Page 12 of Body Check

“I don’t have much time?—”

“I’m aware.” Dakota’s gaze was serious now. “That’s one reason why I was hired, you know? I have experience tailoring programs to people who have tight schedules and erratic travel. Iknowyou’re short on time and stress is high. I promise I’ll take all of that into consideration. I just want to see what I’m working with here.”

He gestured to Gavin’s body and somehow, Gavindidn’ttake it as a compliment.

“Hey,” he protested, because damn it, “I train hard to look like this.”

“Looking great is fine. But a six-pack and big biceps doesn’t mean your body is healthy or in balance. Or, for that matter, your life is. And if you have frequent tension headaches, that tells me they’re both out of whack. Do you want my help or not?”

Gavin huffed. “I’ll come in on Saturday morning. Seven work for you?”

The team had played last night, then had Thursday and Friday off, and a game scheduled for Saturday night.

He had about three weeks of work to squeeze into that time but what else was new? His head was better and if Dakota could actually fix it, he’d give his suggestions a shot.

“I can do seven,” Dakota confirmed.

“Thanks,” Gavin said, still a little stung by Dakota’s earlier comments but grateful it no longer felt like someone was trying to crush his head like a watermelon. “I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.” Dakota held up his glass. “To a new working partnership, I guess.”

Well, it wassomething, anyway.

THREE

Gavin Racine was an interesting man.

A stubborn, bull-headed, macho man. Not exactly a shock in male pro sports, especially one like ice hockey.

But he was going to be a tough nut to crack.

It wasn’t really Dakota’s job to help him. He’d been hired to train the team, not the staff. He didn’t mind offering suggestions to Leah Frye, the strength and conditioning coach for the team, or running through routines with Danny Foley, the goaltending coach.

They all worked together, and he didn’t mind helping people who were slowly becoming friends in addition to work colleagues.

But Gavin was not his friend.

He was Dakota’s boss—the man had his fingers ineverypie in the organization from what Dakota could tell—and he was significantly higher up the ladder than Dakota was.

Gavin’s word held a lot of weight around the franchise, so if he ever decided hetrulydisliked Dakota, he had no doubt he’d be gone as quickly as he’d been hired.

Even if Violethadpulled some strings with Ned to get him hired in the first place.

And Dakota really didn’t want to leave. Despite his initial nerves and the conflict with Gavin, he was enjoying his role with the team.

It was a relief to be doing the kind of work he’d always planned to, not managing a studio in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle and teaching yoga and Pilates to a bunch of rich tech bros and over-educated stay-at-home parents.

The smattering of pro athletes he’d worked with privately hadn’t been enough.

But this … this was the kind of job he’d been dreaming about since he was a teenager.

So if that meant accommodating the Harriers’ GM, Dakota would do it. He liked the organization, the work, and desperately needed the paycheck they provided. He couldn’t risk losing it.

Which meant he had a lot of extra work ahead of him.

Whichalsomeant he should probably head out now. The party was winding down anyway, the number of guests dwindling until it was mostly family.

He’d only stayed this late because he’d had been immersed in an enjoyable conversation with Aubrey—Patrick O’Shea’s wife—who’d appeared genuinely interested in the work he did.

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