Chapter Two
Damon
The car door swings open, and a woman steps out—wow.
One look at her and the car’s a distant memory.
Sunlight catches her wavy auburn hair, giving it a golden glow.
Oh God, a redhead? Ever since my rookie year crush on the team owner’s wife, I’ve had a thing for redheads.
Captivated, I watch her stride toward the arena.
Black heels highlight her long legs, giving her hips a seductive sway.
She’s curvy in all the right places—perfect breasts, gorgeous ass.
Everything I adore in a beautiful woman, yet she carries herself with such class.
She’s dressed in a black pencil skirt and a blue-gray blouse adorned with a string of pearls.
There’s an air of classic elegance about her.
My God, she’s gorgeous.
When was the last time a woman made me stop and stare? It’s been too long. I can’t take my eyes off her. A smile curves my lips; there is nothing hotter than a confident woman. At her side is a four-legged bundle of caramel fur gazing at its owner with adoration.
Yeah, buddy, I agree. She’s a total smokeshow.
I pull my eyes away with reluctance. I can’t afford to focus on her right now as much as I’d like to.
I have a damn meeting in less than half an hour.
I shake myself out from under her spell and scan my new office, searching for a distraction.
Now isn’t the time to be sidetracked by that kind of trouble.
I finally have a chance to prove myself as a General Manager, and that’s my top priority.
I’ve worked too hard for the opportunity to make a real difference.
This team needs me, and I can help take them to a new level.
It’s been a goal of mine since my playing days, and the Wolves present a genuine opportunity to make it happen.
The phone rings, and I seize the interruption like a drowning man gasping for air—anything to get my mind back on track.
“Damon Hawk,” I answer briskly.
“Hey, Dad. How’s the first day going?” My eighteen-year-old daughter’s voice greets me.
Alexandria, or Lexi to me, is about to begin her first semester at Denver University this fall.
She’s the light of my life and more than half the reason it was an easy decision to take this job.
She’ll be studying for a degree in Sports Management, which is no surprise to me.
She’s always been an athlete, willing to play anything from basketball to hockey.
I had her in skates and on the ice by the time she was three years old.
Hockey was her favorite sport until she found out girls don’t play in the NHL.
She was thirteen, and after that, her interest in hockey just seemed to die.
It’s like that discovery stole all her passion for the game.
I often wonder if I could have done more, like encouraging her to get excited about the women’s leagues.
Unfortunately, that was around the same time her mother and I divorced.
I’m ashamed to admit I wasn’t the best father after that.
Since I wasn’t an involved parent during her teenage years, I’m determined that this new chapter in my life will include a better relationship with her.
I’ve committed to putting in the work this year to make it happen.
Being physically closer to her is my way of showing her I’m committed to change.
She’s wary, and rightly so, but she’s still willing to try.
I can work with that. It’s more than I’d hoped for, so I’ll take what I can get.
“Hi, princess. It’s going great. How’s my favorite girl? Still on for dinner tonight?”
“Yeah, that’s fine, but…” Her voice trails off as she takes a deep breath and continues, “Can I bring a friend?” She sounds apprehensive, and I’m immediately on guard.
“Of course,” I reply, frowning at her hesitation. “I’m happy to take both of you. I’d love to meet one of your friends, Lex.”
Is this the kind of dad my daughter thinks I am? Of course, I want to meet her friends.
I run my hand through my hair, realizing there’s still significant work to be done on our relationship.
“Yeah, cool. Thanks, Dad. So, see you tonight? Seven at Tres Margaritas, right?” She still seems hesitant. It’s strange.
“You bet, kiddo. I’m looking forward to it!”
I don’t like the worried tone in her voice, but maybe she needs time to adjust to me being more present. I hope she comes around, especially if I can show her I’m serious about starting anew in our relationship.
“Okay, gotta go. See ya tonight,” she says before hanging up.
I sit at my desk, puzzling over her strange behavior. Before I can call her back to explore it further, my meeting alarm goes off, so I put my concerns about her odd behavior on hold and head to my meeting.