Page 6 of Body Check

“I’ve spoken to Connor.” He probably should have talked to more guys but he’d been very busy lately and Connor was usually on top of things. He would have said something if there was a problem, right?

Dakota stifled a sigh. “Yes, well, it’s fine at the times Connor typically works out, but guys like Jesse and Kady—who are the ones who benefit themost as goaltenders—are struggling to get in.”

“Be that as it may, Dakota, I can’t make money magically appear out of thin air,” Gavin snapped. “Your budget for the season is set and to find more, that means cuts need to be made elsewhere. Your sister is in accounting. Ask her how that works if you can’t seem to grasp it.”

Dakota flinched at Gavin’s barbed words about budgeting.

Did he … did heknowabout Dakota’s financial situation?

Sure, the organization ran background checks on people they were hiring. They needed to be sure trainers and instructors could be trusted to keep guys’ medical information private and that they weren’t vulnerable to attempts to bribe them to get that info.

And Dakota knew his nearly empty bank account and mountain of debt had looked bad, but clearly, they’d been willing to overlook it. Dakota had explained the situation during his interview with the HR woman, showing he was taking steps to get his life back on track.

Had Gavin been privy to that information? Was he sneering and poking fun at Dakota’sprivatelife?

“I understand how budgeting works,” he said stiffly. “But I’m struggling to do my job with the resources I have. If you want results?—”

Gavin scoffed, a sneer crossing his handsome face. “Frankly, I’m not convinced these methods are worth what we’ve already invested?—”

“I canshow youthe data,” Dakota argued. “If you’ll take the time to look at?—”

“Look, I’m not denying it can be helpful,” he said. “I’m just saying it remains to be seen if the investment will pay off. I need to see some results before I’m willing to invest inmore equipment.”

“Ughh.” Dakota resisted the urge to throw the chunk of amethyst at Gavin’s stupid, handsome face.

It wouldn’t be a big loss since Dakota had only placed the crystal on his desk because it had been a ‘welcome to the Harriers’ present from Violet—one of their stupid inside jokes. He really wasn’t a crystal guy—though he did like the rainbows of light the glass prisms in the windows threw out when the sun hit them—something she found endlessly funny.

“C’mon, you’ve gotta look like your typical yoga instructors,” she’d teased. “With your chakra balancing crystals and aromatherapy sound baths. How else will the guys know you’re legit?”

He’d shot her a dirty look and reminded her when it came to hockey players, that would likely have the opposite effect.

But I probably shouldn’t throw stuff at my boss’s head, Dakota thought with an internal sigh. Even if Gavin Racine was immensely irritating with his little digs about budgeting.

Dakota forced himself to take a deep breath and look Gavin in the eye. His … unfortunately pretty hazel eyes. “I understandwhy you’re skeptical about the efficacy of this training. Your hockey training was in a vastly different era, and?—”

Gavin bristled. “Are you calling meold?”

“What?” Dakota asked, bewildered, because he actually hadn’t been trying to insult the guy. Sure, he was turning silver at the temples and along his jaw, but he was only in his early forties, if Dakota remembered right.

Still pretty young.

“I know training methods have changed over the years,” Gavin said tightly. “That’s why I hire experts to advise me on this.”

“Then why aren’t you treating me like I’m a fucking expert?” Dakota asked, leaning forward. “Is itmyage? I know I’m relatively young, but I am?—”

“It’s not yourageI’m concerned about. It’s your lack of experience working with hockey teams.” Gavin leaned forward too.

Dakota gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to call him a former lunkhead hockey dude who, despite all of his claims, had no idea how much sports training had changed in the past two decades. “I haveplentyof experience working with hockey players in the off-season. You aren’t willing to give me the benefit of the doubt!”

“Excuse me?” Violet said, sounding vaguely alarmed. “Am I interrupting something?”

Dakota abruptly sat back and saw Gavin do the same, belatedly realizing they had nearly been nose-to-nose, so intent on getting their point across they were attempting to encroach on each other’s personal space.

Ugh, and once again, he’d let himself get worked up and lose his temper.

This was what he got after years of more or less being his own boss. Dakota had co-owned the yoga studio with his ex, so he was used to arguments over budgets and equipment leading to makeup sex.

Surelythatwas why he was a little flushed as he glanced away from Gavin to look at his sister.

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