Chapter 24 - June
June
It was fun having a sexy little secret with Cole and Rhett. Both of them kept glancing at me on the plane, sharing winks and smiles when nobody else was looking. I couldn’t wait until we would hook up again.
And I couldn’t believe they were willing to share me.
I wondered how long this would go on. A serious relationship couldn’t occur when you were getting double-teamed by two men, at least no serious relationship that I’d ever heard of. But for now, I was having the time of my life.
In our hotel in Boston, I tried sneaking into Rhett’s room. But the floor the players were staying on was full of activity from the Reapers, so there was no way for me to get in there without everyone else noticing.
Coach Jay allowed Rhett to play the game against the Bruins the next day, but they still lost 3-0. Because of the loss, Jay instituted a strict curfew policy when we arrived in New York. Aside from the team dinner, none of the players were allowed to leave their rooms at night.
Despite that, Rhett tried sneaking down to my room on the floor below. But team security was standing guard at the elevator and stairwell, so he had to pretend he was getting something out of the vending machine before turning back.
It seemed like there was a fire under Rhett’s ass, because he kicked ass against the Islanders and Rangers.
We won both games, with Rhett picking up two goals and three assists.
Cole was also in a great groove, scoring three assists of his own despite being a defenseman.
Neither of them had any points in the afternoon game against Philadelphia, but we still won, 1-0.
We flew home that night, landing around eleven o’clock. While taking the bus back to the arena parking lot, I texted my boys.
Me: Anyone interested in hanging out at my place tonight?
Cole: Damn. That’s extremely tempting, but I don’t think I have the energy. It would be a disappointment.
Rhett: Sex with Cole is always a disappointment.
Up at the front of the bus, Cole stood up and flicked Rhett off. The right winger laughed and blew him a kiss.
Me: Does that mean you’re in, Rhett?
Rhett: I don’t have it in me. The spirit is willing, but the body is exhausted and bruised.
Cole: Now who’s a disappointment?
Rhett: Still you. I would perform wonderfully tonight for the lovely lady, but it might literally kill me.
Me: There are worse ways to die ;-)
Rhett: Rain check. I promise.
Cole: Same. We’ll make it up to you.
Me: You’d better.
When we arrived at the arena and unloaded the bus, I glanced at my watch.
I was still kind of wired from the road trip—I’d made the mistake of getting a late coffee before the flight home, and the caffeine was working a little too well.
Rather than go home to an apartment full of chores, I headed into the arena and to my office.
I had a lot of work to get done now that we were back from the road trip: new injuries to catalog, workout schedules to make, rehab notes to import into the team’s computer system.
On the way to my office, I passed one of the janitorial staff. He gave me a wave; he was on his way out, too.
The team facilities were completely silent, which made me smile. Although my job involved working with people, I was always most productive when I was alone.
I considered texting Rhett and Cole again to let them know I was all alone here, maybe with a sexy selfie included.
I could show a lot of cleavage with the team polo I was wearing.
After a few seconds, I decided not to. As exhausting as the road trip was for me, it was far more draining for them.
They needed their sleep without being tempted by me.
I didn’t want to cross the line from playful to distracting.
Sighing to myself, I settled into my desk chair and got to work.
After about fifteen minutes, I heard a noise out in the hall.
My fingers froze on my keyboard. It was pushing midnight. The janitorial staff had already left. Nobody should be here.
That’s when I remembered: the bomb threat.
Whoever put the note in Rhett’s locker had access to the arena. And I was completely alone here.
Moving silently, I left my chair and went to the wall that separated my office from the locker room. I hid behind the window frame; if someone walked into the locker room, they wouldn’t see me, but I would be able to see them walk up to Rhett’s locker.
I clutched my phone in my hand, waiting for someone to appear. If I could snap a photo of them without being seen…
“Hallo?”
I practically jumped out of my panties at the sound of Elias’s accent. He was standing in the other doorway that connected my office to the exercise room, a puzzled expression on his bearded face.
“What are you doing here!” I demanded.
“I am here to work out,” he said.
“At midnight?”
The massive goalie glanced over his shoulder into the exercise room, then back at me. “I am afraid of Coach seeing my workout. He will realize I am injured. And he will bench me. So I come at late hours.”
I began to relax. “You don’t have to do the routine tonight. You played in a game, like, six hours ago.”
He stared at me blankly. “Yes.”
I returned to my desk. “You can start without me. I’ll come supervise when I finish up these reports for Jay.”
Elias nodded once, then went into the other room.
Despite being scared half to death, I was actually really happy to see Elias. He trusted me enough to want to complete my workout schedule even after a day game and a flight home. It was yet another sign that I was a valuable member of the team.
I finished my work and joined him in the workout room, where Elias was doing a set of bench presses.
The tall Swede had stripped his jacket and was wearing a tank top that looked at least one size too small.
The muscles in his shoulders and chest bulged against the fabric like they were trying to break free.
“Don’t go so fast,” I told him. “It should be a two-one count. Two seconds to lower the weight to your chest, then one second pushing up.”
He grunted and slowed down.
“You made some great saves today,” I told him. “Especially that glove save in the third period, after Philly pulled their goalie. That saved the game.”
Elias racked the bar, then sat up and wiped sweat from his forehead with a towel. “Thank you.” His eyes briefly scanned my body. “You, uh, have a smile. A nice smile.”
I gave him a puzzled look. “Okay…”
“I have been told,” he explained slowly, “that when you receive a compliment, it is polite to compliment them back. That was what I was trying to do. I apologize for making you uncomfortable.”
“No, it’s okay!” I said. “Thank you.”
It was the most he had said to me at one time, so I smiled at him.
He looked embarrassed by the whole interaction and quickly laid flat again to resume his next set.
But I considered it a win.