“You got it.” Ethan stood and walked to the door, opening it. Seconds later, Cedric, the first-line right-winger for the Sockeyes and Cooper’s best friend, walked in.
The tall, blonde Swede grinned his trademark shit-eating grin, like he always did when he’d been clued in and Cooper hadn’t. He sat in the chair opposite Cooper’s and propped his big feet on the glass coffee table.
“So, gentlemen, I called you, as team leaders, here for a purpose.” Ethan got right to the point, one of the few things Cooper actually liked about the man.
“Obviously,” Cooper said dryly, drawing a frown from Ethan.
“My family has a long history of giving back to our community. We expect nothing less from our team.”
Cooper narrowed his eyes, not sure was what coming, but certain he wouldn’t like it.
“Brad’s been in contact with Seattle’s other major sports teams, regarding a joint project called Kids at Play.”
Cooper nodded and clasped his hands in front of him. He’d worked with kids in Gainesville, loved it actually. He could do this. He glanced at Cedric, who was nodding.
Ethan studied them, as if assessing their interest. “Cooper, you’ll be leading the Sockeyes, lining up guys to talk to schools, hold skate nights at various rinks in the area, and whatever else occurs to you.” He stopped for a moment, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “And you, Cedric, will be his wingman.”
Cedric barked out a laugh. “I always am, boss.”
“Good, the two of you are scheduled to meet with representatives from the other major Seattle teams next Tuesday night. I’ll be emailing you the details on the program.” He stood, signaling the meeting was over.
Grateful to be done, Cooper headed for the door.
“Cooper.”
Cooper’s hand froze on the doorknob.
“This is my mother’s pet project. She’s kicking this off with a huge fundraising party. Don’t mess this up.”
Cooper rolled his eyes.
“He won’t. Trust me.” Cedric gave Cooper a push out the door.
“And you’ll be working with the Party Crashers,” Ethan got in his last parting shot.
Cedric shut the door before Cooper could reply, and Cooper really wanted to rip Ethan a new one. What the fuck? Setting him up to work with Izzy?
Mina, Ethan’s ancient sergeant major of an assistant, glanced up and shot them a wicked smile. “Be good, boys.”
Cedric grinned at her. “Ah, Mina, I’m always good.”
“I’m sure you are,” she shot back.
Cedric hustled Cooper out of there before he opened his big mouth and pissed off the most powerful person in the organization.
“Meet ya at the place?” Cedric said, not waiting for a response. He was halfway across the parking lot before Cooper could recover from the blow he’d been dealt.
On Tuesday night, flanked by the redheaded family wild child, Betheni, Izzy strode into the private dining room at The Waterfront, a classy restaurant overlooking Elliot Bay. The large banquet table seated about twenty people, and they were the first ones to arrive.
Izzy placed a folder of information at each plate, forcing herself to concentrate on her business rather than on the infuriatingly stubborn man who had stormed in and out of her life more than once. The storm was over, and she’d be damned if she’d allow him to screw up her carefully controlled life a third time.
She was done.
Now if only she could convince her heart and her body what her head already accepted.
She looked up as Steelhead quarterback Tanner Wolfe strode in as if he owned the place and every woman in it. He’d made it clear he wanted to start something with her, and she’d tried to be interested but every time she looked into his rich brown eyes, all she could see were Cooper’s deep blue ones.
Good God. She needed to get over the man. And she would, given time. It’d only been a week and a half.
Tanner spotted her immediately and made straight for her. She smiled at him, finding him amusingly charming, even if she didn’t want a relationship with him.
“Hey, beautiful. Have you reconsidered my offer?” He took her hand and kissed it.
She raised one eyebrow, tugging her hand from his firm grasp. “What offer?”
“You. Me. Naked. In a bed. In a closet. In a car. Elevator. Hell, anywhere you want.”
Betheni giggled and stepped forward, ever ready when it came to a gorgeous man. “I’m Betheni, and you are?”
Tanner’s wandering eye wandered right to Betheni with her enticing curves, silky red hair, and seductive smile. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned. “I’m Tanner Wolfe, quarterback for the Seattle Steelheads, fondly known in these parts as The Fish.”
“Well, Tanner, it’s a pleasure to meet a Big Fish.”
“In a big pond,” he added. “The pleasure’s all mine.” He took her hand and kissed it, and Betheni batted her long eyelashes, leaning in closer to him. Izzy rolled her eyes. Betheni glared at her but took the hint, stepping away from Tanner.
Cooper took this moment to walk into the room along with Cedric. Izzy’s heart skipped right up to the recalcitrant hockey player, which annoyed her to no end. Instead, she slid over to Tanner and linked her arm with his. Tanner winked at her, totally getting it. Devilment sparkled in his eyes.
“Let’s have a little fun with the bastard, shall we?” Tanner whispered.
Izzy nodded. Tanner was no dummy. Obviously, he knew the score with Izzy wasn’t in his favor, but that wouldn’t stop him from toying with Cooper, who’d stopped and did a double-take when he spotted Tanner and Izzy. His eyes narrowed, he reluctantly followed Cedric who crossed the room to join them.
Betheni frowned, her scarlet lips in full pout, not used to being the odd girl out, but Cedric solved the little problem of her wounded pride, immediately looping his arm around her waist and engaging her in a private conversation.
Meanwhile, Cooper glared at Tanner. “Not you.”
“Yup me, you lucky bastard.” Tanner held out his hand. “Tanner Wolfe, but you can just call me Wolfe.”