Page 77 of Twisted Collide

“Well, you got me,” I say, lifting both hands. “I was just showing Josephine the ice because she’s never been on it before. I caught her trying to head out there on her own.”

Laurie looks at Josie. “You’ll break your neck that way.”

“That’s what I told her.”

Laurie shakes her head. “Good thing you were here, Dane. Your father would kill me if something happened to you on my watch.”

Josephine stiffens at the mention of her father, but I don’t have long to think about it because Laurie points in the direction of the offices on the other side of the building. “I need you to choose a jersey and sign it.”

I look toward the locker room and then gesture to what I’m wearing. “What? Now?”

“Yeah. It’s being auctioned off at the Saints and Starling charity event next week. We need to get the item up on the website so people can start bidding.”

The Saints and Starling event is the biggest fundraiser in the area. The money raised goes to help with legal fees for people who don’t have the resources to get the representation they deserve.

Starling company is the local law firm that represents the Saints and has teamed up with the team to put the event on.

“There are a few different options,” she says.

“Why don’t we auction off more than one?” Josephine asks, and Laurie’s eyes widen as though she hadn’t thought about that.

Laurie quickly masks the fact that she was bested by the temp and places her hands on her hips as if she is annoyed. Laurie isn’t cut out for this job, but her father knows the owner, and that makesLaurie’s position pretty sound, even if the team could use some young blood.

“I have a meeting I need to get to. Can we please get this done?” Laurie says, checking her phone.

“I can do it,” Josephine says. Laurie purses her lips but looks back at her phone and sighs.

“Fine. The jerseys are in the locker room on the table. Just sign them,” Laurie directs to me, turning her attention to Josie. “When he’s done, take photos of each of them and email me a high-res JPEG. I’ll add them to the auction site tonight.”

Josephine nods, turning to me and giving me a look that basically saysis this woman for real?

“I’ll see you later.” Laurie rushes off.

When she’s out of sight, I turn back to Josephine. “Do you think you can handle those directives?”

I’m surprised she hasn’t rolled her—strike that; she just did.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?”

“Yep.” She pops thep. “You’re being an ass.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Hmm,” she says, tapping her chin. “I think onions are only good in salsa.”

“What?”

“Onions don’t belong in salad, on burgers, and absolutely, under no circumstances, should they ever be eaten like an apple.”

“I can’t be around you,” I tease, shaking my head and doing my best to look serious.

“Too bad. You heard the woman. We have work to do for charity,” she singsongs, and the sound is somehow beautiful and grating at the same time.

Because she’s wearing me down.

“If this weren’t for something important, I’d say no.” I work to remove my skates, not wanting to wear the bulky footwear all the way to the locker room. “But this is for charity, so I’ll play nice.”

“Laurie explained what the money went to, and I think it’sincredible. So many families get the help they need despite their financial situation.”

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