Page 20 of The Fake Play

“Good. Keep in mind you’re also not the first person who's been in this position. Working closely with himandliving in hishome can cause some people to let their guard down. Before they know it, they're involved. Trust me, it always goes sideways.”

“You don’t have to worry about me, Whitney. I need this job to go perfectly, and I'm not going to screw it up over some guy.”

“Good. I don't want to lose you over a breakup. You seem like you've got your head on straight, and I like that. The team needs it.”

I swallow hard, her words sinking in. I hadn't even considered the possibility that Whitney thought I might genuinely fall for Luke's shit.

The idea seemed absurd on the surface. Luke and I couldn't be more different. He was brash, cocky, and used to getting what he wanted while I was all about control and keeping things professional.

Still, her words hit a nerve. I have history of my own.

Is there a part of me that’s attracted to Luke? Sure, I'd have to be blind not to notice how good-looking he is. He’s practically a walking billboard for the irresistible hockey bad boy. But falling for him is a different story. I can’t let myself go down that path, not with everything on the line. She must believe there’s a real possibility if she’s hammering it so hard.

“I appreciate the concern, but I'm not going to fall for him. I know better.”

Whitney gives me a long, measured look as if she’s not entirely convinced. Finally, she nods. “Alright, just be careful, okay?”

“Careful is my middle name.”

She stands up, smoothing out her tailored blazer. “I'm heading to the rink. I'll let you know if anything else comes up, but for now, try to stay under the radar, alright? The last thing we need is more media attention on this.”

“Got it.”

As she heads toward the door, a knot of tension coils tight in my chest. I should feel relieved—this went better than it could have, all things considered.

I assure Whitney that Im not going to let things get messy and she believes me. I’m lucky that she does. Given his track record, she could fire me on the mere suspicion of trouble. But now that the conversation is over, I can’t shake the uneasy feeling that I was lying to her, and myself.

I let out a long breath when the door clicks shut behind her and sink into one of the bar stools. The condo is eerily quiet though the weight of Whitney's words still hang in the air.

I’m not going to fall for Luke, that much is true. But there is no denying that living in his space, being this close to him day in and day out, might start to wear on me. For one, I’m not used to living with a man. Two, I’m definitely not used to living with one this hot.

The lines between work and personal could easily blur more than I care to admit. And with Luke being who he is, I may have overestimated my ability to resist him. It could end up being way too easy getting pulled into his orbit.

I stare out at the sprawling city skyline. I love Atlanta. The heat, the steam, the noise. The people are some of the best in the world, and I’m not ready to leave it behind.

There’s always Seattle, though. My family is originally from there, and we still have relatives in the area who I could lean on if things go south here. Ever since upending my entire life to become the good girl I thought I should be, I’ve grown to like plans. Seattle is my Plan B. But I don’t want to have to use it.

I made a promise to myself thatI would keep things professional. I would do my job and keep my distance from Luke, no matter how complicated things got, because the last thing I need is my name in the tabloids. I will not become another woman who got too close to Luke and paid the price.

I need this job, I can’t afford to lose it. Even more than that, I can’t afford to lose myself.

Chapter 9

Luke

Istared at my reflection in the glass, the city skyline stretching out before me. The condo was so quiet with Keke out. Too quiet. But I could get used to that again.

Something about staring out at the city made me pensive. Or maybe that was just my mood. I didn’t like being alone with my thoughts, they lacked comfort.

At thirty years old, every time I lace up my skates, I can feel the years creeping up on me. My body doesn’t recover the way it used to. Some mornings I'll wake up with stiffness in my knees that wasn't there a decade ago. I’m not old, not by a long shot, but in the world of professional hockey, I wasn't exactly a spring chicken anymore, either.

Lucas, on the other hand, is fast, young, sharp, and full of energy, just like I used to be. The kid has a good head on his shoulders, too, which is almost more dangerous than his speed. I’m not worried about losing my spot, not yet anyway, but there is a nagging feeling that I can’t seem to shake. Not fear, exactly, more like uncertainty. Doubt.

I need to get my head straight, and I know just the guy to talk to.

Sebastian Blue was in my shoes not that long ago. Hell, he’s a couple years older than me and still going strong. Seb’s a strange one, a billionaire's son who never needed to work a day in his life, let alone throw himself into the punishing grind of pro hockey. But he had, and he'd done it well. He’s always been a guy I respected, not just for his skill, but how he reinvented himself when everyone thought he'd coast through life on his family's fortune. If anyone could help me put this Lucas situation into perspective, it was him.

I grab my keys and head for the door, making my way to Seb’s house. It’s just a quick drive to a sub of sprawling estates that feel more like a palace than a home.

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