Page 3 of Reputation (Toronto Royals #1)

Chapter Two

Jax

Jax Morghan leaned his forearms on the upper-level railing inside the trendy bar.

The cold iron bit into his muscles as he held a beer carefully between his palms, his gaze roaming the crowded room below.

It was so congested with finance bros and women decked out in voguish corporate attire that the place must be close to capacity.

The women’s high-waisted, flowy pants made the space between bodies look non-existent in the seductive lighting and matched the taupe-colored slacks all the guys seemed to favor.

At least they had left their Patagonia vests at their offices, allowing their different colored shirts to set them apart—if you could call various shades and patterns of blue different.

He observed the patrons below with the same calculating scrutiny he used to size up an opposing player on the ice. He silently judged them as he chatted with Anton Balakin, nicknamed Tony, a veteran defenseman from his team.

Tony was relaying a story about his three-year-old daughter’s latest mischief. As Jax listened, laughing at his description of Analise’s toddler shenanigans, Jax found his gaze returning again and again to the blonde at the back of the room.

He’d been watching her from the moment she’d appeared through the curtained doors, seizing his attention instantly, like a rare blue rose among a field of common red ones. He was so uncharacteristically captivated by her that he couldn’t pull his mind, or eyes, away for more than a few seconds.

From his position on the second floor, he had a clear view of her over the heads of the other patrons.

His eyes swept the contours of her face and figure repeatedly, and each time, the only word he could think of to describe her was bombshell .

He’d certainly felt like the room had rocked when she’d walked in.

Her golden hair was long and thick, the shiny hue reflecting the soft glow of the filament bulbs hanging from the contemporary light fixtures.

As she’d moved through the bar, he’d noticed her long, elegant legs clad in tight black pants, which outlined how tall she was, with a body designed to bring a man to his knees.

When she’d first appeared, he’d watched her glance around the room before her gaze trailed higher to the upper level.

For a split second, he hoped she was here to attend their team event.

On the heels of that thought was an intense stab of jealousy that stung his chest as he realized that would mean she was a guest of one of his teammates.

Before he could analyze the mixed, irrational reactions of excitement and jealousy, the host drew her attention away, and the envy was replaced with disappointment as she was led deep into the bar.

Taking a long sip of his cold beer, Jax tried to shake off the foreign reactions and focus back on the conversation he was having with Anton, but he found his eyes continuing to track her as she moved through the crowd, talking animatedly with the host and waving to servers as she passed by them.

She was clearly a regular here, something Jax took note of, though he wasn’t sure why.

Finally, she stopped before a small, dark-haired woman who popped the cork on a bottle of champagne when the bombshell arrived at the table.

An air of excitement sparked around them, and based on the smile on the blonde’s face, Jax guessed they were celebrating something.

Maybe a birthday or an engagement? He tried to see if she had a ring on her finger, but from this distance, and with her back to him, he couldn’t see her hand clearly enough to confirm.

Again, for reasons that escaped him, it bothered him that he couldn’t deduce immediately if she was single.

Regardless, he couldn’t help but watch her as she drank delicately from her champagne flute and chatted with her companion, fascinated with how she focused all her attention on her friend, oblivious to the looks she was getting from the men around her.

Her elegant movements, how her smile lit up her face when she laughed, or how her fingers stroked the stem of her glass, transfixed him.

He couldn’t remember the last time any woman had captured his attention so fiercely.

It wasn’t that he was ever lonely or lacking in female attention. Jax was a professional athlete. There were always women wanting to be with him. It was just that none of those women had ever seized his attention like this one.

Jax’s recent dating history consisted of casual dinners and hook-ups when he was in the mood for a release or distraction.

He was careful to only engage in either with women who understood the limited commitment he was willing to offer and that he was confident he would never feel more than a fleeting interest in.

After what happened with his last relationship, Jax had nothing more to offer.

What remained of his heart belonged only to hockey.

