“You know I play ice hockey, right?”
Walker’s words have me laughing. “I’m aware,” I manage to say.
“Sorry. I’ve never heard of the Baton Rouge Rogues.”
“You and the rest of the country.” I can’t help the cocky smile that curls my lips. By the time I’m done, every hockey fan in the world will know who the Rogues are. And a good number of them will be cheering us on.
“Look, I don’t know what you’re hinting at. Why don’t you just spell it out for me?”
Reaching into the briefcase at my feet, I pull out a thick stack of papers. Turning the bundle, I slap it on the table in front of Walker so he can read the cover page. “This is who the Baton Rouge Rogues are.”
My voice is triumphant because I feel victorious.
We did it.
We’re doing it.
As of this morning, KAW became the owner of the National Hockey League’s expansion franchise. And the Rogues became the only female owned and run hockey team in the league.
And the first order of business, after putting the proposal together and winning the bid for this new franchise, is to secure the head staff. Our GM and assistant coach are already locked in.
Now I just have to convince Walker Alcott that head coach of the Rogues is what he wants.
What he needs.
“When did the league announce the new franchise?”
“They haven’t yet. The official press conference takes place later this month.”
“But this is—”
“Yes. That’s the contract between KAW and the league for that franchise. Hence the NDA.”
“You.” He shakes his head. “This is crazy. Baton Rouge?”
A grin splits my face.
“No one is going to believe a hockey franchise in Baton Rouge is going to be successful.”
“They’re wrong. We”—I wave my hand between us—“are going to make them wrong.”
“How do I factor into this?”
“You’re going to lead the team—”
“I can’t”—he swallows hard—“I can’t play.”
“I don’t want you to play.” Leaning forward, I lock my gaze with his. “I want you to coach.”
He nods, his gaze turning thoughtful. “Who have you got lined up for head coach?”
I have to laugh. This man, with all his skills as a player, a strategist, a competitor, can’t see his place on this team is not to assist. “You.”
His genuine shock keeps the smile on my face. I’ve known from the moment I heard about Walker’s injuries, he was our man and, when I talked it over with Blake and Nat, they agreed with me.
Cami doesn’t have an opinion; she doesn’t even really like sport. Other than watching Blake play over the years, I’m pretty sure my best friend hasn’t been to a sporting event in her life.
Before we’d locked on to Walker for our head coach, we’d been struggling to come up with someone for the position. Blake doesn’t want the role, in spite of having the skill set for it, and no amount of badgering on our part can convince her otherwise.
“Me?”
Nodding, I wait for him to get his head around what I’m asking.
“You can’t possibly think—”
“No. We don’t think. We know.”
Shaking his head, he says, “I appreciate the vote of confidence, I do, but I’ve never coached in my life.”
“You’ve been captain of your team for the last three years, before that you were assistant captain for four. You spend every off season helping with numerous clinics the country over. You’ve been instrumental in leading whatever team you’ve played on to finals and championships over the years.” I cock my head and raise an eyebrow. “Should I go on?”
“No. I know what I’ve done. Your knowledge surprises me though. You don’t strike me as a hockey fan.”
“I’m more than a fan. One of my best friends comes from a family who could arguably be called hockey royalty and has played in three Olympics. Two gold medals, one silver.”
“Okay, so you might know a bit about the game but how much do you know about owning a team and not just owning it, building it. You’re starting from scratch. The ground up.”
“Which is why I’m setting those foundations with solid footings. And you, Walker Alcott, are my head coach. You’re the man I believe, the Rogues GM and assistant coach believe, will ground the team and use your considerable skills and knowledge to lead us to the finals our first year in the league.”
“The finals? Jesus fuck, woman, you’re asking a lot. The impossible.”
“Here’s where I tell you I love a good challenge. It’s why I’m offering you a bonus for the first year we play. You get us to the finals, and I’ll pay you double your salary. I’ve already written the check.”
“I haven’t said yes to the job.”
“I’m confident you will.”
“How can you be? I’ve got no record. No experience.”
“You don’t need on-job experience for this. You love the game, live and breathe it, you have the drive to succeed and the determination and dedication to get where you want, what you want. And, right now you need a new focus. Something where you can capitalize on the years you’ve devoted to hockey.”
