Page 39

Story: Pucking His Enemy

Nothing.

"Great. Try not to die before I can fix you."

The guys file out, chatting and joking. Aiden stops by my laptop.

"Thanks for not making that painful," he says. "Half of them were expecting a lecture about kale smoothies and meditation."

"I save the kale smoothies for repeat offenders."

He grins and heads out, leaving me alone to pack up my presentation.

Except I'm not alone.

Liam's still here, sitting in the back row, arms crossed over his chest. Same scowl from the parking lot, same energy that makes the room feel smaller just by existing in it.

I don't look up from disconnecting my laptop. "Something I can help you with?"

"Maybe."

His voice carries across the empty conference room, rough and low. I finally glance up.

"Your individual assessment isn't until Thursday."

"Not about that."

I zip up my laptop case, not trusting myself to have this conversation without backup. "Then what?"

He stands, and the casual movement somehow manages to eat up half the space between us. "You gonna tell me why you're really here?"

"I'm here because this team hired me to keep you idiots from poisoning yourselves."

"Bullshit."

The word lands flat and certain. I straighten, meeting his stare head-on.

"Excuse me?"

"This job. This team. Your whole Little Miss Professional act." He takes another step closer. "What's the real reason?"

My pulse kicks up, but I keep my voice level. "The real reason is I'm qualified and I needed work. Shocking concept, I know."

"In Florida? With the Cyclones?" He's close enough now that I can see the skepticism in his dark eyes. "There are twenty-nine other teams. Better teams. Teams that actually win games."

"Maybe I like a challenge."

"Or maybe you like stirring up shit."

My temper flares before I can stop it. "And maybe you like making assumptions about people you don't know."

"I know enough."

"Really? What do you know?"

He stops walking. Looks at me for a long moment, jaw working like he's chewing on words he doesn't want to say.

"I know you hit my car and didn't blink. I know you walked into that meeting like you own the place. And I know you're not here by accident."

"You're right. I'm here because I'm good at my job and this team needs help. If that threatens your fragile ego, take it up with management."