Page 16 of Center Ice

She wasn’t smiling like before. She looked angry.

“Jake, this is the one.” Mikey nudged my arm.

“No way. I’m going in,” Lance argued.

I ignored them both, watching her as she walked through the water toward the far side of the bar.

What was wrong? I could see something simmering in her eyes. I needed to know. I wanted to help.

But why? I didn’t know her. Why should I care?

6

Dani

There was else something going on with the resort. That was the only explanation for why Mr. Hernandez would treat me the way he had. He and I normally got along really well. I did my job, and he stayed out of my way. Our relationship had been like that for years, until today.

He’d snapped. Called me into his office and actually yelled at me for thirty minutes. He heard about the cake incident and the drunken man that almost got ahold of the microphone, and was furious about what the wedding party might have said. Theoretical reviews they could leave online, but no formal complaint had been made. I caught things before the disaster could happen, yet he yelled warnings as if I’d dropped the ball.

He actually said what I do is easy, a pointless job that he could find anyone else to do, or even get rid of entirely. Since all I do is tell other people what to do and coordinate table cloths.

“Do not mess this one up,” he’d repeated over and over. I knew the Wells-Malkin wedding was important to the resort as a means to brag and bring in more clients. The media was coming, and he knew that would mean eyes on his staff, all of them, not just me and my team.

Maybe it was that pressure that had him in a rage.

Whatever it was, I didn’t deserve to be his punching bag, so as soon as he dismissed me, I went to my room, changed, and was at the pool within minutes. Maybe giving myself half a day off right after getting reprimanded wasn’t the best choice, but I was too upset to be around clients.

“What can I get you?” one of the bartenders asked as I sat on a stool at the swim-up bar.

“Strawberry daiquiri, please,” I replied and glanced around the pool. There were a few dozen live-in employees, and I was friends with most of them, but I didn’t see anyone around. I could use someone to complain to, but I would have to enjoy my pity party alone.

It wasn’t like I needed a reminder of how important this wedding was. I’d been contacted by news stations from Salt Lake, Los Angeles, and almost all of the sports networks. Now I could start making arrangements for those on Chloe’s approved list. I had things covered, and Maggie was double-checking our work so nothing was missed.

As long as I knew that, things would be fine. Mr. Hernandez would see another successful wedding that brought good press for the resort and then he’d eat his words.

“Here you go.” The bartender slid my drink to me, and I smiled my thanks. It was convenient not knowing every employee for times like this. I got a break and could pretend to be just another guest for a little while.

I took a sip while scanning the other faces. Couples lost in their own world. Families splashing on the far side of the pool. And a group of men staring back at me. I flinched until I recognized them. They were with the wedding. Seeing them with their shirts off confirmed my suspicion. Professional athletes. Teammates of the groom.

Two of them were leering, and I fought the urge to sink lower into the water, but the third offered an apologetic smile and glanced away. He was the one that caught my attention earlier. He had curly, dark brown hair cut short and the perfect amount of scruff on his face. Handsome but almost unaware of it. He didn’t have the cocky grin his friends did, nor did he try to take up as much space as the one with long black hair.

His skin looked on the verge of burning. He was probably too used to being inside. I should warn him. Offer him sunscreen at least. Right when I reached to pick up my drink, his friend with the shaggy blond hair locked eyes with me and got up. I pretended not to notice him walk through the water toward me as I casually got up and made my way around in the same direction, so he would have to rush to catch up.

I sipped my drink, keeping my eyes on the ocean while circling the bar toward the other two. When I took the spot next to the curly-haired one, he seemed surprised.

“Hey.” His brows pulled together, and he looked around for his blond friend, who was now standing where I’d been with a frown.

“Mind if I hang here for a minute? That guy’s giving me the creeps.” I gave him a teasing smile.

He chuckled. “Lance has that effect on people.”

“I bet.” I waved to the bartender and asked for another drink. “What about that one?” I nodded to the man on his other side, running his hand through his wet hair like he was posing for the cover of a romance novel.

“Mikey’s mostly harmless too.”

I doubted that. “I’ll be sure to keep my distance, just in case.”

“But I seem safe?” he said as his lips twisted into a grin.