Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
I seriously contemplate why I’m so uneasy about her developing deeper feelings for me, which means I either have to step up to meet them… or cut her loose.
The only thing I come up with is that I can’t get past the failure of my marriage because I was never able to give Melissa what she wanted. At first, it was all sunshine and rainbows.
Much the way it feels right now with Ava.
In the end, it was bitterness and the desire for both of us to escape the nastiness we kept hurling at each other.
I don’t want to go through that again. Moreover, I don’t want Ava to be subjected to something that could hurt her because she’s already been hurt and let down by a man in her life.
Gently, I slide out from under her body, having come up with no answers to my hypotheticals. I decide to give myself a mental break from my love life and watch some game video.
CHAPTER 22
Cannon
I knock on Brienne’s partially open office door and enter before waiting for an answer. She’s expecting me as we’ll be welcoming Bain Hillridge to the team soon. Callum is currently giving him the grand tour of the arena.
Sitting behind her desk with her laptop in front of her, the owner of the Pittsburgh Titans looks different to me. Maybe it’s because she was outed last night by Drake on a local TV news clip that has since gone national, but she looks relaxed.
Her head lifts and she smiles at me. “Come on in.”
I move to her guest chair and plop down. “Not sure if congratulations are in order. What exactly is appropriate when one of my players kisses the owner on TV?”
Brienne is no shrinking violet, and there’s not even a hint of embarrassment on her face. In fact, she grins almost mischievously. “I think something like ‘You go, girl’ is appropriate.”
“You go girl,” I parrot, and we laugh.
She picks up a newspaper from her desk and holds it out to me. “Have you seen it?”
Shaking my head, I take the paper, flipping it over to see the massive headline: Titans’ Goalie Shocks Team Owner With Kiss.
My eyes snap to hers, and she nods with bemusement. Gaze going back to the article, I read it out loud.
“Pittsburgh Titans goalie Drake McGinn is no stranger to making headlines. Having spent the last year battling allegations of betting on hockey and throwing games to benefit financially, followed by a messy divorce, McGinn has had his share of the spotlight. After leaving the league as a result of the allegations, which were proven false, McGinn has managed to keep his personal life out of the media in recent months.
“But last night, Drake McGinn once again set the hockey world abuzz when he seemingly announced his relationship with Titans’ team owner, Brienne Norcross. Following a post-game interview, McGinn made a very public declaration, stating he was “stupid in love” with Norcross before kissing her in front of cameras and media personnel. Norcross looked stunned for a moment before returning McGinn’s kiss… and his pronouncement of love.
“An embattled hockey star and the billionaire team owner who took over following a devastating plane crash? Hollywood doesn’t have anything on this Pittsburgh love story.”
Setting the paper back on her desk, I say, “Wow. That’s, um… quite the…” I pause, searching for the words, and finally just ask, “Did he really say he was stupid in love with you?”
Brienne rolls her eyes at my playful jab. “He did. He’s a romantic. You should take notes.”
The reference to Ava allows me to transition the conversation. “I hear I owe you thanks for putting Ava’s ex in his place.”
Her blue eyes glitter as if filled with shards of ice. “Outside of us winning last night, that was the highlight of my entire day.”
“Pretty sure Drake professing his love was the highlight of your day,” I tease, and Brienne blushes. Chuckling, I drum my fingers on my thigh and try to sound mildly interested. “Any clue why Derek was there?”
“His boss, Kenneth Heborn, is head of America Life, one of the country’s biggest life insurance companies. He recently took over as CEO and sits on a charitable board with me and came at my invite. He brought a few junior executives who will be partnering with our organization on some joint grassroots charity.”
“Such as?”
“Fun runs, food drives… things that will involve and engage with the community.”
“Interesting.”
Brienne goads me a bit. “Bet you wish you were there to take a shot at him.”
“My shot would have been… let’s say… a lot more forceful than yours.”
She snickers, understanding my meaning, but admonishes anyway. “I can’t condone physical violence.”
“I know. But he deserves an ass-kicking for what he did to Ava.”
“She didn’t give details, but she called him out… said he cheated on her.”