Page 16 of Reputation (Toronto Royals #1)

Chapter Ten

Eavie

After a busy afternoon of welcoming VIP guests to the arena for tonight’s game and ensuring everyone was seated, Eavie retreated to the operations box, located one level below where the executive teams occupied the management box.

Sighing with relief as she sat in one of the wide, leather-covered chairs, Eavie flexed her feet, then scrunched her toes inside her heels, working out the aching muscles.

The box was on the second ring, grouped with the other two hundred-level suites with a view at center ice.

The atmosphere in the arena was charged, the air thick with a renewed excitement that always accompanied the start of a season.

The city and surrounding area had a die-hard fan base, and after the team made it to the semi-finals last year, the support had grown.

The expectation was they would make it to the finals this year.

Eavie absorbed the palpable excitement in the air as a knowingness settled in that this was her life.

During lunch, Mandy had informed her the organization had an operations box, which anyone from the office could attend.

When she’d asked Eavie if she would be interested, her immediate answer had been yes.

She’d been a fan of the sport since she was young and had spent most of her youth and teenage years watching her brother play.

Unfortunately, living so far from a city meant she could rarely attend any professional league games.

It felt surreal that she could attend any home game she wanted.

A wistful smile touched her lips as she soaked it in.

Her life, she thought, was pretty fucking great.

Mandy slid into the seat on her right, letting out an exhausted sigh.

Behind her, a woman strolled into the box, carrying three drinks.

She had thick, chocolate-brown hair that fell in tight curls around her shoulders.

She wore a white blouse tucked into a tight pencil skirt, showing off a curvy waist and hips.

She was shorter than both Eavie and Mandy, but her height with her curves suited her.

When she approached their row of chairs, she turned and smiled. “Hello, ladies.” She passed a can of beer to Mandy, then another to Eavie. “I’m Molly,” she said as she passed her a can.

“Eavie,” she introduced herself before thanking her for the beer.

Molly slid down the row and took the empty seat on Eavie’s left.

“Um, are we allowed to drink?” she asked, lifting her beer.

It felt unprofessional to drink while still technically at her office, but as she glanced around, she noticed several people in their box had drinks in their hands.

Molly gave a small laugh. “The rules here are a bit blurred. Technically, you two are off the clock. Being here is considered a social event,” she explained. “I, on the other hand, am still on the clock.” She held up her can of pomegranate San Pellegrino.

“Molly is the Director of Player Relations for the Royals,” Mandy added, not taking her eyes off the ice. “She manages the media pre and post-game…among other things.” She smirked against the rim of her can with her last comment.

Eavie turned an intrigued smile toward Molly. “ That sounds interesting,” she commented.

They both laughed. “Oh, it is,” replied Molly. “Mostly, my job consists of controlling the player’s image in the media and online. Generally in a professional capacity, but sometimes it crosses into personal bullshit.” Humor flashed in her caramel-colored eyes.

“How long have you been with the team?” Eavie asked.

“Just over five years,” she answered, “but I’ve only been in my current role for two. Before then, I was a media manager.”

Molly’s phone buzzed from where she’d secured it in the waistband of her skirt. Taking it out, she read the message and typed a rapid response before dropping it into the cup holder beside her.

“So, Eavie,” Molly said, looking back at her as she sipped her sparkling water. “How have your first couple of days been?”

“Busy,” she said with a laugh. Mandy snorted beside her. “But I didn’t expect anything else given the timing.”

“Yeah, it gets crazy around here between training camp and the season’s first game.”

“Cheers to us for making it to opening night,” Mandy hyped, raising her can.

As they lifted their drinks and clinked, Molly added, “And to Eavie. Glad you came back for day two!”

Eavie laughed. “It takes more than that to scare me away,” she said as they all sipped their various beverages.

Just then, the overhead lights in the arena went down, and the strobes began flashing blue and white. The roar in the arena became deafening.

“Here we go…” murmured Mandy as the three stood to watch the players enter at the announcer’s introduction.

