Page 11 of On Thin Ice (Calgary Mounties #1)

Chapter Ten

HAPPY TO PLAY ALL THE GAMES YOU WANT

Adele

Once Lincoln joins the rest of his teammates at the table they’ve set up for them to sign merch for the kids, I take over the Milo show.

Taking him by the lead, Kylie and I walk him towards a group of older children who have been watching everything from their wheelchairs.

“What’s his name?” A boy with a mess of brown curls asks, looking up at me while he pats Milo’s head.

The dog moves closer and places his head in the boy’s lap, and a grin slowly spreads across his face while he continues stroking Milo’s ears.

“Milo,” I reply, smiling back.

It’s heartbreaking seeing all these sick kids.

Childhood is a time for climbing trees and scraping knees, not lying in hospital beds and learning medical terminology that even adults would struggle with.

It really is good to see the team spend time with them all and give them something to smile about.

“I’ve seen videos from other teams with dogs as their mascots. I didn’t realize the Mounties had one as well,” one of the mothers says, placing a hand over her chest when Milo snuggles further into the boy’s lap.

“Oh, he’s not the team mascot. He’s just Lincoln O’Malley’s dog,” Kylie replies.

“Well, I’m sure the fans would love to see more of Milo. O’Malley is a fan favourite, I’m sure they’d lap that up. I work in social media marketing and honestly, that dog is a gold mine. Dog and cat videos, that’s where it’s at.”

With everything going on, it’s a relief to hear that the fans still love Lincoln. The news of his video hasn’t really broken yet, and the team lawyers seem to be doing a fairly good job of keeping it contained. Maybe we don’t need to do this whole pretend relationship thing after all?

Kylie and I exchange a look before I reply. “I’ll let him know. Not sure he’d have time to manage a social media account, he barely posts on his own most of the time.”

“Well, isn’t he your dog, too? You could do it if he’s too busy?”

I’m a little thrown at the assumption that because I’m not a hockey player I must have all the time in the world to post videos of a dog online.

Thankfully, I’m saved from responding when Sarah waves us over.

“You had a panicked look on your face, everything okay?” Sarah asks once Kylie and I make our way over to her.

“Yeah, Adele was just trying to fend off requests for Milo to have his own social media account,” Kylie says, shaking her head.

Sarah cocks her head to the side, a thoughtful look on her face.

That look does not fill me with confidence. In fact, now I’m scared when she fixes her eyes on mine .

“Well, our account has been lighting up since I posted the videos of Seth and Lincoln batting the puck around with him ten minutes ago. Seems like the fans are loving that we’ve got ourselves a doggy mascot. Do you think you could talk to Lincoln about it?”

“Talk to him about what?” I ask, confused.

“Starting an official social media account for Milo under the team umbrella.”

I stare at Sarah for a few moments. “But what would he even post?”

“We could film a bunch of videos of him at the arena, maybe bring him along to a few games. He’s such a good dog; people would love it. We’ve been trying to find new ways for fans to interact with the team, and who doesn’t love a golden retriever?”

When I’d suggested bringing Milo along, I had no idea I’d be launching his influencer career.

I’m a little nervous about what Lincoln might have to say about it.

As much as he is a big goofball, he values his privacy.

Having his dog all over the internet probably doesn’t fit with that quiet life he strives for, especially after that psycho reporter broke into his apartment and scared the crap out of poor Milo while she made herself right at home in Lincoln’s bed.

Sarah leans over, dropping her voice. “And between you and me, it might help with the whole image thing.”

I stare at her for a moment, my heart sinking a little when I realize she must know about the video. I guess she’s senior management and probably was told to make sure no comments popped up anywhere about the video.

“We’ll talk to Lincoln about it, but I doubt he’s going to have time to manage all the work that goes with it once the season starts next week,” I reply, hoping that’s enough to derail Sarah’s little scheme .

“Oh, of course not. I thought I’d pay you as a contractor to do it.”

I feel my eyes widen while I gape at her. “What?”

“I know how much work goes into managing a social media account and creating content. If we bring the Milo account under the franchise umbrella, I’d be able to handle the PR side of things with my team.

You’d just handle the daily updates and all of that.

We can talk money once you convince Lincoln, but I’m sure he’d go for it.

And it wouldn’t be that hard for you, seeing as you guys are dating. You’ll be with Milo all the time.”

We’ve been fake dating for three hours and already I’m regretting the lies we have to tell. But I have to admit, the idea of working with the team is pretty exciting. Even if it is just as Milo’s stage-mom.

“I’ll talk to Lincoln, and he can let you know if he’s interested or not. Ultimately, any decisions about Milo are up to him.”

Sarah nods and wanders off again, camera raised to snap more photos of the players with the kids.

I let out a breath and turn to look at Kylie. “That’s crazy, right? I can’t possibly manage what will probably be a massive social media account as well as everything I have to do with work.”

“Well, I mean, Sarah did say they’d handle all the PR side.

And I’m sure that would include responding to comments and stuff.

You’ve already got a thousand photos and videos of Milo on your phone, so it wouldn’t be that hard.

And you were saying you needed to find something to do to fill your free time. ”

“I guess… There isn’t any point in thinking about it though, because I seriously don’t think Lincoln will go for it. He’s like Seth when it comes to his privacy. ”

“He never used to be, you know. I think the line of crazies he’s been with in recent years really gave his confidence a hit.

