Page 45 of An Irresistible Force (Vancouver Vice)

He made a face. “What kind of chick says dumb things like that?”

“Well, those might not have been her exact words. But I got her meaning.”

I took off my biking shoes and pulled on sweats and regular shoes. We were going out after this, and I didn’t want to wear my neon bike gear. Ever since Lily’s crack about MAMILs, I felt a little self-conscious once I was off my bike.

Then I remembered the fundraiser. “Hey, I need a favour.”

Jes raised a suspicious eyebrow.

“I’m donating a prize package to a charity gala. You bid to play hockey at PacTel Arena, and I’m the coach of one team. I need another former captain to coach the other team. And I want someone whose large ass I can whip.”

“You’re donating something? Isn’t that going to cost money?”

“Ha. Ha. You know I spend money on important things.” No need to mention that the Millionaires’ promo staff was so excited about getting the ice package in front of rich potential clients that they had donated the arena and staff for free.

He snorted. “Yeah, right. Too bad more things aren’t important. Well, it sounds like fun. When is it?”

“No clue. The winner will get to choose the night, but it will have to be when the team is on a road trip. We’ll get input too.”

“How about you? Will you be okay to get on the ice again?”

Jes had come with me to the Millionaires’ home opener. He warned me that it would be a gut churner, but I had no idea how shitty it really was. To hear the music, to see the guys coming out of the tunnel, and to realize I was never going to be there again—I nearly fucking cried right on the spot. But with time, things had gotten better. In fact, Amanda forcing me to go to all the Vice games had hardened me up a lot. I was getting used to seeing the game from the big view above the ice. It was actually an education in how plays developed and was giving me a new appreciation for team strategy.

“I’ll be fine. The Millionaires have regular games for all the ex-players in management, and I can go to those.”

“Okay. Sounds good. Except you’ve got it wrong. My team will kick your team’s butt.”

“And listen, you and Dori are invited to the gala where the auction will be held. It’s on in a couple of weeks, and it’s going to be a big deal.”

His blue eyes narrowed. “What do we have to wear?”

“I can’t believe you’re asking me that. I have no clue. I’ll get you an invitation so you can check.” I was pretty sure that it would be black tie. Anything Jeannie Richardson organized was bound to be formal. She was a lady from the top of her perfect hair to the tips of her polished shoes.

Jes began strapping the bikes to the back of the car. “So who are you taking to this gala?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll go stag.” I wasn’t actually dating anyone at all now. Work had been so busy that I’d had to cancel a few dates, which had pissed off the women I’d been seeing. Everyone thought I was seeing other women, when I’d actually been attending Vice games. And nobody wanted to come to Vice games with me.

“Do you want Dori to find you someone?”

“No. It’s too much of a commitment.” I didn’t want to make awkward small talk with or have to babysit someone. “I wish I had a sister or something. I need an emergency back-up date that I don’t have to worry about.”

“Why don’t you ask that woman you work with?”

“Amanda?”

“Yeah. It would be perfect. Doesn’t she have a crush on you?”

“Uh no. She used to have a crush on me in high school—like ten years ago. Now, she—” I stopped. I was going to say that she disliked me, but that wasn’t true anymore. We got along fine now. I teased her a lot, but she didn’t mind. She could dole it out too.

“If she does like you, she won’t like it if you bring a date. And if you make her mad, you’ll never get the deal done.”

“I told you, she’s over me. I think we’re close to a deal though. She’s been trying really hard to make everything work, but the Vice are an impossible cause.” When I inhaled, my chest hurt a little, so I fished out a ginger root capsule and popped it in my mouth. Maybe he was right. Amanda wouldn’t have a date, and she’d know more people than me, so I wouldn’t have to worry about babysitting her. And Jeannie would probably like the idea too. “It’s not a bad idea though.”

Jes nodded. “I’ve always been the brains of this friendship.”

I snorted. “And the ass too.”

Monday at the office,I dropped by Amanda’s office.

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