Page 2

OCTOBER

Gavin knocked hesitantly on the doorframe of the studio. “Uh, Dakota?”

When Dakota had called Gavin’s assistant, Amelia, last week to request a meeting, Gavin had debated if it should take place in his office upstairs, or down here in Dakota’s studio.

Gavin had thought maybe having it in his office would feel too much like he was trying to assert his authority, but now that he was here, he wondered if this qualified as ‘invading the sanctity of the studio’ or whatever words Dakota had flung at him during their first in-person meeting.

Gavin had royally, royally botched that one.

He’d stuck his foot in his mouth more times than he could count that day. But no matter how bad he felt about his assumptions that there was something inappropriate about Violet and Ned’s relationship—and God had he been wrong there!—he still didn’t like Dakota.

Gavin had managed to smooth things over with Violet, thankfully.

Over a cup of coffee, he’d apologized again and gotten to know her a little. She did seem like a lovely person—inside as well as outside—and he was glad they’d talked and cleared the air.

However, none of his attempts at winning Dakota over seemed to have worked.

Gavin had tried to strike up friendly conversations any time they passed in the hallways of HCI, but Dakota’s politeness held an undertone of barely hidden sneering dislike. He always had a reason to hurry back to his studio and never lingered any longer than was strictly necessary.

He was a frustrating mystery, that was for damn sure.

And Gavin still wasn’t convinced all this fancy-ass equipment was really going to move the needle on the team’s chances of winning. Look, he’d seen the data and yes, there were benefits to improving the guys’ strength, flexibility, and balance, no question about that.

Gavin simply wasn’t convinced it was what was going to get the team into contention again.

Still, he’d been surprised by Dakota’s request for a meeting and was hopeful they might put some of the animosity behind them.

“Dakota?” Gavin said again, venturing through the door and peering around.

The studio was empty this time of day.

It was shaped like a long rectangle, with mirrored walls, mats spread out on the floor, and rows of the low Pilates reformer machines and the taller ones that really, really looked like strange, kinky sex beds.

“Yes?” Dakota said, emerging from a doorway set into the side wall and startling him.

“Ahh, just here for our meeting,” Gavin said.

Dakota’s gaze swept over him, and he narrowed his eyes like he was taking in Gavin’s shorts and muscle shirt and finding them wanting.

“Well, you certainly don’t look like you’re dressed for a meeting,” he said cooly, the smooth, rich tone of his voice flowing over Gavin.

Shit .

Gavin had hoped meeting him in his own space, in more casual wear, would bring the tension down a little. Instead, it seemed to have done the opposite.

Dakota always seemed effortlessly casual and put together. Sort of … elegantly collected and a little imperious. Haughty was the word for it, maybe.

Except when he’d been rightly tearing Gavin a new one for what he’d said about his hiring.

“I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone and get in a workout after we were done here,” he explained. “Apologies if my look offends you.”

Dakota crossed his arms over his chest. “Ever tried Pilates?”

Gavin eyed the sex swing contraption warily. “Can’t say I have.”

“Any interest?”

“Not really?” he hedged, figuring that was better than an outright no. “Pretty happy with my current cardio and weights routine.”

He resisted the urge to flex.

“Mmm.” Dakota pursed his lips again, obviously unimpressed. “Well, my office is this way, if you’re ready.”

“Sure,” Gavin said, stepping forward.

Dakota threw him a look over his shoulder. “Shoes are not permitted within the studio. As I clearly stated on the sign by the door. Please leave them on the mat there.”

“Right.” Gavin bent over, wincing at the pull in his hamstrings as he tugged at the laces on his sneakers. “Sorry.”

They knotted, because of course they did, and Dakota watched him with a cool, dispassionate stare that left Gavin feeling like a hopeless idiot.

After he’d finally fumbled enough to work them loose and kicked the shoes off, he dropped the sneakers on the mat beside a pair of smaller brown ankle boots. Dakota’s, presumably.

When Gavin followed Dakota into his office, he blinked in surprise at the décor.

Dakota had certainly made it his own in a very short period of time.

There was what looked like a handwoven tapestry on the wall behind the desk, a cream-colored rug below it, and a plethora of plants and polished crystals hanging in front of the wide window.

Ugh, just as Gavin suspected. He was one of those guys.

Gavin fought off the urge to sneer at the large chunk of purple crystal on the desk.

Instead, he glanced up at Dakota, who was studying his face, eyes narrowed.

“So,” Gavin said, clearing his throat and trying to get this situation under control. “What was it you wanted to meet with me about?”

“Your denial of my request for additional equipment for the studio.”

Gavin took a deep breath. “While I understand that it’s important to you, we’ve already spent a great deal on what you currently have. It simply isn’t in the budget to expand it at the moment.”

