Chapter 2—Skating Chances

The Sockeyes had played their last regular season game the night before, securing a spot in the playoffs.

Since this was Sunday, Drew had expected a day off or an optional practice before they started their first playoff game on Wednesday. Today was neither.

He stepped onto the ice and skated a few slow strides before realizing something was up. Coop, Smooth, and Matt were leaning against the boards, arms crossed over chests and scowling as Coach Gorst spoke to them. With his usual enthusiasm for all things hockey, Coach put his entire body and soul into the message he was delivering to his team leaders.

Only this was different. Normally, the captains went along with his crazy ideas because as odd as they might seem at first, they almost always had the intended effect. Most of the guys, Drew included, couldn’t decide if the coach was a genius ahead of his time or a crazy wizard with a lucky streak. So far this year, they’d been lucky. After missing the playoffs last season, the Sockeyes had re-dedicated themselves to winning—and they were winning.

The other different thing about Gorst’s latest speech to his team leaders was the presence of team majority owner Ethan Parker and his wife, Lauren.

Coop shook his head vigorously, and his jaw was set in a firm, uncompromising line. Not good for the coach. Coop wasn’t known for backing down or compromising. Matt scratched his head and frowned. Smooth threw back his head and laughed, causing the others to glare at him with murderous intent.

Drew skated slow, lazy warm-up circles near the action, oddly curious about what had everyone so worked up. Maybe one of the rookies had been thrown in jail or pissed off Mina. The thought of Ethan’s assistant brought a smile to Drew’s face as he recalled Friday night and Marina Sanders. She was hot, and it’d been a long time since a woman ticked all his boxes like she did. In fact, so long that his teammates assumed he was gay, and Drew let them keep assuming. Most of them knew nothing about Stacy. He had to answer less questions that way. Too bad she was off limits in more ways than one. Through her reckless and selfish behavior, she’d deeply hurt the two women closest to him four years ago, and a guy doesn’t easily forget or forgive something like that.

Shit, he had to quit thinking about her. He glanced at the gathering near the boards, using it as a distraction from his distraction.

Coop threw his hands in the air and stomped his blade on the ice. He stared down his coach and his boss. They glared right back, unblinking and unyielding. Coop’s chest rose and fell in a deep sigh. After which he did something so un-Coop-like, Drew almost wiped out on his skates. He fought to stay on his feet but couldn’t help another glance. Coop was shaking Coach’s hand and smiling, if not a little grimly. The others nodded agreement. Smooth was amused. Matt looked pensive, as if he wasn’t sure what he’d signed up for, or, even worse in Drew’s estimation, what he’d signed the team up for.

Drew didn’t wait long to find out. Coop called the team to center ice where some stood and others knelt as they gathered around him in a circle. Several sets of curious eyes watched Coop’s every move. Their captain planted his stick in the ice like a conquering warrior and took his time locking gazes with every one of them. Drew forced himself not to look away for fear Coop would realize his intensity didn’t come close to matching Coop’s.

Coop cleared his throat while his two alternate captains flanked him. The coaches and owner had conveniently disappeared, leaving the team to sort out whatever this was.

“We’re heading to the playoffs. We’ve said all year, this is our year. Our time. Many of you have been on this team with me since we were in Florida. We’re hungry. Only a couple guys on the ice right now have had the privilege of hoisting the Cup. I want to so badly, I can taste it, and I’ll bet I’m not alone.”

A cheer rose from the group, and Drew stared guiltily at his feet. He should want this, too, but all he felt was a big empty hole where his passion for all things hockey should be.

“One thing about playoff hockey is every team wants it as badly as we do. This is a game of percentages. If we can get a one percent edge over the rest, that’s enough to carry us through the playoffs. I want that edge, and I’m willing to do anything for it, no matter how unorthodox.”

Here it comes.

Drew held his breath. He was sure the rest of the guys were, too. After all, they’d seen Coop arguing with Coach.

“I won’t lie to you. I wasn’t a supporter at first, but Coach and Ethan convinced me of the error of my ways.”

A few guys chuckled, but most remained quiet.

“Coach insists what he’s planned will give us that all-important one percent, and I know every one of you will give this endeavor one hundred percent.”

As if on cue, Coop turned as Ethan and Coach Gorst emerged from the tunnel with—

What the fuck?

