Skating on Thin Ice: Seattle Sockeyes (Game On in Seattle Book 1) (21 page)

He’d fucked up by letting his emotions override his professionalism once again. He needed Lauren on his team, but he’d just given her an out to leave for good. He wouldn’t hold her to the contract, not after this, not after he’d proven he couldn’t keep his hands and mouth off her.

And he hated the thought of losing her and not just as an employee.

Chapter 15—Rebound

A few days later, the newly christened Seattle Sockeyes hosted their first ever fan appreciation day. Kaley and Mina had put their heads together and planned an all-day affair at a nearby rink that included beginning classes on how to watch hockey, basic hockey rules, and a player meet-and-greet autograph session.

Lauren volunteered to help and couldn’t believe the turnout. The six-thousand person arena was filled to the max long before the players skated onto the ice to be introduced. Not all players made the trip to Seattle for this first appearance, but Cooper and Cedric’s agents twisted their arms, and the guys showed up. Despite Cooper’s dislike of all things Sockeye, he was a hit with the fans and treated them respectfully and graciously. Ethan made a cameo appearance, gave a short speech about hockey in Seattle, then faded into the background. Lauren bustled around, making sure things ran smoothly, and following Mina’s barked orders. No one crossed Mina when she was in Sergeant-Major mode, not even Ethan.

At the end of the long exhausting day, Lauren dragged her tired body to headquarters to finish some reports on free agents for the GM. She hesitated when she spotted Cedric and Cooper, along with a few other players loitering near the players’ lounge.

Steeling herself for the cold shoulder from Cooper, she continued her approach, head held high and a friendly smile pasted on her face. “Hello, gentlemen. Good to see you guys.”

Cedric grinned at her, ever the charmer. “You’re looking good, Lauren.”

Cooper just grunted and ignored her. After all, she was the enemy now. “Can you believe the turnout? The enthusiasm? The fan support blew me away. I’ve never seen anything like it. We sold out of T-shirts, banners, just about everything.” Only having the former Giants as a measuring stick, Lauren never imagined in her wildest dreams the Sockeyes would garner such fan support before they skated in one game.

Cooper scowled and started to say something, but Cedric jumped in with a reply. “Yeah, they loved seeing the Beauty and the Beast. Of course, I’m the beauty, and he’s the beast.” He pointed at his chest then at Cooper. He grinned at his buddy and slapped him on the back.

Cooper just grunted as he stared at the logo on the T-shirt Cedric wore. “What the fuck is a Sockeye anyway?”

“It’s a salmon, Coop. Don’t be a dumbshit. Get with the program.” Cedric got a chuckle out of needling Cooper, who didn’t look the least bit amused.

“Salmon? Who names a hockey team after a salmon?” Cooper made a face. “What a fucking stupid logo. A fish with a black eye holding a hockey stick. You have to be fucking kidding me.”

Cedric just grinned all the more and turned to Lauren. “Coop loves the new uni’s.”

“Like hell. Stupid mascot. The only fish I want to see on ice is the fresh one I just caught for dinner.”

“Don’t you love his positive outlook?” Cedric didn’t let Cooper off the hook.

“You might work on your attitude a little there, Coop,” Lauren agreed.

Cooper narrowed his eyes and glared at her. “This coming from someone who sold out her colleagues and friends to get ahead in this organization?”

“I didn’t do that. I—” Okay so maybe it did look like that. A lot of Ethan’s personnel decisions had been based in part on her input.

“You did, Lauren. You screwed over the staff, just like you screwed Ethan. Only the staff didn’t find it nearly as enjoyable.” Cooper stared down at her, his blue eyes blazing with pent-up frustration and anger.

“That’s enough. Apologize to the lady.” Ethan stepped up to Lauren’s side. With his clenched fists and ice blue eyes, he looked ready to take on Cooper and the entire damn hockey team.

Cooper’s smirk indicated he’d welcome a fist fight with Ethan if Ethan would be kind enough to oblige. Ethan didn’t back down, and Lauren stepped in the middle of two angry alpha males. Cedric stood nearby, ready to assist, and she appreciated his calm presence.

“I said, apologize to the lady. You’re on my payroll, you’ll treat my staff with respect.”

