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Chapter 1

Roman

Before I walk in, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly I do this in an effort to relax, which is not sooes balls to the wall, 100 percent of the ti a hot chick I have two speedsfast and dead stopped, and the latter only happens when I'

It's how I've always livedto stop now

I pull open the glass door that leads into the Cold Fury executive office suite It's posh and sumptuous, with its thick cream carpet and sleek European furniture It tells the story of exactly how anization

My eyes iray leather couch set up against the far wall She has one leg crossed over the other and her head is bent down as she's texting Her dark hair hangs forward, for my view of her face What really catches my attention is that she's dressed super funky and looks cohts with a red-and-white-plaid pattern that she wears oddly under cutoff denim shorts that are rolled at the hem This isn't all that unusual to see in January, as the North Carolina winters can be mild and it's only in the low fifties today I note that her outfit also includes black high-top Dr Martens, a white T-shirt, and a black leather jacket with zippers all over it

So while the outfit isn't all that crazy for the weather outside, it totally screams antiestablishment in contrast to the executive offices

I like it

A lot

"Can I help you?" I hear a smooth female voice say from the reception desk

My gaze turns that way and I co older woht bun "Roman Sykora Got an appointment with Gray Brannon"

The woman actually sniffs at me and says, "You're fifteen minutes late, Mr Sykora"

"Yup," I tell her before turning toward a chair that sits adjacent to the gray couch Nothing else really needs to be said about my tardiness I'm chronically late and will probably be that way until the day I die

Just before I take a seat, I hear the receptionist from behindup his ten o'clock appoint late"

The woht past ives a sht I don't "

And damnwhat a face Creamy, flawless skin with silvery-blue eyes that absolutely pop against the dark lashes surrounding them She lifts her hand and tucks a lock of her hair behind her ear, and then I'aze slides over to htly toward the reception desk, leans her body a little closer toward my chair, and whispers, "Seems like a double standard to me"

"Double standard?" I ask, confused and more than a little fascinated by the husky, almost raspy tone of her voice

She grins at me, which draws attention to her lips Full, pink, and pulled back to reveal sparkling white teeth with a tiny gap right in the middle Totally sexy

"Well, yeah," she says as she lowers her voice in a e with me, but it's not okay for you to be a few ement?"

She's got a daood point

I, in turn, lean toward her as if we are sharing a great secret I also drop my voice, not because I care if the receptionist hears ive a shit what anyone in this organization thinks aboutmy banter with this really pretty woman

"I think you may have isolated the issue," I tell her,on a little bit thicker only because I've slowedin North A I still have a slight Slavic accent "You and I aren'table to be late We're too far down on the totem pole"

The woreement and winks "Definitely at the bottom of the totem pole"

I think about introducing myself to her, as I' here in the lobby of the Cold Fury executive office suite, but that doesn't necessarily mean she knows hockey For all I know, she could be here selling Girl Scout cookies, although if she is, they sure have changed the uniforms

But before I can even push my hand toward her, the receptionist behind me says, "Mr Sykora, Miss Brannon is ready to see you now"

With a sigh, I push ives me another smile and says, "Good luck I hope you're not in too much trouble"

I offer a grin and a wink ofI'm in quite a bit of trouble"

Her jaw drops open slightly and her eyes round in sympathy, but before she can even put a voice to her co to worry about I'm sort of a troublemaker"

Her eyes sparkle with"I can kind of tell that about you But hey, you carry it really well"

"And don't you forget it," I say with a chuckle as I turn frohs softly behind rit to her vocal cordsyeah, it's totally sexy Maybe if I'ain on the way out of here Totally wouldn'tto know her better

But the minute I face the receptionist and she

points me down the hall toward the executive offices, I put the woman and all her sexy ways out of my mind I stiffen my spine as I walk toward Gray Brannon's office because I know I' ready to have my ass handed to me

"She's the office at the end of the hall," the receptionist says smoothly

I don't even acknowledge her because frankly her attitude is snotty and doesn't deserve an acknowledgment I merely stride down the corridor until I reach Gray's office door, which is open With a slight tap of ainst the wood, I announce myself and stick my head in

Gray Brannon is the general er for the Carolina Cold Fury hockey team This is her second year in the position and she is proudly sporting a Stanley Cup championship cup This is also my second year with the teae that I could be a great contribution to this team

However, just because I' to take her shit or change my ways

Gray lifts her head fro on her desk, and for a brief moment, I'm captivated by the sheer beauty of this woman I've never been a fan of redheads, but I have to say Gray Brannon wears the color well and her face is aler is hot as hell, but she's also fucking brilliant at her job, and while I'm sure every man on this teaeous woht by this organization

As I step into her office, Gray stands from the desk and holds her hand out across to me to shake My eyes immediately dran to the rounded bu back up to lock with her own Gray announced a feeeks ago at the team Christmas party that she and her husband, Ryker Evans, were expecting their first child together in May Ryker was the starting goalie last year for the Cold Fury and was instru the Stanley Cup He retired this past suoalie coaches for the team

I take Gray's hand and give it a quick shake before releasing She waves to a chair behindin casually While I a this , I don't ever want her to have the impression that it bothers me

I pretty much do what I want and I take my lumps when I deserve them

And in fairness, I probably deserve this ass-chewing

Gray sits down in her chair, rests her elbows on the top of her desk, and steeples her fingers in front of her "No sense in beating around the bush You have to pick your battles better, and frankly, a little less frequently"

"Not sure I'," I say with utter honesty as I blink in surprise I thought I was going to be given the co me to dial it back a notch

"Well, let's take a look at your history," she says blandly and with a touch of sarcasive an involuntary so, you celebrated joining the Cold Fury by going out and getting extre match with a fan from the other team"