Page 2 of Offside

Or they could just hang on to me and drop me back to the third D-pair. Fuck, that would kill my spirit and make me even grumpier than I am normally.

There’s a reason I was named The Beast and it’s not for my charming charisma and personality. It’s my monstrous drive to win and beat our competitors. Unfortunately, that doesn’t erase the fact that my ice time was down last year due to some hard hits against the boards and a head injury earlier in the season.

If I were in the team’s position—specifically Karis’s—I might consider letting me go, too. Something in the way Karis insinuates my play wasn’t good enough draws a rash of anger through my bloodstream though.

I lean forward, thunking both elbows on the table.

“What precisely do you need to discuss about my position?” I snap, my voice tight with a clear edge to it. I’m suddenly fighting to control a whirl of volatility that’s been simmering since she walked into the room. Maybe it’s the way Karis sits there seemingly unfazed while holding my career in the palm of her hand. “In case you weren’t aware, Miss Spurlock, I played over sixty-five games last season, racking up 950 to my career total. With nineteen minutes a game, I also put up fifty-five assists. I may not be the youngest on the team anymore, but I’m still bringing it every single game. I’m a fucking solid player and if you don’t want me, I’m sure San Fran will be interested in me.”

Karis lifts a dark-blonde eyebrow, tilting her head to the side, and silently assesses me before she finally speaks. “Yes, I’m very aware of your stats, Ballas. I may be new to this team, but I am a professional and certainly not ignorant of my responsibilities as the franchise owner. Contrary to your assumption, I did my homework. I’m very familiar with all your…data points. But if you feel the Vikings isn’t the right place for you, we can…”

I’m about to lean over to Quincy to tell him I’m done with this ridiculous excuse of a meeting when he chokes out a cough, holding up a hand to halt the shots being fired between Karis and me.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. There’s no reason to jump there right out of the gate. Ballas”—he grasps my shoulder and digs his thumb in deep enough to inflict pain—“simply wants to reiterate his loyalty and commitment to this team. That’s all. He’s very interested in remaining here this season.”

I scoff under my breath and when my eyes flick back to her face, that’s when I see it. There’s a faint blush that creeps up her neck and into her cheeks.

Hmm…maybe she doesn’t hate me after all, maybe she isn’t out for revenge, plotting to ruin my career for how I left things with her. Maybe there’s another reason for her appearance at this meeting today.

Which begs the question, why? The words fall out of my mouth before I can stop them.

“Why exactly are you here, Karis?”

Quincy inhales sharply and whacks me in the shin with the heel of his shoe. I turn to see awhat the fucklook in his expression.

When I return my gaze to Karis, her smile is polite, almost patronizing, as she folds her hands on the table in front of her.

She sniffs, her eyes drilling holes in my head. “I may be new to this organization, Ballas, but I’m not unfamiliar with running a billion-dollar sports franchise. Everyone plays their part in making this operation run smoothly. My job is to ensure I’m spending my money in the right places for therightassets.”

Her shrewd look could knock a man on his ass and takes my breath away. She just scored on the penalty kill, drawing a line in the sand that clearly says,Don’t underestimate my acumen just because I’m young and beautiful.

Not that I ever would. While I’m surprised by her presence in this meeting, I don’t mind it; on the contrary, it shows a lot of balls. It’s just not typical for a team owner to join in the contract negotiations of players. Unless there’s a concern over salary cap or budget or a high-profile player, the GM normally handles these matters directly and without interference.

If I had to guess, I’d say she doesn’t trust Nate to do his job.

Karis taps the screen of the iPad illuminating her face, making her green eyes gleam in the electronic glow. The same green eyes that stared down at me with unbridled lust while I was between her legs and making her orgasm with my tongue.

The memory of how she tasted has me instinctively licking my lips.

Karis raises her head and there’s an audible hitch in her breath when she notices my mouth. I know I shouldn’t, but I raise my brows as she fumbles with the device, poking the screen with frantic motions.

She clears her throat. “I’ve asked our analysts to provide me with a summary of the team’s strengths and weaknesses based on stats and which position changes they believe will offer us the best lineup next season.”

I nod. “Okay. Let’s hear it.”

Karis offers a tight-lipped smile in return. She turns the device around so Quincy and I can see the colorful and complicated charts and graphs that make no sense to me. I hope they do to her.

“This data, Ballas, indicates that your defensive skills are a strong asset for our organization. You’re the defensemen point leader for the Vikings, and aside from that early season concussion last year, you put up some excellent numbers.”

Quincy interrupts boastfully on my behalf. “Ballas is ranked in the top five for a defenseman in the entire league, Ms. Spurlock.”

Karis glances at Quincy and inclines her head with a polite nod, her ponytail swishing gently from side-to-side. “Yes, precisely. Ballas’s physical health aside, it is for this reason we have decided to match the offer you received from the Eagles and extend your contract for another year.”

The attorney slides the contract down the table toward Quincy, who begins to review it. I want to slump in relief but instead, straighten against the back of my chair. I never wanted to leave Vancouver. I couldn’t see myself playing on any other team than the Vikings.

Many older guys get traded in their final years in order to bring in new blood to the team. The veterans end up having to start over on a new team roster in a different city, with lines they aren’t familiar with. I’m too old for that shit, so this is relief to my ears.

Quincy turns the page and gives a low hum of approval, then pushes it in front of me, pointing out the terms with the tip of his finger. I do a quick review and nod.

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