On the Fly (Crimson Romance) by Katie Kenyhercz Page B

quite a hurdle.”
    “Yes.”
    East shifted and crossed one long leg over the other to balance a pad of paper on her lap as she took notes. Jacey tried to catch a glimpse, but the woman kept it slightly tilted out of her vision. Madden probably could have seen, but his gaze was glued to East’s legs.
    “And I heard tonight that you named Phlynn coach on the interim — that he coached through training camp. I think that’s a hockey first. What were your reasons behind that?”
    “He didn’t actually coach. Mike Peabody took over until Ms. Windham became head coach. Carter simply offered his opinions from time to time. As captain, he knew the team’s strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else.”
    The shark underlined something a few times and scribbled quickly. Jacey swallowed and reflexively sat straighter. She glanced over at Madden, who apparently started paying attention again because he pinched the bridge of his nose. Not good.
    The reporter touched the tip of her pen to a full bottom lip, and from the glazed look in Madden’s eyes, Jacey realized — if there had been any doubt — that he would be no help in this interview. East wrote a few more quick notes. Jacey felt like everything she said was being twisted somehow, but she didn’t dare get defensive. That would only make it worse.
    “The relationship between owner and players is important. How would you say you’re getting along with the Sinners?”
    “We haven’t had many problems. They’re not used to having a woman for a boss, but they’ve all been cooperative, given the circumstances. Phylnn was nice enough to show me the ropes, and I think things are working out.”
    Furious scribbling from East, and from the corner, Madden coughed into a fist. When Jacey looked over, her brother’s stare shot daggers of warning. Did they know something she didn’t?
    “Rumor had it that Phlynn was looking to trade to the Blackhawks. Why did he decide to stay?”
    Over East’s shoulder, Madden drilled holes in Jacey’s forehead. She consciously tried to slow her heart rate just in case the reporter could pick up on that too. “I did hear that he got an offer, but Carter’s reasons are his own. He didn’t share them with me.”
    Madden squeezed his eyes closed. East smiled as she wrote, her pen practically burning into the paper before she flipped the pad closed. Then Jacey
knew
she’d said the wrong thing.
    “It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Vaughn. Thank you for the interview.”
    She could only nod. East stood and moved over to some of her cohorts by the pretzel bowl. Jacey strained to hear what they were laughing about, but Madden headed out, and she hurried to catch up. When they were making their way down the now empty steps to the main concourse, she couldn’t take it anymore. “What did I say?”
    “Where should I start? You used Phlynn’s first name. Twice. You hinted that he was especially nice to you, which can be construed in more than one way, and you alluded, though not convincingly, that you didn’t know why he turned down the Blackhawks’ better offer.”
    Frustration bit down on her last nerve, and she stopped on the last step. “I
don’t
know why he decided to stay. Maybe it was just loyalty to the team. Or Reese. They’re like Siamese twins. It’s really not norm — ”
    “Jace. Come on. Dad made him the same offer. You know he stayed because you gave him the face.”
    “What face?”
    “That face that you do that turns grown men into guilty little boys.”
    “Madden, my
face
isn’t worth another one point five million dollars.”
    “Well I guess to him it is.” He stepped closer, dipped his head, and lowered his voice. “But no one else can know that. I don’t know what you guys have going on — I don’t think you know yet — but you need to be careful. Okay?”
    “You really think the interview went that badly?”
    “She’s gunning for you. I don’t know why, but when she ended it, I could