“I know how to play.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. To play at your level, to succeed the way you have, you have to know the game inside and out. Every angle of it. On and off the ice. You and Blake are going to make a formidable coaching team.”
“Blake?”
“Your assistant coach. Blake Watts.”
“Blake Watts? How the hell did you get her? Last I heard she was coaching the Canadian women’s hockey team.”
I grin. “That best friend I referred to? That would be Blake.”
“Jesus. You’re right, the Watts family are hockey royalty. Fuck, the woman’s more qualified for head coach than I am. She coached the Canadians to Olympic gold, for fuck’s sake.”
“She doesn’t want the head coach job. And full disclosure, which you’ll get more of before you sign your contract, she’s also one quarter of KAW.”
“Shit. She co-owns the team?”
“Indirectly, yes. Or not. KAW owns the Rogues franchise and Blake, myself, and two others own KAW.”
“Isn’t it a conflict of interest for her to be employed by the team?”
“No. KAW is privately owned. The only people we answer to are ourselves. The Rogues GM is also a co-owner of KAW.”
“Are you all going to work for the team?”
“No. Our fourth partner has no interest in sport outside of supporting her friend play. And with Blake no longer playing, I don’t expect her interest in the game to change.”
“Another woman? Four women? The Rogues are owned by women?” Walker laughs and laughs hard. “Oh god, this is going to be one hell of a battle.”
My back jerks straight. “Do you have an issue with women in positions of power, Mr. Alcott?” From everything I’ve read about him, I didn’t think he did but maybe I’m wrong.
“Hell no. I’m going to cheer you on. Okay, if I say yes, what’s the plan from here? When does the team start in the league? Where are the team facilities? When do you start picking players?”
“Lots of questions and I’m sure you’ll have more. But before we get to those, I have one for you.”
“Shoot.”
“When can you start?”
“I.” Walker snaps his mouth shut. “I haven’t said yes.”
“But you’re going to.”
“I love your confidence. I wish I had it.”
“You will.” Deciding to give him time to digest what’s on offer, I say, “Why don’t I get Tanya back in here so we can finish the photo shoot. Then when we’re done, we’ll head to my hotel where we can talk about my plans for the Rogues and you, more.”
“You still want me to be the face of Rogue’s new athletic pants?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Well, you know, the whole, no pants thing.”
I laugh. “Walker, if you think any woman is going to take offense to you dropping your pants, you’re insane. Besides, what you got going on is definitely worth taking a look at.”
He ducks his head, but I still see the flush of red slash across his cheeks. “I apologize. It’s not something I would normally do.”
“Walker, you have one of the cleanest reps in the league. Aside from the whole practice-wife thing. I trust you to represent Rogue sportswear and the Rogues hockey team with propriety and respect.”
“You can’t know that. Especially after what you walked in on.”
“I can.” I push to my feet, preparing to go in search of Tanya. “Remember that PI? Kristina Bancroft isn’t the only person I had him investigate.”
I leave him to think about that while I go to find Tanya. She’s probably in her office, which is where I left the bags of merchandise I want Walker to model.
I’d been so pissed when my car had gotten caught in traffic and I knew I’d be late. I had planned time to talk to Walker before the shoot.
I smile at the memory of Walker dropping his pants, the cocky smirk on his face forced until Tanya had all but swallowed her tongue and his smile turned genuine.
If I’d known what I’d walk in on when I finally got here, I wouldn’t have wasted the energy on anger and frustration.
Speaking of frustration.
I haven’t been sexually attracted to a man in months. I can’t even remember the last time I had sex. Maybe last year? The reality is I’ve had far more exciting things going on in my life.
And this morning was the reward for months, hell years, of hard work and planning, of out maneuvering and playing the old-boy network that believes professional hockey is a men-only world.
Today, as the CEO of KAW, I signed a deal with the National Hockey League that will bring, not only a national professional sport, but much needed jobs and community to my beloved hometown.
It has been a hard road so far and I have no doubt it will only get harder.
Once word gets out about the franchise details, I expect backlash. From where the team will be located, to the people running the organization, to the employees, I fully expect to have to defend every choice, every decision.
But it doesn’t matter. It will be more than worth it when we hit the end of our first season as winners.
I have no plans to allow this team to fail. I’ll make sure they have everything they need to succeed.
