Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
CHLOE
Bringing my cup of coffee to my lips, the warmth spreads through me, making me sigh as I stare out over Brantley’s backyard.
The grass is covered with dew, and the birds are chirping.
I don’t know why I came out here this morning, but I’m glad I did.
Even though my feet are cold, I’m glad I have them planted in the wet grass.
It’s peaceful in a way I didn’t know I needed.
“Morning,” Brantley rasps from behind me, making my skin tingle.
“Morning.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as he takes a seat next to me. He grunts when his ass hits the cold chair, making me giggle.
“You should have wiped off the chair before you sat down,” I say as I nod toward the rag I dropped on the table in front of me.
“It’s fine. How did you sleep?”
“Well, you?”
“Can’t complain.” We fall silent for a minute. “I didn’t know you came out here in the mornings.”
“I usually don’t.”
He grunts as he looks around. “I don’t spend nearly as much time out here than I thought I would.”
“It’s a great backyard.”
It is. He’s got a little flower garden going, a pool, and a hot tub. He’s even got a built-in kitchen out here with a fridge, so you don’t have to go inside. It’s over the top, especially if he’s not out here often.
“I use it more in the summer, but probably not enough,” he says as if he’s reading my mind.
“No need to explain it to me. You’re a busy man.”
He grunts. “You can say that again. Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Last night.”
I wave my hand through the air. “You already thanked me. It wasn’t a big deal.”
“I don’t think you realize how bad it is right now.”
“Then tell me.”
“My business adviser isn’t happy with me. He doesn’t think I should be financing the team on my own like I have been.”
“Isn’t that your choice, though?”
“It is, but sometimes he forgets his place.” He shakes his head. “Anyway, he finally convinced me to start looking for partners. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy when we keep losing our asses, but it’s harder than I thought it would be.”
“Have you asked the guys?”
I know without a shadow of a doubt if he invited Mason, Eli, and Max, they would all jump on the opportunity to invest. They would do it without a second thought because they trust him.
He shakes his head. “No, and I won’t. It’s dangerous to mix business and pleasure. I’d rather not cross that line.”
“Why? They do it.”
Max and Mason own the Williamson Group. Max runs the group while Mason runs the hotel, a switch that only happened recently.
Then you have Elijah, or Eli, who is the CFO of the foundation part of the company that focuses on charities and other things that I’m not privy to.
Either way, they all three work together, and as far as I can tell, it works.
“It’s just not what I want. It’s not worth the risk.” He shakes his head as he stares out across the yard.
“Well then, hopefully I made a good enough impression to get you a partner.”
“I think you might have. They told me to email over a contract.”
“That’s awesome.”
“It is, and it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t stepped in.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s bullshit. You would have won them over.”
“No, I’m serious. They only said yes because of you.”
Internally, I preen. It’s nice knowing that I did something right. That someone who has no ties to me was impressed by what I had to say. That they actually sat down and listened to me. They heard me.
“Have you had any luck on the job front?” he asks, changing the subject.
“No, but I will soon. I know it.”
Brantley sighs as he turns to face me. “Come work for me.”
“We’ve been over this. I won’t take a handout.”
“And it won’t be. I’m serious. I want you to come work for me. You can work in the marketing department. Hell, you can have whatever you want, just come work for me. If you want it to just be short-term, something positive to put on your résumé, that’s fine, I’ll take what I can get.”
“You’re serious.”
“As a heart attack. I want you to work for me, Chloe. I want you to work for the Foxes. Help me make them shine,” he begs.
Sitting back, I stare at the yard. I never thought that working for the Foxes was an actual possibility. Yeah, he offered me a job before, but it was out of sympathy. This feels different, though.
I love the Foxes, and to work for them would be…a dream. It would be the dream. People in this city would kill to work for the team even when they are at their worst, and I have the chance to do it.
I would be an idiot to turn it down.
The only downside is the fact he would become my boss. Our lives are already so overly intertwined that it’s a risk. What if it goes all wrong? What if working for him is a mistake?
“Okay,” I say quietly without thinking about it.
Brantley’s head whips toward me. “Really?”
“I mean, yeah, if you’re serious.”
“Of course I am. I just didn’t think you would jump on board so easily. I was prepared to convince you to take a chance on us.”
“You know I love the team and want to see them do well. If I can play a small part in that.” I shrug, not really knowing how to describe what I’m feeling.
“I get it. I feel the same way.”
For some reason, I believe him.
“So when can you start?”
“Tomorrow. Unless that’s too early.”
He nods and begins to smile. “Tomorrow.”
“Don’t make me regret this.”
“I won’t.”