Marina Sanders stepped onto the ice with them. She wore a navy-blue warm-up suit with a Sockeyes emblem and black hockey skates. He glanced around at his brethren. They were gaping open-mouthed at her. At least, the single guys were. The married and attached guys regarded her with varying mixtures of surprise, curiosity, and suspicion.

Drew knew what was coming. He’d read about teams and individual players upping their game by increasing their skating skills through figure skating.

Coop cast one last meaningful and threatening glare at his guys. He stepped out of the center of the circle. He skated a few strides to the boards and indicated the team follow him. They gathered in a semi-circle around Coach Gorst, Ethan, Lauren, and Marina.

“Gentlemen,” Gorst said with a wicked smile. “Meet our new skating coach, Marina Sanders.”

There were murmurs among the group as it dawned on them who she was. Gorst held up a hand to silence them. Some grumbled, others stood stoically silent with angry expressions, while the rest were confused.

“As you know, Marina is a world-class figure skater known for her perfect technique and flawless performances.”

Jasper Flint snorted from beside Drew and was rewarded with a murderous glare from Coop. He immediately wiped the smirk from his face. They’d probably all seen her disastrous performance in the Olympics four years ago where she’d gotten the lowest score on record.

Gorst had an even more intimidating glare than Coop, and he leveled it on every last one of them. “We’re going to work on our skating technique, and Marina’s going to help us. We’re going to find every edge we can to be the best team on ice every single night. You’re going to give Marina your respect and your full attention as you would any coach on this team. Do I make myself clear?”

Several heads nodded in unison.

“If you don’t, you’ll answer to me and your captains. I don’t care if it’s the playoffs or not, I’ll bench any man who shows disrespect.”

Guys stared at their skates and shuffled their feet across the ice like little boys being punished for teasing the girl next door.

Ethan stepped forward, grinning broadly. “We’re lucky to have a skater of Marina’s caliber willing to help us. Thanks to Mina, her great-aunt, we were able to grab her the second she became available. We’re pulling out all the stops, leaving nothing uncovered that will help us in our quest. Marina is part of our team now. She’s here to help you, and I know as professionals, you’ll give her your full attention. Any questions?”

Rush held up his hand.

“Rush?” Ethan said.

“Can ve get private lezzons?”

Coop rolled his eyes, and some of the guys snickered.

“We can arrange them with a male colleague of Marina’s if you need extra instruction.” Coach was fighting hard not to laugh.

“No, I be fine.” Rush sighed. He loved women and loved to party. Based on Marina’s past rep, he most likely saw an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Meanwhile, Marina stood in dignified silence. Her beautiful face was void of any emotion. Drew had to hand it to her, she was tough, a prerequisite for survival with this crew.

“Any other questions?”

“Yeah, we aren’t going to have to do jumps, are we?” Jacques Frontier, their backup goalie, asked grumpily.

Coach looked to Marina, who smiled. “No, we’re going to work on your basics when it comes to skating, try to increase your speed and maneuverability. We’ll make sure you’re utilizing all your skate edges. Most hockey players spend their time on stick handling, shooting, passing, scoring, that kind of thing. Changes in the rules have emphasized skating skills over hard hits and physical dominance.”

Drew watched the guys watch her. Some looked bored, while others looked interested, too interested, and still others frowned with uncertainty.

“I’d like to watch all of you skate, to assess your strengths and weaknesses. Please space yourselves around the ice near the boards and skate on my command. This isn’t a competition or a race. Just skate at a brisk, not breakneck, pace. That’s all I ask.”

She waited expectantly, but no one moved. They looked at each other, waiting for what, Drew didn’t know. He wasn’t moving an inch until someone else did.

Without a word, Coop glided away from the group and took a spot on the opposite side. Smooth, Matt, and Ice did the same. Like the dutiful little boys they sure as hell weren’t, the remainder of the team followed their lead and moved to the boards. Drew skated by Marina, pausing near her.

“You didn’t tell me we’d be working together.”

She smiled back, but her smile was businesslike. “There was no need.”

“Nah, I guess not.”

For the next hour, they skated, did stops, fast starts, turns of direction, sped down one side of the rink and tried to maintain that speed in the corners. Then she had them skate backwards and repeat everything. She worked with them on small things, like using all the edges of their skates and stopping on both sides rather than one.

