OFFSIDE WITH #55 (Hockey Hotties #6)

Chapter 1

The worst party you can attend as the guest of honor is a retirement party.

Who wants to be reminded that their glory days are over? Sure as hell not me.

When I retire, I don’t want a party to celebrate my career—a career that’s f*****g over. Why would I want the reminder that I’m going to spend the latter half of my life not being a part of the thing I love? Hell to the f*****g no.

I catch Coach Vittner’s smile from across the room. Yeah, he’s the kind of guy who enjoys a retirement party. His career has been long, always a coach, never a player. He treated us with respect, which isn’t always the case in this industry. He embodies the ideal that as a coach, you don’t have to be a screamer; you have to earn the respect of your players and then guide them.

This past year or so, that’s exactly what I’ve tried to do for the younger Florida Fury players. Coach Vittner didn’t have to tell me when I got traded to his team that it would most likely be my last. I had hoped to play for him until it was over though. Which leaves me at a crossroads.

We listen to Mr. Gerhardt, the team’s owner, speak about Coach Vittner. It’s a warmer and more thoughtful speech than a man like Mr. Gerhardt normally gives. He isn’t exactly the touchy-feely type of guy.

After he’s done, Mr. Gerhardt bends down and kisses his wife on the cheek, then his daughter, Jana. She looks so damn hot tonight, so I distract myself by looking at my plate, continuing to eat my meal until a big hand lands on my shoulder. I look up to see Mr. Gerhardt standing there.

“Excuse me, Kane, can I have a word?”

As if I’d tell the man no.

“Sure.” I slide out from the table, ignoring my teammates’ stares, and follow him to the side bar set up for the party.

He orders us two scotches. Scotch isn’t really my thing, but I’m not an i***t.

“So, I was thinking about a few things,” he starts. “As you know, we don’t have a replacement for Vittner yet.”

I nod. There have been rumors from the analysts for weeks. Some say Gerhardt’s been flying places to talk with various people, and others say that longtime head coaches from other franchises have approached him. It’s no secret that Fury has the talent to make a Cup run this year. Two skilled centers, a right wing and left wing who somehow know what the other is thinking. We play like a team that’s been together for years, when in reality, last season was our first full year together.

“As you know, we drafted Matt McIntosh.”

I sip my scotch because Matty is a damn good goalie. I mean, he’s not me, but he’s got the potential to be one of the best. The problem for me is that he’s only twenty-two. A guy in his midthirties with the knees of an eighty-year-old can’t keep up. I’ve given my all to my career and have the sore body and aching joints to show for it.

If Mr. Gerhardt is about to tell me that I’m out for Matty, I’m going to stomp over to that microphone and announce my retirement because there’s no way in hell I’ll be one of those guys who doesn’t know when his time is up. The guy who sticks around for yearly contracts, spending most of his time on the bench. Believe me, they all have their reasons. Some spend their money like hockey is a never-ending payday, so they have no choice but to stick around as long as possible to support their families, and others… well, others are like me. They don’t want to leave the game. They don’t want to skate off the ice into the spectator seats because there’s an invisible line of no return.

“Yes, sir,” I say to Mr. Gerhardt. “Matty’s a great player.”

“He is and he’s got great potential, but he needs a veteran to teach him, guide him. I’ve been in this business a long time, and players like Matty either sink or swim. Either they can hold it together or they crumble under the pressure.”

“Well, they’re used to being the best in their league, then they come here and they’re just one of the best. Hard pill to swallow.” I remember my rookie year and shake my head at how cocky I was in that locker room. Ignorance really is bliss, I suppose.

“Listen.” He puts his meaty hand on my shoulder and stares directly into my eyes. “I respect you too much to not be straight with you. Your career is in its sunset years. You might be able to squeeze this year out, but one injury and…”

I nod, not wanting to think about an injury that could take me out. I’m skating off that ice my last game no matter what.

“I need a coach, and Vittner says he thinks you’re the guy.”

All the air is sucked from my lungs and my eyes widen, my grip on the glass firmer.

As if he heard his name, Coach Vittner joins us, giving me a minute to recover.

