SNEAKING AROUND WITH #34 (Hockey Hotties #4)

Chapter 1

At the start of every season, I’m usually the first player at the rink. Mostly because the months off with nothing on my schedule drives me crazy. I’ve tried to pick up hobbies, but nothing quiets my brain like skating and pushing the puck around the ice. It’s been the sole focus of my life for a long time.

This year is different though.

Last year, I was traded to the Florida Fury midseason, so I’m still one of the new guys in the locker room. Which normally wouldn’t be a problem. I’m easygoing and a great player, so I’ve always gotten along with my teammates. I’m usually well respected. But Ford Jacobs plays for Florida Fury. And Ford Jacobs would love to murder me with his bare hands. And after what I did… I don’t blame him.

Ford, I can deal with. His angry outbursts toward me when I miss a play, his wanting to point out all my mistakes to our fellow teammates I can handle. It’s another Jacobs who is the cause of my lack of enthusiasm about starting this season.

Ford’s sister, Imogen, should be living in New York City where a woman like her belongs. But instead, she’s now a Florida resident because she’s finished grad school and is trying to figure out her life and hey, why not do it in proximity to her prick of a brother and his baby girl? Every night I’m alone in my bed, it takes every ounce of willpower I can muster not to drive down to her place on the beach, fall to my knees, and beg her to give us another chance.

But unless I want to be the reason Florida Fury doesn’t perform well this season, I have to stay far away from her. The last time I was around her was at Ford’s daughter’s birthday party and we ended up in a bedroom together. I’d just wanted to talk to her, apologize and explain myself, but for a moment, we were back to being those two kids meeting in secret and unable to keep their hands off one another. But it didn’t take long for her to snap back to reality, and her eyes flared with her true feelings for me, confirming that I’m the monster she’ll never trust again.

I have to put all that aside though. I’m the new guy and this is my job. I cannot f**k up and put my livelihood in jeopardy—my mom and my siblings depend on me. Sure, I have accounts set up for each of them that should cover their college tuition and my mom’s living expenses for a good part of her life, but after living without a financial safety net for too long, I know you can never have enough set aside.

Just another reason Imogen Jacobs will never be mine again. I can’t fight for her like I want to, because there’s just too much for me to lose.

I grab my bag from my truck and head into the Florida Fury arena. Walking down the hallway toward the locker room, I hear the voices of my teammates echoing off the walls. I’ll admit one thing, it’s the best locker room I’ve ever been a part of. The razzing and joking and the camaraderie between the guys are awesome. They each have each other’s backs. I haven’t been part of something like this since high school, when Ford and I played together.

Not that I’m really part of it.

I walk in and the locker room falls silent, all eyes on me. See what I mean? I’m far from a card-carrying member of their inside jokes and fun, but I’m hoping with more ice time and more points on the board, they’ll respect me.

“It’s the wedding crasher,” Tweetie, previously my biggest competition for starting left wing, breaks the silence.

A few weeks back, the higher-ups told me I’ll be replacing Tweetie on the starting lineup this season. That second half of last season was a test, and I won. I don’t know if Tweetie knows yet but he will after today’s practice when he’s on the second line.

The wedding crasher comment is in reference to the fact that I ended up at the same resort as Ford and his entire wedding party over the summer. Every player was invited except for me, so when I found out they were there, I was gonna leave and be the ostracized ogre Ford intended me to feel like—until I saw Imogen wearing a bikini.

Hey, I made it clear, my willpower is made of tissue paper when it comes to her.

Then Ford got wind of my presence and made his displeasure known.

“What’s up, Langley?” Cory nods.

Cory is a rookie, but we were traded to the Fury at the same time, so I head in his direction. The last three lockers are for me, Cory, and a veteran player, Kane, who was traded last year when people assumed he was going to retire.

“Hey, guys.” I drop my stuff and ignore the bad vibes on the other side of the locker room.

“Ready for warm-ups?” Cory asks.

We met up a few times during the off-season, did some drills. Unfortunately, Cory knows that his time on the ice will probably be minimal since Aiden Drake holds the same position in the starting lineup. But I reminded Cory that he needed to be ready should the time come, which it will. Take this time to develop his skills some more, get more experience and confidence on the ice. Drake is only growing older, and it feels like every year in hockey ages you in dog years.

“Yeah.” I blow out a breath and get all my s**t organized in my locker.

Coach comes in five minutes later, when most of the guys are already suited up. I’m just getting my skates laced. Coach focuses on me for a beat longer. I’m the one who has something to prove. They’re giving me an amazing opportunity with the starter position, and if I want to continue to have a hockey career, it’s time to put my s**t with Imogen to the side and concentrate on what matters. I should’ve been here earlier, not dragging my feet.

He claps and addresses the room. “We’re going to do warm-ups, then Mr. Gerhardt wants to talk to you all.”

“Is this about his daughter taking over?” Ford is the only one who has the nerve to ask if the rumors that have been passed around in the off-season are true.

“Just be ready to behave and not act like a class full of kindergartners.” He turns his back on us and heads out the doors toward the ice.

All of us head to the ice rink, where the coaches have us do our first conditioning drills since we left. Most of us get workouts in during off-season, but there are always a few who use their time off as a vacation. I’m shocked to discover that this year, it’s Ford who’s the turtle. He’s barely able to catch his breath between drills. I guess love and marriage have changed Ford’s priorities.

“Richie, did you do anything at all in the off-season?” Maksim yells, his skates digging into the ice before he heads in the opposite direction.