A muscle ticked in Cooper’s jaw and for one tense moment Lauren feared the situation might escalate out of control. Finally Coop blew out a breath and turned to her. “Sorry, Lauren. I was out of line.”

“That’s okay.” She managed a weak smile.

Cooper turned to Cedric. “I need a fucking beer.” Cooper stalked down the hall followed by his small group of teammates. A few of the young guys glanced nervously over their shoulders. They needed their jobs, Cooper didn’t.

Lauren waited until they rounded a corner. “Thanks for defending me, but I can handle myself with these guys. In fact, in order to gain back their respect, I insist on handling them myself in the future.”

Ethan’s eyes softened, and he smiled sadly at her. “I understand, but I need to establish boundaries as to the treatment of my staff.”

Lauren sighed.
His
staff. Another reminder she was part of his staff. That was the way it was and would be until she could fulfill her contract and get the hell out of this city and away from this man whose body tempted her to throw away everything just for another fling with him.

Ethan cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you’d meet me for dinner. Strictly business of course.”

Disappointment flooded through her. She wanted to meet him, but not for business. Regardless, he couldn’t know that. “I can spare some time.”

* * * *

Minutes later, Lauren sat across from Ethan in a booth of a neighborhood bar called simply The Place which he claimed served some of the best burgers around. She longed for the days when there hadn’t been this awkward silence between them, but they’d crossed that invisible line and it’d been a one-way street with no turning back.

A wire-thin waitress as rough as the cracked and worn menus she carried hustled up to their table. Her all-business, take-no-prisoners expression softened when she recognized Ethan. A huge smile spread across her face.

“Ethan, about time you came in. Been cooling your heels in the ice rink watching that new team of yours?” She asked as she tossed the menus on the table and tapped her pencil against her pad. Her makeup hid whether she was forty or twice that age. Judging by her hands, Lauren voted for the latter.

“Team doesn’t report for a while for training camp. You a hockey fan, Doris?” Ethan chatted her up, obviously knowing her. This didn’t seem like the type of place a billionaire would frequent but then Ethan wasn’t your typical billionaire, preferring jeans to suits and ties, and never talking down to those less fortunate. Lauren grudgingly admitted Ethan had lots of good qualities. Too bad honesty wasn’t among them.

“I am now. The rainy season has been long and empty since the Sonics left, and I like a good fight as much as the next girl.” Lauren suspected Doris had been in a few fights herself over the years.

“I’ll send you some tickets, right down on the glass.”

“I’ll hold you to it. Sorry I missed your big day today. I heard all about it from several fans who came in afterward.” The pickled waitress walked off toward a bar with an even crustier bartender with a bald head and a beefy body.

“That was nice of you.” The words tumbled out before she could stop them. After all, dishing out compliments to the man who had uprooted her life and the lives of many of her friends and colleagues wasn’t on her to-do list.

“I’m a nice guy.” He grinned that engaging grin of his, and she almost fell for it once again.

Lauren cocked her head and spiked a brow, duly chastising with just that one eyebrow. “She’s a character.”

“A Seattle institution, just like this place. It’s been here for as long as I can remember and so has she. Not much changes but the photos on the wall.” He pointed to the walls lined with autographs of what appeared to be local Seattle sports stars and celebrities. He pointed at one photo of a basketball team dressed in green and gold. “That’s the 1979 Sonics championship team, may they rest in peace. There’s the 1917 Seattle Metropolitans—the first American team to win the Cup.”

Lauren nodded. She’d known that about Seattle.

Ethan turned to her, his enthusiasm bubbling over in that manner of his that she’d always admired. “Years from now I want to walk into this place with my grandkids and say that this was the first Sockeye team to win the Cup and point at a picture of the Seattle Sockeyes hoisting the Cup on home ice.”

“That’s quite a dream.” Lauren stared at him as if she’d never seen him before. She believed he’d achieve his goals and more. Sadness washed over her as she wouldn’t be a part of what he was building. She’d be walking away from it all as soon as legally possible.

“What can I say? I dream big. What’s the point of dreaming small?” His blue eyes shone with pride.

But Ethan wasn’t just a dreamer. He made his dreams reality, and he had the money to do it.