What disoriented him now was that none of the women he’d dated or slept with came close to holding his attention like the bombshell sitting at the back of the bar.

The goddess below seemed to have no idea of the effect she had on everyone around her.

The women he dated knew they were beautiful and were happy to soak in the attention it brought them.

This woman was either unaware or uninterested in the attention she generated.

Whichever it was, it somehow made her more attractive to him.

“Hey, Cap!” called a voice behind him, pulling his attention away from the mesmerizing woman below.

Slightly annoyed at the interruption, Jax glanced over his shoulder and stood up straight as Cole Mitchell, one of his team’s top young wingers, walked up. Holding a glass of amber liquid in one hand, he used the other to clap Jax on the back.

Cole, known affectionately as Coletrain for his habit of singing, had played for the Royals since he was drafted from the Provincial Hockey League six years ago.

He was quick on skates and had a knack for being a playmaker, both on and off the ice.

With his dark brown hair, clear green eyes, and charming smile, he had a reputation as a player when it came to women.

With the team, he was always the first to hype the boys up or keep a mood light when they needed it.

Flashing a mischievous grin, he said, “I was thinking it’s time our distinguished captain made a speech.”

Anton smothered a laugh beside him as Jax gave Cole a dry look.

Speaking to groups of reporters came with the job as a professional athlete, and he’d become well-versed in giving the right answers and charming his audience early in his career.

However, the image he portrayed to the public and media differed from the one his teammates knew.

He considered his team family and never pretended to be other than who he was with them.

Of course, speeches were part of his role as captain, too, but his teammates knew it was the responsibility he enjoyed the least. Jax preferred one-on-one conversations or mentorship. He tended to leave the hyping up to Cole and some more senior players who enjoyed that aspect.

Tonight, however, was their season kick-off party.

With rookies joining the team and off-season trades and acquisitions, the team dynamics changed every year.

Training together was only one way for them to become a unit, but a team’s true success came from the bonds they formed off the ice.

Knowing those you played with was vital to the chemistry of line combinations on the ice.

In the spirit of tonight’s event, the captain was expected to say a few words to kick off the upcoming season. While he knew it was within his responsibilities as captain, Jax couldn’t help but toss the offer over to Cole.

“Figured you might be interested in giving the speech this year, Coletrain,” Jax said, giving him a patronizing smile. “I know how much your role as hype-man means to you. I’d hate to take that away.”

Unfazed by Jax’s attempt to rile him up, Cole shrugged one shoulder casually.

“I’m happy to let you take some of the attention tonight.

I’m sure plenty of the beautiful ladies here will be happy to soothe my wounded pride,” he answered with a smug smile.

Glancing over the side of the railing to the floor below, he continued, “In fact, I’m in the mood for a blonde, and I see several below who might be more than willing to comfort my bruised ego. ”

Jax stiffened as the image of Cole with one specific blonde flashed through his mind.

Cole’s flippant and sometimes callous view of women rarely bothered him.

It wasn’t like he was a saint when it came to them, but as Cole’s gaze swept over the women below, Jax was irrationally pissed at Cole over the mere idea of him with his blonde.

Where the fuck had that come from?

Logically, he knew thinking of her that way was ridiculous, but he couldn’t stop the possessiveness washing over him.

He was saved from having to comment as Anton laughed. “Put a balm on your ego instead,” he said in his Slavic accent. “Tonight’s about the team, not finding some poor girl to stick your cock in.”

Jax couldn’t stop the laugh that burst out at Cole’s crushed expression. It reminded him of a kid who was told he couldn’t have any candy. Relieved his attention had been diverted before he caught sight of the one blonde that seemed to draw every eye, Jax grasped his shoulder.

“Aw, don’t look so sad. We’ll find a way to get you some attention before the night ends. Now that charming a girl into going home with you is off the table, maybe you want to rethink taking over the speech tonight,” he said.