For some reason, I believe him.
brANTLEY
“Thanks, everyone,” I say as everyone on the coaching staff stands after yet another meeting. Only two of us don’t move, though. Coach and me.
Coach nods to Collins, his assistant coach, who shuts the door behind him.
Coach turns toward me. “You have a minute?”
“For you, of course.”
“I’ll cut to the chase, I’m retiring,” he says, catching me off guard.
“Excuse me?”
“We both know this isn’t working.”
While that’s true, I never pictured him willingly walking away.
“I can’t say that, no. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
He leans back and sighs. “I was supposed to retire five years ago as a part of a deal with my wife.”
“But you didn’t,” I point out.
“I didn’t and she’s given me hell for it every day since. This year, though, she gave me an ultimatum. Retire, or she walks.”
“You’re choosing her, which is the smart thing to do.” I run my hand over my face.
Jesus, this is a mess.
“Is this why this season is going the way it is?” I ask without thinking about how it sounds.
Coach’s eyes narrow. “If you’re asking if I threw the season to appease my wife, the answer is no. Did I not put forth the time and commitment I usually do? Yes, but I’m sorry, my wife deserves to come first for once.”
“Of course she does. That’s not what I meant. I didn’t mean to insult you.”
He nods. “I suspect our time together was coming to a close anyway. I figured I would just make the move and put us both out of our misery.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Do you have any candidates in mind?” he asks carefully.
“A few possibilities. Why do you have someone in mind?”
Is it a risk asking his opinion? Yes, but the man has been a part of professional hockey for over two decades. He knows the ins and outs, the who’s who, and who doesn’t get along with who. I’d be a fool not to listen to what he has to say.
“That depends. Do you want to stay in-house?”
“I could.”
“Well then, I recommend Collins. He works his ass off and loves the game. He’s divorced, and his daughter lives across the country. He shouldn’t be an issue if you choose him.”
I do like Collins. We’ve always gotten along, and at the last game he was trying to pick up Coach’s slack. The question is, would the guys listen to him? Or would they think they can get away with the same shit Coach is letting them currently do?
“And if I go out of house?”
He drums his fingers on the table as he thinks.
“Hawkins is shopping around, but I wouldn’t choose him.
The man never lasts more than three years with a team.
Rumor has it he’s usually pushed out for bothering the women on staff, but he’s a hell of a coach.
If you want young blood, there’s this kid named Taylor.
He played professionally for two or three years before he blew out his knee.
He’s coaching at the college level, but I think with the right deal, he would be willing to move up.
He’s young, though. About James and Hayes’s age.
That could come with its own set of troubles. ”
That it could. Having a young coach could be great if they are willing to stick around long term. Spend their whole career here, but it also comes with its own set of risks. The younger the guy, the more chance of causing trouble.
If I brought Taylor in, though, maybe he would be willing to move to the assistant position if Collins wants the head coach position.
“I have a lot to think about. When do you want to leave?”
“End of the season.”
“I can work with that. It gives me time to make plans. How would you like to tell everyone?”
“I would like to keep this as quiet as possible for now. Tell the team at the end of the season.”
“I hate that you won’t be going out on a winning record,” I tell him, shaking my head.
He smiles. “You and me both, but it’s time.”
“What are you going to do in retirement?”
“My wife wants to travel,” he says, making me laugh.
“Doesn’t she realize that’s almost all you’ve done your entire marriage?”
“She does, but she wants to do it without it being hockey-related. She has a whole pamphlet of river cruises and, well, just cruises in general. She said it would be cheaper to spend all our time on a boat than it would be to pay the upkeep on our place here.”
I shake my head. “Better you than me.”
Coach stands, and I follow. He holds out his hand, and I place mine in his.
“It’s been an honor working for you, Mr. Gibson. I can’t wait to see what you do with this team. Hopefully whoever comes in next can do what I never could.”
“Thank you for taking a chance on me as an owner.”
He clears his throat and drops my hand. I watch as he walks out the door, and I fall back into my chair.
Shit.
That’s not how I saw this afternoon going. I’m not upset, though. Does it suck that we’re losing our coach? Absolutely, but I like that it’s on his terms and not because I’m forcing his hand. Something I was already planning to do.
Guy could have had one hell of a severance package if he would have kept his mouth shut for another week or two.
I could always be nice, though, and give it to him anyway. A going-away gift.
Louis will hate it.
I smile at the thought.
Yeah, he’s getting the money. He’s earned it after putting up with all my endless questions early on.
I pull out my phone and type in the name Taylor, college hockey coach. Instantly pictures of a younger guy pop up.
All right Taylor. Let’s see what you’ve got.