Page 5 of Slap Shot Scandal
“No. I knew nothing.” I take a deep breath, people already filing out of the room. Harbor and Max field questions and shake hands as players shuffle by.
Simmering anger bubbles up inside me.Why didn’t Max call me? I’m the captain of this team. He should have at least given me the courtesy heads-up, so I’d be prepared.
Squaring my shoulders, I march over to Max and Harbor. Max is deep in conversation with the team doctor, leaving me alone with PR Barbie.
Who, upsettingly, is far more gorgeous up close. And she smells good too, like some kind of exotic fruit.
“Hello, I’m Harbor. You’re Weston Steele, right? I ran into you this morning. Sorry I didn’t properly introduce myself.” She thrusts her hand in my direction and I give her open palm a withering stare, leaving her hanging.
“Yes, I’m Weston. The team captain and forward.”
She retracts her hand, the bright smile faltering slightly. “How can I help you, Weston?”
“I don’t think you can. You know nothing about this team, and probably less about hockey. How you’re going to be an asset I have no idea.”
“I assure you I have everything under control and it will all be fine. Better than fine. Eventually. This team’sgoing to come out on the other side of this scandal stronger than ever.”
“Maybe. Although I don’t believe we have an image problem.”
Harbor clears her throat, her cheeks staining a bright pink. “Um, trust me, we do. The story hasn’t broken yet. But when it does, you’ll be happy to be out of here.”
A pit yawns open in my gut, but I forge ahead. “I doubt someone like you can claw us out of trouble.” I rake a cold, assessing gaze up and down her body. She can’t be more than a few years out of college. Under more favorable circumstances, I’d consider her attractive, with high cheekbones and glossy, full lips. But right now I’m just pissed off.
I lock eyes with her. “Like you know anything about hockey.”
Straightening her shoulders, she doesn’t break my gaze. “I appreciate that you’re upset right now, probably knocked off-kilter a little.”
I cross my arms over my chest and frown, swallowing hard. “You have no idea how I feel right now. I’ve given my all to this game. This team. This city. And now your big plan is to up and leave?”
“Trust me, Weston. It will be for the best.”
“Ms. Hayes, with all due respect, I doubtyouknow what’s best. For me or this team.”
She lifts her chin, matching my glare. And damn if it doesn’t spark something low in my gut. That blaze in her eyes? It should piss me off. Instead, I’m standing here thinking about how I can stoke it.
Not fucking ideal.
I spin on my heel and stalk toward the door.
“My dad was a hockey coach for twenty years.”
I freeze.
“He always said a team that can’t protect each other on the ice is defeated before the puck drops. You have a choice here, Weston. Protect the team or be defeated. You choose, Captain.”
Gone is the soft-spoken, slightly shy woman from the hallway. Her tone’s sharp, icy even. Hot anger ripples through me, pricking at my scalp and burning my neck.
Dammit.
She has a good fucking point.
But I’ll never admit that.
Instead, I stalk out of the room without looking back. Pissed off that she’s absolutely correct in her assessment—and she’s already under my skin.
CHAPTER 2
HARBOR
