“The client cannot show more in meals and entertainment than gross income,” she said as she reviewed one of Kevin’s files on Monday afternoon. The account had been hers, so she knew what she could deduct, and Kevin appeared to just throw random numbers into the accounting software to see what he could get by her. “You cannot show a massive increase in something like that if the gross receipts haven’t drastically increased as well.”

She wanted the day to end. With every question he asked, the less time she had for her own work, but she refused to let her clients suffer because she missed something or rushed the review of their files.

She already wasted a good chunk of the morning thinking about that run-in with Ethan’s brother this past weekend. She was so proud that he’d stood up for himself, but would it cause more issues with his family, now that he’d put his brother in his place?

“Maybe they were wining and dining a lot of new clients,” Kevin said, jabbing his pen at her computer screen, and pulling her from her thoughts.

“Not that many clients,” she retorted as she pulled up her notes and changed the amount in that field.

“If you are going to continue to correct me, why don’t you just do all the work yourself?” he bit out.

“I might as well,” she grumbled, wishing she’d kept that thought internal as soon as she’d said it. Boss’s son. Boss’s son.

“This is a waste of time. As soon as I’m running this place, I’ll never need to do this stuff, so why bother showing me?” God, he was a sniveling punk.

“It’s not a waste of time. Clients expect the owners of this company to know what they are doing, why else would they trust their taxes with us? If they end up getting audited, it comes back on us.” She was so tired of reiterating that to him.

“So just do the work for me, and then we won’t risk an audit, since you’re so perfect,” he sneered.

“Please don’t speak to me that way,” she replied. Calm. Calming breaths. Holy hell, she wanted to throat punch him. She clenched her fist in her lap, willing the day to end.

“Are you going to tell on me? Or maybe you can just have Ethan tell his uncle,” he said.

“My relationship with Ethan has nothing to do with my job. My personal and professional lives are completely separate. I do not appreciate what you are implying, but I have worked very hard for my position in this firm, prior to even meeting Robert’s nephew.”

“And Ethan isn’t helping you into a new position?” His tone was lewd and she’d had enough.

“This conversation is over. If you ever think about speaking to me that way again, I will go to Human Resources and report it. I do not care what you last name is,” she replied, keeping her voice as even as possible when she was about ready to explode.

“Right. HR. The department your best friend runs? You really know how to get an in with the correct people,” he replied, rising from the seat next to her.

“Get out.” She walked around her desk and opened her door.

“Just remember that when I’m running this place, you had better clean up your attitude. Oh, and sleeping to get to the top won’t be happening.” He shut the door behind him after his last parting shot, and Penny stifled her scream. Fucking asshole. Why did she put up with this shit?

***

“He said what?” Ethan growled as Penny relayed her afternoon with Kevin to him later that night. They’d settled on the couch at her place, and after tossing back a glass of wine, Penny had filled him in.

“I’m going to talk to Robert. That asshole can’t speak to you that way. It’s a shame I don’t work in your office, maybe I could trip him on the stairs. Accidentally, of course.”

“You can’t do that,” she said, turning to face him.

“Which part?”

She bit back her smile. “Both. That would prove Kevin right.”

“I guess. What can I do? That little punk needs to be put in his place,” he replied.

She put her hand on his chest. “Thank you. And while I appreciate your support, I need to ignore him and continue to do my job. Or I could quit and not have to deal with the rumors about us and all the high school nonsense that surrounds me.”

“Don’t quit because of him. You’re stronger than that. Stay because you deserve that promotion you’ll eventually get, or leave because you want to go out on your own, for your own reasons,” he replied as he took her hands in his, rubbing his thumb across the soft skin. “There’s steel under all this softness.”

Her heart raced. “Have I told you how amazing you are?”

He chuckled. “Not today, so I guess I’m due.”

“Fishing for compliments is not attractive.” She grinned at him.

“I wasn’t fishing. You offered.”

She leaned in and brushed her lips against his. “You’re amazing.”

“I know.” She swatted his shoulder as he grinned at her. “But in all honesty, if I can help in any way, just let me know.”

“Thanks. Dealing with Kevin has made me seriously consider going out on my own.”

“While I don’t agree with you running away…if starting your own CPA practice is something you want, what’s stopping you?”

“It’s a risk. I’d have to generate my own business and dip into my savings that I wanted to leave untouched. There are so many things that could go wrong, but if Kevin keeps this up and I never get promoted, I’m not sure I can stay there.” She dropped her head. “I’ve worked so hard to get where I am, and it feels like it amounts to nothing.”

He brushed a kiss across the top of her head. “It’s not nothing. And if you want to go out on your own, I’ll do whatever I can. I’m sure some of the guys need a new accountant. I can highly recommend you.”

“I’m not asking you to leave your uncle. If I do decide to start my own business, your account will stay with Robert. It would be too shady to quit and take you on as a client if I go out on my own.”

“Then I’ll send you the entire team,” he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “And I have complete faith in your determination and organizational skills. You’d be a success in no time.”

Her heart melted at his words. How long had she waited to find someone who believed in her?

Ethan charged down the ice, the puck on his stick. He’d snagged it from a Vancouver rookie when the kid had been trying to make a pass. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted one of Vancouver’s defensemen gaining on him. He tuned out the shouts, only hearing the tap on the ice. He glanced left. Cheesy was open and that damn defenseman was on Ethan’s heels. He shot the puck to Cheesy, and the captain sank it into the back of Vancouver’s net.

