A Perfect Compromise by Anna Sugden

Author:Anna Sugden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

J.B. WAS WEARING the furry cat ears again. He’d had a four-point night—two goals and two assists—as part of a boat-race win over their hated rivals, the Rangers. The perfect way to end the preseason. He just hoped his run of good form would carry over into the regular season, which was less than a week away.

He felt good. Scratch that—he felt great. Everything was clicking. This was going to be his season. He knew it, deep down inside. Just as he had his first year in the show, when the Cats had won the Cup. Last season, when the feeling had been missing, he’d put it down to the fact that he was older, wiser and more experienced. Sadly, his gut feeling, or lack of one, had been proved right.

“You’re buying the first round again,” Paddy said as he toweled off after his shower. “I told you you’d have to run a tab.”

J.B. zipped up his pants and slipped his wallet into his pocket. “Yeah. I’ll have to speak to Delilah behind the bar and put down that deposit. This could be an expensive season.”

“Here’s hoping you have to take out a loan.” Kenny shrugged into his sports coat. “I want to go all the way again.”

Paddy nodded. “But this time I want to be drinking out of Lord Stanley’s trophy instead of drowning my sorrows.”

“I hear you.” Mad Dog combed his wet hair. “Man, does that champagne have a special taste when you drink it out of the Cup.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Paddy hadn’t been with the Cats when they’d last won the championship. “I hope that’s not because Kris Draper’s baby pooped in it back in ’08.”

Kenny laughed. “The guys who look after it clean it up real well every night.”

“Before they sleep with it,” J.B. added.

“There’s a visual I don’t need.” Mad Dog gagged.

“Is that why they wear white gloves when they handle the Cup?” Kenny mused.

“Hell, I don’t care. I can’t wait for my turn.” Paddy tossed his towel into the laundry bag. “I don’t want to be one of those sad old guys who retire without ever having won it.”

“I’ll be a sad, old, starving and thirsty guy if you don’t get your ass in gear.” Kenny sat in his stall and rested his feet on his gym bag. “Come on, man. Get dressed already. There’s a beer and a plate of burritos with my name on it.”

“Keep your hair on. Larocque’s not done yet, either.”

“At least I’ve got my pants on.” J.B. pulled on his shirt and began buttoning it.

Paddy’s retort, involving an off-color reference to J.B.’s sexual preferences, was interrupted by a ringtone playing Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”

J.B. grabbed his cell from his locker. He didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”

He couldn’t make out the reply because there was a lot of crackling and background noise. From the announcement, whoever was calling was at an airport.

“Hello?” he said again.

“Hold on...breaking up...moving...better coverage. Don’t hang...”

The female voice sounded familiar.

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