Black Eyes & Blue Lines
A Slapshot Novel
Heather C. Myers
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Want to know when Book 3 comes out?
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Acknowledgments
Also by Heather C. Myers
Also by Heather C. Myers
Also by Heather C. Myers
Also by Heather C. Myers
Also by Heather C. Myers
Also by Heather C. Myers
Also by Heather C. Myers
Chapter 1
Katella Hanson was not the sort of person to get rattled. Even standing in the locker room in front of the entire Newport Beach Seagulls' hockey team, she wasn't nervous.
Well, not really.
Her ex-boyfriend, Matt Peterson, was in the center of the crowd, looking up at her with an impassive look on his chiseled face. As though they hadn't dated for the past couple of years. As though he hadn't broken up with her after her grandfather died because it was getting too serious too fast and he couldn't handle that pressure topped with the pressure of being the first line center. As if he hadn't demanded to be traded so Seraphina - Katella's younger sister and owner and manager of the Gulls' - did as he requested and traded him to the Toronto Bangles. As if he hadn't requested to train with the team a year later, when he became an unrestricted free agent and no other team picked him up and offered to sign him. As if he hadn't made the team again, but had downgraded to third-line center thanks to her sister's moves in the off-season. As if there was no history between the two of them.
A few people down was Alexander Vane, the fourth-line winger she had hooked up with at the start of the year. They had fun but he met someone else, someone he was more serious about. She didn't blame him; the young woman was beautiful and intelligent and he seemed smitten with her. There was no longing in her heart for him. Hell, there wasn't longing for Matt, either. She was completely over him. That didn't mean that looking at him now, still gloriously handsome, didn't suck. The worst part was, he didn't seem to be affected by her presence. Like the two years they had been together meant absolutely nothing.
Not that she cared anymore.
Well, she did.
You need to get a grip on yourself, Kat, she thought to herself, waiting for the room to quiet down. It's over. It's done. You need to move on.
Her eyes skimmed over the crowd, picking out the team captain and brooding starting goalie, Brandon Thorpe. He used to be a suspect in her grandfather's murder. Turned out, the guy was an asshole, not a murderer. For some reason, Seraphina backed him up entirely, without proof. Katella had a feeling there was more to it. Thorpe was attractive and quiet, and while Seraphina typically found herself dating the class clown, it wouldn't surprise her if something had developed between her sister and the goalie after everything had happened. Although it had been a year and Seraphina hadn't mentioned anything.
Maybe Seraphina was just better at dating discreetly than Katella was.
When her eyes found James Negan, she had to physically restrain herself from rolling her eyes. James Negan was one of the new players Seraphina had acquired during the off-season. He was a seasoned veteran, having played for the New York Settlers his entire career until his last contract ran out and Seraphina picked him up. He was pushing thirty-three, which typically saw a decline in play. However, Negan played much better in Newport than the past few years in New York. He wanted a chance to win the Cup before he officially retired, and while the Gulls' had yet to actually make playoffs, at least they picked him up and signed him for his asking price.
He had been a pain in the ass since they were first introduced after that press conference where Seraphina officially introduced the new players. He rejected her invitation to go out clubbing and was abrupt and rude about it. He always gave her flippant answers to any of her questions until her patience was shot and she started to get just as flippant as he was. She avoided him whenever possible but she could no longer do so this season.
Things settled down a moment after that and when it did, she smiled.
"Thanks for being here, everyone," she said. "I'm going to keep this as brief as possible. First, I wanted to congratulate Kyle Underwood and Zachary Ryan for making the Allstars." She refused to look at Brandon Thorpe. He should have made the Allstars as well. He already had six shutouts this season and was the number one goalie with the fewest goals allowed. But it was hard to shake the stigma of murder suspect since the Allstars were voted on by the fans. And fans were fickle. It didn't matter that Seraphina had backed him even before he was cleared as a suspect. It didn't matter that he was cleared as a suspect in the first place. He was still looked upon with scorn, like Ken's murder was his fault. "After the Allstars, we throw an auction to celebrate. Fans buy overpriced tickets to eat and dance with you. The date is set for Saturday, January 26. We have a game the next day at five but nothing on Friday, which means you have a couple of days of rest."
"Is this a mandatory fan event?" a low, gruff questioned.
Katella' eyes were immediately drawn to Negan's. She gave him a dry look. Her eyes went over his short, dusty brown hair, his dark brown eyes, his nose that was slightly too big but somehow fit his face, his high cheekbones, his chiseled jaw covered in scruff. The guy had a douche face - good looking and he knew it. She wanted to punch his nose and believed it was that big just to give her extra motivation to hit that target.
"Of course it is," she said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. Her eyes turned to the group as a whole. "During the three-course dinner, we'll also be hosting a silent auction so we're asking each player and his family to donate a themed basket to the event."
"What if you don't have a family?" Negan asked.
A couple of the guys chuckled.
