Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Laurie looks at Josie. “You’ll break your neck that way.”
“That’s what I told her.”
Laurie shakes her head. “Good thing you were here, Dane. Your father would kill me if something happened to you on my watch.”
Josephine stiffens at the mention of her father, but I don’t have long to think about it because Laurie points in the direction of the offices on the other side of the building. “I need you to choose a jersey and sign it.”
I look toward the locker room and then gesture to what I’m wearing. “What? Now?”
“Yeah. It’s being auctioned off at the Saints and Starling charity event next week. We need to get the item up on the website so people can start bidding.”
The Saints and Starling event is the biggest fundraiser in the area. The money raised goes to help with legal fees for people who don’t have the resources to get the representation they deserve.
Starling company is the local law firm that represents the Saints and has teamed up with the team to put the event on.
“There are a few different options,” she says.
“Why don’t we auction off more than one?” Josephine asks, and Laurie’s eyes widen as though she hadn’t thought about that.
Laurie quickly masks the fact that she was bested by the temp and places her hands on her hips as if she is annoyed. Laurie isn’t cut out for this job, but her father knows the owner, and that makes Laurie’s position pretty sound, even if the team could use some young blood.
“I have a meeting I need to get to. Can we please get this done?” Laurie says, checking her phone.
“I can do it,” Josephine says. Laurie purses her lips but looks back at her phone and sighs.
“Fine. The jerseys are in the locker room on the table. Just sign them,” Laurie directs to me, turning her attention to Josie. “When he’s done, take photos of each of them and email me a high-res JPEG. I’ll add them to the auction site tonight.”
Josephine nods, turning to me and giving me a look that basically says is this woman for real?
“I’ll see you later.” Laurie rushes off.
When she’s out of sight, I turn back to Josephine. “Do you think you can handle those directives?”
I’m surprised she hasn’t rolled her—strike that; she just did.
“Did you just roll your eyes at me?”
“Yep.” She pops the p. “You’re being an ass.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“Hmm,” she says, tapping her chin. “I think onions are only good in salsa.”
“What?”
“Onions don’t belong in salad, on burgers, and absolutely, under no circumstances, should they ever be eaten like an apple.”
“I can’t be around you,” I tease, shaking my head and doing my best to look serious.
“Too bad. You heard the woman. We have work to do for charity,” she singsongs, and the sound is somehow beautiful and grating at the same time.
Because she’s wearing me down.
“If this weren’t for something important, I’d say no.” I work to remove my skates, not wanting to wear the bulky footwear all the way to the locker room. “But this is for charity, so I’ll play nice.”
“Laurie explained what the money went to, and I think it’s incredible. So many families get the help they need despite their financial situation.”
“It does change things. Everyone deserves the same resources.”
“Yeah.” It’s all she says, and I wonder if she knows about my situation at all.
I don’t want to know. Instead, I change the subject and spit out the first thing that comes to mind.
“Did you play any sports?”
She scrunches her nose. “No. I thought that would be obvious from our first talk.”
“So, what were you interested in?”
She purses her lips. “We have work to do.” And with that, she walks off.
I let out a long-drawn-out sigh. This girl is a pain in the ass. Maybe I should change her nickname to that.
Something tells me that won’t go over well.
I follow her as we head to the locker room. Once we’re inside, I start the long process of removing my uniform.
Josephine decides to take a seat on the bench.
She’s bored, obviously, but she should count herself lucky that I’m even allowing her to stay in here. It makes it even more difficult to keep my hands to myself.
We’re in an empty locker room, completely alone. Nobody would know if I caved.
Not happening, Dane. Get your head out of your ass.
I might not touch, but that doesn’t mean I can’t play her own games.
Once I’m naked from the top up, I turn to face her.
The moment she notices me, I need to refrain from grinning.
I can’t give this girl an inch. If she thinks there is a chance I’m interested, she will pounce, which is not something that can happen, but it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the way she looks at me.