Page 20 of Wild Blades

My little heart does a gleeful hop, skip, and jump at how well my plan worked out.

There’s a bigger picture here for me too. I can see so clearly as if a movie is playing out in my mind. If Marcus loves what I do for Wade, he’ll hire me for other players. I could possibly become the publicist for their crisis management handling.

Now, that would be life changing.

Studying hockey, watching games, reading blogs to bring myself up to speed with the game, its rules, and the team, my head is full of nothing but hockey. I’m grateful I hired two new publicists to transfer my workload onto, although I was a bit premature on clearing my calendar due to Wade’s no shows for two weeks straight.

However, if I can get him to workwithme, my schedule will be slammed, and I won’t have time for anyone but Wadepain in the assCollins.

Can’t deny, he’s got a nice ass, and a handsome face.

Shut up, he’s annoying you. Don’t say nice things about him.

My mind wanders down a path it knows so well. If he just tilted his head to the right an inch, relaxed his jaw, and looked up a fraction higher, it would be the perfect portrait shot.

Concentrate, Kali.

Nostrils flared, he tightens his lips into a narrow line.

By sending him that contract, I’m screwing with him, and he knows it.

He’s pissed.

Same, Wade, same.

I see so much potential in him. He’s misguided, but not a lost cause.

He can’t see that I’m on his side.

Yet.

“I’m not moving to the AHL. I will not sign that contract.” Widening his eyes, he flashes me the whites of them, looking feral.

I lift a brow and keep my cool. “Seems like you already have, given your refusal to attend any of the eventsIhave calendared. Although you somehow have managed to attend training with Ash and have been meeting with Joe and Leon, you reject every calendar request I send you and refuse to work with Thomas. We all come as a package, Wade. It’s all or nothing. You don’t get to pick and choose what you do. I take my job very seriously and you’re making a fool out of what I do. I’m more than offended.”

“And you’ve offended me, thinking I would fall for your little stunt.” His words spill from his mouth fast, sounding pissed.

“But it worked, didn’t it?” I pause. “You’re here, standing in my office, aren’t you?”

I bathe in my smugness again, loving every hot minute.

A tiny pulse in his neck throbs silently, and I have to stifle a giggle at how utterly predictable he is. I imagine the sound of his blood racing through his veins is more than likely beating louder than a marching band.

Squaring my shoulders, I tilt my chin in aready to go to war with himstance as we face off with each other.

“What the hell is going on here?” Leon’s voice snaps Wade’s neck in his direction.

“Do you know what she did?” Wade points at me as I sit in my chair again and cross my legs. I’m bored now. I would like to get on withOperation Make Wade Great Again,butWadeis getting in the way ofWadeand he’s really beginning to piss me right off.

Leon casually leans against the doorjamb with an easy smile. “I do.” He jerks his chin at me. “Sending the contract worked just like you said it would.” Then he claps his hands, applauding me for being so wickedly devious.

Wade looks back and forth between the two of us. “I hate you both.” I know he doesn’t mean that. Not really.

Or maybe he does.

“So, you keep saying.” Leon walks across my office, past Wade’s death glares, and makes himself comfortable on my burgundy leather sofa. “You’ll love me even more when I tell you the sweet deal I have for you.” Laying his ankle on top of his knee, he picks up an old copy ofVoguemagazine that’s sitting on the seat beside him.

Curiosity gets the better of me. I want to know, no,haveto know what Leon pulled off today. I move from behind my desk and sit next to Leon.

---