Page 6 of Power Play Daddies (Miami Icemen #1)

CHAPTER FIVE

Daisy

I take a deep breath, straightening my skirt for what feels like the hundredth time as I stand outside the door of Ace’s office.

The hallway’s quiet, almost too quiet. I know this is a big deal, but I’m still not sure what’s going to happen.

My uncle wanted to meet here instead of the restaurant. I knew the risk, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I wasn’t expecting to see Beau so soon, though. It’s like the universe has a twisted sense of humor.

And it has been so long since I saw my uncle. Not since the funeral. Not since everything. Damn, that day was awkward. The air between us was thick, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Hug? Shake hands? I almost wanted to avoid him entirely, but that would’ve been impossible.

“All right, Daisy, get it together,” I mutter under my breath, holding onto the words I’ve been using lately to ground myself. “I’m confident. I’ve got this. I’m ready.”

I knock once on the door, then step back, waiting for the sound of movement inside. My stomach’s doing flips.

“Come in,” a gruff voice says from the other side.

The door swings open with a soft creak, and there’s Ace, sitting there in a black leather chair behind his desk. He’s still got that air of authority, and it’s hard not to see him as my uncle, even though it’s been so long.

His dark eyes assess me, and there’s a flicker of something in his gaze that I can’t quite place.

“Daisy,” he says, his voice rough around the edges like always, but there’s something softer in it now. “You look… grown up.” He quickly stands.

I can’t help but laugh, though it sounds nervous. “Well, you don’t look too bad yourself.” I’m sure I’m blushing, but I hope he doesn’t notice.

There’s an awkward silence, and neither of us makes a move. Not a hug. Not a handshake. Just two people standing in the same room, trying to navigate the tension.

“So, uh… how’ve you been?” he asks, sitting back down, arms crossed. I’m almost surprised he’s asking, given everything between him and my dad.

“I’m good.” It’s the easy answer. It’s always the easy answer. “How about you?”

He shrugs, glancing away for a second. “You know how it is. Busy.”

I’m trying not to read too much into that, but it’s hard not to. He kept his distance after everything that happened with my dad. I hadn’t been able to make peace between them. Guess some things don’t change.

I clear my throat, pushing past the discomfort. “Is now a good time to talk?”

“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.” He waves a hand toward the chair opposite his desk, like I’m supposed to sit, and I do. The chair creaks beneath me, and I shift uncomfortably. “What’s on your mind?”

This is it. My pitch. I’ve rehearsed this a thousand times, but now that I’m sitting here in front of him, I’m not sure where to start.

“Okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “So, I want to do a story about the team. You know, get an inside look at what it’s like behind the scenes. The lives of the players, how they train, what makes them tick. It’s a different angle—something fresh, you know?”

He raises an eyebrow, and I swear the room gets colder. “And you’re asking me for access to the team?”

I nod, swallowing. “Yeah. I’d be able to give the paper a really unique piece. Something that’s not just fluff. Something people will actually want to read. And… this could help me, too. My career. The paper’s not doing well, and this could bring in a ton of attention. It’s a win-win situation.”

Ace doesn’t respond right away, just stares at me like he’s sizing me up. “Why now? Why’s this paper suddenly so interested in the team? And why you?”

I’m quick to respond, my words tumbling out.

“It’s not just about the paper. I’m serious.

I’m not trying to use this as some gimmick.

I’ve been with them for years, but right now, it’s more about the opportunity.

This could help turn things around. I don’t want to fail. And this? This is my chance.”

He exhales, like he’s annoyed, but there’s something softer in the way he looks at me.

It’s almost like he’s hearing me, even if he’s not entirely convinced. “Look, Daisy, these guys… they don’t like attention. The players want to keep their lives private. It’s a tight-knit team, and the last thing they need is someone poking around with a camera.”

I understand where he’s coming from. I’ve been around professional sports players enough to know that, yeah, they value their privacy. But this could be the breakthrough I need.

“I get that. I do. But I’m not going to push them into anything they’re not comfortable with. I’ll only publish what they agree to. If they want to keep things under wraps, that’s fine. But, Ace… if I don’t get this opportunity, I don’t know how long we can keep the paper afloat.”

He shifts in his chair, clearly thinking it over. For a moment, he doesn’t say anything, and I swear I can feel the weight of his silence in the room. Finally, he speaks.

“Okay. Fine. You’ve got your shot. But you stick to the professional line. Don’t make this personal. Don’t try to turn it into some… drama piece.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Of course. It’s business. Just business.”

He nods, but I can see the skepticism in his eyes. “You can start tomorrow. You get to bring one cameraman with you. And they need to be cleared by me. You can’t record any of the guys without telling them first. Got it?”

I nod eagerly. “Got it. Thanks, Uncle Ace. I won’t let you down.”

He doesn’t smile, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes. “I’ll be watching. And you better keep it professional. No games. The Icemen never give exclusives, and that’s for good reason. Don’t make my boys look bad. Don’t make me look bad.”

“Of course.” I stand, but not before I glance at him. “Thanks. Really. I appreciate it.”