When I met him on that holiday, he took a million photos and Seth said he’d uploaded all of them to his official account.

It’s only been the last year or so that he’s stopped doing that.

This might be another good thing that comes from this whole thing between the two of you.

Help him get that sense of security back. ”

“Excuse me.” I turn away from Kylie to find an older man standing right behind me. It takes me a moment to place where I know him from, but after I second, I realize it’s the team’s general manager, Alistair Evans.

I swallow hard as he runs his eyes over me, and not in a ‘wow, you’re hot’ kind of way. No, this is definitely more of a ‘I know you’re up to something shady’ look.

He’s clearly suspicious.

“Hi,” I squeak out, before clearing my throat.

“So… It’s rather convenient that O’Malley has found himself a girlfriend all of a sudden.” Accusation flashes across his face, and I’m like a deer caught in headlights.

Kylie moves to my side and squeezes my hand gently as she answers for me. “Oh, it’s not all of a sudden, Alistair. Lincoln has known my cousin for years and they started dating a few months ago.”

As the captain’s wife, she’s on a first name basis with most of the team staff and higher ups, and she speaks confidently as the lie tumbles easily off her tongue. I, on the other hand, am wishing that the ground would swallow me whole.

Alistair continues to survey me, his eyes narrowed, seemingly unconvinced, before turning back to Kylie.

“Well, I’m sure you would know all the finer details of Lincoln’s relationships, Ms. Anderson.” The level of disrespect in his tone makes me bristle, and I clear my throat .

“Actually, it’s Mrs. Davidson now,” I correct him, crossing my arms and standing up to my full height.

He turns to look back at me, like a cat staring down the mouse he intends to eat. “What?”

I refuse to let him see how intimidating I find him. “It’s Mrs. Davidson now, remember?”

“Ah yes, the wedding. The one where, if I recall, you had a fiancé? One who wasn’t O’Malley.”

Crap. I’d forgotten he’d been at the wedding.

“ Had would be the important word there. As in ‘I had a fiancé’. We broke up. And now I’m with Lincoln. Relationships end all the time, it’s not all that unusual.”

I stare him down, willing myself to appear unaffected by his judgement.

He sweeps another cold, calculating look over both of us. “Well, you’d better be prepared to follow him when his contract is up. Because I doubt we’ll be resigning him again after that whole sex tape nonsense. Which you seem awfully fine with.” He smirks. “Unless you didn’t know, of course?”

Jesus, who talks like this?

Now I’m just angry.

“I’d follow him anywhere. And of course I know about the tape. What Lincoln did before we were together is of no concern to me, and we don’t have secrets,” I reply.

He huffs a laugh that doesn’t reach his cold, dead eyes. “How very honourable of you. We’ll see how well you handle it all if the media ever catches wind of it, though.” He looks over at the reporters gathered behind the team, taking notes and filming the players signing the merch for the kids.

His meaning is clear, and I don’t like the idea that he is threatening Lincoln’s career for the sake of the team’s reputation.

I’ve been a hockey fan my whole life and know that there is more to the Mounties than just putting on a show of supporting their players.

Alistair has only been the general manager for a few years, and I’ve noticed a distinct change in the image they portray since his arrival.

But it looks like that warm, family friendly atmosphere is all just an act.

Or just saved for their straight players.

With a final look at both of us, he turns and walks off to talk to Coach Stephens, and I feel like I can finally breathe again.

Kylie turns to high-five me. “Wow, that was impressive. I almost believed you.”

The rage continues to swirl inside my chest while my gaze follows the older man’s back.

“How fucking dare he threaten Lincoln’s career like that? I’m ready to throw down,” I reply, and Kylie’s eyes widen.

“Wow, you actually care about him.”

“Of course I care about him. He’s my friend.”

She studies my face for a moment before nodding slowly. “Okay, if you say so. Come on, the guys are finishing up. Let’s not let Alistair ruin what’s been a good morning.”

I follow her gaze towards the table where the guys have finished signing the stuff for the kids and are getting to their feet.

Lincoln is watching me closely, and I wonder if he saw what just happened.

I follow Kylie towards them, keeping Milo close.

He leans his head against my leg, and I get the feeling he’s offering me a little support.

After that exchange, I’m more determined than ever to play this fake girlfriend role perfectly for Lincoln.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asks when I come to a stop beside him.

I put on the sunniest smile I can manage. “Yep.”

He casts a wary eye over my face, and I can tell he doesn’t quite believe me.

Stepping closer, I place my hand on his chest and look up at him. His eyes widen slightly when I rise on my tip toes and brush my lips against his. Thankfully, he contains his surprise fairly well, placing his hand on my lower back and holding me close for a beat before I lower my heels back down.

“Do I want to know what that was for?” he murmurs into my ear.

I pat his chest. “Just playing the game, big guy.”

That gets me a grin.

“Happy to play all the games you want, Addie.”

It shouldn’t make me so happy to hear him use the nickname that only my family uses, but I can’t help the little flutter in my belly at hearing it.

I’m definitely going to have to have a good talk with myself in the mirror later and remind myself that this is all just an act.