Mr. Gerhardt orders another scotch.

“I’ve seen you with the boys this year. Especially Cory Freeman. No one can deny you’re a natural leader, Burrows,” Coach says.

I literally want to burst into tears because the door to my hockey career as a player is obviously swinging closed right now.

“You’ve had a great career. A few Cups, a lot of division titles, and a few records,” Mr. Gerhardt says. “If I thought you had one more great year in you, I’d keep you on, but I don’t. So, this is your opportunity to snatch up a great coaching position and hopefully win the Cup your first year.”

My throat closes with the thought of trading my jersey for a suit. My stick for a clipboard. My skates for real shoes. But I’m not stupid or naive. They’re putting the writing on the wall. Maybe I could find a contract with another team, but I’m way too scared to be a benched player, so I accept the offer.

“I’d love to. Thank you for the opportunity,” I say.

Just like that, my hockey career as a player is over.

Done.

Finished.

Gerhardt looks at Vittner in shock. “Really? You don’t want to think about it?”

I shake my head and plaster on a smile even though my stomach is revolting, and I feel as if I might throw up on Gerhardt’s expensive shoes. “It’s time. I’d rather stay in the game as a coach than watch from the other side of the glass.”

Gerhardt smiles and puts out his hand. “That was a lot easier than I thought. Welcome aboard the coaching staff.”

I shake his hand. “Thank you.”

Vittner shakes my hand. “Smart man.” He clasps his free hand over both ours and nods to me one last time before walking away.

“I’ll get in touch with your agent ASAP, and we can figure out a contract that works for both of us. I wanted to see if you have any interest first.”

I nod numbly. I’m not worried about it. Mr. Gerhardt has a reputation of being fair to all his players and staff. Besides, he could offer me a tenth of what I make now and I’d still take the job for the purpose of remaining a part of the game.

“Great. Great. Now come, I don’t want anyone to be suspicious. Let’s keep this between me and you until it’s official.”

“Perfect,” I say. I think I need to make peace with this massive change in my life before the news is shared with others.

I head back to my table, doing my best to school my features. Tweetie rocks back on the two legs of his chair, obviously looking to get the scoop. They think the conversation was about my retirement and have no idea I just took a job as their new boss.

After dinner, couples dance. I’m heading to the bathroom when I get pulled into a dark room. The smooth hand running down my chest is one I know all too well. She’s a welcome distraction from my mind that’s spinning out of control.

“Hey, you,” Jana says, her fingers cupping my balls, her palm rubbing my d**k from the outside of my pants.

“Hey yourself.” I turn and fuss with the door handle. “It’s locked now.”

“We only have a little bit of time.” She rises on her tiptoes and locates me in the dark, one hand landing on my cheek to center me before her lips touch mine.

I’m not going to lie. I’ve had women in my life, but none of them did to me what she does. Maybe it’s the way she’s always a little tentative when she initiates things between us. It shows me a side of her I never knew existed, as if she’s scared I might turn her down.

Once our lips meet, it’s like a cosmic force takes over and we both lose control. That connection, our chemistry is what keeps me coming back for more. Truth is, I’m more of a relationship type of person, but Jana’s not. She doesn’t want any strings. At first it pissed me off, but she’s become an addiction I can’t hold back from.

My hand rises up the slit in her dress I’ve been eyeing all night. As always, her panties are already wet for me, so I slide them over and thrust a finger inside her, making her moan and fall into my chest. I take her weight and rest my back along the shelves as I try to ignore the smell of bleach and cleaning chemicals, concentrating instead on Jana’s perfume.

Her hand continues to rub, and our kiss grows more frantic and uncontrolled.

“God, I want you so bad right now,” I whisper against her lips.

“Take me,” she says before biting my lip then soothing it with a stroke of her tongue. “Right here.”

My d**k is so hard, and the dress she’s wearing gives me easy access. She’s already working my button and my zipper. I’m about to say f**k it, I’m game, but the door opens, and the bright light pours into the small room and blinds me.

I squint at the door to find Cory and Ande standing with their jaws dropped, blatantly staring at us.

