Power Play (23 page)

273

Chapter 46

Alex walked into the locker room with several teammates through their section to reach her quarters and spotted Jax bent in front of his stall.

She smiled wickedly, put a finger to her lips to shush the others, tiptoed behind Jax, and gave his ass a healthy pinch.

He yelped as the room filled with laughter.

“Looking good, Jax!”

He chuckled. “Hey, Galloway, looking good too. You gave an outstanding performance on the ice today.”

Alex became flustered by his compliment and blushed. “Thanks.”

Jax winked. “Keep proving me wrong by doing more excellent work.”

274

She floated on air while preparing to meet Troy for lunch, no longer caring about being dateless for the Center Ice benefit.

Someone knocked on her door. “Are you decent?” a familiar accented voice asked.

“I don’t know; you tell me,” she teased in reply.

Jax laughed. “Behave yourself, sweetheart. Some of the guys are hanging at my place. Do you want to come over?”

Alex pondered the invitation.
Hmmm, should I be Troy’s backup date as usual or Jax’s first choice to join his friends? I think the answer is obvious.
“Sounds like a lot of fun! Let me finish something, and then I’ll meet you in the parking lot.”

She sent Troy a quick text canceling their lunch date before grabbing her bag and left the dressing room.
Fuck him! He can go cry to his supermodel bitch since she’s so damn great.

275

Alex strode outside with head held high, slid into her car, and followed Jax’s Ferrari to an opulent residence located outside of the city.

She gasped at the splendor of his home. “Wow, Jax; my whole place could fit into your living room! Have you lived here long?”

“I bought this house five years ago when I returned to Pittsburgh. How’s your new apartment?”

“Fantastic! I love being able to cook and eat what I want, come and go as I please, have company, watch trashy TV, read trashier novels, stay up late on off nights, and drink coffee and Diet Pepsi anytime I like without having Troy’s nose up my ass every five minutes. Don’t tell him that, though.”

“Your secret’s safe with me. Do you play poker?”

“I never had the pleasure.”

“I’ll teach you and make sure no one tries anything funny.”

“I’m holding you to that promise.”

276

She spied something of interest outside his living room window. “Oh my God, is that a tennis court?”

“One of two,” he replied. “The other is an indoor court. Do you play?”

Alex shook her head. “The most I’ve done outside hockey and archery is ping pong and badminton.”

“How about a quick lesson while we’re waiting for everyone?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll get you a racket and fire up the ball machine.”

She bit her lip and watched Jax leave the room.
This afternoon is already getting more interesting than having some routine lunch with Troy.

***

277

“She went
where?”
Troy shouted in disbelief.

“Ivanka invited her and a few guys to his place,” Brian replied. “She already took off before I could do anything.”

Troy drew in a shuddering breath. “Son of a bitch, I should’ve known something wasn’t right when she blew me off at practically the last minute.”

“No one wanted to say anything, but some of us have an idea why Alex acted like she did today. Rumor has it she’s pissed you’re going with Kelly Stafford to Center Ice and took up with Ivanka in retaliation.”

“I thought she was cool about Kelly and me. Jesus, Brian, she’s my protégé and friend; it’s not like we’re married.”

“You need to have a long talk with her, my man.”

“Oh we’ll talk all right,” Troy replied, still fuming.

“Calm down, Talmadge. Another argument won’t solve anything.”

“Why would Al tell me one thing when she feels another?”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to appear possessive or hurt your feelings. You know how women are.”

278

“Yeah, nature’s least understood species.”

“Can you be honest with me for a moment? I have a question that needs a straight answer.”

“Go ahead and ask.”

“How do you
really
feel about Alex?”

“I care a great deal about her.”

Brian gave him a dubious look. “Are you sure? Our conversation won’t leave this room.”

“Of course I’m sure. Don’t you feel the same?”

“I care about Alex in a brotherly manner, which I believe far differs from your type.”

