Page 44 of An Irresistible Force (Vancouver Vice)

“I’m a consultant. On hockey ops.” I motioned towards Amanda. “She’s the brains, and I’m the hockey knowledge.”

“So, you’re in charge of personnel stuff?”

“Not in charge. But I can make suggestions.”

Josie leaned closer and whispered in my ear. “Ditch the captain.”

I looked at her in surprise. “Ramsey? Why?” So far, Daniel Ramsey had been the most friendly, helpful player in this place. He had dropped by my office a few times and given me lots of intel on the team.

She ignored my question and turned back to Zach, stealing some of his popcorn and laughing at his outrage. I wondered if Fairburn and Ramsey had some feud going on. But Ramsey’s numbers were good and he was one of the few Millionaires’ prospects still on this team. He had had some issues with a bar brawl last season, but that had been settled. And Josie was no hockey expert.

I watched Ramsey for a few shifts. The guy was good. Not as good as Fairburn, but they were different kinds of players. Fairburn was faster and more creative. Ramsey had skills too but was more about effort. The kind of guy who left it all on the ice. I watched him get away with a late hit, then got up to get another beer.

Amanda was standing at the back of the seating, glued to the game. I had forgotten how much she liked hockey. I got her another pop and stood beside her.

“Oh thanks.” She didn’t seem mad any more. “Hey, what do you think of number 25, Aleppo?”

I chuckled. “You’re good. He’s on my radar too. I think he’s got potential, but he’s not really being utilized in the right way.” As Killer said, anyone could see that Fairburn was the best forward, and Dominick was the best d-man. But beyond the stats, we needed speedy players who could fit into the Millionaires’ up-tempo style of playing. Aleppo’s points were crap, but he was on the fourth line. He kept delivering amazing passes to guys with hands of cement. Like his linemate, number 93. His stick was where plays went to die.

“Realistically, if we got to makeover the team in the way we wanted, how many of these guys would be gone?”

“It doesn’t work like that,” I explained. I’d been talking team philosophies to Swanny and Rhett on my last Friday with the Millionaires. “First we adopt a strategy on how we want to play. Then we figure out who can play that system. What’s been working for the Millionaires is a team that moves the puck quickly out of the zone, going into the attacking zone as a unit. The style the Vice plays is the complete opposite: defensively-focused shot-blockers who use dump-ins to enter the zone.” And that was why the Millionaires had been faltering too: not enough call-ups who were familiar with our systems. Farming our prospects all over North America wasn’t building team cohesiveness either.

“Your system sounds a lot more fun,” Amanda said.

“Yeah. It’s an exciting way to play hockey. Risk is fun to watch.”

“Like the way you played,” she said. “I never knew what you were going to do next. You were so creative.”

I smiled, but inside I felt a little shitty. All those creative skills were limited to schmoozing and trying to buy this team now. But I swallowed and kept going. “Lots of teams with smothering defensive systems win games, that’s why they play that way. If you have fast, talented players, you have more options. Right now, the Vice are in a bad place. They don’t have the guns to mount an offensive game, but they’re not winning with a defensive style either. Boring hockey and losses.” I motioned to all the empty seats.

She nodded. “And all of this would be solved by selling the team to you, right?”

“You’re no dummy, Amanda. You know what I’m saying is right. Money, good players, and synergy would solve most of the issues here.”

When I turned my head, she was staring up at me, but she dropped her gaze right away. Out of nowhere, I remembered the feeling of her body against mine inside that stupid mascot costume. I had been a little shocked at how excited I felt. But my cock always had a mind of its own.

Meanwhile, Amanda was all business, as usual. “Still, I’m interested in seeing what kind of plan you can come up with for this team. Even if we sell, you’d still need to have a plan on how to fix our problems.”

“Yeah, I’m on it.”

I’d actually started staying later at the office this week. Maybe Amanda’s workaholic personality was rubbing off on me. Now all we needed was the relaxed part of me to rub off on her.

19

Seeds

Chris

“My ass hurts.I need a new seat.”

Jes glared at his bike. He was always looking for excuses to get some new part for his bike. We had just finished a four-hour bike ride and were stretching out and having a water break before we loaded up the car.

“Maybe you should get a lady-seat. Your ass is big enough,” I suggested.

“Mine? Have you looked behind you lately?” he wondered.

“I was once told that my ass is sculpted perfection.”

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