Cole rolled his eyes, but Jax saw the corner of his mouth lift at their teasing. “Nah,” he said, shaking his head, “I know how much you look forward to this every year. I wouldn’t forgive myself for taking it away.”

Sighing, Jax took another long drink of his beer before subtly steering Cole back toward the center of the room and away from the open view below.

He knew Cole took his position on the team seriously and wouldn’t abandon the team event, but a part of him wanted to make sure the bombshell stayed off his radar.

If Jax was having this much trouble drawing his attention away, he knew Cole wouldn’t be able to resist.

At the center of the room, Jax clapped Cole on the shoulder again before he turned to the faces surrounding him.

Every player from their team was gathered tonight, along with invited guests.

Most were partners or girlfriends, a few had invited close friends, but since the kick-off party was for the team, invitees were limited.

“All right, everyone,” he called out to the room to garner their attention. “I promise to make this quick so we can get back to having a good time.” A low rumble of laughter filtered through the group. They all knew the real reason this speech would be short.

Dozens of faces focused on him as they turned and shifted until Jax stood in a loose circle. He took a deep breath and looked around at the men that made up this season’s team.

“Welcome to this year’s annual kick-off event and the final party before the season starts.

Drink up tonight—it’s your last chance to party for a while.

” There were more chuckles around the room as he continued.

“It feels great to be back here with you boys, and an honor to be standing in front of you for another year as your captain. First, I’d like to welcome back the players from last year’s roster,” he paused, turning in a circle as he nodded to those men.

“I’m looking forward to another season playing beside you.

Next, I’d like to welcome our newest players to the team. ”

As always, a lot of movement happens during the summer, and traded players had to say goodbye to their teams, finding a way to become part of a new one.

“For our rookies, you are joining a new world—one you haven’t experienced before.

This is unlike any league you’ve played in.

You may have been the best player on your old team, but here, you are playing with and against the best players in the world.

The competition in this league is harder, and the stakes are higher,” he said, continuing his path around the circle.

He held the gaze of each face he turned to as he spoke, letting the weight of his words sink in.

It was important to recognize the three different groups that were expected to meld and reshape into a team.

For a rookie, this was an exciting new adventure, but for players whose loyalty belonged to another team months or weeks ago, letting go of those allegiances or past grudges generated from years of playing against each other was psychologically challenging and took a lot of discipline.

“Tonight, we become one team. We set the foundation on which our successes or failures will be based. It takes more than memorized plays or a precise shot to be the champions at the end of this season. To truly succeed, we have to become one—one mind, one hand, one team,” he continued as heads nodded in agreement.

“So tonight, away from training and the arena, we are going to get to know each other.

I know we all live for the game, but your goal tonight is to abandon the usual conversations about the sport and learn who your fellow players are off the ice.

“The Royals had an excellent season last year. We made it to the third round of playoffs but tasted bitter defeat in game six. But this year—with this group—I know we will do it. This is the year we become champions!” he boasted loudly as shouts of agreement rang out from the group around him.

“So,” he said once the excitement had leveled out again, “let’s go out there and kick ass! Cheers!” He lifted his glass as his teammates echoed his words.

Everyone turned their attention back to each other.

Jax was drawn into various conversations, his mind snapping back to his responsibilities to the team.

As he chatted and laughed with those around him, thoughts of the blonde bombshell downstairs retreated to the back of his mind, at least for a short time.

An hour later, as the party was wrapping up, Jax was making his final goodbye to his teammates who still lingered as he navigated his way to the staircase at the back. He didn’t feel like going home yet, but he also hadn’t been in the mood to go out, as some players had.

Descending the black iron stairs toward the bathrooms, he glanced down at the main floor, his eyes immediately seeking the bombshell from earlier.

When he spotted where she had been sitting, he was disappointed she wasn’t there.

Shaking his head, Jax wove through the crowds, telling himself the odd feeling in his gut that she was gone meant nothing.