Page 19 of Puck King
“You know I don’t like needles.” I leaned in. “I thought you were working on fixing the team’s morale, not hiring some patchouli-wearing, cheekra-balancing nutjob.”
Everleigh brushed past me. “It’s chakra; she doesn’t wear patchouli; and acupuncture isn’t woo-woo. She’s a trained physiotherapist who does acupuncture. Don’t be so dramatic.”
I grabbed her arm. “Explain to me what’s going on, or I’m not going back in there.”
She shook free from my grip. “I’m saving the team.”
The groan escaped before I could stop it, but Everleigh had already taken her seat behind her desk. I wanted to swear at her, but narrowed my lips before taking a seat beside Alison. As I took a deep breath, a waft of sugar cookie and vanilla caught up with me. I crossed my arms and tried to ignore the fact that the woman beside me was giving off a smell that made me want to devour her.
Stop it. I shifted to the far side of the chair. She was pretty, I’d give her that. Her hair was the most gorgeous shade of brown with some red in it. I think they call that color auburn. I had nothing against gingers, but I did have something against a ginger with an attitude problem.
“I’ve asked you both here today for a reason, but it’s not what you think.”
“It’s not for a late-night needle stabbing session?” I asked.
“No.” Everleigh folded her hands on the desk in front of her. “Well, it’s notjustabout acupuncture.”
Alison and I looked at each other for the first time that night, and I wasn’t sure whose brow was more furrowed, hers or mine. “Enough with the cryptic stuff, Everleigh. If you want to hire Alison to be on the physio team, go for it. I’ve got no problem with her or her…techniques.”
Suddenly we seemed like allies, and it felt like Team Everleigh versus Team Me and Alison.
“The problem is deeper than that.” Everleigh leaned back in her executive chair. “The problem is that you’ve created a media circus around your personal life.”
“Whoa.” I held my hands out in front of me. “I haven’t created anything. I wish that this would all go away.”
“Me too.” Everleigh leaned her elbows on the desk and Alison watched the back and forth between the two of us like someone watching a puck passing drill. “That’s where Alison comes in.”
“Me?” Alison pointed to herself.
“Her?” I gestured to Alison with my thumb.
In her most diabolical look ever, Everleigh tented her fingers in front of her lips. “Yes,” she murmured. “We are going to clear up the bad press from your breakup with Brittany. And, we are going to give you a new, squeaky-clean image. No more puck bunnies for you, Colton. It’s time for you to get serious.”
“I am serious.” I gripped the arms of the chair. “About hockey,” I added.
“I’m confused,” Alison interrupted. “How does acupuncture play into all of this?”
Everleigh grinned. “Alison. Colton is going to fall in love with, and get engaged to one of his new physiotherapists.”
“What?” both Alison and I shouted at the same time.
“No.” Alison crossed her arms.
Everleigh opened the file in front of her and slid a piece of paper across the desk. “Before I forget, Alison, I need you to sign this piece of paper.”
Alison took the paper and her eyes tracked the page quickly. “What does this mean?”
Everleigh handed her a pen. “It means that even if you don’t agree to become Colton’s fiancée, this discussion never happened.”
Alison set the pen on the desk. “I can’t be someone’s wife. I’m married.” She eased into her chair as if she’d just won the stand-off, but Everleigh didn’t back down.
“Not according to this petition for divorce.” Everleigh pointed to the paper in front of her and then held up a photo of a naked man kissing a woman taken through some sheer looking curtains. “Is this your husband? Or should I say, soon to be ex-husband, Alison?”
Alison seemed to deflate. “Yes,” she whispered.
“It looks like you’re open to dating, then.” Everleigh closed the folder.
“Everleigh King.” I stood. “This is low, even for you.” My sister seemed intent on punishing the woman beside me, who looked like she was on the verge of bursting into tears. And for some reason, I felt compelled to stand up for her. I snatched the file from Everleigh’s hands and pulled the photos from the folder, ripping them in half and dropping them into the trash can. “Don’t be so cruel.”
