I look over her outfit. “Hmm. You make a good point.”

She rises up on her toes and kisses the edge of my jaw. “You talk to your momster, and I’ll get ready for work. I can say hi another time when I look less like I’ve been fucked six ways from Sunday.” She pats me on the cheek and leaves me alone with my phone and my third erection since I woke up this morning.

I’m falling in love with her chaos.

Fifteen minutes and one brief and slightly embarrassing video chat later—Hanna called me out on my messed-up hair, and my stammered responses told her more than she needed to know—I find Queenie standing in the hallway outside my bedroom. Her bag is slung over her shoulder, and she’s wearing a pair of black dress pants and a very pretty gauzy top that’s both professional and sexy.

I wonder how long I have to wait before I tell her she should leave clothes here for future sleepovers.

“You have really cool art.” She motions to the piece hanging from the wall. “Where did you get this?”

I move in behind her and wrap my arm around her waist. “Hanna’s the artist in the family. She calls it a hobby, but she’s incredibly talented. Has her work in a bunch of cafés in our hometown that feature local artists. Anyway, almost every painting I have is one of hers.”

Queenie turns her head and rubs her cheek on my biceps. “She has great vision. The colors are stunning.”

“She does. She’s a financial consultant, but she really loves this, so she teaches classes on the side.” I’ve been looking for a way to bring this up without being too obvious. “You paint, too, don’t you?”

She tips her chin up, her confusion evident. “How do you know that?”

“You have an easel at your place.” I noticed it the first time I was at her house, and once I peeked under a covered canvas while she was getting ready for a date. She also talked about being arty that first time we went for dinner, but she didn’t elaborate at all. It makes me think it’s something she doesn’t like to talk about.

“Oh, right. I used to do it a lot when I was in college, but not so much anymore.” She ducks out from under my arm. “You should get ready so we can head to the arena.”

I want to push, but I also don’t want to admit I’ve snooped, so I leave it alone. For now.

CHAPTER 16

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Queenie

My morning is awesome. I’ve had more orgasms in the past twelve hours than I’ve probably had in an entire month collectively. I’m quite literally in the best mood ever.

And I have the most amazing boyfriend in the world. Who asked me to move in with him. I’m sure it was an accident—a knee-jerk reaction to awesome pancakes and morning BJs—but still, it’s a great start to what is going to be a fabulous day.

Kingston and I part ways when we reach the arena so he can train with the team and I can get to work. I check my phone on the way down the hall. I have messages from Stevie about getting together for another double date and a girls’ night when I have time.

I love that I’ve made such great connections with the women here. And that they’ve accepted me so openly as part of their circle. As challenging as it can be, I’m lucky that I get to travel with the team, because it means I don’t have to miss Kingston. On the flip side, it also means that I miss out on the girl time. Although I don’t plan to have this job forever, so eventually I’ll be in the same position as the rest of the hockey wives and girlfriends—if Kingston and I last, anyway.

I’m aware I’m a lot to handle. And while he seems pretty enamored with me, that could easily change. He’s the calm and I’m the storm.

My dad’s office door is still closed, which means he’s either on the phone or still in a meeting. I’m not sure exactly what the meeting is about, but I know he was pretty worked up about it last night.

I settle in at my desk, prioritize all the things I need to accomplish today, and start on my emails. I scan all the necessary documents and tab them in the appropriate places. The tablets have proven to be a success. At the last meeting I snapped a few great candid photos and posted them to the team’s social media accounts, which made the company very happy. I’ve tried to streamline everything, and it’s been a pretty easy transition for everyone. This job may not be the one I want to do for the rest of my life, but I’m determined to make sure I’m effective while I’m doing it.

I’ve just finished uploading the most recent paperwork file when Violet pops her head in the door. “Hey, Queenie, have you seen Alex? He’s not in his office.”

“Sorry, not since I got here, and that was about forty-five minutes ago. My dad’s in a meeting, though, so maybe he’s involved in that?” I thumb over my shoulder to the closed door.

A little head of wavy auburn hair pops out from behind her legs, and huge blue eyes register recognition.

“Hey, Lavender!”

She ducks behind her mother’s legs.

“You remember Queenie, don’t you, Lavender?”

She looks up at her mother and gives her a serious nod. Then she turns that beautiful blue gaze back on me, and a huge smile lights up her face. She lifts her hand in a wave. “Hi, Keenie.”

Violet’s eyes flare, and she blinks a bunch of times before she strokes her daughter’s hair and beams down at her. “Good job, sweetheart. Maybe after we’re done here I should take you for ice cream. Would you like that?”

Lavender nods vigorously, her smile growing even wider.

Based on Violet’s reaction and my previous interaction with Lavender, I’m taking it that it’s a big deal for her to have actually said hello to me and used my name.

Violet checks her phone. “They’ve been in that meeting since eight thirty this morning. I hope this works out, or it’s going to be a lot of headaches and hours spent negotiating for no reason.”

I lower my voice. “Do you know what’s going on?”

“Only that they’re trying to negotiate a contract, but there’s some huge NDA attached to the deal, so he can’t even say who they’re negotiating the deal for.”

“It must be a pretty high-profile player.”

“Has to be; otherwise he wouldn’t be so tight lipped about it. Anyway, I was dropping by to see if the deal was done, because I’m nosy and I want to know all the secrets, but Lavender has a doctor’s appointment, so I guess it’s going to have to wait.” She reaches for Lavender’s hand, but she’s no longer standing beside her.

Instead she’s next to me. She tugs on my sleeve and holds out a piece of artwork.

“Did you draw this?”

She nods. “For you,” she whispers.

“You drew this for me?” I take it from her when she nods.

While it looks very much like the art of a child, it’s clear that Lavender has an incredible eye for the use of color, which is cool to see, since she’s so young.

“Good remembering, Lavender. She’s been holding on to that for weeks now, asking when she can see you.”

“Well, I love it. Thank you very much, Lavender. And the next time you stop by, we’ll have to draw something together. Sound good?”

She ducks her head with a smile and rushes back to the safety of her mother’s side. Violet and Lavender head out, and I find a place to tack up my new art. When I was a teenager, I used to go to an art camp in the summer for a couple of weeks. My favorite part was always working with the younger kids. When I started my college degree, I’d wanted to do something with art and children. At least until I lost my confidence and dropped out.

I’m about to get back to work when laughter comes from behind my dad’s office door. A few seconds later he steps out, followed by Alex. They’re smiling widely, which I’m taking to mean that whatever they were negotiating went well.

“Queenie, honey, it’s great that you’re here. I want to introduce you to the newest member of our team, and then you can help me get his paperwork together.”

“Of course, I’d be happy to.” I push away from my desk, preparing to greet the unnamed player. As far as I know, it’s uncommon for a trade to happen once the season has already started, but he and Alex seem pretty pleased.

A man appears, and my dad claps him on the shoulder. “Queenie, this is Corey Slater.”

I have to fight to keep my smile from turning into a grimace.

I know Corey.

Not because he’s an NHL player and is always in the media for some bullshit or other, but because he’s my ex.

CHAPTER 17

THE STORM IS A DOUCHE

Queenie

This isn’t happening.

Not today. Not when I’m rocking a seriously sweet postsex high. Or was.

Because now a horrible blast from my past is here, ruining everything.

Corey Slater is a giant dick.

His man unit is anything but, however.

He’s the reason I stopped watching hockey for a good six years. Especially when he first made the NHL and played for my favorite team. Even now I tend to avoid the games when I know his team is playing. But I can’t do that anymore. Because he plays for Seattle.