Chapter 6
Connor
Connor would rather have a root canal than spend another afternoon in a stale office building playing kids’ games, but Coach Bree seemed to think these sessions would help him stay on the team. So he showed up and forced a smile.
It wasn’t Daisy who greeted them in the lobby. A young blonde girl, no older than sixteen, approached them as if they were long-lost friends.
Lover was her first target. “Connor!” she greeted him, throwing her arms around him. His face turned a deep shade of crimson, and he awkwardly patted her on the back.
Lover didn’t seem to recognize the girl.
When she let go of Lover, she spread her arms and stepped toward Connor. He stuck his hand between their bodies, hoping it seemed he was offering a handshake rather than strong-arming her away from him.
She slapped his hand out of the way and wrapped her arms around his middle, giving him a tight, but blessedly short squeeze.
When she stepped away from him, she leaped at Hazy, whose eyes were wide and panicked. If it weren’t so inappropriate, it might be funny.
“Help. Me.” Hazy mouthed over the girl’s head.
Connor leaned in to whisper in Lover’s ear. “Do you know her?”
“Never seen her before in my life.”
Well, shit. Connor started plotting a way to peel this girl off Hazy without being offensive or manhandling her, but Daisy ran toward them, her steps ringing out against the hardwood floors.
She was as hot as he remembered. Her wild hair was tamed into a fancy style that kept it away from her face. Slacks and a white button-down made her the epitome of professionalism, a stark contrast to their first meeting.
The extra height from her heels had her towering over Hazy, but brought her eyes in line with his own. He wouldn’t have to stoop to kiss her.
Fuck. No. The goal was for her to be comfortable. She got paid to help them, not to be objectified. He ran his hands down his face and took a deep breath.
Daisy’s expression twisted into a grimace as she tore the girl’s hands from Hazy one at a time. In a bright and cheery tone she said, “Annie! You’ll be with Rob for the remainder of the day.”
If looks could kill, the glare Annie shot at their rescuer would have them scrambling to call emergency services. “You aren’t going to introduce me?” She crossed her arms, and Connor would’ve sworn she was seconds from a full-blown temper tantrum.
He had to bite his lip to avoid laughing at Daisy’s fake smile.
“It looks like you’re acquainted, but okay.
Connors, this is Annie. She’s one of our high school interns, and her dad is my boss.
Annie, these are the Connors. There. You’ve had your introduction, now please go see what your dad has planned for the rest of your day. ”
“I think I should help with this client; my dad says they’re important.”
A voice rang out from the balcony above them. “Annie. Do you have a minute?”
Connor could see the rage and disappointment cross Annie’s face before she schooled her expression. She placed a hand on Hazy’s arm, admiring him with a gaze far too adoring for someone she’d spent less than three minutes with. This girl did not get the hint.
“Excuse me.” She shot Daisy another death glare. “I’ll be back to help.”
Connor hoped not because he couldn’t withstand another round of whatever that was.
Daisy watched Annie disappear, then said, “Let’s get out of here before she comes back.” She hustled them out the door and down the block.
They followed her in awkward silence. Connor could have stopped and demanded to know where they were going, but he was thrilled to get out of the sad building. Lover and Hazy seemed unconcerned, more interested in getting away from the sexual harassment than worried about the plan.
Daisy led them to a parking garage, where she clicked a button on a key fob and motioned for them to get into a shiny black SUV with the Collaborative Craft logo on the side.
When they buckled in, she spoke. “I’m so sorry about that. Feel free to file a complaint, or cancel your sessions; I’d understand. For what it’s worth, though, I have a plan that might help.”
Lover, who sat shotgun, said, “Don’t worry about it. We’re already here. Might as well do the activity.”
“Are you guys okay?” Daisy asked.
Hazy asked, “Why wouldn’t we be?”
Daisy’s cheeks turned pink. The splash of color accentuated the freckles across her cheeks and nose. She cleared her throat. “Um, sorry, maybe I’m overstepping here, but she seemed a little... touchy with you.”
“Yep,” Lover said, “stuck to us like glue. It happens a lot. No big deal.”
Daisy frowned and signaled for the next exit. “What do you mean?”
Hazy sported a shit-eating grin that Daisy wouldn’t be able to see while driving. “He means the ladies flock to us.”
“Oh,” Daisy said, “like puck bunnies.”
Lover shrugged. “Or the gold diggers. We had to fill out those forms for the program, she probably knows we’re loaded and wanted to flirt her way into our lives.”
A wave of protectiveness rolled over Connor. Lover was a heartthrob amongst young fans because of his last name and pretty-boy face, but he should never have to deal with the shit some crazies put them through.
