Power Play (49 page)

591

Alex wiped her lips and returned to the front entrance as raucous laughter erupted.

“What’s so funny?” she asked in a low voice.

“Someone got a handful of Troy’s ass,” Pierre replied between guffaws.

“What did he expect?” Reggie howled. “The thing is thick as fuck. Most women and gay guys go for junk in the trunk and we all know Troy has plenty to go around.”

“Oh, God,” Alex muttered. “He’s not comfortable being touched to begin with and now probably mortified by a total stranger grabbing his butt.”

Marty strode up to them. “This is what happens when we have booze at benefits.”

“Smells like you have couple, O’Freel,” Boris replied. “How you make sure people behave when drink too much?”

“Don’t worry; Ivanka already intimidated most potential troublemakers. Looks like we initially missed Talmadge’s gooser, but Ivanka managed to throw out the guy anyway.”

592

“Guy?”
Alex asked, wide-eyed.

“Yeah, ass grabbed by a dude! You know he won’t live down that shit for a while in the locker room.”

“No one can help Talmadge is all thighs, lips, and ass,” Lenny said. “He’s the ultimate dirty fantasy for chicks
and
guys, not to mention bowlegged like someone who just got off a horse after riding it for weeks.”

“God, Walton, you’re going to make me barf,” Alex replied. “Could you get sex off the brain long enough to tell Johann I’m talking to Troy for a few minutes?”

“Yeah, Stover’s watching my table because I have to piss anyway.”

Alex shook her head in disgust, plucked a mint from one of the smaller bowls, and popped it into her mouth before she headed to Troy’s table.

He turned and faced her. “Is everything okay?”

“I was about to ask the same question. Pierre told me what happened.”

593

“Yeah, someone got a little uh…enthusiastic
when I picked up something from the floor.”

She leaned toward him. “Consider being goosed a compliment.”

“Not funny, Al.” Troy sniffed and made a face. “Did you puke again?”

She nodded. “The buffet didn’t agree with me.”

He gave her a knowing glance. “Preacher’s serving non-alcoholic drinks. I’ll send him over to the door with a couple ginger ales for you.”

“I appreciate the gesture. Next time you need to pick up something, either stay seated or at least squat. Bending only invites trouble for you in more ways than one.”

***

595

Chapter 94

Casino Night ended at eleven o’clock and several Rebels players who participated relocated to the locker room to change into street clothes and relax.

Alex felt a sense of relief while she pulled on a pair of faded jeans and a loose sweater. She just finished sliding on ankle boots when someone knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

“Váš brzy-k-být manžel,”
Jax replied.

“Nemusíte ho inzerovat na celém světě dosud. Vstupte.”

He walked in with concern marking his face. “Talmadge and Jokela said you
zvracel
a couple more times tonight. Is everything okay?”

Alex managed a small smile.
“Nemyslím si, že dítě bude fanoušek kasino stylu bufetů.
Thank goodness for Byron’s magic ginger ale. Reggie also gave me an Alka-Seltzer, so I should be fine rest of the night.”

596

“I’m taking you home.”

“I rode with Troy. I don’t think he’d appreciate me leaving without a word.”

“I already told him. He’s staying to play cards with Furishnykov and a few other guys.”

“Then we should be fine long as you haven’t been drinking.”

“
Matka mého dítěte
is now in my care, so I’m quite sober.”

Alex turned sideways. “Am I showing?”

“No, now quit being paranoid. I’m no doctor, but you probably won’t for a while yet.”

“Good, I’m in no mood to answer questions sooner than necessary.”

“You
do
look ready to fall asleep on your feet.”

“We had a long night with enormous turnout. Jo and I thought that main entrance would never close.”

597

“Better we all kept busy than hanging around looking like idiots.” He opened the car’s passenger door. “I also told Talmadge I plan to stay with you tonight.”

“Jax, I know this is our first child, but you’re overbearing and driving me nuts.”

“I’d be a lousy expectant dad if I wasn’t.”

“Okay, you can stay tonight but at least try to calm down until Friday!” she shouted.

“Ahhh, Friday. Next to the Princeton Trophy playoffs, it will be a day I look forward to most.”

“Now I know why you never married,” Alex said with a chuckle when he got in the car and started its engine. “You still have hockey on the brain even with our wedding a few days away.”

“Not really; I didn’t know where or when I’d get married, or if any American girl would come to the Czech Republic with me each summer.”