Ethan couldn’t stop his momentum. He crashed into the boards with the defenseman, and then righted himself. Shit. That was going to leave a mark. Just another one to add to the many bumps and bruises. He shook his head and skated over to his teammates. They’d just leveled it with ten minutes left in the third. Plenty of time to win this game—or lose it.

“Nice shot, Cheesy,” Ethan called out, giving the guy a hug and tapping him on his helmet.

They skated back to their bench, knocking gloves with the rest of the team. The next line hopped over the board and back out to the center dot for the next face-off.

In the last minute of the game, Ethan scored on a breakaway and Vancouver never recovered. His team crashed into him and after hugs and slaps on the back, his gaze met Penny’s in the stands. He could see her grin from across the arena as she jumped up and down, clapping.

When the final buzzer sounded, they headed back to the locker room. Coach tapped him as one of the guys to talk to the media. When they won, the media always wanted to talk to the goal scorers. They asked the dumbest questions, as if asking such mundane and obvious questions would one day result in more than just a canned answer.

He ducked into the dressing room and grabbed his phone from his stall, firing off a quick message to Penny.

Ethan: Tapped to do media and then I’m grabbing a quick shower. Don’t you dare disappear without finding me. I need a good luck kiss since you refuse to stowaway on the plane. It’s the least you can do.

He ended with a wink and a shamrock.

Penny: Trying to fit in your suitcase would be uncomfortable and I have to work, but I’ll gladly meet you in an alcove for your victory kiss.

As if his adrenaline wasn’t already up a notch.

Ethan: Have to meet with Sam, too. Give me at least fifteen, maybe twenty minutes. I’ll be in the office two doors down from the locker room.

Penny: See you then. And congrats. You were awesome tonight. Wish I could give you more than just a victory kiss. Too bad you have to get on a plane.

She followed that with a wink and lips. He’d take the fastest shower on record just to have as much time with her as he could before he had to leave.

After rushing through his shower and providing his sound bite, he ducked out of the room. Sam said he’d have the final contract for Ethan to sign, and then Ethan was going to wait for Penny so he could kiss the hell out of her before he had to get on a plane tonight. And when he got home this weekend, he had plans. Big plans. He was tired of holding back, of waiting for something to go wrong. He was in love with Penny Connor, and it was about time he told her.

Not that he was ready to drop down to a knee, but the thought of it no longer made him break out in hives. She was who he’d waited for, and he hadn’t been the same since he’d spotted her that day at the vineyard.

A copy of his house key burned a hole in his pocket, waiting for him to hand it to her, to ask her to move in, and he didn’t care how fast it might be. They’d known each other for eight months, even if they’d been apart for six of those months, it didn’t matter.

He pushed open the door to the office, and Sam stood up to shake his hand, and slapped him on the back.

“Great game, man. Didn’t think you were going to squeeze that last one in,” Sam said.

“We played great tonight, and that last shot was a lucky bounce, really. So, you have the final contract?”

“Yes.” Sam gestured to the pages in front of him.

Ethan couldn’t stop his chuckle when he saw the blue flags. He wondered how many Penny had left in her book.

“You heading out soon?” Sam asked as Ethan grabbed the pen.

“Yeah. Three games in Eastern Canada. We better grab a few points, at least,” he said, and tossed the pen to the table. “And thanks for this. Everything looks good.”

“I told you I’d get you the deal we wanted,” Sam said, cocky as ever, and grinning from ear to ear.

The deal had been agreed upon earlier today, but Sam had a few details he wanted to iron out, so Ethan hadn’t signed everything. Nor had the team announced anything. That would happen in the next few days.

“Yes, you did, but I had my doubts. They only signed a one-year deal for me last summer, but five years, and twenty-three million works for me. I’m not greedy,” he said, chuckling. It was a huge sum for anyone, but when you signed a new contract at thirty, the amounts tended to drop unless you were a top player. Thirty was getting up there in hockey years, and the risk of getting an injury you were unable to fully recover from grew.

“Could’ve gotten more, but you wanted that no movement clause.”

“I want to stay here. My family’s here—”

“Penny’s here,” Sam interrupted.

“Yeah, she is.” He didn’t care how wistful or smitten he sounded. He wanted to take her home with him tonight so they could celebrate his news, but he had to be on a plane in an hour.

“So, this is real?” Sam asked, disbelief in his eyes, and Ethan bristled.

“Yes, it’s real. How could you doubt it?”

“Because I’ve known you for years and settling down was never your thing.”

“People change.” He hated having to justify himself to anyone, his agent included.

“No they don’t. They pretend to change but it never lasts. Can’t teach an old dog new tricks isn’t just a myth,” Sam said.

“You’re an ass, you know that? And who’s to say that I haven’t changed?”

“Sure, you aren’t the same guy who was caught with Ivan’s wife. But settling down? Never thought I’d see it. But she is the perfect girl for you to date. Stable job. Not a puck bunny. Not your typical type. Looks great on paper. Probably not solely interested in your money and celebrity. I couldn’t have picked someone more perfect to get management to see that you’re not the party boy you once were. I’m sure the owners loved that you were settling down. They fought the bigger deal a lot harder before you started bringing around your good luck charm. Guess she’s good for all aspects of your game.”

Ethan glared at the guy. He was skating on damn thin ice. “Dating her has helped my game, I can’t deny that, but—”

A gasp cut him off before he could say anything else and he spun, his heart freezing in his chest as Penny stared at him in horror.

Oh, fuck.