Daisy earned points for her response to this revelation. “That fucking sucks.” Arriving at their destination, she parked the car, pivoting in her seat to look at them.
Hazy put on a smolder designed to make beautiful women melt. “True, but only sometimes. If you want to charm the pants off me, you are more than welcome to give it your best shot.”
Connor’s stomach dropped. He elbowed Hazy hard in the side and grumbled, “Dammit, Hazy. This is a professional environment. Daisy just saved you from harassment. Don’t do it to her.”
Daisy waved away his concern and teased Hazy. “Something tells me you wouldn’t be enough of a challenge.”
She exited the car, leaving Hazy to scramble after her, proving her point.
Connor stepped out of the car. The sky was a mass of gray, and a light breeze had the refreshing mist of rain hitting his face, bringing the smell of petrichor with it. If he had to be traded, he hoped it was rainy wherever he went.
A smoothie shop stood across the empty parking lot, doors open, massive green umbrellas covering the roped off outdoor seating. A dispensary, an abandoned Italian restaurant, a consignment store, and a convenience store also lined the lot.
His linemates looked as confused as he felt. Hazy glanced about the parking lot with his hands in his pockets, rocking on the balls of his feet. Connor gave Daisy a pointed look.
“I assume we aren’t here to buy weed?”
He meant it as a lighthearted comment—a joke. It came out sounding like an accusation. He mentally kicked himself.
She frowned at him.
“Not today, although it isn’t the worst idea considering what I have planned for later.” She headed toward the smoothie shop, leaving the group to follow her.
Lover shot Connor a disapproving frown, hurrying after Daisy. “Fine. No pot. What are we doing?”
Daisy led them into the smoothie shop. The lady behind the counter didn’t bother greeting them. They sat at a chartreuse table while Daisy explained her plan.
“Mostly, I wanted a smoothie. But it’s also where I’ll wait while you take turns on your first assignment. You saw the convenience store across the parking lot?”
They nodded, and Daisy said, “Good. You’re going to go pick out three snacks. One for yourself, and one for each of your linemates.”
Lover grinned and bounced with excitement. “Ooo, do we have to eat whatever is chosen for us?”
Daisy laughed, and Connor’s heart skipped a beat. He wanted to make her laugh.
“No, this isn’t some gross food challenge. Your goal is to see how well you know each other. It’s not to pick the spiciest snack in the store to melt Beanie’s tongue off.”
An uncontrollable grin spread across Connor’s face. “So I’m Beanie now, huh?”
Color crept into her face. “I can’t call you all Connor. That’s going to get confusing.”
Lover said, “Oh, that’s fine, you can call me Lover. That’s what all the guys call me.”
Daisy glared at him like an annoyed older sister. “You’re twenty-one years old. Literally nobody should be calling you Lover. That’s a creepy nickname that encourages fans to sexualize you. You can be Connor. Or Valentine.”
It had never occurred to Connor that Lover’s nickname was inappropriate. In the locker room the play on his last name started as a joke but stuck. Lover had a habit of meddling in everyone else’s love lives. He could see how, to an outsider, it might seem creepy. Lover rolled his eyes.
“Fine. Valentine it is.”
Daisy raised an eyebrow at Hazy.
“Hazy is fine.”
She nodded. “Good. Now that’s settled, who wants to shop first?”
She didn’t bother to ask him his preferred name.
Hazy stood. “I’ll go,” he said. “This’ll be easy.”
When he was out the door, Daisy also stood. “Want anything?” Both men declined. “Don’t talk about the snacks while I’m gone. That’s cheating.”
Hazy came back with a full plastic bag before her drink was ready. Lover went next and headed out the door as Daisy settled into her seat.
“Soooo,” Hazy fell into the chair next to her. He waved around his bag of junk food. “Am I supposed to show what I chose, or…?”
Daisy shook her head. “Not until we’re at the next stop.”
Hazy pulled out a pack of gum, unwrapped the package, and offered Daisy and Connor a piece before popping one into his mouth and saying, “You said you’re a fan?”
She groaned and rubbed her hand down her face. “We already talked about that.”
“Ah, but I missed one key detail. Are you a fan of the Freeze? Or Beanie?” Hazy bounced his eyebrows.
She looked in Connor’s direction, but the moment their eyes met, hers darted away. Her attention snapped to Hazy. She fidgeted with her smoothie straw. “The Freeze.”
Lover bounded into the store like an eager puppy before Connor could ask a follow-up question. He was dying to know how she got into hockey. Had she played as a kid? Maybe her family were lifelong fans?