"Hopefully someone here donates a family and you can bid on one," Katella replied. Some of the guys laughed, others made the kind of sounds one made in high school when a friend got called to the principal's office. Once again, she turned her attention back to the team as a whole. "If you need help picking out a theme, feel free to let me know. My office is on the second floor down the second hallway. We're trying to get different themes for baskets so people aren't bidding on the same thing."
“Can you give us an example of what an appropriate theme is?” Negan asked. Katella tried not to notice the fact that his arms were crossed over his chest and he was currently wearing a simple black latex shirt, which made his muscles stretch the material tightly. “I take it dildos and porn isn’t something I could make a basket of, correct?”
Some of the guys laughed. Surprisingly enough, Matt muttered something like shut up under his breath. Negan caught it, however, and shot the third line center a sharp look. Katella recognized the look from watching him on the face. It was a look that screamed Don’t fuck with me or I will hurt you. Typically, it followed with a scuffle or
an outright fight. Katella had no idea Matt was defending her – if he even was – and why Negan was getting annoyed. Matt officially made the team before the winter break but he had been skating and practicing together since the season started. It wasn’t as though the two weren’t associated with each other, didn’t know each other in some way.
“As not surprised as I am that you have dildos and porn lying around,” Katella said drolly, “I think anyone with common sense would realize that maybe these particular items won’t be received very well at a family event.”
“A family event?” Negan asked, glancing around. “I thought women had the opportunity to bid on me for my services.”
“For your company,” Katella corrected.
Negan winked. “That’s what they all say, babe,” he said.
“Don’t call her that,” Matt said through gritted teeth.
Negan shot him a look. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Did I ask you? Did anyone want your opinion, Third Liner? No? Then maybe do us all a favor and shut up.”
Katella rolled her eyes. “Why doesn’t everyone shut up?” she suggested. “Negan, you bring up a good point. There will be an auction portion of the event that requires you to look as sharp as you can in a tuxedo. No suit bullshit. Full on tuxedo. Individuals will bid on you for your company for four hours. Whether you take them to an amusement park, out to dinner, whatever, just make sure they get their money’s worth.”
Katella made the mistake by looking at Negan when she said that. His lips were curled into a wolfish grin and she shot him a look.
“What?” he asked, shrugging his shoulders. “Oh, come on, you walked right into that one. Don’t blame me for your choice of words.”
“What are you, five?” Matt asked, turning to look at him. “Aren’t you supposed to be a veteran?”
Negan said nothing, just gave Matt a stoic look. All amusement faded from his eyes and he stared at him, stony and unflinching. “Why do you keep talking?” he asked, serious.
Katella had to bite her bottom lip to keep from laughing. Not that that was the most appropriate response by any means, but the deadpan look on Negan's face and the offense that Matt took because of it was actually pretty funny. Negan looked back at Katella and shook his head. "Your choice in men is suspect, Hanson. Except for Vane." He winked at Vane who shook his head, concealing a smirk.
Katella’s face turned red and she shot Negan a look. "I think my personal life is the last thing we should be talking about when yours makes headlines," she said.
Negan opened his mouth to respond, but shut it. He couldn't keep the amused smile off of his face if he tried. Was it her imagination or was there a glint of pride in his brown eyes as he looked at her?
"Anyway," she drawled, forcing her eyes away and looking back at the rest of the team. "Once the auction has concluded, the night will wind down and end and then you can go home. Do you have any questions?" When Negan raised his hand, she rolled her eyes. "Any legitimate questions?"
"Mine is legitimate," he insisted.
She narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "What?" she asked.
"No need to be hostile," he responded. "Are you and your sister going to auction yourselves off as well?"
She furrowed her brow. "What?" she asked. "Why would we do that?" She shook her head. "The public is much more interested in spending their money on you guys than they are about spending their money on me and Seraphina." Negan shrugged and Katella had to refrain from rolling her eyes again. "Oh, I almost forgot the most important part: the food!" More chuckles from the players and she felt herself smile. "Before the auction but after the small talk, there will be a three-course meal provided by the hotel. Each of you will be assigned a table with about ten people. You will help serve the guests, interact with them, take pictures, that sort of thing. Girlfriends, wives, and partners will get their own table so they can get away from you for a while, which is something they're looking forward to, from what I hear." More laughs. "Before you ask, I have no idea what the food will be but I should know a couple of days before the event. Any other questions?"
When no one said anything, she nodded her head. "Okay, great," she said. "Macy's at South Coast Plaza is expecting you guys tomorrow at noon so please make sure you show up on time for your tuxedo fitting. We can't have you showing up looking like slobs."
"Do we have to shave?" Kyle Underwood asked from the back.
Katella gave him a look; he had blond hair with strands of soft red, pale skin, clear, blue eyes, and a solid frame. She could barely tell he had facial hair now because his scruff was blond. "Not you, Kyle," she told him, one hand on her hip. "You do not have to shave. Emma can thank me later."