Drew’s forte was his skating, and she rarely had much to say to him. She took a few guys aside who were the lumbering variety to work with them individually, while the coaches ran the rest through their usual hockey practice.

For the first time in longer than Drew could remember he enjoyed practice. He followed his teammates into the locker room with a rare grin on his face. He ignored Coop’s assessing gaze and Smooth’s wink. His smile had nothing to do with Marina. He was on a playoff-bound team, had just had a good practice, and had fun skating for once. Things were looking up.

Gage “Ziggy” Ziegler, a twenty-two-year old second-year winger, sat next to him in the locker room. “Our new coach is hot. Too bad she’s one of the most hated women in sports.”

Drew ignored him even as his hackles raised. He resisted the urge to defend Marina. Nothing Ziggy said was false, and Drew would know.

Jasper “Caveman” Flint sat on the opposite of Drew and leaned forward. “She is hot, but, fuck, she’s not someone I’m going to mess with. It’s bad enough we have to do these skating improvement drills.”

Jasper needed the work; he was like a grizzly bear on skates.

Ziggy threw back his head and roared. “You dumbass, you need this more than anybody on this team.”

“You aren’t exactly medals material yourself, fuckhead,” Cave shot back.

“At least I can skate using all my edges and stop on both sides without crashing on my ass.”

Walking by, Rush raised a hand and smacked palms with Ziggy, while Cave pouted like a baby in the corner.

Shaking his head and chuckling, Drew stood and stripped off his clothes, heading to the showers. He felt good, and he desperately wanted to hold onto that feeling. But it was fleeting. Once he arrived home, which was his private hell rather than a haven, all the good feelings would be replaced by inadequacy and failure.

The warm water ran down his body, and he gave himself a moment to just be, something he rarely did, or was allowed to do.

He’d enjoyed today all because of her. She’d lifted a weight off his shoulders, and he wouldn’t bear that weight again any sooner than was necessary. He allowed himself to sink into blissful thoughts of what Marina would feel like, taste like, smell like if she were naked in his arms. Yeah, she was his coach, but right now, she was his sanity and his savior.

He so needed a savior, but why did it have to be her? She’d destroyed his girlfriend’s career four years ago, and the fallout had affected him, too, along with his mother. If his parents knew he had contact with Marina, there’d be hell to pay.

It was only a matter of time.

 

* * * *

 

Marina peeked in Coach Gorst’s office, and he motioned her inside. Lauren and Ethan were seated in two small chairs in front of the coach’s desk.

“That went well,” said Gorst.

“Better than I expected,” added Ethan.

“They’re like little boys. They just want praise.” Lauren laughed. “They were putty in your hands, Marina.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but I was pleased with their progress. There are a few who might need some extra sessions.”

“No joke,” Gorst agreed.

“I’ll write up some notes and send you my thoughts on each. The most challenging skaters are Jason Wilder and Gage Ziegler.”

“Of course. Those boys would rather fight than increase their skating skills.”

“Cooper, Isaac, and Cedric are incredibly good, smooth skaters with a great grasp of the basics.” She avoided saying anything about Drew, who was the best skater on the team in terms of raw talent and great instincts.”

“And Drew?” Lauren asked, as director of player personnel, she had a special stake in her players’ abilities.

“He’s insanely talented. His basics are solid.”

“I’ve haven’t seen him enjoy practice this much in a long time,” Gorst noted.

“You haven’t?”

“No. In fact, he isn’t enjoying much of anything these days. Working with you might be good for him.”

“Just doing my job.” She hadn’t felt this good about her life in a long time, either. Regardless of what the team might think of her, the guys had been real troopers and given her their full attention and effort. She was grateful for their professionalism. She hardly slept last night worrying about the reception she’d get, and things had gone far better than expected.

“You did an incredible job.” Lauren smiled at her much like a big sister would. “I saw a slight improvement in every one of them.”

“And all we need is that one percent to have an edge,” Gorst said. “I want you to pay close attention to Delacorte.”

“He has the best skating skills on the team. He doesn’t need much help from me.”

The three exchanged glances, and Lauren spoke next. “He may not need the skill training, but his attitude toward the game needs serious adjustment. He enjoyed those drills today. We’ll utilize any method to help him regain his drive and ambition for the game. You did that today.”