“I focused on a very specific kind of workout,” Ford jokes, which we all know already since he’s recently married.

“You have all that time with a kid in the house?” Maksim asks.

“It’s called nap time. Wait until you finally have one.”

Coach’s whistle blows and we all stop and face him.

“Okay, boys, Mr. Gerhardt is on his way down.”

But before Coach can finish whatever he was going to say, Mr. Gerhardt and his daughter, Jana, walk around the rink with Imogen following a few steps behind. Every muscle in my body tenses. What is she doing here?

Coach either hears them or senses them because he looks back over his shoulder. “Well, never mind, here he is.”

“Thanks, Vittner.” Mr. Gerhardt claps him on the shoulder. “Hello, boys.”

“Mr. Gerhardt,” we all say in unison.

He’s probably one of the most feared owners in the league. Tends to not listen to the advisers he hires but goes on instinct, which has to be why I’m standing here right now. All of his scouts must’ve warned him that putting Ford and me on the same team could ruin the team dynamic needed to win hockey games.

“You all know my daughter, Jana.” He motions to her on his left.

Jana steps forward. She’s the epitome of dress for success. Nice pantsuit, hair and makeup are flawless, and she’s wearing stilettos. “We’re so happy to be here for the start of another season. I have a few announcements to make, and before any of you ask, no, I’m not taking over for my dad. But I will be handling a few more things around here.”

The entire time Jana is speaking, my eyes soak in Imogen. Just like always, I feel her presence. It’s like a living breathing film that coats my skin when she’s near.

She’s wearing her blonde hair long and straight and has on a professional dress that hugs her curves. Her blue eyes, like her brother’s, sparkle, even if they’re dodging mine. Instinct tells me it’s trepidation at being so near to me. I have the same effect on her as she does on me.

“Most of you will know Imogen as Ford’s sister, but she’s now our new hype girl. God knows she understands all those apps better than me, and I’m smart enough to hire people smarter than me.”

A groan echoes through the empty arena. I glance over to find Ford’s gaze lasered in on me. He’s probably worried because we both know at some point I’ll have to work with Imogen. I’m a hot commodity the team paid top dollar for, a new face for the franchise. Not being arrogant, but my bastard of a father passed down one helluva face, so I know they’ll likely want to make my presence known with the public.

I turn my head and face the team owner again.

“With all due respect, what about Barbara?” Ford asks. “Surely she could handle the hype?”

Jana narrows her eyes at Ford. “Imogen works under me. Barbara is now assisting my father.”

“I thought she had some great ideas,” Ford keeps going, and Imogen’s back grows stiffer.

“Ford,” Imogen says with a tone of shut the f**k up, you’re going to ruin this opportunity for me.

Jana crosses her arms and challenges Ford. “If memory serves, she had you visit a senior center last year.”

“And they loved me. I guarantee I made fans. And what else do they have to do there but to watch hockey?”

“Did you read the literature on the senior center she sent you to? How about the sign outside?” Jana tilts her head.

“Of course.” Ford’s arrogance is what drew me to him as a friend in high school and he clearly hasn’t lost any of it.

“Then don’t you think it’s a problem that it was a memory care center? Meaning the minute you walked out, they probably forgot why you were even there.”

Ford scoffs.

I wouldn’t mind getting to know Jana. Anyone who isn’t afraid to go toe to toe with Ford is worth knowing.

The team snickers and laughs. Imogen glances up, and our eyes catch for the briefest moment before she diverts her gaze.

“I’ll have meetings this weekend. Some of you will do more heavy lifting than others in the marketing department, as always. Please remember that the contracts you signed included the stipulation of dealing with the media. Imogen has already brought up some great competitions before the games start, and with Coach Vittner’s approval, one of you might be asked to participate. Please know if you give Imogen trouble, I will go big sister on you.” She eyes Ford.

“I can’t imagine if she ever takes over this empire,” Kane whispers to me. “She’d have us all in tutus, skating down the rink in some speed competition.”

I glance over. “Do you know her?”

“I know of her, and that’s enough.”

I nod.

Mr. Gerhardt claps his hands in front of himself. “That’s it, everyone. Let’s get ’em, boys. This is our year. I’ve bought you some great talent with Langley, Freeman, and Burrows, and I have no doubt with their addition to the team, we’re gonna bring home the Cup.”

No one says anything, and he turns to head back up to his office.

“Go, Florida Fury!” Jana pumps her fist in the air, and it looks robotic, but everyone cheers.

I watch the three of them head out single file. Okay, well, I watch one backside more than the others. It’s a secret pleasure. Like sneaking one of the mini chocolate bars out of the candy dish at the doctor’s office.

“f**k, did he seriously just say that?” Cory whispers next to me.

“Yeah, talk about a target on our backs,” Kane says.

“Okay, let’s try a new line. Freeman, center, Langley, left wing, and Kane, goalie. We’ll add Train as right wing. Let’s see what you guys have.”

We all skate to our positions. I’m not surprised that we’re skating against Aiden Drake, Ford, and Tweetie. The Gerhardts might as well have put signs on us that say we’re each other’s biggest competition. This can only end badly.

“I’m begging you to hit me,” Ford says to me at the line. “One hit and I’m gonna knock out your teeth.”

“We’re teammates now, remember?”

He scoffs. “Don’t remind me.”

Drake and Freeman jockey for the puck and the fun begins.

Too bad my mind is too preoccupied with Imogen to prove my worth on the ice.