Most of the guys laughed. Kyle chuckled, a rare instance when he actually showed emotion. He had been dating Emma a little over a year and a half, and Katella had noticed a vast difference in him. Kyle had always been awkward and standoffish - not intentionally, but because he wasn't a typically social guy. And somehow, Emma managed to wrap her way around him, bringing out the warm, sincere, even sweet Kyle that Katella hadn't realized actually existed. Emma was good for him, she knew. She brought out the best in him, and his play was amazing since being with her. Even though the team had a dismal year last season, he came away with thirty-five goals, beating Alec Schumacher by five goals.
Alec was another player who had changed over the course of that year and a half. He was known for flirting with the Gulls' Girls and being with a new girl every week. She remembered him from when her grandfather used to watch him during his high school games. He had never really met her and Seraphina but they both knew him and knew he was one of their grandfather's favorites. But that all changed and Katella still wasn't sure as to why. Of course, she had her suspicions. If Katella had to put money on it, she would say that he was dating a Gulls Girl seriously, probably for the same amount of time Kyle started dating Emma. The reason Katella thought it was a Gulls Girl was because of the secrecy, because he had yet to bring her to any fan function when girlfriends and wives were invited, and there was the fact that he started a scholarship with Seraphina for the Gulls Girls last year. Not that Katella judged him; she was all about whatever made him happy, and Alec seemed happy.
"But, to answer your question, you don't have to shave if you don't want to," she said, scanning the room. "You guys are hockey players. A lot of the women like it with scruff anyway, so maybe keeping it will help raise more money." She shrugged her shoulders. "Introverts, I know these are hell for you and I want to tell you I appreciate you doing this for the fans, Seraphina appreciates it. Don't do anything uncomfortable but try to engage in conversation, even if it's just about the weather." She looked at everyone, pushing her brows together gently. "Anyone else?"
When no one responded, she nodded once. "Perfect," she said. "If you have any questions, feel free to text me on my cell."
"Question," Negan announced. When Katella met his eyes, she saw a telling sparkle in his eyes. Oh, God, what now? "Do the questions we text you have to be in relation to the Allstars Auction?"
Katella rolled her eyes and looked away. "I think we're done here," she announced. "Thank you again for your time!"
Chapter 2
Katella held in her bristle until she reached her sister's office. She didn't even bother to knock because Seraphina always liked to keep her door open but once she was inside, she closed it. She let out a grunt of frustration and started pacing around the room.
"Do we really need Negan on the team?" she began. Her brow was furrowed to the point where she knew her face was pinched, her cheeks were probably red, and if she was a cartoon character, steam would be piping out of her ears. "What does he contribute? I mean, really?"
"Besides the fact that he wins sixty percent of his faceoffs, already has eighteen goals and fifty-three assists, and the fact that he doesn't shy away from checking, plus he's one of the few guys on our team that always puts in one hundred percent effort?" Seraphina aske
d, looking up from her planner so she could lock eyes with her sister. There was a mischievous sparkle in the sea-blue eyes, a sparkle that made the gold ring around her irises glitter. "Nothing."
Katella narrowed her eyes. "Ha, ha," she said dryly.
Seraphina set her pen down on her desk and leaned back in her chair. She folded her hands across her stomach and perked her brow. "What did he do this time?" she asked. There was amusement in her eyes as well.
"I was presenting the plans for our AllStar Auction," Katella said, spinning around to face her sister. "And he was making smartass comments the entire time. I told him if he wasn't happy with it, he didn't have to be there."
Seraphina pinched the bridge of her nose together. "Kat, you're almost twenty-seven years old," she pointed out. "This guy is half a decade older than you are. He picks on you because you give him a reaction and he likes getting a reaction out of you. Just don't react."
"Do you know how hard it is not to react to something Negan says?" Katella asked. "I swear, he's so good at getting under your skin and just staying there. He knows exactly what to say to piss me off."
Seraphina pressed her lips together and cocked her head to the side. "Something that makes him an excellent hockey player," she pointed out. "Did anything happen when you first met, Kat? Like when you took him out with the other new guys?"
"Ugh, no." Katella snorted. "The guy is such a jerk." She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "He rejected my offer to show him around, Sera, you know that. He was a jerk about it, too. 'I don't go out. I have no interest in nightclubs.' Well, excuse me. I just figured you cheated on your high school sweetheart so much and she just took it, I thought maybe that was your scene. Excuse me!"
Seraphina pressed her lips together to keep a smile from spreading across her face. "Maybe this is elementary school all over again and he has a crush on you," she said in a quiet voice.
Katella stopped her pacing and glared at her younger sister. "Don't even joke about that, Sera," she said. "There is no way he has a thing for me. Me. I like to eat and go on Tumblr all day. That's my idea of a social life."
Black Eyes & Blue Lines: A Slapshot Novel (Slapshot Series Book 2) Page 1
