Page 41 of Ice Cold Rival

“I’m locking my door,” he muttered, closing it behind him.

A fair warning since I tended to barge in. I’d have to do something later to really thank Cole for the save. If I’d known Kenzie was waiting for me, I wouldn’t have taken so long. My boyfriend skills were fucking rusty. Was this a flowers offense? Should I call her?

I sighed and dropped onto the couch. Gram first. It was late on the east coast, but judging by the six calls, I’d guess she was still up.

“Hey Gram. I saw you called.”

She sniffed. “I expect you to answer when I call you directly.”

“You called me directly in the middle of a hockey game, when my phone is secured in my locker on the other side of the arena.”

“I don’t want to hear excuses. I’ve had some disturbing news this evening.”

I sat up, suddenly worried. Gram seemed like she’d live forever, but she had to be close to seventy-five. “Are you okay?”

“Not me, though I appreciate your concern. An upstart young company is developing a competing drug to one we’re about to put on the market. I can’t give you details, but it’s in our best interest to nip this in the bud.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Gram always used “we” when talking about the company, as if I worked there with her. There wasn’t any point in correcting her. It would only start a fight about hockey, and she was already on edge from my missed calls due to the game.

“What do you want me to do about it?”

“I’ve set up a meeting with the CEO in mid-November. They’re based in Dallas, so I’m flying in to have dinner with him and his daughter. He’s very family oriented, big into hockey. You’re coming with me.”

Warning bells started clanging in the back of my head. “What are you hoping to accomplish at dinner?”

“I’m planning to buy his company, install him in a powerless position with us, and bury the research.”

“And what’s my role?”

“I need you to romance his daughter. He’ll be more amenable to a low offer if he trusts us. If you can find out anything that could potentially help us force a sale, even better.”

Did Gram even hear herself? She sounded like an evil villain.

I closed my eyes against the sudden pounding in my head. “I’m not romancing anyone, especially not for corporate espionage purposes. Besides, I have a girlfriend.”

Disdain coated her voice. “It won’t last. Like the others.”

My fingers tightened on the phone. She didn’t know anything about my relationship with Kenzie, but she dismissed it all the same. “She’s not like the others. I’m done with one-night stands.”

Gram tsked. “I’m not interested in your sex life.”

“Unless it benefits you?”

“I’m not suggesting you seduce the girl at the dinner table. I want you to charm her into a harmless crush. She has sway over her father. If she’s feeling positively toward us, he will as well.”

“I’m not even sure if I’ll be free for this dinner. I have a grueling schedule.”

“It’s on a Sunday night. Even I know you don’t play hockey on Sundays.”

The familiar frustration from talking to Gram had me itching to do something reckless to prove this wasn’t my future. Too bad those urges had led to my current predicament of having to prove myself to my team.

Gram couldn’t force me to do anything, but she was a pro at making someone’s life hell. Usually, I could convince her to take a different path. I must be off tonight. She’d never let this go unless I spoke in her language.

“How about a counteroffer?”

“I’m listening.”

“I’ll come to the dinner, but I’m bringing my girlfriend. We’ll play nice and show this guy that we’re one big happy family. You can work the grandmother angle.”

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