Lauren studied him, his every expression, trying to read his thoughts, his hopes, his fears, trying to understand why he’d done what he’d done. Why had the man she’d given her heart to crushed it with his lies? Why hadn’t he trusted her with his secrets?

There was only one way to find out and damned if she had the guts to ask tough questions with answers she might not appreciate.

“You’re staring. Did I say something wrong?” His smile dropped a few notches.

“Uh, no. Not at all.”

“Good, I’d rather not piss you off any more than I already have.”

There it was. He’d opened the door a crack. She could kick it open the rest of the way and let all kinds of uncomfortable things inside or she could slam it shut and lock it.

“You didn’t piss me off. You disappointed me more than you’ll ever know.”

“I’m sorry for that.” He looked genuinely sorry. In fact, sadder than she’d ever seen him.

Lauren wavered a little but shored up her resolve to keep this meal strictly on a business level, not that there was anything to waver over. After all, except for one slip, Ethan hadn’t made one move to re-establish anything other than a purely business relationship with her. Which was as it should be even if part of her wanted more.

“You invited me here with the promise of discussing business. Nothing else. So let’s discuss hockey, or you can take me home.” Harsh words, but she couldn’t give the man an inch, because her heart would gladly give him a mile.

“You’re right.” He sat back and took a sip of beer then sighed. “Have you heard anything from your father?”

“Nothing.”

“That makes two of us. I told him to take a few weeks to make a decision.”

“I’m sure he’ll get back to you. If for no other reason than to tell you where to shove your offer.”

Ethan laughed. “I’m sure you’re right.” He leaned forward and sobered a little. “How are things going for you? Are the new coaches treating you well?”

Lauren couldn’t stop her smile. “Really well.” She couldn’t lie. She adored the new coaches, loved their enthusiasm, dedication, and open-minded attitudes.

“They’re listening to you then?” His anxious expression indicated her answer mattered to him.

“Yes. A lot.”

“Good. I’ve heard great things about you, too, from them. They tell me you have an eye for hockey, for numbers, and analyzing what all those numbers actually mean.”

“I’m happy to be able to help.” She spoke with absolute sincerity.

“Are you enjoying your new role? I sure as hell hope you are because you’re invaluable to me and this team.” His blue eyes held her captive, and her heart performed those familiar backflips it did whenever she looked into those deep blue eyes of his. Lauren looked away and swallowed. Ethan’s approval was invaluable to her and so was Ethan. She wished it wasn’t that way, but there it was.

Ethan sat back in the booth and ran a hand through his still unruly hair. He’d shaved but hadn’t bothered yet to cut his hair. “If you want out, Lauren, I’ll void the contract terms. You keep the money. The only thing I ask of you is to stay through the draft to assist the coaching staff.”

A huge lump prevented Lauren from answering. She didn’t want out of the best job she’d ever had, but the answer was still the same. She needed to go because she couldn’t continue as Ethan’s employee when she wanted so much more. Being simply his lover didn’t work for her, her pride, or her sense of professionalism. Nor would it earn her the respect of the staff, players, and coaches. She was in a lose-lose situation. The only way to cut losses to a minimum was to leave.

“I think it’s for the best if I go.” Her voice cracked on that last word.

“All right, then. I’ll start looking for your replacement. If you have any ideas, let me know.” Ethan’s face hardened into a mask of indifference.

“I will. I’m not really hungry. Could you please take me home now?”

Ethan threw an ample amount of cash on the table and drove her home in silence. He waited while she got inside and locked the door behind her.

Lauren peered through the blinds, watching him walk to his car with his shoulders slumped, every stride announcing defeat. A minute later she heard his car drive off.

Lauren slumped to the floor, her back against the door. Horace rubbed up against her, purring loudly. She buried her head in her hands and sobbed, crying for what couldn’t be, crying for what she’d lost before she’d ever gotten it, and most of all crying for losing Ethan.

* * * *

Ethan hated it when his requests were ignored, especially by his own staff. He paid people to handle the details so he didn’t have to sweat the small stuff and could focus on the big picture. It was so atypical for Mina to let crap go like this. He stomped over to her desk feeling every bit like a grouchy grizzly bear. Mina ignored him as she went over a marketing plan with Brad, making Ethan wait. Finally, she glanced up at him and raised one white eyebrow. Brad stood back and watched with way too much interest.