Page 12 of Pucking the Team

Before I can inquire further, he introduces himself.

“I’m Alex Ivanov, the skills coach.”

The name slams into me like a body check. Alex freaking Ivanov. THE Alex Ivanov.

But I keep my face composed, trying not to let on that I recognize him or that my heart is suddenly somersaulting in my chest.

Of all the rinks in all the world, my childhood crush had to walk into this one, looking even hotter than I remembered.

I take a calming breath.

“Great to meet you, Alex,” I say smoothly. “I can’t wait to capture all of the dedication and effort you put into training the players, so our fans can see it.”

His eyes crinkle at the corners as his smile broadens. “It’ll be fun to work together. But I actually popped in to grab some clips to review with Slade. Mind if I…?” He gestures to the console.

“Oh, of course!” I step aside to give him room, but the video suite isn’t exactly spacious. As Alex leans over the controls, his shoulder brushes against mine, his woodsy cologne filling my nose.

My skin prickles with awareness, and I hold myself very still, hyper-conscious of his body heat bleeding into me.

Good lord, keep it together, Emma. He’s your coworker, not your schoolgirl daydream.

Alex was on the Blizzards junior league team back when my dad was the head coach. The junior league played here at the practice arena, and I used to watch him with a horny tween fascination. He was my first crush.

I don’t even want to admit to the number of fantasies he starred in as I first learned how to touch myself.

Now, I can’t stop my eyes from drifting over his powerful adult form, the way his charcoal gray Henley drapes over his muscled back and shoulders?—

The door bangs open again, and I practically levitate out of my skin. Alex and I spring apart as if scalded.

Chloe stands in the entrance, one hand on her rounded belly, eyeing us with amusement. “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt anything,” she teases, a knowing glint in her eye.

Heat floods my face. “You didn’t!” I assure her quickly. “Alex and I were just, um...”

“I needed to grab some clips for Slade,” Alex explains smoothly, straightening up from the console. He flashes Chloe an easy grin. “Emma was kind enough to let me hijack her workspace for a minute.”

Chloe chuckles. “Well, she is a team player.” She winks at me. “Speaking of, Emma—whenever you have a minute, I’d love to see what you’ve put together so far for the highlight reel. No rush, though.”

“You got it, boss,” I reply with a tight smile. With that, Chloe vanishes as swiftly as she appeared.

An awkward beat passes. I sneak a glance at Alex, wondering if he also felt a pulse of attraction between us or if I just imagined it. His eyes meet mine, dark and unreadable. He clears his throat.

“I should go find Slade. See you around, Emma.”

“See you,” I echo as he makes his exit, leaving me reeling.

Holy mother of plot twists. My new job just got a whole lot more…complicated. I collapse into my chair, pulse still galloping, and bury my flaming face in my hands.

Alex Ivanov is my colleague. I’m a professional. I can handle this.

It’s not like I’m still carrying a torch for my adolescent infatuation...right?

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself and refocus on the task at hand. The hype reel. Right. I can do this. I’ve got a deadline to meet and a boss to impress.

No time for silly childhood crushes on devastatingly handsome skills coaches who may or may not remember me as their former stalker.

I dive back into the footage, determined to prove myself and create something truly epic. The Blizzards’ previous season flashes across the screen—breakaways, bone-crushing hits, clutch goals, and stellar saves. The energy is infectious, even through the screen. I can practically feel the roar of the crowd, the chill of the ice, the thrill of the game.

As I lose myself in the editing process, my mind can’t help but wander back to Alex. The way his presence seemed to fill the room, the way my body responded to the heat of his touch. It’s like every sense was heightened when he stood near me, every nerve ending on high alert.

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