By the time we take to the ice the first time, the players, coaching staff, supporting staff, the front office, all their families, will be one big family, a community set on one goal and one goal only.
Winning.
Finding Tanya where I expect, I grab the bags of Rogue merchandise and say, “I’ll head out and get Walker in the first of what I want photographed.”
“Ah, is he…”
I laugh at Tanya’s flustered response. “Yes. He’s covered.”
“Oh.”
I can’t tell if she’s happy about that or not. I also can’t decide if I’m upset by the thought of her being disappointed she won’t see him half naked again.
That’s something I’ll have to ponder later. Right now, I want to get this shoot over with so Walker and I can head to my hotel and hash out the rest of the details so we can get his contract altered if needed and his signature on the bottom of it.
I have no doubt he’ll sign.
The man needs us as much as we need him, and I plan to make sure we both get exactly what we need.
Time slips away as we get through all the gear I want to take photos of Walker wearing. He’s a feast for the eyes, clothed or not, and regardless of his recent injury and shift from elite athlete to elite athlete coach, he has the body to make our sportswear look good.
And who says you have to be a professional athlete to wear our clothes?
No one. This new line might be in our high performance collection designed for elite athletes but Rogue has collections of clothing for the everyday man—or woman—too.
Our women’s line is what started the business. It’s what we’ve built our empire on. It’s our foundation. And it’s given us the ability to see our dreams come true.
Walker is in the final outfit, a pair of ankle length compression pants and a matching long sleeve shirt. He might be clothed from neck to ankle but there is nothing left to the imagination here.
Every inch of him is on display.
Every mound of muscle, every dip of manly flesh is right there. I know these particular garments are meant to be worn beneath other clothes but damn, I’m going to have to have a word with the girls.
The designers can’t know how revealing this design is. The material is so thin, so tight, Walker may as well be wearing paint, and as he heats up under the studio lights, the fabric seems to reveal more.
I kept this set for last because I knew he’d sweat in them and while there’s nothing wrong with seeing our clothing hard at work, I didn’t want to leave him sticky and uncomfortable the whole time Tanya directed him and moved around, her camera clicking.
“Can you drop your chin to your chest, put your hands on your hips like you’ve just completed a…” Tanya looks over the top of her camera. “A workout?”
Walker’s laughter floats around us. “You’re not into exercise, are you?” he asks Tanya.
“Does walking to the bathroom count?” she asks while putting her eye back to her camera.
Her answer has us all laughing. And in spite of Walker not being in the position she asked, Tanya clicks away, capturing what I’m sure are going to be the best shots of this whole session.
He’s gorgeous. There’s no denying it, but right now, with pure joy radiating off him, he’s spectacular. “We’re going to use those.”
Tanya glances at me over her shoulder, the grin on her face saying it all. She sees what I see.
“But take the ones you wanted too.” I remind them both of her directions and watch as Walker seamlessly morphs from carefree pleasure to serious just-finished-a-grueling-workout pose.
If I didn’t want the man to coach my team, I’d be seriously trying to talk him into a career in modeling. Hell, I might even make him the permanent face of Rogue.
Both clothing line and team.
Pondering that, I wait for Tanya to call the shoot.
Once she’s let Walker go change, I head over to her. “I want copies of those laughing shots sent to my personal email.”
“What’s swirling in that head of yours?” she asks.
“Not sure yet.”
“Oh, you’re sure. I’ve known you long enough to know when you’re being hit by a brilliant idea.”
“You have known me a while.”
“Don’t say how long.” She holds up a hand. “Neither of us needs to be reminded of how old we are,” she adds with a chuckle.
“True.”
We’re interrupted when Walker comes back. “Do you still want to talk?” His words are muffled by the shirt he’s pulling over his head.
I’ve spent the last few hours seeing him in various stages of undress and yet that one move, the simple donning of a t-shirt, has my insides tightening and my heart rate picking up speed.
I’m not sure how I feel about this attraction. I’m not going to lie to myself. I want him.
For the team.
For me.
Except I don’t mix business and pleasure.
Then again, I’ve never been tempted the way I am with Walker.
The next few months are going to be interesting. With the backlash I’m sure to get from the franchise announcement to the sexual tension zinging between us, the road to that first game is going to be a challenge.
But like I told Walker earlier.
I love a challenge.