Page 21 of A Vegas Crush Collection #3
tell me about devon’s class
Grant
“Isn’t he camera-ready, girls? Phew,” says Scarlett, fanning herself with her hands. “I need to send Vik to your tailor just to get him in a suit that fits this well.”
I shake my head, grinning. “He’s a big guy. Probably needs a custom tailor anyway. It’s hard to buy a nice suit off the rack anytime, but when you’re as tall and broad as he is? No chance he’s looking good in something off the rack.”
“When does Viktor wear a suit, though?” Ella, one of Scarlett’s PR coordinators, says. “Besides game days and press events?”
Scarlett’s sigh is dramatic. “We never go out anymore. Especially since we found out about baby number two, it’s just been so hard to plan for anything more than a quick bite to eat. What I wouldn’t give for a fancy dinner out, or a romantic weekend in the mountains or at the beach.”
“It’s hard to connect when you have little ones,” Ella says as she rolls nearly undetectable lint from the back of my suit jacket. “I remember when Cedric and I had Britni, we didn’t go out for five years.”
“Five years,” Scarlett cries. “No. I refuse to let this go on for that long.”
“So how is parenthood?” I ask her as the photographer takes a few test shots to check lighting.
“Oh, we’re so in love,” she gushes. “Seriously, Viktor legit passed out when we found out I was pregnant the first time, but he’s such a good dad, like he was born for it.
He’s over the moon at getting to do it all over again with this one.
” She starts rubbing circles over the baby bump she’s sporting.
“By Thanksgiving we’ll be a family of four. ”
“That’s awesome. You know, I keep hearing all about how I’m not supposed to drink the water around here.”
Ella snorts. “I would say that’s good advice.”
Scarlett makes a bah sound. “Evan and Holly were first. She was in my job, new to her career, super focused and awesome in the role. And he was relentless, but he had a bit of a reputation as a ladies’ man and the team has a non-fraternization policy.
But it all worked out for them. They have three kids now, which makes my head spin just to think about it. ”
“Then it was Georg and Pam,” Ella adds.
“Yes, Pam came here to work in physical therapy and Georg was a hot mess, but they managed to figure it all out, and now they’re adopting Tyler’s two siblings.”
“And then you guys,” Ella says.
“And then Vik and me,” Scarlett confirms with a little ta-da wave of the hands.
“And none of you got fired for violating the non-fraternization policy, huh?”
Scarlett backs away as the photographer starts giving me instructions on how to pose and smile for shots.
She scrutinizes the first few shots, then answers, “Well, Max Terry is a bit of a softie and he’s for whatever makes the players perform at their best. But I think Pam nearly got fired at one point.
You’d have to ask her about it, though.”
“I’ll pass. Probably none of my business.”
“Well, just be careful. Cupid’s arrow seems to be pretty wickedly accurate around here. Even wild-boy Tyler got felled by it. Biggest player in the group and now he’s a man in lurve with Georg’s sister, Zoya.”
As the photographer continues his work, Scarlett and Ella converse off to the side, Ella suggesting that Scarlett and Viktor try one of Devon’s cooking classes one night as a date.
Of course, any mention of Devon Pearson catches my attention, though I try to make myself seem focused on my photo shoot.
“Oh, believe me,” Scarlett says. “I’ve tried. He’s terrified of anything cooking related, thinks he’ll surely burn down the kitchen if he tries. We booked a couple’s massage date for next weekend instead. I’m looking forward to it, but I still want something, you know…epic.”
“Well, I’m thinking about going,” another of Scarlett’s team says from her perch by the door. “Just to stare at Aiden and Mikhail.”
“Tell me about Devon’s class?” I ask, unable to stop my curiosity. She mentioned a side gig, but I didn’t get the details.
“Oh, Devon’s doing a personalized nutrition and cooking class once a week. It’s really geared toward athletes, but I think it would work for anyone.”
“Well, I got divorced about six months ago and my diet’s been pretty lazy.” I try to sound casual. “Might be good to figure out how to feed myself something other than frozen dinners.”
“Yeah,” Scarlett agrees. “Seriously, I’m putting you on the bachelor hot list. Can’t have you turning into Fat Thor. You should totally go. Devon’s awesome.”
She’s more than awesome.
I know I can’t be with Devon openly right now, but maybe going to her classes would give me a chance to be near her and to support her business.
The more successful she is, the sooner she can launch.
Not that I want to lose a good employee, but having her not working for the Crush makes being with her more of a possibility.
Is that manipulative on my part? Probably.
Is it a way to see her without everyone thinking it’s weird? Absolutely.
“It’d be a good way for you to meet people in your new city,” Ella adds. Her face scrunches up. “But don’t meet anyone special too soon. We need to market you as a hot bachelor, ride that sexy single train for a hot minute.”
Too late. Already met someone special.
“I am not a piece of meat, ladies.”
Everyone laughs. and Scarlett says, “Bud didn’t do fun things.
It’ll be so nice having a GM who does fun things with us.
You’re younger and hipper, and I think you’ll provide a real boost for the staff.
A few of them pop into Devon’s classes, and I think it would go a long way for you to show up and be, you know, human with them. ”
“I keep hearing about this plateau everyone thinks the team has hit,” I say as I get manhandled by the photographer, who puts me in position and tells me to give him a serious look.
“It’s not, like a plateau.” Scarlett takes a photo with her phone and explains, “For Instagram, a little preview.”
“The front line is in great shape, really connected,” Ella says. “I think everyone’s just holding their breath, waiting for the bubble to burst, you know? Like someone gets injured or takes an early retirement or whatever, and then the magic is broken.”
I can’t stop thinking about what Ella said for the rest of the day.
Being the GM of a team at the top of its game? Trying to keep it there at the top, avoiding the eventual fall from grace for as long as possible? It’s a ton of pressure.
I have to keep my head in the game here. Vegas is the big leagues, and the stakes are brutally high. I need to keep the Crush at the top, and I can’t do that if I’m distracted by sneaking around with one of my employees.
I hate even thinking of Devon in that way. She’s so much more than one of my employees. Still, the situation’s not sitting right. It’s not ideal for her, either. I’ll have to think on this. I want to support her, to show her we can be friendly and professional while we still work together.
I know it would be best for me to just stay away from Devon Pearson altogether. Problem is, I don’t think I can.
I’ve developed a full-blown addiction.