The fans cheered for each player as they entered the ice, but the loudest chorus came when Jax’s name was announced. This was his second year as captain, and he always received a boisterous welcome from the crowds.

Looking around the arena, she noticed several young women glancing at the jumbo screen in the center, then giggling to their friends.

Internally, she shook her head at the effect he had on women.

Jax Morghan was a known ladies’ man. She had seen photos of him with different women, and he never stayed with any of them for too long.

He was a man who enjoyed the chase, but once he caught a woman, he was no longer interested.

Eavie would bet money Molly could tell her some excellent stories about media clean-ups she had done regarding the women who came and went from Jax’s life.

That thought served as a bucket of ice water over the heat that rushed through her when his name had been called and reminded her why she would not, could not, get involved with him.

Even if her job and career were not an issue, she was not the type for a brief affair.

If his history told her anything, she knew that would be all he could offer her.

Disappointment and a little sadness stung her throat, but she firmly pushed the bitterness away, refusing to acknowledge it.

The game started shortly after, and the trio sat together, watching intently. It was a nail-biter from the start, but the Royals kept the Volts at bay. Despite the close score throughout most of the game, they held on to win 3-1.

Following the final buzzer, there was always media coverage and press conferences, where some select players and the coaches would answer post-game questions.

Molly went directly to the media room, where clusters of reporters would begin gathering as Mandy and Eavie made their way to intercept Sam and Jason before following them downstairs.

When they arrived on the concourse level, the noise traveling down the hallway from the locker room vibrated between the walls. Music with a heavy base blasted from the room, the pulse vibrating through the stone walls and floor into her chest. Over the noise, shouts and chants flooded toward them.

Rightfully, the players were pumped with the opening win, celebrating the positive start to the season.

Jason and Sam continued into the locker room while Mandy and Eavie waited in the hallway, neither feeling the need to enter the hot, smelly space despite the appeal of fit, half-naked hockey players.

Be professional , Eavie reminded herself as the images intruded on her thoughts. It must have been longer than she’d realized since she’d had any action if an imaginary shirtless image got her going. She should really take care of that at some point.

“Is it always like this after a game?” Eavie asked, trying to distract her lonely libido.

Mandy shook her head. “The players are normally excited after a win, but this is a whole other level.”

“Do they go out after?”

“Sometimes, depending on the schedule. The next game is a few days away, and it’s at home, so they’ll probably go to Orbit. It’s the bar across the street. You should see the lineup of people wanting to get in. Everyone wants to party with the city’s pro players.” She rolled her eyes.

At that moment, a handful of players dressed in t-shirts and shorts emerged from the locker room. Despite their changes in clothes and baseball hats on their heads, they were still sweaty from the game. Coach followed the players, heading down the hall to the press room.

Some players who weren’t selected for media duty spilled out into the hallway, many still shirtless, bringing Eavie’s hormonal brain to life. They were all very fit and not shy about showing it off.

She passed a knowing look to Mandy, who smiled and winked. Neither of them felt particularly uncomfortable with half-naked athletes walking around. They were both thoroughly enjoying the view.

Just then, Jax emerged from the locker room, joking with Savard.

He, too, was shirtless, trying to cool off from the game he’d just played.

Eavie’s mouth watered at the sight. My god, he was…

a statue brought to life. There was no other way to describe it.

He looked like he had been carved from stone.

A light sheen of sweat coated his chest and abs, which glistened and rippled under the bright pot lights.

The lines of his body shifted as he walked, causing her eyes to track each small movement of flesh and muscle.

The all-too-brief contact they’d shared at the bar did not do him justice.

His chest was broad and thick, with muscle flowing into defined biceps that pushed against his skin without him flexing.

The smattering of dark hair across his pecs trailed down onto his chiseled abs.

From the quick pass of her eyes, she could see eight muscles ripple like a ladder down into a tight V that rudely disappeared into the waistband of his shorts, sitting teasingly low on his hips.

With his dark, sweat-tousled hair and sharp jaw, he looked like every dark desire come to life.

