Page 18 of Reputation (Toronto Royals #1)

Sitting across from Eavie, Elizabeth looked back and forth between her and Joyce, who stared at her with disbelief.

“What?” she asked.

“Based on the look on her face,” Elizabeth said, laughing, “I’m guessing that’s not true.”

Eavie looked at Joyce. “It is true! I’m not interested in anyone.”

“Well, that may be true, but someone is interested in you,” countered Joyce.

Gasping, Elizabeth looked at her again. “Oh, who is it?” she asked excitedly.

“Jax Morghan,” Joyce said, smirking on her other side.

“I’m sorry… The Jax Morghan? Captain of the Royals, Jax Morghan? Damn, he has to be one of the hottest players in the league. Hasn’t he won like a bunch of awards?”

“Yes, that Jax Morghan,” confirmed Joyce. “And he is very interested in our girl here.”

“He’s not that interested,” Eavie said defensively.

“Oh please,” she countered, “The last time I saw you two together, he couldn’t take his eyes off you. It’s like he wants to eat you for dinner. That man wants you bad.”

Elizabeth burst out laughing at the look of horror on Eavie’s face.

“He does not,” said Eavie as Joyce gave her a pointed look. “The only reason he’s shown me any attention is because after I disappeared on him, I inadvertently became, like…a challenge. He calls me Cinderella, for God’s sake.”

“What night?” Elizabeth asked, leaning forward intently. Wine glass in hand, she looked ready to absorb all the juicy details.

Eavie rubbed her temple, getting tired of having to explain this. “I met him before my new job started and may have made out with him.”

Elizabeth’s eyes lit up with excitement as her mouth opened with a wide smile. “Damn, girl,” she said with a wink.

“No,” she said firmly. “You don’t understand.

It’s very bad. I cannot get involved with a player.

” She was also tiring of reminding everyone of that very important fact.

“Listen, this is my career on the line. Positions like this rarely come up, and when they do, they only give you a one-year contract.” Maybe if she provided the whole picture, they would finally see why this was not exciting.

“The relationship with the exec has to be right, and you have to prove you can handle the specialized work. It’s basically a trial and at the end, you either get a permanent offer or they let you go. ”

“Alright,” answered Elizabeth, regarding her openly. Elizabeth had always been an excellent listener. “But what’s to say that dating him would affect whether you get an offer?”

“Because I signed a policy about internal relationships. If I date him, I’ll be breaking my contract.

They could fire me before I even make it through the year.

If that happened,” she paused, shaking her head.

“There is always the possibility I’ll do everything right and still not get the offer.

If that happened, my reputation would be the only thing I have to get another job. ”

Joyce and Elizabeth glanced at each other. Logically, Eavie knew they were on her side, but they would never understand.

Joyce was at the top of her career, an established and sought-after name in her field. Elizabeth spent her life traveling to new places, learning languages and cultures. She had seniority at her airline and had her pick of routes.

And Eavie—she had never truly been great at anything. This was her chance to prove she had what it took to make it to the top of her career path and prove…

Shaking off the thoughts, she took a deep breath. “I need this job,” she finally whispered. “It’s important to me, which means that night we met needs to stay in the past because this is my future, and I won’t risk it.”

“So, you’re not interested in him?” asked Elizabeth.

“It doesn’t matter if I am.”

“Well then, will you let me set you up with one of my regular fliers? His name is Austin, and he flies back and forth on my London to Toronto route. I’ve chatted with him a few times, and I always thought you two might hit it off,” said Elizabeth, hope flashing in her bright green eyes.

“I don’t know…I hate blind dates. Does he even live in Toronto? And what if it goes badly? Won’t that be awkward for you?” Eavie responded.

“It won’t be awkward because it won’t go badly. I’m serious. I think you guys would hit it off. He’s based in Toronto and travels to London several times a month.”

Eavie pondered her decision, looking back and forth between her friends. Biting her lip, she deliberated whether it was a good idea.

“I think you should go,” said Joyce. “You haven’t been on a date in like eight months. And longer since you’ve gotten laid. I think it would be good for you.”

“Thank you very much for pointing that out,” Eavie said, laughing at her friend’s bluntness.

Joyce smiled sassily. “You’re welcome.”

Sighing, she said, “Alright, why not,” directing the comment to Elizabeth. “You can give him my number. If he calls, I’ll go out with him.”

“Yay! Cheers to Eavie getting some action,” Elizabeth said, laughing and raising her glass.

By the time their server approached to take their food orders, they were all laughing, Eavie from embarrassment. They gave him their choices, and as he turned to go, the lights on the stage flashed, signaling the start of the first performance.

Climbing into bed when she arrived home after midnight, she lay there for a while, thinking about her conversation with the ladies earlier in the evening.

She wanted to believe she wasn’t interested in Jax, and certainly would not admit otherwise to anyone. But laying there, remembering how naturally her body reacted to him, she wondered how wrong she might be.

A date would be good for her, and hadn’t she decided she would look at finding one online?

At least Austin came vetted by Elizabeth, whom she trusted.

The chances she would get along with him were far better than if she booked a date with someone online.

As she fell asleep, she decided it would also be nice to get some action while she was at it—maybe.