Page 6 of Shift Change

“Ha! Let me tell you what happened the last time we were in Denver. I was at?—”

I shoved a hand against his chest. “Nope, absolutely not. I refuse to hear whatever bullshit story you’re about to tell until I’ve had at least three drinks. Besides, aren’t we supposed to get my stuff?”

Holky scowled, then cracked up and threw an arm around my shoulders like we were old friends. “You’re a good man, Dog, but I can see I have a lot to teach you.”

“Fuck off.” I tried to shake him loose, but his grip was iron.As we walked toward the exit, his arm still draped around me, I laughed again. “I think I’m the one with lessons to give. Let’s start with teaching you how to dance, and then I’ll tell you how to really make those panties drop.”

He laughed, tightening his hold on me. “Buckle up, rookie. You’re in for a wild ride.”

I had no doubt.

4

holky

Dog wasn’t kiddingwhen he said he didn’t have much. It took all of ten minutes to check him out of the Westin and toss his luggage into his old, banged-up Ford Escort. Thirty minutes later, we pulled into my driveway in Wanakah, south of Buffalo.

He stopped cold as soon as we stepped inside the house, and his jaw actually dropped. His gaze swept over the foyer, taking in the vaulted ceiling, white oak paneling, and natural light pouring through the clerestory windows. Dog looked like he’d stepped into Oz.

“Holy shit,” he whispered, moving forward like he was afraid the house might vanish. He ran a hand over the curved edge of the staircase leading downstairs. “This place is incredible.”

“Thanks.” I dropped his bags on the floor and joined him. “Bought it two years ago. It’s pretty far from the practice facility, but I wanted some space, and I love living right by the lake.”

He wandered deeper, following the open line of sight into the great room. “Holy shit,” he said again, like the first one hadn’t covered it.

I led him into the living space. “The kitchen is over there to the left, and the bedrooms are down the hall on the right.”

He turned in a slow circle, taking in the clean lines, low-slung furniture, and wall of glass that opened to the deck and the lake beyond. “Jesus. This is next level.” He looked at me, eyes as wide as moons. “I wish I could have a place like this someday.”

“You will,” I said, nudging his arm. “You’re playing in the NHL now. Your salary multiplied by about ten, didn’t it?”

“More like thirteen.” He turned to me with a wide-eyed look. “What the hell am I supposed to do with all that? Open a savings account?”

I bit back a laugh because I remembered being in his shoes not all that long ago. Signing with the Warriors had wrecked my nervous system, and if Gabe hadn’t practically dragged me to his investment firm, I might’ve opened a savings account too.

“Have you talked to your folks?” I asked. “Run all this past them?”

He hesitated. “My parents died when I was little, and my nana raised me. She’s an amazing woman. Lives in Ithaca.”

“Does she know any money people?”

“Fuck no. It was all she could do to buy my hockey gear growing up.”

Who knew what kind of agent he had, so I slid my hand down his back. “Don’t worry, bud. I use a great investment firm, and I’ll arrange for us to go see them. Believe me, you’ll do a lot better than the tenth of a percent you’d make on a savings account.”

The crease between his brows relaxed, and I looked him over. His shoulders seemed even broader now, and in the soft light, his face looked younger. His eyes were beautiful—big and dark brown, a few shades deeper than his shaggy hair. He glanced around, distracted, and for a heartbeat, I thought… hell, I don’t knowwhatI thought.

“How old are you?” I asked.

“Twenty-four last month. You?”

“Twenty-six. Old enough to know better.”

He tilted his head. “Better than what?”

“At least half the goddamn things I do.”

“Makes two of us, then. Sounds like we’re in for a lot of fun.”

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