Page 37 of Match Penalty

Me:It’s not my call. I tried to talk them out of it on the ice. Neither of them would listen to me, and they both agreed to the bet.

Brynn:This is crazy. Does Penelope know about this yet?

Me:Not that I know of.

I shove the phone into my purse, ignoring the conversation entirely. I have no idea what will happen if Penelope or Everett find out about the slapshot bet, and I'm hoping they never do.

I focus my attention on the list of emails that Everett's assistant gave me. That’s the one thing in my life I can control.

Sure enough, the Kauffmans are as well connected as Phil Carlton assumed. The list is triple the amount of contacts that the Hawkeyes and the foundation had combined. I'm going to need a hand massage after this.

I glance back at the list in front of me when a shadow falls across my desk. I look up to find JP standing there, hair still damp from a shower after the morning skate, I assume. He's holding a to-go coffee cup and a paper bag from Serendipity's and wearing that infuriating half-smile that makes my stomach flip.

"Hello, mon petit oiseau," he says.

"I still don't know what that means." I straighten in my chair, aiming for professional detachment. "What are you doing here?"

He holds up the coffee and bag. "Peace offering? I heard you have a big day of auction stuff to do. I thought this would help."

"How do you know my coffee order?"

"I have my sources." He grins, setting the items on my desk. The familiar scent of Serendipity's caramel latte and what could be a breakfast sandwich wafts toward me, making my traitorous stomach growl. "Plus, you look like you're about to bite someone's head off, and I figured it's better safe than sorry."

"I'm sure you could find someone more willing to accept your thoughtful gift. Like say, Angelica?" I start, but my stomach betrays me with another growl.

"That would be a waste—she'd never eat this. She's lactose intolerant, and there's dairy in all of this."

"Of course she is," I grumble under my breath.

JP ignores my comment. "Besides, she's in San Francisco working on a big case. And I got this for you, not for her. And I'm glad I did… When's the last time you ate?"

A part of me wants to push him for answers like Brynn told me to, but I still have hundreds of emails to get to, and my boss's office isn't the place I want to have this conversation.

I glance at my computer clock, wincing when I realize it's almost noon. "I've been busy."

"Perfect timing then," he says, picking up my latte and sandwich. "Grab your purse, you can eat on the way. Let's go."

I blink twice at him and then lean forward in my chair. "You can't just barge into my place of employment and sweep me out of here just because you're the talent. I have work to do, and you haven't even told me where we'd be going."

His crystal blue eyes glitter back at me. "That's because it's a surprise, but I promise you, you'll like it."

I lean back, crossing my arms. "I can't. I have work to do."

He glances down at the pages of emails I received from Everett's assistant this morning. "That list of emails? It'll be here when you get back." He raises an eyebrow. "I'm here to help you with the auction, remember? Come on, Cammy. I know a place that will help us check off a few more items on the list."

“Does this count as our date from the bet?” I ask.

His lip curls just a little at the corner of his perfect mouth. “Is that what it will take to get you to come with me?”

The door to Penelope's office swings open, and she emerges with her purse hanging off her elbow as her face is still buried in her phone, feverishly typing up an email.

"Hey Cammy, Slade and I are going to lunch. I should be back in a couple of hours."

"Okay, have a good lunch." I tell her, though she hasn't looked up yet.

Does she even know that JP is in her office trying to take off with her assistant? The door to the GM's suite opens, and Slade walks through the door in a pair of dark jeans and a Hawkeyes t-shirt. His smile illuminates when he sees Penelope. Then his eyes flash over to JP standing in front of my desk.

"JP. Good practice today. That knee seems to be doing better," he says, heading for my desk, flashing me a smile as well.

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