Page 31 of Slap Shot
"What if I don't want to be safe?"
Oliver went very still. "What do you mean?"
"I mean I'm tired of other people making decisions about what's good for me. Tired of letting fear run my life." Something reckless stirred in her chest. "What if I think this relationship and our investigation is too important to abandon just because HR is uncomfortable with office gossip?"
"Heather..."
"And what if I think what's happening between us, whatever it is, deserves a chance to grow without corporate interference?"
Oliver searched her face. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying maybe there's a way to keep working together without HR knowing about it." The idea was forming as she spoke, dangerous and tempting. "Official business stays at the office, all proper and documented. But the real investigation? That happens here, on our own time."
"That's risky as hell."
"Everything worthwhile is risky." She reached for his hand. "The question is whether you think it's worth it."
Oliver was quiet for a long moment, his thumb tracing across her knuckles. "I think we work well together. Not just personally, but professionally. The way our minds click when we're solving problems—"
"I've never experienced anything like it either."
"And personally?" His voice dropped. "These last few days might not be a long time, but when someone changes the way you see everything, time becomes irrelevant."
Heather's heart was racing now. "How have I changed anything?"
"You make me want to be better at everything, hockey, life, being the kind of man who deserves someone like you." He cupped her face with his free hand. "When I'm with you, the anxiety that usually lives under my skin goes quiet. Not because of Charlie, but because of you."
The honesty in his voice nearly undid her. "Oliver..."
"I know it's crazy. I know we barely know each other. But I also know that if we walk away from this now, I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what we could have been."
"Okay, let's do this. Let's be incredibly stupid and risk everything for the chance that this might be something worth having."
Oliver's smile was brilliant. "You won't regret it."
"I might. We both might." She leaned closer, close enough to feel his breath against her lips. "But I'm tired of makingdecisions based on what might go wrong instead of what might go right."
When he kissed her, soft and sure and full of promise, Heather realized she was already in too deep to back out now. HR could make all the rules they wanted, but they couldn't control what happened behind closed doors between two people who'd decided some things were worth fighting for. The investigation would continue, just underground now. And whatever was building between them would have the chance to grow without bureaucratic interference. It was dangerous and reckless and probably stupid. It was also the best decision she'd made in years.
Chapter Ten
Oliver
Oliver tugged at his bow tie for the third time, wishing he could trade the monkey suit for his practice gear. The Baltimore Convention Center buzzed with formal chaos, donors in expensive gowns nursing champagne, photographers snapping staged shots of players with local kids, and enough fake laughter to power the city grid.
Charlie butted his head against his leg, reading his stress levels like a barometer. The golden retriever's calm presence helped, but nothing could make these events feel natural. Give Oliver a computer problem to solve or a power play to run, but social theater? He'd rather face a line of enforcers looking for blood.
"Chenny!" Marcus's voice cut through the crowd noise. "You look like someone's holding you hostage."
Oliver turned to see Marcus approaching with Stephanie, both of them looking way too comfortable in their formal wear. Behind them came Kane and Allison, followed by Jax and Lauren weaving through the crowd.
"I feel like I'm wearing a costume," Oliver admitted, adjusting his cufflinks. "How do you guys make this look easy?"
"Practice," Stephanie said with a grin. "Also, Marcus spent twenty minutes on YouTube learning how to tie his bow tie properly."
"Hey, that's practical knowledge," Marcus protested. "Better than Oliver's lopsided attempt."
"It's not lopsided," Oliver said, automatically reaching for his tie.
