedicating a significant amount of her time preparing minutes of meetings and agendas for the executive committee members. She organizes all the meetings, among other things.

There’s a whole finance department next door to us. I’ve barely scratched the surface of the continuing opportunities that come from working for the Hawks. But for the moment, I’m very happy where I am.

I laugh to myself at her comment. Andrea is the epitome of geeky. And I love her to bits, but she would never strike up the courage to talk to any of the NHL guys.

Especially Jake Hudson. She’d run and hide before that would happen.

The funny thing is, she’s smart and witty, and often has quite a mouth on her when she gets fired up. It’s fun to be around her.

She is, however, very good at having useful insights to the players.

She knows absolutely everything. As does her bestie, Simon, he works in the office next door in finance. We often all have lunch together in the cafeteria and they tell me the latest gossip on who’s doing what.

I love the game of hockey. I’ve always loved it. Working for the Seattle Hawks has been such a great experience so far. Working around so many professional athletes definitely has eye candy bonuses, but that’s all it could ever be.

You can’t date anyone in the league while you’re working for the team, at least not without permission. Not even casually.

Flings are definitely not a thing.

“What makes you say that about Tyler?” I ask her, tucking my pen behind my ear and swiveling on my chair back and forth. I’m trying not to think about meeting my mom later this week for a catch up. It’s been a while. I usually bring Caitlin along for emotional support, because she’s always on my side, but she hasn’t gotten back to me yet if she’s free.

“Just a hunch,” she says. “And like I say, I’ve seen him back here more often than normal.”

“Dad’s office is right past ours at the end of the hall.” I remind her. “There’s really no way of not walking past us to get to him. And Tyler is the captain, after all.”

“I heard he broke up with his girlfriend just recently.”

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