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“They’re very good. I’m more optimistic and pleased with the progress that we’ve made in the past few months than I have in the seven years I’ve worked for the Raptors. Things are looking up.”

“That’s great to hear.”

“I know we lost McCabe, and that’s a big loss,” he says. “But I have a lot of confidence in his vision and his staff. Have you met them before?”

I shake my head.

“You’ll love them. They’re smart and understand how to reach people in today’s world. McCabe played a significant role in changing the culture around here. Aurora and Tally will keep leading the charge, I’m sure.”

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out of my pocket. I see a text from Jason.

“I’ll meet you down there,” I say to Dan.

He nods and rounds the corner.

Jason: I want to apologize for the aircraft issue on Friday.

Me: Appreciate that.

Jason: We have a couple of planes down for maintenance right now, so if you can get your travel schedules to my assistant as early as possible, I’ll make sure we can accommodate you.

Why can’t Gannon be this easy to deal with?

Me: Great. Thanks so much.

Jason: I’ll see you Wednesday?

Me: As long as Mimi doesn’t cancel on me.

Jason: Yeah, right. See you then.

Me: Later.

I lock my screen and turn the corner. A few people are chatting away as they exit the conference room. Another group waits near the doors for the room to empty.

I straighten my tie, thinking through my impromptu welcome speech I’ll undoubtedly be expected to give, when my gaze is plucked out of the air by a pair of intimately familiar dark eyes.

My feet falter.

I flinch, my brows pulling together in confusion just before they rise in surprise.

Holy shit.

“Kelly?” I ask incredulously. What’s she doing here?

I blink a few times to see if I’m hallucinating.

Nope. She’s still there.

Kelly is somehow more beautiful than I remember.

Her hair is pulled back into a neat knot on top of her head.

Long, light gray pants make her legs appear a mile long.

A soft pink top is a stark contrast to her tanned skin.

All I can think about is how her cheeks flush that same color as she’s coming on my cock.

“Aurora, Tally,” Dan says, holding the door open. “After you, ladies.”

Kelly’s eyes grow wide, and those full lips that feel like pillows wrapped around me are pursed together in shock.

“Kelly?” I ask again.

Instead of answering me, she walks by Dan and into the conference room.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

My brain spins wildly. Chaotically. Nothing makes sense, yet it all makes perfect sense.

I don’t know why she’s here. How is that possible? Despite having so many unanswered questions and feeling scattered by that, I’m also … relieved.

“Excuse me,” I say to a man walking in my direction. From his vantage point, he had to have seen Kelly.

“Yes, Mr. Brewer.”

“Can you tell me the names of the two women just standing here? Specifically, the one in the pink top?”

He nods, happy to assist. “Absolutely. The shorter one in the black shirt is Tally Thatcher. She’s an intern in marketing. The other woman, the one in the pink top, is Aurora Johnson. She is … was? … Charlie McCabe’s assistant.”

No. Fucking. Way.

I pat him on the shoulder, my mind reeling. “Thank you for your help.”

“Absolutely. Good to see you, sir.”

I run my hand down my jaw and try to process this new piece of information.

Kelly’s name is Aurora, and she works for my family.

Kelly’s name is Aurora …

Oh my God. She did give me a fake name.

My hand drops to my side, and a thousand thoughts run through my head like wildfire.

What does this mean? Did she know who I was? Was she intentionally avoiding seeing me again?

Is this a strange coincidence?

Do my brothers know who she really is?

I stare at the conference room door, licking my lips.

Fuck.

It all makes sense to a certain degree. She was on the same flight from Nashville to Columbus, and the Raptors would’ve likely sent someone on their behalf to the same place.

She did say she was going to a conference.

I narrow my eyes, recalling our conversation from the plane.

I think she mentioned working in marketing, too.

But I didn’t see her on Saturday. Wouldn’t we have run into one another at some point? It’s like she disappeared sometime Saturday morning.

Or like she was avoiding me.

Dan pokes his head into the hallway and finds me. “We’re ready whenever you are, Mr. Brewer.”

“The other woman, the one in the pink top, is Aurora Johnson. She is … was? … Charlie McCabe’s assistant.”

I nod as a plan coalesces in my head.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to make a quick call,” I say, smirking. “It’ll just be a couple of minutes.”

“Sure. We’ll be here.”

I nod and turn away, finding Gannon’s number in my missed call log. He answers on the second ring.

“Hey,” I say before he can even say hello. “What’s the plan to replace McCabe again?”

“What?”

“McCabe. What’s the plan?”

“We’re looking for an interim replacement and hope he comes back.”

My jaw tenses. “Stop looking for his replacement.”

I hold my breath and wait for his response. Because if my brothers know that Kelly and Aurora are the same person and that she works for the hockey team, there will be a crack in Gannon’s armor. He’s a brilliant businessman, but he’s a shit liar.

“Excuse me?” he asks, completely confused.

I exhale in relief. They don’t know.

“Let me do it,” I say.

“Let you do what?”

“Let me have his job.”

He laughs. “Stop fucking around.”

“ I mean it . I can fill in for him. You said so yourself—you have no leads. You said a few days ago that you need a brother who understands hockey. I’m your guy.”

“You don’t know shit about hockey.”

“Sure, I do.”

I don’t. But things are about to get pucking fun around here.

There’s a pause. “Why? Why do you want to do this?”

“I feel bad for sending you to voicemail this morning.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Just let me do this,” I say. “My degree is in marketing, so it makes sense. And I’ll still travel if you need me to but let me handle this for the time being.”

He groans. “You know what? Fuck it. Fine.”

Score! I balk. Goal, maybe?

“I don’t even care anymore,” Gannon says. “I just don’t want to deal with it. If you want to handle the Raptors, be my guest.”

I turn around and head toward the waiting Raptors employees.

“Thanks, Gan.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

I end the call and then head to the conference room.

Let the fun begin.