Page 29 of Play the Game

His smirk pisses me off, and I’m suddenly rethinking my future. “You’re kinda cute when you’re angry.”

My chest expands with frustration. Before I can say anything else, Emory lets go of my waist and places his hand on my cheek. His fingers get lost in my hair, and when his thumb gentlytraces my lips, I completely forget that I just agreed to be this egotistical, irritating man’s fake wife.

“Let’s get one thing clear, baby.” Fiery butterflies swarm my stomach. Emory presses his thumb against my mouth with force and wipes off my cherry-red lipstick. “If you’re going to take my last name, you will no longer be working for that man. Got it?” My head falls forward with a tug of my hair, and I wish I could snap back with some type of refusal or insult, but he has me in his clutches.

After a few seconds, he finally lets go of me, and I gasp for air. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until my vision begins to straighten. His jaw sets as he waits for my compliance, which I refuse to give.

“Tomorrow. One o’clock. At the arena. And bring a pen.”

I blink twice, and he’s already halfway down the hallway, walking toward the back door, leaving me standing there with smeared lipstick and spinning thoughts.

Scottie Olson.

I guess it has a ring to it.

Fourteen

EMORY

“CanI talk to you for a few, man?”

Rhodes wipes the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand and glances around the emptying locker room before giving me a subtle flick of his chin. I take that as his version ofyes,so I wait a little longer, and when most of my teammates are gone, I turn and face my captain, who is impatiently leaning against the lockers with his arms crossed.

He raises his eyebrows at me.

“Do you think this team has potential?”

Rhodes narrows his gaze. He’s trying to figure me out, likely wondering where this conversation is headed, but nonetheless, he takes the bait. “Two months ago? No. But now?” He shrugs. “Maybe.”

I nod and rub the back of my sore shoulders before really getting down to the nitty-gritty. “I want to help bring this team’s reputation back up.”

Rhodes chuckles. “I think you brought it down another level when you were signed.”

True.

“I think I have a plan to help my reputation, which will hopefully lead to helping the team’s reputation.”

Rhodes sighs. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

The only person who is aware of my proposalto Scottie is Ford, which in turn means Ford and Taytum, who is probably having a goddamn fit over the idea. That or they’ve come up with some bet to see how long it lasts until it blows up in my face. Rhodes is the captain of the team. If I have his approval, I know he’ll help get the team in check if they happen to recognize her. Scottie is a bit of a mystery. I couldn't find her on social media, but that doesn’t mean no one will recognize her, with or without the red hair and stripper pole.

“I’m getting married.”

Rhodes blinks. I give it a few more seconds, and nope, that’s the only response I get.

“I’m getting married to help my reputation and to hopefully stop the rumors. The random women spewing lies about me has to end. They’re showing up at my house, and the media is running with every fucking lie, painting me to be some crazed monster with a bad temper who mishandles women. Our team is full of misfits,” I say. “And after getting to know the guys and learning their skills on the ice, it’s completely fucked. We can be good. We don’t have to be the joke of the pros. Because believe it or not, we are.”

I pause and wait to see if Rhodes has anything to add. The only thing he does is blink again, but I swear I can see his wheels turning.

“I need your help, though,” I add.

Rhodes pushes off the lockers and squares his shoulders. “Let me ask you something.”

I nod.

“Are you truly trying to rebuild this team’s rep, or are you only worried about yourself and where you’re going to go after your contract ends?”

“Both,” I answer truthfully. “But who knows, maybe I’ll stay here if we can get our shit together.”

---