“Holy s**t!” Cory’s eyes are wide.

“You said you locked it!” Jana shouts and smacks me on the chest.

“s**t, so you two are really…” Cory says.

“Excuse us.” Ande reaches past him for the door handle. “Carry on.” She shuts the door.

“Damn it,” Jana says. A few seconds later, the light in the room turns on and she’s standing by the door, her hand on the switch. She straightens her dress and finger-combs her hair. “How bad do I look?”

“Jana, it’s impossible for you to look bad,” I mumble, tucking my still-hard d**k inside my pants and buttoning them up.

“Ugh, don’t you dare compliment me right now.”

She opens the door, peering out into the hall before she bolts out of the storage room and slams the door shut, almost slamming it into my nose. I’ve managed my entire hockey career not to get a broken nose, and somehow it wouldn’t surprise me that she would be the one to break it.

I leave the storage closet a few minutes later and go back to my seat, picking up my drink and sliding into the chair.

Shortly after, Mr. Gerhardt heads up to the podium. He’s already given his speech about Coach Vittner, so I’m not sure what he’s doing, but I hope we don’t have to sit here long and suffer through another speech. I need to get the hell out of here as soon as possible. Jana got me so revved up in such a short time, it’s all I can do to stay in this chair and not drag her out of here to finish what we started.

“Hey, everyone, gather round. I have an announcement to make,” Mr. Gerhardt says.

Announcement? He’s not thinking of announcing my acceptance of the coaching position, is he? No way. Nothing’s been signed yet, and he said himself he didn’t want anyone to know yet.

The room quiets down and everyone makes the journey back to their seats.

“When I bought the Florida Fury, I had hoped it would be where it is today. We’re popular with our fans, and we’ve managed to grow the popularity of the game in a southern state, and we’ve built a solid foundation for our team. Now we just need to win the Cup. We’ve had a lot of growth these past few years, so I’m excited to announce who will be replacing Coach Vittner behind the bench next year.”

My stomach crashes and I choke back the bile racing up my throat.

“I think this person can build on what Coach Vittner put together and with any luck, take us all the way there. I probably shouldn’t even be saying this since nothing has been signed, but we’ve shaken hands on it, and I trust that we’re both gentlemen and maybe I’ve spent a little too much time leaning on the bar tonight.” He winks. “We’re all like family here, so that means everyone has to keep their mouths shut until we’re ready to announce it to the press. Agreed?”

A murmur of agreement goes through the crowd.

“He was a player himself, and although this will be his first year of coaching…”

Cory’s head whips in my direction, but I continue to look straight ahead at Mr. Gerhardt. I knew he’d be the first one to figure it out.

“Kane Burrows has happily accepted the position. He’ll be announcing his retirement from the league and taking over as head coach for the Florida Fury. Please welcome him in his new role to the organization.”

The applause starts hesitantly, but it picks up as I stand and walk on numb feet to the podium and shake Mr. Gerhardt’s hand. I raise my hand but say nothing.

He turns back toward the microphone. “There’s one more announcement I’d like to make. I’m tired and I’m old, guys.”

A few people laugh.

“So, I’m really happy my gorgeous wife gave birth to such an amazing daughter who’s as smart as a whip and can probably take this team to places I could never imagine. Sometimes the old need to step out of the way for the young. Jana, come join me up here.”

Jana looks at me like a doe in headlights, but her mom hugs her as if she won an Academy Award. When Jana reaches the podium, I slide out of her way as though it would be weird if we brushed up against each other, even though we were seconds away from f*****g in the closet thirty minutes ago.

“It’s yours now, sweetheart. The Florida Fury is yours. Time for you to take the keys to the castle so to speak. You belong in the owner’s office.” Mr. Gerhardt pushes his hand into his pocket and pulls out a key.

Jana accepts the key but doesn’t say anything as he kisses her cheek.

“Take a look at the future of the Florida Fury, everyone.” Mr. Gerhardt puts his hand out toward the two of us, standing next to one another with forced smiles.

My life went from simple to complicated in the span of an hour.