Page 70 of Body Check

Gavin hesitated. “Not seriously.”

“Andunseriously?”

“There’s someone I’ve got a thing going with,” Gavin said vaguely. “It’s good. Just not …”

“Not the kinda guy you want to build a life with?”

“Honestly,” Gavin admitted. “I’mthe one who’s a little gun-shy there. I did that once and failed spectacularly.”

“Yeah, I hear that. But you never know. Sometimes it works out with someone else.”

Gavin considered the idea of Dakota as a long-term partner. He certainly was nothing like Rory. Dakota appeared to have no interest in his money or status. Or, for that matter, commitment. “Even if Iwereinterested, he’s adamantly against it too.”

Wade snorted. “Yeah, well, so was Trevor when we met. Webothwere, really. Trust me, neither of us had a long-term relationship in mind when we started hooking up.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Gavin said slowly. “But this guy, he’s … prickly. And pushing him will only make him retreat.”

“Don’t I fucking know how that goes,” Wade said with a laugh.

And okay, fair enough. If Underhill was anything like his on-ice persona in private, he’d definitely be a challenge.

“Any advice on how to handle it?” Gavin asked, shifting into a runner’s lunge. While he might not be thinking long-term relationship, he wouldn’t mind if Dakota was a little more open to spending the night sometimes or having dinner together occasionally, even if it was in the privacy of Gavin’s condo.

“Well, Trevor and I had some really serious shit going on that forced us to work together and rely on each other,” Wade said slowly. “It really deepened the emotional bond. While that worked out for us, I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“The Malone situation?”

“Yeah.” Wade’s tone was grim. “That’s the one.”

“No, I’ll happily skip that,” Gavin agreed.

Because finding out a player was not only abusing his wife, but assaulting women in the organization had been anastysurprise for many. Of course, in that case, Evanston’s GM had knownabout it and hidden it. Had, in fact, been involved in a much further-reaching cover-up.

Gavin shuddered at the thought. That was the whole damn reason the Code of Conduct existed at all. And here he was, hooking up with his employee.

Consensual or not, it wasn’t going to look good if it got out.

“Without a crisis?” Wade hummed. “I’d say be patient. Give him time. When he does open up, listen. And show you’re there for him if and when he does need you for more than a good lay.”

Gavin laughed at the last part. “Thanks, man. Appreciate the advice and the compliment.”

“I’m serious!” Wade protested, laughing. “Though, thanks to that bad salad you ate, I wouldn’t know if you actually are a good lay. But hey, if you’re half as good in bed as you are at negotiating, he’s a lucky guy.”

“Thank you. And let me know what Rafael thinks. We’ve got a great organization, and I think he’d like it here.”

“I will. Take care, Gavin.”

“You too, Wade.”

Gavin hung up, looked at the clock, then typed out a message to Dakota.I know it’s late, but I finished work for the night. You up for coming over?

I was about to go to bed.

Is that a no?

No.

“Hey, are you coming to the family holiday skate tomorrow?”

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