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

table. “I am.”
    A flush crawled up Carter’s neck and filled his cheeks, but his jaw was tight, and his hands closed hard over the armrests.
    “If you have objections, you can see me afterward, and I will note them, but that is all. Ms. Windham is the new head coach of the Las Vegas Sinners. She is what’s best for this team, and if you listen to her, you’ll see that.” Jacey forced the words out with a semi-even voice, but she
hated
saying that to the man she’d practically begged to stay. Okay, he could be a jerk, but a good guy lurked underneath. She was ninety percent sure.
    Disbelief clearly took back its hold as Carter’s number one emotion, and she almost laughed. Her staff needed to know she could stand up for herself and make the tough decisions. But at the moment, their dazed expressions said no one thought she was making the
right
decisions.
    “I know it’s a scary, big step, but all trailblazers are in this position. I’m not doing this because I’m a woman or because I’m trying to get on a soapbox. I do believe Ms. Windham is the best for the job. However, I know it will create controversy, and I think that can work for us.” Uncertain looks all around as well as some shaking heads. Jacey stood her ground. “We need publicity, and this will be free and wide advertisement. Everyone will be talking about the Sinners and their female coach. At first, people might come to games to heckle or see us lose. But we won’t. And that will keep them coming back.”
    Silence. Doubting contemplation replaced outright rejection. Carter looked less furious, but his gaze was far away and calculating. Anything had to be better than his looking at her like she was an opposing player. “Look, we’re going to get attention for this, but that’s not my goal. Ms. Windham knows hockey. She’ll be a good coach. Eventually, the team will be the focus. I know we all want that.”
    Reluctant nods. They might not be with her one hundred percent at the moment, but at least they weren’t hoisting pitchforks and lighting torches. Jacey took a slow, deep breath. In for a penny … “Okay. Now, as you know, my father fired our last general manager, and he’d assumed the duties himself on the interim. Unfortunately, he didn’t hire someone else before he passed. Since taking the reins, I’ve been making those decisions with the help of Ms. Windham and my brother, Madden, as well as with the input of Mr. Phlynn.”
    Carter looked up at her then. She couldn’t read the thoughts behind his stoic hazel eyes, but she preferred that at the moment. He probably wouldn’t like the next part. “I’ve decided to keep the title of GM and continue making the team’s most important decisions with my brother’s help, as I’ve named him the new assistant GM. I know it’s bold and also unconventional, but I’ve done a lot of studying over the last few weeks, and I know the current market pretty well. You can see that in the trades and contracts I’ve made. I feel confident that Madden and I can manage this team through its first season and keep our father’s legacy alive.”
    Carter pulled his lower lip between his teeth and looked down at his lap. The rest of her staff traded cautious glances but no overt,
you’re-an-idiot
expressions. Progress. Jacey turned to the Mac laptop in front of her and opened her PowerPoint. “Those are the big changes to the organization. Now for marketing. The NHL has never had a team in Nevada, and even after the Sinners’ three years here, there isn’t a ready demographic — we have to create one.”
    A balding man leaned forward. He wore a conservative white shirt, and there were neon dice rolling across his black tie. “Hi. Steve Hammond. We’ve seen a specific problem with Las Vegas. Our arena is right off the Strip. We mostly attract tourists who come to root for their own home teams.”
    Jacey nodded and clicked to her first slide. “That’s a good point, Steve. That’s exactly