Page 6 of The Grinder

“Yes, I see that. Fine. I will be in hall. You come get me when you are ready. Hopefully in the next hour.”

If he had his way, Riley would spend at least another hour talking to this woman but she was obviously working and wouldn’t be able to leave in the middle of the day.

Damn, he couldn’t wait until tomorrow night.

“I guess you need to leave,” she said, although she looked a little depressed at the thought.

“Unfortunately, yeah. I’m hosting the team dinner tonight. Twenty-two hockey players in one enclosed space. Always good for a few laughs.”

Her lips curved in a flat-out smile that almost made him pant. “I don’t know. Sounds like the setup for a sitcom.”

“Not one they could show on TV.”

The door to the office opened again and they both turned to look. This time, a short guy with a wrinkled dress shirt, black pants, and a mop of unruly black hair hustled through the door.

“Hey, Aly. Just gonna check out your terminal—”

“Wait! I haven’t—damn it.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. I really have to go.”

“No problem. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

When she smiled, it gave him hope that he actually would. “I’ll try. I just—”

“Hey, Aly,” the guy in her office called out. “Can you come close out your programs?

With a little grimace, she turned and hustled toward the office in the back. Giving him another look at her great ass, which he watched until he couldn’t see her anymore.

Then he turned and walked out of the office with a smile, which he knew would set off Jake.

Fuck it. He couldn’t care less.

Sure enough, Jake fell into step beside him, still wearing that shit-eating grin.

“Dude, you look like the cat that ate that bird. I don’t think I have ever seen you look this way. You know, like you are happy. You asked her out on a date, yes? I assume she said yes or you wouldn’t be smiling. Good for you. I was worried about your skills with the women. I thought maybe you were still virgin.”

With a sigh, Riley stuck his elbow in Jake’s side, making him flinch.

“Hey, kid. We’re in public. Tone it down a little.”

But, of course, Jake couldn’t contain himself. Or he just didn’t care. Riley had never met anyone with less of a filter than Jake.

“What is to tone down? Since you are not virgin, you should not be ashamed. You did ask her out, right?”

Riley shook his head, knowing he wasn’t going to be able to ignore Jake. They guy’s focus was legendary on and off the ice. But Riley hadn’t gotten where he was on skill alone. He’d been a sports management major in college and not far from the top of his class. If he hadn’t been so damn determined to play professional hockey, he probably would’ve become an agent, which he still might do some day. He was good at talking.

“Yeah, I did. She’ll be at the game tomorrow night.”

Jake clapped him on the back. “And that is what we like to hear. Maybe you get laid now. Be good for you.”

Riley couldn’t contain his laughter. It rang through the parking garage as they reached his car.

“Dude, do you ever shut up?”

Jake just shrugged. “You talk on the ice. I talk off the ice. We make a good team, yes?”

Shaking his head, Riley had to agree.

“Yeah, we make a good team.”

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