Page 2 of Body Check

And this Dakota guywasqualified. Gavin would never risk his players to soothe his own ego, so there was that small comfort.

When it came time for his performance review at the end of the season though, if Dakota hadn’t cut it in his new role, it would be no loss to Gavin.

He’d simply have to wait him out.

Gavin looked Ned in the eye. “We’ll hire Dakota Crane on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“He has this season to prove himself, or he’s out and you’ll have to go with my pick next season.”

“Excellent. You have a deal.” Ned beamed. “I guarantee you won’t regret it.”

Mid-September

“Are you nervous?” Violet asked, leaning against one of Dakota’s shiny new Pilates machines, the Cadillac reformer.

The trapeze-style table, with its series of ropes and pulleys, allowed a person to lift their arms and legs into the air and suspend their body over the padded sliding mat while they performed exercises.

The first time Dakota had seen it, it had reminded him of a narrow canopy bed fitted with a bunch of sex swings and other kinky equipment, but now it was one of his favorite pieces of workout equipment, strengthening muscles, improving flexibility, balance, and coordination … everything a hockey player needed.

Honestly, everything in his new studio was sobeautiful. New and shiny and …

Dakota realized his sister was still staring at him expectantly, so he cleared his throat. “Uhh, yes. A bit nervous.”

“Well, that’s understandable. I was nervous when I started my first day here too,” she said, referring to the Harriers Community Ice arena where the Boston Harriers team trained and the head office was located.

“Yeah, but if you fuck up something in a spreadsheet, it’s not quite as big of a deal,” he pointed out, his tone dry. “I accidentally fuck up one of the players and?—”

“First of all, don’t discount my importance to this organization,” Violet said tartly. “I once caught an accounting error that saved the organization tens of thousands of dollars. Second, you’re not going to fuck up one of the players. You’re more than qualified for this job.”

“I know.” He grimaced, idly fiddling with one of the pulleys on the machine. “It’s just a lot of responsibility. I know I wouldn’t have been hired if you hadn’t put in a good word for me.”

“I’m sure they had dozens of other candidates,” she pointed out with a shrug. “All I did was get your foot in the door.”

“Yeah.” Dakota fell silent.

Violet reached out and touched his arm, her voice softening. “I know you’re feeling off-kilter because of what happened with Bryce, but you’re smart, you’re tough, and youdeserveto be here, Dakota.”

“I’m trying to believe that,” he whispered, unsurprised Violet had zeroed in on exactly what he’d been worrying about.

Maybe he wouldn’t be doubting himself if he hadn’t spent the entire summer trying to untangle the mess his ex-boyfriend had left him. His heart and his ego had taken a blow, and he was feeling a little … vulnerable right now.

They fell silent for a moment as Dakota glanced around at the large studio, gratitude flowing through him once again for this opportunity.

This new job was … so close to everything he’d ever dreamed of.

After graduating with his Bachelor of Science in kinesiology, his plans to become a physical therapist for a pro sports team had been derailed—thanks to Bryce Palmer—but he’d fallen in love with yoga and Pilates along the way.

This new career was a way to mesh his love of sports medicine, flexibility training, and a more wholistic approach to fitness into one.

It not only got him away from the mess his life in Seattle had turned into, it offered him a fresh new start.

Dakota opened his mouth to thank his sister for making it happen when he heard the footfall of hard-soled shoes on the floors of the hallway, empty because the season hadn’t officially begun yet.

A man’s voice drifted in through the studio’s open doors, the timbre of it vaguely familiar but not one Dakota could immediately place. “Look, he’s probably great. However, I’m not thrilled with the way Ned forced my hand.”

A woman snorted quietly. “You’re just a stubborn asshole who hates it when he doesn’t get his way.”

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