“Then why do people treat ‘my type’ of caring like it’s some capital offense?”

“Maybe because you’re denying or haven’t yet explored your true feelings for her. I have firsthand experience from going through a similar situation with Hannah.”

“Oh come on, there’s no way I’m–”

Brian put up a hand. “Don’t bullshit me, Troy.”

279

“What?”

“Your recent actions speak louder than any words. Smoke practically curled out of your ears when I said Alex was at Ivanka’s. There was moving her in with you, busting ass to get her signed with your agent, preparing her for the draft, co-signing her car loan, dinner dates, the movie premiere, all the money put down for her apartment, giving her your furniture from the Nova Scotia house and that fancy custom made crystal charm bracelet…should I continue?”

“I help people I care about all the time.”

“Not to the extent you have with Alex. You’re not a person who blows scads of money without good reasons. You went through this same scenario a year ago and the person left because you trailed them along instead of being honest.”

“You’re referring to a whole different story, Brian. There’s a reason why that relationship wasn’t made public, but don’t want to risk ruining things with Al. I…I…uh, I think she may be ‘the one’.”

“Yes! Now we’re making progress.”

“Don’t jump to any conclusions. I doubt she’ll view me the same way.”

280

“Make the time for a talk with her, Troy, but don’t wait too long. Knowing Ivanka, he’ll find some way to charm Alex with a bunch of bullshit any young girl wants to hear, and then you could lose her forever.”

***

281

Chapter 47

Alex giggled with both embarrassment and delight when she missed several tennis balls popping from an automatic server.

“I think I’ll stick to badminton, ping pong, archery, and hockey,” she told Jax.

“Let me show you how to swing smoother.”

“Are you always this nice to women?”

“Only when it suits the occasion, sweetheart.”

Jax stood behind Alex and placed one of his massive hands around her petite one as the other slid around her waist.

Alex shivered a little but enjoyed his take-charge demeanor.
I can't believe I'm reacting this way to a teammate. Calm down, girl!

282

He had her crouch sideways about three-quarters away from the court’s net, using his hands to position her. Jax’s touch was magical, making her feel awkward and sexy at the same time.

“Okay, let’s try again, sweetheart. I want you to relax and swing with a fluid motion.”

She missed the first few balls, but with his encouragement started hitting more over the net.

“Krásný!
Now you're getting the hang of it!”

“Děkuji,
but I’m still kind of klutzy.”

“Take home the racket and practice. Everyone should be here shortly so we should prepare for your poker lesson.”

Alex followed him inside.
I don’t know why so many people talk shit about this man. Granted I despised him at first, but he turned out an amazing person.

“Jax,” she asked, “are you participating in the Center Ice benefit dinner?”

“Yeah, but…” He paused. “Hold on a second! Talmadge didn’t bother asking you, did he?”

283

“He’s taking some Canadian model. Apparently not-so-perfect short female teammates aren’t good enough to join him at Rebels-sponsored events.”

“Time to prove him wrong. You deserve better than sitting at a corner table with other dateless guys from the team. Come to think of it, I’m also on my own.”

“I thought you never dated American women.”

“For you I’ll make an exception.”

He got on one knee and held both her hands. “Alexandra Galloway, will you accompany me to the Center Ice dinner next week?”

Oh, Troy, you’ll really shit your boxer briefs when word gets out who will be my date Friday night
…

“Jax Ivanka, I’d be honored!”

***

284

Chapter 48

“I hear something about Alex before you come,” Boris said as he and Troy dressed for a game against the Washington Wildings.

“If it’s about her hanging out at Ivanka’s, Brian gave me all the details.”

“Yes, but Jax taking her to Center Ice.”

Color drained from Troy’s face. “This better not be another one of your jokes, Boris.”

“No joke. I overhear him say to Marty and Lenny.”

“Al told me she was either going alone or with Davy!”

“Davy not back for few more days. Relative died.”