Page 42 of He Has Charm (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
When the server returns for our drink order, Maddox orders one house special bourbon drink of the night and I don’t complain or object. In fact, I’m grateful. Because I’m going to be the one drinking it.
“Exactly what I need,” I say half to myself. But he hears me. Of course.
“Then it’s yours.”
“Thank you,” I say with reflexive politeness.
He nods in acknowledgment and when the drinks arrive, he gives me his drink, giving me one of those long stares with all kinds of heart-fluttering meaning behind it as if we’re on a real date. At least that’s how my flipping belly interprets it when the rest of me knows better. Or I should know better because I’m smart enough.
Also, that’s likely why Nora Olak decides to pop her camera and take some pics that I don’t notice until Rafe scowls and points in her direction. So her ending up at the same restaurant at the same time sitting at a nearby table isn’t coincidence after all. Shit.
Maddox turns and backs away from me and I glance around to look at her. The nervy reporter waves at me.
Remembering my professional hat, I straighten and nod. Then my mind goes into full damage control mode. I say to Knight under my breath, “I’m going to have to talk to her, see what she’s up to. We can’t have even the whiff of rumors about you—”
“Or you,” he says. “I’ll talk to her.” I look at him, schooling my features to keep my alarm from showing.
“No,” I say with quiet force.
“What’s Nora doing?” Zoey says. “Why is she taking our picture at dinner? I thought she was a legitimate sports reporter, not one of those gossips.”
“Why is she even here?” Rafe asks.
O’Rourke glances between me and Maddox. “Either of you have a theory?”
“She asked about myhandler,” Maddox tilts his head in my direction, “at tonight’s postgame press conference.”
“What the hell for? What’s her angle?” O’Rourke asks. The others look equally puzzled and say so, but I have an inkling and I think Maddox does too. Fear bubbles up and I need to voice it to dispel it.
“I think she’s out to get a scandal story, to piggyback onto the porn-video, bad-boy scandal and add a player-agent affair scandal to stir up the pot and grab attention.” Everyone stares at me, concern and acknowledgment that I could be right, shows on their faces.
“Fucking hell,” Maddox mutters. “But we’re not going to let her make anything of that, are we?”
“No,” I say automatically.
“How are you going to stop her?” Chelsea says, worry wrinkling her brow. She’s a sweet woman. I can tell her concern is genuine.
“That’ll be tough especially without involving another woman, since you’re supposed to behave like a monk,” O’Rourke adds.
“I have an idea,” Zoey says. “First of all, we girls should go to the ladies’ room and then change seats when we get back.”
“Right,” I say.
“Then we can talk loudly about promotional opportunities,” she says.
“I know,” I say, “We can talk about our plan for a Mamma Regina promotion with Children’s Hospital and our upcoming visit.”
“Sounds great,” Chelsea says. I don’t look at Knight because I know making a big deal about him and the children’s hospital is his least favorite thing, in fact, a tough pill to swallow. But this is medicine for his own good.
“We can take our own photos here tonight and add our own commentary,” I say. “I’ll have Delaney put it up on the Brawlers’ official social media.”
“Good plan,” Rafe says.
“She’s good at her job,” O’Rourke says, nodding at me. Their approval gives me the vote of confidence to brave turning to Knight, who’s been quiet and getting tenser by the minute.
“You on board?” I ask, then I hold my breath.
“No choice, do I? We have to do something.” Then he lets out a sigh and gives me a lopsided smile, all crinkly and resigned and genuine as hell. “Saving your reputation is worth it,” he says quietly under the clatter for only me to hear. I could melt at those words, at the sincerity in them and the message that he’s sacrificing his actual fucking integrity for me. But I don’t melt. I order myself to freeze, to turn stone cold and businesslike because this is all about business, after all.
