Page 40 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“Would you like to line dance?” I gestured to the crowd.
“Maybe.” Gwen eyed everyone dancing in unison. “You did this a lot back in Portland?”
I nodded as I took a drink of water. “Yes. And at university, and even with my sister when I was in high school back in Nashville. Cooter’sverygood at it. There’s this place by his ranch that is amazing.”
“Why doesn’t it surprise me that Cooter likes line dancing?” She held up her phone and took a picture of us. “We should send it to him.”
My phone beeped as the picture of us appeared and I sent it to Cooter.
Me
We tried the bar you recommended. We’re having fun.
Cooter
Dance with Babybug for me.
Oh, I would. She had a good sense of rhythm and caught on fast. When did he start calling herBabybug?
“We’re going on a couple of fishing trips this summer. One’s in a couple of weeks,” I told her. “I also have to go back to Portland soon, because the house sold.”
Morgan waspissedabout the house sale. So was Jacen, given I’d used his biggest competitor as my realtor. So far, the news of me being traded to the Knights hadn’t broken.
It was only a matter of time before someone figured it out.
The music changed again and couples took to the floor.
“Dance with me?” She gazed at me through veiled lashes.
How could I say no to that? I took her hand in mine and led her back out to the floor. Yes, she was going to need some boots. Good thing I knew her size.
Chapter Twelve
Gwen
Yawning, I trudged down the hallway of the training complex, coming from the Knights’ dining room. I had a tumbler of coffee in one hand and an apple in the other. I couldn’t sleep.
Chef didn’t mind when I made myself some coffee and grabbed a piece of fruit. I planned on heading down to the rink to practice a little before Tenzin arrived.
“Oh, sorry.” An alpha in a suit nearly bumped into me.
“Me, too. I was lost in thought. Sorry.” I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here yet. Not even the cleaning staff. I eyed him warily, because I’d never seen this man. He was in his mid-thirties, broad and tall, but not distinguishing so, and probably not as fit as he once was.
“Are you supposed to be up here? Also, what are you doing here so early?” He eyed my sweatpants andNYIT Hockeyhoodie.
“Early goalie gets the puck?” Shit. He was most likely someone who shouldn’t be seeing me up here. New office staff maybe? Though it’s not like he saw me coming out of the showers.
He nodded. “Goalie. Got it. Do you know how to work the coffee machine in the kitchen? I’m not usually here this early, but there’s a lot to learn. Sorry, I’m Constantine, the new assistant GM.”
“Morning, Ladybug.” The janitor waved, pushing his cart.
“Morning, Ralph.” I waved back.
Constantine jerked his head toward the dining room. “About that coffee lesson?”
“Sure.” In a strange moment, I showed the new assistant GM how to use Chef’s fancy coffee maker, and where the cookies were kept.
“Thanks,” he told me.
