Page 7 of Hot Stuff
“Don’t sell yourself short. To play at your level, to succeed the way you have, you have to know the game inside and out. Every angle of it. On and off the ice. You and Blake are going to make a formidable coaching team.”
“Blake?”
“Your assistant coach. Blake Watts.”
“BlakeWatts? How the hell did you get her? Last I heard she was coaching the Canadian women’s hockey team.”
I grin. “That best friend I referred to? That would be Blake.”
“Jesus. You’re right, the Watts family are hockey royalty. Fuck, the woman’s more qualified for head coach than I am. She coached the Canadians to Olympic gold, for fuck’s sake.”
“She doesn’t want the head coach job. And full disclosure, which you’ll get more of before you sign your contract, she’s also one quarter of KAW.”
“Shit. She co-owns the team?”
“Indirectly, yes. Or not. KAW owns the Rogues franchise and Blake, myself, and two others own KAW.”
“Isn’t it a conflict of interest for her to be employed by the team?”
“No. KAW is privately owned. The only people we answer to are ourselves. The Rogues GM is also a co-owner of KAW.”
“Are you all going to work for the team?”
“No. Our fourth partner has no interest in sport outside of supporting her friend play. And with Blake no longer playing, I don’t expect her interest in the game to change.”
“Another woman? Four women? The Rogues are owned by women?” Walker laughs and laughs hard. “Oh god, this is going to be one hell of a battle.”
My back jerks straight. “Do you have an issue with women in positions of power, Mr. Alcott?” From everything I’ve read about him, I didn’t think he did but maybe I’m wrong.
“Hell no. I’m going to cheer you on. Okay, if I say yes, what’s the plan from here? When does the team start in the league? Where are the team facilities? When do you start picking players?”
“Lots of questions and I’m sure you’ll have more. But before we get to those, I have one for you.”
“Shoot.”
“When can you start?”
“I.” Walker snaps his mouth shut. “I haven’t said yes.”
“But you’re going to.”
“I love your confidence. I wish I had it.”
“You will.” Deciding to give him time to digest what’s on offer, I say, “Why don’t I get Tanya back in here so we can finish the photo shoot. Then when we’re done, we’ll head to my hotel where we can talk about my plans for the Rogues and you, more.”
“You still want me to be the face of Rogue’s new athletic pants?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Well, you know, the whole, no pants thing.”
I laugh. “Walker, if you think any woman is going to take offense to you dropping your pants, you’re insane. Besides, what you got going on is definitely worth taking a look at.”
He ducks his head, but I still see the flush of red slash across his cheeks. “I apologize. It’s not something I would normally do.”
“Walker, you have one of the cleanest reps in the league. Aside from the whole practice-wife thing. I trust you to represent Rogue sportswear and the Rogues hockey team with propriety and respect.”
“You can’t know that. Especially after what you walked in on.”
