Page 2 of Goalie Interference

I heard the muted sounds of him tapping on his keyboard. “Okay, I’ll let them know you have an animal. I’ll find a place in Winnipeg that can do the paperwork for shipping a dog and send him down after you. Anything else?”

It would take some time to get Beast in a carrier. To pack my clothes and a toothbrush, check out my gear. Once I took everything to the marina, they could store the motorboat for the winter. They’d also winterize the cottage for me if I asked. Then the drive to the Peg, where I’d have to drop off Beast, park in long-term—if Benny got all the arrangements set up, it was doable.

“Think that’s it.”

He hung up. Some guys would be offended, but I was just glad he’d come through for me. I didn’t need polite. I needed to play hockey.

I hadn’t asked how much I would be making, because a thirty-two-year-old backup goalie would only get the league minimum. I hadn’t asked where, either, because it didn’t matter. I was lucky to get an offer—I wasn’t turning it down.

But when I pulled out my duffel to pack my clothes, I realized I should have asked more questions. Did I need a parka? Florida wouldn’t need snow boots, while Edmonton definitely would. I shrugged. Neither place would be a problem for the next few weeks, so I’d work it out when I found out where I was going.

I was ready to leave early the next morning. After putting my stuff in the boat, I looked for Beast. He’d vanished.Damn it.Little fucker was smart. Getting him in his travel crate was going to take a while.

It did, and I didn’t escape unscathed, but we made it to the marina in time for me to get the arrangements made for the boat and cottage. Then I shoved my stuff in my truck for the drive to Winnipeg. Benny had sent an address near the airport to drop off Beast. My phone directed me to the animal shipping company’s office. Considering how little money I made for the guy, he went over and above. I stepped inside with Beast in his crate, enough dog food to tide him over for a week, his leash and a muzzle. I had a pet passport the vet had made up for him in Saint Martin with his medical information. A pleasant gray-haired woman welcomed us with a smile.

“How may I help you?”

Beast growled at her. “I’m Daniel Rempel. I think you were expecting us?”

She checked her screen and nodded. “We have all the information here for his flight once we get a vet to check him out. You have his papers?”

I slid them over the counter to her.

“Beast?” She was surprised at his name. Most people were till they met him.

“He was a rescue.” She could think he came with the name if she wanted. He was still growling.

She started inputting his details into the computer. “He’s got all his shots, so if the vet clears him, there shouldn’t be any problems.” Beast grumbled in his crate, pissed at the world. She paused for a moment and cocked her head as she looked at his snarling face inside the crate. “He doesn’t like it in there, it seems.”

“There’s a lot of stuff he doesn’t like.”

She gave him a fond smile and I sighed, quietly. That wasn’t going to last.

With a final tap of her keyboard, she printed out the invoice and I passed over my credit card. It was time for me to go if I didn’t want to miss my own flight.

I drew in a breath. “I need to warn you, he bites when he feels threatened, and he always feels threatened. Don’t hold your hand out to him because he’ll bite. Keep his leash on when he’s not in the crate or he’ll run. If you leave any kind of food around, he’ll eat it, even if you swear it’s nothing a dog would like. Even if it’s not really edible.”

Her smile faltered. “You said he was a rescue?”

I nodded.

“How long have you had him?”

“About five months.”

“And he hasn’t improved?”

“He has. He was much worse before.”

She wasn’t smiling anymore. I’d bet half my contract that someone would try to befriend my Beast before the flight was done, and they’d regret it. But I’d warned them. Not much more I could do.

I stared at the growling animal in the crate. “Behave, Beast. I’ll see you soon.” I didn’t pet him, because I’d learned my lesson.

I checked the time and hustled. I dragged my gear, my suit bag, and my duffel to the terminal. Winnipeg wasn’t a big airport, and I was flying first class, so I didn’t have to wait long in line. While the person ahead of me checked in I looked at Benny’s email again. The flight information had arrived while I was driving, so I only knew I was headed to New York. There were at least three teams in the area, so that didn’t tell me where I was playing.

I’d just opened the info he’d sent on the contract when it was my turn to check in. The attendant took my passport and found my flight. She started clicking keys and I took a deep breathfor the first time since Benny called. This was happening. I was playing. Stupid fuck that I was, I didn’t even know what team, but Benny said someone would be meeting me at the airport when I landed. That was good enough.

The woman looked up at me with a polite smile. “We can check your bags all the way through, Mr. Rempel. You have about an hour between flights, so I would suggest you make good time to your next gate.”

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