“Hmm.” He tapped the chipped, wood-print vinyl lining the top of his desk. “Usually, that’s why the ladies request an in-person meeting. Toquit because they’re starting a family. So, now I’m intrigued, Miss Cooper. What brings you here today?”
I swallowed, and my knee bounced, betraying my nervousness.
When I remained silent, Barry checked his watch pointedly. “I’m sure we both have better things to do today than stare at each other.”.
“I came to disclose that I’m involved in a relationship with Maddox Sterling.”
Barry’s bushy eyebrows shot up high on his forehead. “As in . . .”
Was he really going to make me say it?
“As in, the head coach of the Indy Speed.”
Instead of reprimanding me—telling me all the reasons why a relationship between someone I interviewed and reported on for a living was wrong—a sinister grin appeared on his ruddy face.
“Look at you. I have to say, I’m impressed. Though I shouldn’t be surprised, a young thing like you catching the eye of an older man.”
And there it is. The door is open, but that doesn’t stop him from being a pig.
“Excuse me?” My tone was sharp, my voice raising in volume.
Barry seemed to remember himself and wiped the salacious smirk off his face before clearing his throat. “Right. Well, I’ll admit I knew you’d have off-the-clock access to the team, but this exceeds my wildest expectations. I hired you because we needed a woman on the sports staff after the last one left”—he made a gesture in front of his own gut to indicate a pregnant belly—“and your connection to Braxton Slate was too good to pass up. Plus, we know the players can’t resist a cute girl and would likely give you the best interviews. But this goes beyond. A relationship with the new head coach? You’ll have the inside scoop.”
I bit back a retort as he admitted to openly ignoring my qualifications when hiring me. I knew my looks had played a factor in beating out moreexperienced candidates—I wasn’t stupid; even though it wasn’t right, that’s how the world worked—but to hear that he expected me to abuse my friendship with Braxton made me feel gross. Even worse, he assumed I would get privileged information from Maddox in the form of pillow talk.
Not gonna happen.
It was time to set this creep straight.
Crossing my legs, I lifted my chin. “If you think I haveanyintention of exploiting my relationships, with either players or staff, you are sorely mistaken. I pride myself in maintaining journalistic integrity, and I feel like my articles to this point have proven that. I’m not willing to compromise that, even if it’s at the expense of my current position with the Indy Sports Review.”
Barry huffed out a laugh, and the tiniest flicker of respect entered his eyes. “I may have misjudged you, Miss Cooper.”
I did a little victory dance inside my mind for having stood my ground and come out on the other side alive—at least, that’s how it seemed.
I stood, making it clear that I had nothing left to say. But I was nothing if not professional, so I asked, “Is there anything else?”
“No. Keep up the good work, Miss Cooper.”
Turning on my heel, I left his tiny office feeling like I was walking on air.
Knowing my job wouldn’t be affected was a huge first step. And there was only one person I wanted to share the news with.
It was torture trying to make it through the workday. All I wanted was a minute alone with Maddox.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off him—looking sexy in his Speed-branded tracksuit—throughout practice, knowing we were free and clear to pursue whatever was brewing between us. The dull ache between my thighs wouldn’t let up, and I shifted restlessly in the hard plastic seat of the practice rink.
My pussy knew the dry spell would be ending tonight. It had been just about three months since Maddox and I met for the first time at Pipes before the season began, and that’s how long she’d been craving action that wasn’t of the silicone variety.
When the team left the ice and we moved onto the interview portion of the afternoon, Maddox was quick to pick up on my distress, arching an eyebrow in my direction in the press room when I couldn’t make my body settle. I gave him a subtle shake of my head, but I was struggling to keep my arousal contained.
As soon as we were dismissed and given approval to access the locker room to talk to the players, I begged Alyssa to cover for me. Then, I sweet-talked my way into gaining access to the executive floor by making a security guard extremely uncomfortable by telling him that I’d gotten my period and didn’t have any supplies on hand, but a female staff member said there were feminine hygiene products available in their bathrooms on that floor.
It worked like a charm. He started to sweat as I explained in vivid detail howmessyit could get if I didn’t take care of the situation immediately and swiped his card at the dedicated bank of elevators to get rid of me as quickly as possible.
Pressing the button for the fifth floor, I bit my lip. He was going to be so surprised to see me. I only hoped it was happy surprised and not what-the-fuck-are-you-doing-up-here-are-you-crazysurprised.
The elevator door slid open, and I checked the hallway to make sure an important member of the management staff didn’t spot me as I slipped into Maddox’s office. The coast was clear, so I tiptoed as stealthily as possible in heels until I reached his door.
