On the Fly (Crimson Romance) by Katie Kenyhercz

man, this game would be over in two seconds.”
    The announcer boomed. “Your Sinners, full strength!”
    The Budweiser Crew chimed in too. “Always were!” And with his helmet and gloves back on, Carter stepped onto the ice and skated into the action.
    The last five minutes of the game, Jacey’s fingernails dug into her palms. Nealy’s brand of coaching didn’t help the tension as she screamed chipmunk-pitched obscenities and waved her tiny fist at the refs. With one minute left in the game, the arena took a collective breath as Dylan passed to Carter, Carter fired a slap shot … and scored the winning goal.
    Jacey jumped and held onto her brother’s arm as he humored her with an amused grin, and then she clapped with the rest of the crowd. Sudden bright lights hinted that her enthusiastic reaction would be on the eleven o’clock news, but she couldn’t help it. She caught Carter smiling at her from the ice as he embraced his teammates, and her heart clenched.
    Madden tugged on her elbow.
    “What?”
    “Gotta go. Interviews. We’re due in the pressroom.”
    “Players get interviewed. The coach gets interviewed. The owner doesn’t get interviewed. I’m new at this, but I know that much.”
    “What can I say? You’re special. It’s the first game. And I was sitting right there when you said the media gets full access. Including you.”
    “You paid attention.”
    “Don’t sound so surprised.” Madden navigated her through the fans fighting their way upstream like excited salmon. It wouldn’t be so bad. What were a few more questions?

Chapter Ten
    Monday, October 10th: Postgame
    “What is your response to the allegations that you’re having a relationship with Sinners captain, Carter Phlynn?”
    It had been going well until then. The reporters quizzed her on her thoughts of the game, her choice to remain at ice level instead of watching from the owner’s box, and her little victory dance after the last goal. She should have known it wouldn’t last. And yet, that one still blindsided her. The reporters quieted. Moments before, they shoved and talked over each other, all trying to get the next question. Now they appeared happy to wait. “I wasn’t aware there
were
allegations. But they would be false.”
    The same reporter piped up again. “What about the rumors that Phlynn helped coach the team through training camp? Why was he given that opportunity?”
    “Mr. Phlynn did not coach during training camp. That was run by our assistant coach, Mike Peabody. Carter may have offered input, but his main role was a player. Finley quit shortly after my father’s passing and right before the move. It got a little hectic. I was grateful for any help.” Quiet murmurs replaced the shouted questions in the sea of gleaming-eyed, flesh hungry press, easing her tension a notch.
    Madden, who stood off to the side, gave her a small nod. Why did it feel like she’d just gotten away with a lie? She
wasn’t
dating Carter. He might have headlined her dreams lately, but the press didn’t know that. Still, she forced out a little smile and nodded to a local news affiliate.
    “Ms. Vaughn, there was much debate over your choice to name Nealy Windham coach of the Sinners, but tonight they won their first game. What do you have to say to the doubters?” The woman shifted and held her microphone closer.
    Jacey smiled, back in her comfort zone. “This isn’t where I get on a feminist soapbox and say that any woman could coach an NHL team as well as any man. That wouldn’t be true. Not all men can coach, and not all women can coach. Nealy Windham can. Hockey is in her blood, and she knows the sport inside and out. She proved her ability tonight, and I have faith that she’ll lead us into a good season.”
    From the back, someone yelled, “Locker room’s open!” and the reporters turned heel and stampeded out. In three minutes, the entire room had cleared. Madden sauntered over, arms folded loosely across his chest.