Page 2 of The Hockey Contract

"I know," she said with a grin. "Now go. We'll find a way to save this place. I promise."

I untied my apron and headed outside. Seattle's spring air was crisp but not cold, the perfect temperature for walking. I decided to head to the coffee shop on the corner and then loop around the park before heading back.

After buying coffee, lost in thought about banks, loans, and impossible sums of money, I didn't notice the hunk rounding the corner until it was too late. We collided with enough force to send me stumbling backward, my freshly purchased coffee exploding between us.

"Oh my god," I gasped as hot liquid splashed across what appeared to be a very expensive leather jacket. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking."

"Clearly," a deep voice interrupted. I looked way up into the coldest eyes I'd ever seen. The man was tall, broad-shouldered, and absolutely gorgeous in the way that high-end menswear models are gorgeous. All chiseled features and perfect stubble. But his expression was anything but attractive as he examined his ruined jacket. "Do you always barrel through the streets without watching where you're going?"

My apologetic feelings evaporated instantly. "Excuse me? I wasn'tbarrelinganywhere. And you weren't exactly paying attention either."

He arched an eyebrow, his mouth set in a hard line. "I was on my way to a meeting. A meeting I'm now going to be late for, covered in—" he sniffed disdainfully, "—caramel macchiato?"

"Vanilla latte, actually," I shot back. "And I'm sorry about your precious jacket. I'm sure it'll be devastating to replace one of the dozen identical ones I'm sure you own."

Surprise flashed in his eyes, that I wasn't cowering under his intimidating glare. "This happens to be a limited-edition jacket—" He stopped himself. "You know what? It doesn't matter. Next time, eyes up instead of in the clouds."

"My eyes were perfectly positioned, thank you," I retorted, taking a step closer. "Maybe if you weren't so busy looking like you own the sidewalk—"

"I don't have time for this." He checked an expensive-looking watch.

"Of course you don't. Too important, right?" The frustration of my morning was funneling into this argument with alarming speed. "Mr. Big Shot, too busy to watch where he's walking or accept a sincere apology."

His jaw tightened. "An apology? Is that what that was?"

"It was before you started being a dick about it."

We were standing closer now, almost toe to toe. I could smell his cologne. It was something expensive and woodsy that annoyingly suited him.

His gaze dropped to my face, lingering for a moment before traveling lower to my chest. The look lasted only a second, but heat bloomed across my skin anyway. I straightened, crossing my arms defensively, unsettled by the way my body seemed to buzz with awareness despite my anger.

"Move along, princess," he finally said, his voice a low rumble. "Some of us have actual responsibilities." With that, he sidestepped me and continued down the sidewalk.

The dismissal ignited something in me. "Yeah, walk away," I called after him. "Real mature, Mr. Hockey Hotshot."

I'd recognized him, of course. Jax, defenseman for the Seattle Kraken. His face was plastered all over billboards and buses throughout the city. I'd just never imagined he'd be such an asshole in person.

Several passersby had stopped to watch our exchange, and I noticed at least three phones pointed in our direction. Great. Just what I needed today.

By the time I returned to the bakery, I'd cooled off somewhat, but my shirt was still stained with coffee, and my mood hadn't improved.

"What happened to you?" Chloe asked, eyeing my disheveled appearance.

"I had a close encounter with the world's most arrogant hockey player," I grumbled, grabbing a clean apron.

Chloe's eyes widened. "No way. Who?"

"Jax Harrison."

"Seattle's most eligible bachelor? The Ice Man?" She was practically bouncing with excitement.

"The one and only," I confirmed. "And he lives up to his nickname. Total Ice Man."

Before Chloe could interrogate me further, the bell above the door jingled, and a group of six twenty-somethings entered, all talking excitedly.

"Is this the place?" one of them asked, scanning the interior. Her eyes landed on me. "Oh my god, it's her. The baker from the video."

I shot Chloe a confused look.

---