On the Fly (Crimson Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

bunny.”
    Madden’s brows furrowed and then a deep laugh shook his shoulders. “
Puck
bunny. And jeez, what’d you do?”
    “Nothing! I didn’t do anything. My first day, Coach Finley quit, and I needed someone to run practices, so I went down to the rink and asked Carter where the assistant coach was.”
    “Carter … Phlynn? And I bet you called him Carter in front of the whole team. Now I get it.”
    Jacey swatted her brother’s shoulder. He smirked, so she pinched him. “I don’t see what the big deal is. What’s wrong with first names?”
    “Nothing. If you’re on the team. Or sleeping with them. Pro sports are about last names and nicknames Jace. And ow.” He rubbed the spot she pinched.
    “See? I need you. Pleeease?” Jacey gave him the sad puppy expression she’d used growing up to guilt him.
    “If you’re so busy and need so much help, why can’t I be the acting GM?”
    Because you gambled away your savings by age twenty-four. Because I don’t trust you with Dad’s team.
Neither of those would be helpful out loud. Instead, she went with a better truth. “Because no one thinks I can do this. I want to prove everyone wrong. I want to prove to myself Dad didn’t make a mistake trusting me with the team. I need you behind me on this, Maddie.”
    He appraised her with light blue eyes that mirrored her own. Some people mistook them for twins, but she had him by three years. She could see an inner struggle taking place. He looked down at the plush carpet, the line of his shoulders drooped, and he nodded. “All right. I’ll do it.”
    “Really?” Could it be that easy? Madden’s pride almost always got the best of him, but the ego only served to hide his insecurities. Deep down hid a vulnerable kid. Still, he was usually too contrary for his own good, even when it would benefit him to agree.
    “On one condition.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Don’t ever call me Maddie in public.”
    Jacey laughed and ruffled his hair. “You got it, Maddie.” And then she bolted from the room before the consequences could catch her.
    • • •
    Thursday, September 15th
    “So who do you think it’ll be?” Shane Reese leaned back on Carter Phlynn’s microsuede chaise lounge, hands locked behind his head.
    “I have no idea, man. She just said she’d have a new coach by the season’s start. Pre-season starts next week. Staff meeting tomorrow will reveal all.” Carter slid a hand back through his hair and took a sip of beer, half watching the baseball game on the plasma TV.
    “Peabo was a bastard in training camp.”
    “Yeah, but he had to be. You see those rookies? Maybe two will play with us this year.”
    “Isn’t that a little harsh? We need fresh legs.”
    “We need guys who can play in the NHL. Jacey agrees.”
Damn
.
    He’d gotten used to her enough that the boundaries were starting to blur. Every now and then, she showed up at the rink and the track to watch them practice. They’d talk after. He’d summarize everyone’s progress. She’d ask questions. If he was being honest, there might have been flirting. Nothing overt but … it felt like something was there. He hadn’t meant for anyone else to find out. As soon as her name left his lips, Carter knew it had been a mistake. He tried to pretend like he hadn’t said it, stared especially hard at the pitcher on the screen.
    “Who?”
    “What?” Carter didn’t dare look away from the TV, pretended to be distracted.
    “Jacey.”
    “What about her?”
    “I don’t remember you ever calling her old man ‘Jacky.’ You still on a first-name basis with the boss lady?” Reese leaned forward into Carter’s peripheral vision, clearly fighting a smile.
    Carter sighed and spared his best friend a glance. “Nothing’s going on. She just said to call her that.”
    “I’ll bet she did. You know you better watch yourself in interviews though, right? A slip like that, and the whole league will talk.”
    “I’m not stupid. Can we watch the