He waves me off like it’s nothing. “No problem. Just get it right.”

I can feel the tension in the air as I leave his office. The whole damn meeting was a mix of awkwardness and relief. He’s giving me the chance I need, but there’s still something off between us. Something unresolved. And maybe it’ll always be there. Who knows?

Still, I’m smiling as I walk out of the building, my heart racing for all the right reasons. Yeah, I’m nervous. But I’m also excited. This could be my big break, and I’m not going to let Beau—or anyone else—ruin it for me.

Tomorrow’s going to be big.

I’m in my tiny kitchen, frying steaks while Logan lounges on the couch with a glass of wine.

Slim is curled up in his lap, purring like a motorboat, and Logan’s just scratching behind his ears, all relaxed.

I’ve never been more grateful for his presence in my life.

I’ve been dying to tell him about the meeting, so I called him right after I called my boss. He didn’t hesitate to drop everything and come over. That’s what I love about him. He’s always got my back, no questions asked.

Logan takes another sip of wine, tilts his head, and looks at me with that mischievous grin. “Okay, seriously, tell me again what happened. You were all over the place on that voicemail. I barely got any useful info.”

I roll my eyes, flipping the steak in the pan with a sizzle. “I wasn’t all over the place, I was just… figuring it out. You know? Anyway, Beau thinks our one-night stand was for a scoop. Like, seriously? He thinks I slept with him to get a story.”

Logan chokes on his wine and coughs, half-laughing. “What? No way. That’s… fucking ridiculous.”

“Right?” I say, setting the steak on the plate. “I mean, I didn’t even know if I was going to be working on the team piece until—well, until today. It’s just… annoying that he jumped to that conclusion. Like, why would I make it about a story? I barely even knew him.”

Logan sets his glass down, pushing Slim off his lap, which doesn’t go over well. The cat’s a little offended, but he only growls lightly. Logan stands up and starts poking through my fridge, pulling out random veggies.

“You gotta understand his position, Daisy,” he says, retrieving a cucumber and an eggplant. “I mean, Beau’s probably thinking you were playing him. You’re a journalist, right? He’s got a reputation to keep up. But still, the guy’s a fucking asshole.”

I laugh. “Yeah, but come on. Who the hell thinks that after one night? I’m not some?—”

He cuts me off. “Oh, wait. Let’s pause here. How tall is he? Six foot three? Big guy, right?”

I blink at him, not sure where this is going. “Uh, yeah, I guess so. Why?”

Logan’s face lights up with a wicked grin, and he holds up the cucumber like it’s a weapon. “So, how big was his cock?”

I snort. “Are you seriously asking me that?”

Logan shrugs, not even a little sorry. “You brought it up. I’m just asking for the details.” He holds the cucumber up to his face, like it’s a standard unit of measurement. “I mean, we need to know. Was it worth all this drama?”

I can’t help but laugh. It feels so damn good to have him here, cracking jokes and making everything seem lighter than it is. I grab the eggplant and hold it up. “You’re unbelievable,” I say, but it’s all affection. “You’re saying this thing is like his… cock?”

He rummages through the fridge some more, tossing out other veggies. “Nope. This is what I’m talking about,” he says, pulling out a big zucchini. “This one’s more his speed.”

“Are you seriously making me look at vegetables to figure out how big Beau is?” I ask, laughing. I’m shaking my head. “This is so fucking ridiculous, Logan.”

He just shrugs, grabbing a couple more veggies and stacking them. “I’m just saying, when you figure it out, let me know.” He winks at me, all playful.

I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling now. I feel so much better than I did earlier. This is why I wanted Logan here—because no matter what happens, he can always make things feel less… heavy. He’s the one person who gets me.

“Thanks,” I mutter, putting the steaks on the table. “I really needed this.”

He pops a grape tomato into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “No problem. You’re gonna kick ass with this project. I mean, shit, if you can handle the drama with Beau, the rest is a walk in the park.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not just Beau.” I poke the steak with a fork, distracted. “It’s… everything. The team. Ace. The damn pressure. I’m excited, but I’m also freaking out.”

Logan grabs his glass of wine and walks over to the table, sitting down. “You’ve got this, Daisy. I mean, if anyone can handle a hot mess of a situation, it’s you. And if Beau gets in your way, I’ll take care of it for you.”

I stare at him, amused. “Really? You’re gonna take care of Beau for me?”

“Hey, I’ve got my ways,” Logan says with a smirk, lifting his glass to me. “But seriously, you need to remember you’re in control here. This is your project, your career.”

I clink my glass against his, the sound ringing through the quiet apartment. “Thanks. You’re right. I can’t let him or anyone else screw this up for me.”

Logan leans back in his chair, looking all casual but with a glint in his eyes. “Hell yeah, you can’t. But for now, let’s just enjoy these steaks and not talk about his massive cock anymore, yeah?”

I burst out laughing, holding my stomach. “You’re insane.”

“Yeah, but you love me for it.”

“You’re lucky I do.” We dive into the food, the conversation turning to something lighter, and for the first time today, I feel like I can finally breathe.