Marina racked her brain for some excuse not to work with Drew, but anything she said might call attention to the undeniable chemistry between them. She clenched her jaw and adopted a pose of professional interest, deciding a partial truth was best. “It’s complicated with Drew and me because of my previous relationship with his mother.”

“Oh, that’s ancient history. I’m sure Cassandra Delacorte doesn’t hold that against you. Drew hasn’t smiled like that in months,” Ethan agreed. “Anything you need, all you have to do is ask.” Ethan squeezed Lauren’s hand and grinned at each person in the room. He was a man living a dream, and he was ecstatic.

Lauren turned to Ethan. “I have an idea, but I need to run it past marketing first. It’s crazy, but I think we could pull it off.”

Ethan narrowed his eyes, still smiling. “When you look like that, I get scared.”

“You should. All of you should,” Lauren said.

Ethan seemed to know better than ask additional questions. “Well, if that’s all, then Lauren and I will be off.”

They both stood, said their goodbyes, and exited the room.

“I should go, too.” Marina rose from her chair.

“Thanks for your hard work.” Coach Gorst nodded briskly at her and focused his attention on the big-screen TV in his office where he’d be most likely analyzing the minutest details of the team’s last performance and next opponent.

She let herself out and closed the door after her. The long hallway to the parking area was deserted, though she guessed the more dedicated guys were in the workout or film room getting ready for their first playoff game in a few days.

Melancholy washed over her as she recalled those moments of utter and total dedication to her sport. Unfortunately, they’d been tainted by one moment of utter and total irresponsibility. She’d lost more than a gold medal. She’d lost her own self-respect.

She shook her head to clear it, squeezing her eyes closed to shut out the pain.

Bam!

She ran into something solid and fell backwards a few steps, only to have strong arms reach out to steady her. Marina raised her gaze from a broad chest to a set of hazel eyes. She was so close she could see his eyes were the most intriguing mixture of brown and green. Her breath caught in her throat, and she gasped for air.

He grimaced at her, as if in pain. “You OK?”

“I’m fine. I, uh, wasn’t watching where I was going.” She backed away and tripped over her feet. Drew grasped her arms before she fell. His expression alternated between grim and amused.

“Obviously. Good thing you’re more graceful on skates.” His expression was closed off and disapproving, common when people saw her. She was used to it, and he hadn’t exactly been friendly the other night, though he’d cooperated during practice.

He checked the phone clutched in his hand. “Well, good luck with the guys. They can be tough nuts to crack.”

No tougher than you. She kept that thought to herself. She had an opportunity, and she wasn’t going to fail, even if it meant working too closely with him.

“Have a good day.” Without another word, he strode away, his back rigid and his stride stiff. There went one unhappy guy. No wonder the coaches were thrilled she’d managed to squeeze a smile from him. He was an enigma, loads of talent and lots of attitude.

Shrugging, she turned back down the hall only to stop mid-stride when she heard her name.

“She’s poison, I tell you. Can you imagine getting to the Games and fucking it up like she did?” one voice said. She didn’t recognize who it was. She didn’t know the guys well enough, and the voice was muffled, as if the speaker was behind a barrier. She glanced around noting an unmarked door slightly ajar at the end of short alcove.

“It’s one thing to be stupid and only damage yourself but to drag down your teammates with you? That’s plain selfish. She doesn’t deserve a second chance, at least not with this team.” The other voice was also unrecognizable, other than being male.

“Mr. Parker thrives on second chances. He won’t get rid of her.”

“He will if she doesn’t produce the desired results.”

“You aren’t suggesting we purposely lose a playoff game?”

“Fuck, no!” the second man said. “Let me think on it.”

“I’m in as long as it doesn’t jeopardize our Cup run.”

“Let’s get out of here. Get a beer.”

Panicked, Marina hurried down the hall and out the end door and into the parking garage attached to the practice facility. They were going to try to sabotage her? All her good feelings from earlier evaporated into a chilly, overcast Seattle day. She should’ve known this wouldn’t be that easy. Nothing ever came easy for her, even before SkateGate, even before her parents—

She pushed both sorrowful thoughts from her mind and sighed.

She’d have to try that much harder. She’d show them. Marina Sanders was no quitter.