She swallowed, attempting to control her suddenly salivating mouth.

At the sight of his beautiful form, Eavie’s blood began to pump like lava through her body, and she was momentarily worried drool might fall from her mouth.

Snapping her eyes back up from their obvious perusal, her gaze magnetized with his.

Seeing her, he turned immediately and headed straight for her.

“Hey, Cinderella,” he said, flashing his devastating smile as he stopped in front of them. Shifting his gaze to Mandy, he added, “Hey, Mandy. Always a pleasure to see you after a game.”

“Jax,” Mandy said, returning his smile. “Great game tonight.”

“Not bad for the first of the season. Lots of work to do, but it feels good to start with a win,” he answered.

Eavie watched them as they chatted, curious about how comfortable Mandy seemed and how casual Jax acted. His smile was warm and open. There was no sign of the smirk or devilish glint in his eye that always reflected on his face when he spoke with her.

He finally turned his sharp eyes back to Eavie. As he did, his smile transformed into one that was knowing and…smug.

Why did he act differently around her? Had he acted the same with Mandy at first, too? Or were they always just friendly? Again, it gave her pause—something about these two versions of him not fitting together.

“Will I see you both tonight at Orbit?” he asked, staring directly into her eyes.

He stood close enough to make her body sing for him. Every fiber of her being wanted to take that last step in and press herself against him, but she kept her feet firmly rooted in place.

Eavie could feel Mandy watching her—watching them, but Jax’s gaze held her.

Logic and desire warred within her as she gazed into his ensnaring eyes.

Luckily, her brain was stronger, coming out on top tonight, screaming over the incapacitating rush of want in her melted core, that she should stay far, far away from him.

Slamming her walls back up, she finally answered, “You will not.”

Jax’s smile deepened, his gaze tracking her face as if he could see beneath, to the heat that burned within her. As he stepped back, he said, “Too bad. Orbit has some nice dark corners.”

“What happened to co-workers?” Eavie scowled, bristling at his manner once again.

“People can talk in dark corners just as well as they can…” he paused, his eyes darkening, “Do other things.” With a wink, he turned, heading back to the locker room.

Fuck me. She knew all too well the things he could do in dark corners.

His comment had all sorts of dirty thoughts flipping through her mind as her body ignited with an aching desire, desperate to pick up where they had left off. Refusing to let him see any of that, she narrowed her eyes and gave him her best unimpressed look.

When he walked away, she was granted an excellent view of his backside, which was just as impressive as the front. She could see the ripples of muscles in his back and shoulders while his ass flexed with every step.

After a moment, she caught herself and spun away, coming face to face with Mandy, who was watching her with a serious look.

“What?” Eavie asked, trying to look innocent.

“What was that?”

Eavie pursed her lips. “Nothing,” she said, crossing her arms.

Mandy blinked at her, silence settling around them for a few heartbeats. “You know you can’t get involved with him,” she said.

“Of course I know that,” Eavie answered, surprised that Mandy felt she needed to remind her. She wasn’t sure what made her think she was interested in him.

“Then tell me what that was about. Why did he call you Cinderella ? Do you two know each other?”

Eavie sighed, figuring she might as well tell her the truth. Well, maybe an edited version.

“Not exactly. I met him at a bar the night I signed the contract to work with the Royals. When we first started talking, I had no idea who he was,” she said, looking in the direction he had gone. “As soon as I found out, I left. And I don’t know why he calls me that.”

Liar , a voice in her head cackled. You know exactly why he calls you that .

Despite being embarrassed about getting caught ogling Jax’s body, Eavie tried to laugh it off. “And I’m only a woman. No mortal could resist looking. But I’m not interested in him. I was appreciating the scenery,” she said cheekily, hoping it would distract Mandy.

She let out a snort. “Okay, as long as you know.” She shot Eavie an I’ll pretend like I believe you look.

Eavie was well aware about what was on the line for her. Too bad Jax made risking her career and reputation far too tempting.