Page 2 of Breakaway

I nod and watch him go to the kitchen. After downing half his bottle, he looks at me. “There is one other thing you need to know. Part of the purchase contract was that we’d keep on the current coach and assistant coach for this season. It was negotiated somehow into their contract. My lawyers are trying to see if we can break it.

“I like coach Parley. He’s been with the team three seasons and is a decent guy. He took over as head coach last year and there seems to be some solid improvement. The assistant is… new.”

I frown. “My sister hasn’t said anything. When did this happen?”

“He just officially came on a couple weeks ago. But I think he may have been there in a different capacity before.”

“Do I know him?”

He studies his beer. “It’s Cory Baylor.”

After all these years, the name still causes my chest to tighten. “I thought that asshole was out of the league. I don’t want him anywhere near my sister.”

“He was let go about three or four years ago. No one picked him up. Tried to coach in the minors, then men’s college. After that didn’t last, he somehow landed this gig in the women’s league.”

“You trust your sister’s career with that jerk?”

“Hell no. He’s not ‘the coach’. I’ll be watching him closely and I’ll have some serious discussions with Parley as to what type of play I will tolerate from my players. It’s only this season. Or until Baylor does something that gives me legitimate reason to fire him. There will be a morals clause in the new contract.”

“Knowing him, it shouldn’t take long.” I give my head a shake. Do I really have time to do this and make it work? At best I’m a control freak. It’s why I chose to go into private practice with one other doctor. He and I partner well, with the same goals. We both just want to help people make the best of their lives and dreams after unexpected injuries. Our reputation is growing. My medical career is taking off. Even if it’s a no travel position with the team it could impact my schedule, my patients.

But Cory Baylor is like a jock itch that will never go away. I can’t, won’t, trust him around my sister.

“We’ll figure out a way to make it work. Get me the game and practice schedule as soon as you can.” I pause. “Why the hell didn’t Tatum tell me?”

“I asked her not to.”

“When did this all go down?”

“Last weekend. But I haven’t met with the team yet. Practice went as normal this week and tomorrow we have a more in-depth meeting. I’ll be overseeing the full practice tomorrow. I thought since it’s Saturday you might want to attend, maybe give your spiel about eating, sleeping and exercise.” He gives me his over the top, wide-eyed look for what he calls my obsessive health rules. “We have our first home game after the ownership change on Monday night.”

He finishes his beer and puts the empty bottle on the counter. “I asked Tatum not to tell you because with Baylor in the picture, this needed to come from me. I won’t tolerate his kind of play or attitude. It’s not just your sister, I hope it’s mine,too. Leslie is going to try out to see if she can make the cut, as well.

“What happened to you…” He holds my gaze. “I won’t let it happen again.”

I nod.

He pulls his phone from his pocket and hits some buttons. “I just sent you everyone’s file, the schedule, and your team pass.”

Arching a brow, I study him. “Pretty sure of yourself, weren’t you? You know I have my own career just like you have one as a financial advisor.”

“Yeah, I know. When I couldn’t play anymore, I wanted to make money so I could buy a team. You became an orthopedic doc so that what happened to you never happened to anyone else. Both of those decisions were because of hockey. I’d say this brings us full circle.”

CHAPTER 2

Caitlyn Carr, Cat

Tatum dashes into the locker room at the last-minute stripping out of her street clothes as she comes. “Oh shit, oh shit. I’m late.”

Shaking my head I glance at the bench where I’ve already laid out her uniform and equipment. “Take a deep breath, you can do this. But you need to tell that jerk you’re dating no texting or visits an hour before the game or practice. You need that quiet time to focus. Or better yet, shut the damn phone off. He needs to respect you.”

I met Tatum six months ago at training camp. My first real friend came with my first break at the life I crave. Professional hockey.

“I can’t shut the phone off. What if coach tries to reach us?”

“And how many times has that happened in the last six months? His schedule is his bible. It never changes.”

She snort-laughs as she pulls off her sweater and leggings, stuffs them in her locker and begins to suit-up.

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