High Risk Rookie (Vancouver Wolves Hockey #4) - Odette Stone Page 0,4
you’re trying to further your career in North America?”
He tilted his head at me. “You ask a lot of questions.”
“I’m a sports agent, and my agency is interested in potentially representing you. I’d like to talk.”
He studied me for a long moment. “You want to go get a drink somewhere?”
Forty minutes later, we were in a small tequila bar up the road. His friends were standing around the pool table in the corner, but he had secured two chairs for us at the bar. I ordered a vodka soda, and he ordered a beer.
He was even better-looking closeup, which unnerved me. Now that I wasn’t angry, I was noticing all the little things, like how big his hands were and how thick his neck was.
“Ask me a question,” I demanded.
His face broke out into a smile full of straight teeth. “What is your official job?”
“I negotiate and secure your legal player contract with the team and the league, as well as the contracts for any other endorsement sponsorship.” I took a sip of my drink and glanced at him. “And I do a lot of fucking babysitting.”
He laughed. “Do people put up with that attitude?”
“They love it,” I shot back.
Our eyes met, and I watched as heat flickered around the edges of his gaze. “I bet they do.”
I was used to receiving male attention, but rarely had I felt this much temptation roll through me in response. Which was ridiculous, because I wasn’t attracted to professional athletes. Especially not hockey players. And definitely not fucking rookies. “My commission is four percent of your contract and twenty-five percent for sponsorships.”
His eyes dropped to my mouth.
I wasn’t clueless to his interest. The chemistry crackled between us. I needed to redirect us towards a professional relationship. “I don’t sleep with my clients, before or after I sign them.”
His gaze lifted to mine. “Not ever?”
“Trust me: once I’m your agent, your balls will shrivel when you see me coming.”
He laughed again and studied me for a long moment. “I don’t know. My balls seem to like your attitude just fine.”
My stomach fluttered. He was the epitome of everything this sultry night invited, but I would never step over that line. We needed to acknowledge the attraction between us and build a boundary. “If you weren’t someone I wanted to sign, I would be doing my damnedest to seduce you right now.”
“Trust me—it wouldn’t take any effort on your part.”
I was charmed by his flirtations. “I need us to develop a strictly professional relationship. That’s the only way this will work.”
The bartender interrupted by placing two shooters in front of us. “Mike bought these.”
His eyes challenged mine. “We could drink these.”
“I’ve hung out with my share of hockey players. I’m not afraid of a shooter.”
“Okay. Here you go.” He put one shooter in front of me and then lifted his own into the air.
I clicked glasses with him and tossed it back. I needed to learn as much about him as I could. “What is going on with your current agent?”
He leaned back in his chair. “Nothing.”
“He says he can’t find you.”
“That’s a lie. We’ve exchanged texts.”
“What’s his issue?”
He looked around the bar, avoiding my question.
“Tell me,” I pressed.
“We had a disagreement.”
“About what?”
“His girlfriend.”
Why didn’t that surprise me? “What happened?”
“I don’t want to get into it.”
“Did you sleep with her?”
His head reared back. “No. It was nothing like that, but things got ugly after our disagreement.”
I made a mental note to track that story down. “Why not fire him?”
He pressed his lips together. “That’s where it gets complicated.”
“Yo, dude,” Levi’s friend interrupted from beside me.
The bartender showed up on the other side of the bar and barked at Levi. “Where are the shooters?”
Levi shrugged. “We drank them.”
His friend appeared shocked. “You drank them?”
“Yeah, we each had one.” He looked between his friend and the bartender. “What’s the big deal?”
The bartender shook his head. “What the fuck?”
I watched carefully, unsure what was unfolding here.
His friend leaned closer towards Levi. “I need to talk to you alone.”
Levi shook his head. “Not now, okay?”
He slapped Levi’s shoulder. “Yes, right now.”
Levi stood up. “Let me get rid of my can’t-take-a-hint friend. I’ll be right back.”
The bartender shook his head in disgust and walked away.
A moment later, Levi reappeared with a serious expression on his face. He sat back down beside me. “So… there is no easy way to ask you this.” Beside us, his friend hovered.