Page 65 of Playmaker

“They’re the best.”

“And that’s important?”

He didn’t understand, because he’d grown up with money. “If I’m partner, I’m invested in the firm, so I want to be sure it’s secure. That it’s stable and has a good reputation and will be around for a long time.”

“And being partner is important to you?”

“If you’re partner, they have a hard time getting rid of you.” I stopped, because that was a little more honest than I had intended to be.

“Like having a no-movement clause in a hockey contract.”

I appreciated that Cooper didn’t make a big deal out of what I’d revealed. “What’s that?” I was curious. This was a legal issue after all.

“A no-movement clause covers being traded to another team, and also being sent down to the farm team. It means they keep you on their NHL roster.”

“Are they common?”

He shook his head. “An organization has to have a lot of confidence in the player to offer that.”

I considered. “You have one?”

He smirked. “I do.”

“Because you want to stay in Toronto?”

He shrugged. “I wouldn’t necessarily be averse to moving, in the right circumstances. But this gives me control. And the team offered it, as an enticement.”

Thinking of Seb and Faith and Hailey, it was more of an enticement than he admitted. “How many years do you have left on your contract?”

“Three years. At that point, I might rein in my agent to ask less on the next contract, so that I could finish my career here. Not many players spend their whole career with one team, so maybe…”

That wasn’t information Cooper would trust to just anyone. I could only imagine the kind of contract negotiations his agent and the team would go through. “I won’t share that with anyone.”

“I didn’t think you would.”

But he’d given me something, after I’d revealed something, and I wanted to hug that thought tightly to my chest. That kind of honesty was more dangerous than his handsome face or fit body. It enticed reciprocal confessions and I did my best to keep my life private. I’d already told him I grew up in foster care. Hearing my story made people pity me, look at me differently. I didn’t want that, especially from him.

I was relieved when we pulled into a lane off Bloor Street and stopped behind a shop, in a stall markedReserved. I gave him the side-eye. “Is this one of your sponsors?”

“Nope.”

He managed to get out of the car and come around to my side before I’d climbed out of the passenger seat. The damned car was too low. He held my hand as he helped me up. The back door of the shop opened, and another beautiful, put-together woman stood in the doorway.Déjà vu.

“Mr. Cooper?”

“Just Cooper, please.” He used his charming smile and I tried not to frown. He could smile at whoever he wanted to.

“This way, please. And you must be Ms. Smith?”

I sighed. Bad enough that I was expecting to spend a lot of money to get criticized and feel awkward and dense. I didn’t need to be the third wheel in a flirtation while I suffered through clothes shopping. But Cooper looked so pleased to have this chance to use me as his Barbie doll.

I forced a smile and said, “Yep. That’s me.”

Chapter19

Dressed me up like a doll

Callie

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