“So
that’s
the real reason you didn’t bother with anyone from this country before we met! You’re only blowing smoke with all the ‘American women forgot their place in society’ bullshit.”

598

Jax smirked. “Perhaps.”

“You’re complicated person, but I guess geniuses often are.”

“You view me as a genius?”

“Oh, I’ve done additional due diligence on you, Jax Ivanka. You may have been a prima donna in your early years but long since changed into a spiritual, down to earth, and thoughtful man under the macho veneer. You almost singlehandedly saved the Prague hockey team from bankruptcy, went to Internationals with a broken wrist during the 2005 AHC lockout and helped the Czech Republic bring home a gold medal, gave the national team a profound motivational speech during Internationals in 2010 and blew away Team Russia in those finals. Your work ethic is admirable; you’re still considered a legend in the eyes of fans and colleagues alike, and though you still struggle to accurately convey feelings, I can’t help but hope that if this baby’s a boy, he inherits at least most of your traits.”

“Would you object if it’s a girl and she did the same?”

“Much as I’m aware you want a son, I’d be equally delighted if our daughter turned out like you.”

599

Jax pulled up to Alex’s apartment building and got out of the car. He opened the passenger door but instead of letting her step out, he picked up Alex and began carrying her inside.

“What are you doing?”

“Some ladies should be handled with care.”

“You’ll get
less
than care if you don’t let me go!”

“Do you know how many women would enjoy this right now?”

“Not funny, Jax.”

“Then why are you laughing?”

She reached down to smack his ass. “Put me down! I don’t need the neighbors gossiping.”

He fumbled with her keys and opened the apartment door. “Fuck the neighbors; it’s not like you’re going to live here much longer anyway.”

***

600

Chapter 95

“Yes, gentlemen, I know we’re in Vegas and you’re eager to blow off steam, but we have an important game tonight,” Coach Barry addressed the team. “The Fortune has been on a major winning streak, which is up to us to break. Can I count on everyone putting forward their best efforts?”

“Hell yeah!” the locker room replied in unison.
 

“Winning against Vegas would be the highlight of my evening,” Pierre added.

“Before or after you hit the slot machines?” Hank Stover ribbed him.

“Shhhh, no one’s supposed to know!”

“You have a smart mouth for someone here on a temporary basis, Stover,” Marty said.

601

“I could be permanently playing alongside the boys and Miss Galloway if you or Hebert signs with other teams,” Hank reminded him. “Taking over for Alex is a warm up for me.”

“No one’s getting rid of me that easily. I’m sticking around for at least another year.”

“Where is Hebert anyway?” Brian asked. “He wasn’t on the plane and I didn’t see anything about him being injured or a healthy scratch.”

“On his way to Montreal,” one of the trainers answered. “His agent worked out a sweet deal.”

“Another bloke lost,” Davy said solemnly. “He could’ve warned us.”

“He probably didn’t get much notice either,” Byron replied. “Montreal should count their blessings for having Reggie sign the dotted line. He’s an outstanding player and lights up almost any locker room.”

602

“Hebert’s a good kid and ultimate professional,” Jax said. “He’ll make a huge impact on his hometown’s team.”

“You’re in a rare mood, Ivanka,” Coach Barry chuckled.

Alex and I are getting married tonight,
Jax wanted to say. “I just have a good feeling about the game.”

“You didn’t place any bets, did you?” Vince teased him.

“No, Beaumont; my gambling days are long over.”

Coach Barry turned to Troy. “You’re quiet tonight, Captain. Something muddling your concentration?”

“Nothing I can’t handle, Coach,” he replied.
I have to get through a game knowing I’m about to lose the only woman that I ever truly loved. How
should
I act?

Davy, Pierre, and Boris gave him sympathetic looks. All three men knew what bothered Troy yet made no efforts to reveal what actually weighed on his mind.

“You. Me. We talk later,” Boris said.

“I’m willing to listen too, mate,” Davy offered.

“As am I,” Pierre added.

603

“Thanks, guys, but I’d like to be alone after the game,” Troy replied.

“No!” Boris firmly stated. “We go back to room and talk. You no wallow in pity by yourself.”

“There’s really nothing else to discuss, Boris.”

“I worry for you. We spend night in room, okay?”

Troy emitted a deep sigh. “Fine, if you insist.”

“Good. Now we go play hockey.”

“You heard the lad, mates,” Davy piped up. “Time for us to help lady luck shut down the Fortune!”

***