“But it’s necessary ,” Dakota said calmly.

“According to you.”

“With twenty-three players on the roster at any given time, there are waits to use the equipment.”

“That’s hardly unusual. We don’t have twenty-three squat racks or bikes in the gym either,” Gavin pointed out. “Guys take turns. That’s why we have them alternating gym time and studio time. It’s been working well so far.”

“According to whom ?” Dakota asked, his voice rising. “Have you spoken to the players?”

“I’ve spoken to Connor.” He probably should have talked to more guys but he’d been very busy lately and Connor was usually on top of things. He would have said something if there was a problem, right?

Dakota stifled a sigh. “Yes, well, it’s fine at the times Connor typically works out, but guys like Jesse and Kady—who are the ones who benefit the most as goaltenders —are struggling to get in.”

“Be that as it may, Dakota, I can’t make money magically appear out of thin air,” Gavin snapped. “Your budget for the season is set and to find more, that means cuts need to be made elsewhere. Your sister is in accounting. Ask her how that works if you can’t seem to grasp it.”

Dakota flinched at Gavin’s barbed words about budgeting.

Did he … did he know about Dakota’s financial situation?

Sure, the organization ran background checks on people they were hiring. They needed to be sure trainers and instructors could be trusted to keep guys’ medical information private and that they weren’t vulnerable to attempts to bribe them to get that info.

And Dakota knew his nearly empty bank account and mountain of debt had looked bad, but clearly, they’d been willing to overlook it. Dakota had explained the situation during his interview with the HR woman, showing he was taking steps to get his life back on track.

Had Gavin been privy to that information? Was he sneering and poking fun at Dakota’s private life ?

“I understand how budgeting works,” he said stiffly. “But I’m struggling to do my job with the resources I have. If you want results?—”

Gavin scoffed, a sneer crossing his handsome face. “Frankly, I’m not convinced these methods are worth what we’ve already invested?—”

“I can show you the data,” Dakota argued. “If you’ll take the time to look at?—”

“Look, I’m not denying it can be helpful,” he said. “I’m just saying it remains to be seen if the investment will pay off. I need to see some results before I’m willing to invest in more equipment .”

“Ughh.” Dakota resisted the urge to throw the chunk of amethyst at Gavin’s stupid, handsome face.

It wouldn’t be a big loss since Dakota had only placed the crystal on his desk because it had been a ‘welcome to the Harriers’ present from Violet—one of their stupid inside jokes. He really wasn’t a crystal guy—though he did like the rainbows of light the glass prisms in the windows threw out when the sun hit them—something she found endlessly funny.

“C’mon, you’ve gotta look like your typical yoga instructors,” she’d teased. “With your chakra balancing crystals and aromatherapy sound baths. How else will the guys know you’re legit?”

He’d shot her a dirty look and reminded her when it came to hockey players, that would likely have the opposite effect.

But I probably shouldn’t throw stuff at my boss’s head , Dakota thought with an internal sigh. Even if Gavin Racine was immensely irritating with his little digs about budgeting.

Dakota forced himself to take a deep breath and look Gavin in the eye. His … unfortunately pretty hazel eyes. “I understand why you’re skeptical about the efficacy of this training. Your hockey training was in a vastly different era, and?—”

Gavin bristled. “Are you calling me old ?”

“What?” Dakota asked, bewildered, because he actually hadn’t been trying to insult the guy. Sure, he was turning silver at the temples and along his jaw, but he was only in his early forties, if Dakota remembered right.

Still pretty young.

“I know training methods have changed over the years,” Gavin said tightly. “That’s why I hire experts to advise me on this.”

“Then why aren’t you treating me like I’m a fucking expert?” Dakota asked, leaning forward. “Is it my age? I know I’m relatively young, but I am?—”

“It’s not your age I’m concerned about. It’s your lack of experience working with hockey teams.” Gavin leaned forward too.

Dakota gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to call him a former lunkhead hockey dude who, despite all of his claims, had no idea how much sports training had changed in the past two decades. “I have plenty of experience working with hockey players in the off-season. You aren’t willing to give me the benefit of the doubt!”

“Excuse me?” Violet said, sounding vaguely alarmed. “Am I interrupting something?”

Dakota abruptly sat back and saw Gavin do the same, belatedly realizing they had nearly been nose-to-nose, so intent on getting their point across they were attempting to encroach on each other’s personal space.

Ugh, and once again, he’d let himself get worked up and lose his temper.

This was what he got after years of more or less being his own boss. Dakota had co-owned the yoga studio with his ex, so he was used to arguments over budgets and equipment leading to makeup sex.

Surely that was why he was a little flushed as he glanced away from Gavin to look at his sister.

Right?