Delay of Game (The Baltimore Banners Book 6) Read Free Page A

claws.
    Justin had been traded to the Banners seven years ago, had his best years on the ice here in Baltimore. He was twenty-nine, he still had a few years left. A few good years, if he could get his head out of his ass and back on right. He didn't want those years wasted up north in the minors. Hell no. If that happened, he might as well just retire right now, because he'd never see ice in the major league again. That much was a certainty.
    He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, ran the palms of both hands across his face. What the hell was he doing? Why the hell was he letting all the doubts, all the accusations, get to him now, of all times?
    Bullshit. He knew better.
    And he needed to get his act together. Now. But first—yeah, first, he needed to apologize to someone.
     

Chapter Three
     
    Val toed off her shoes then propped both feet on the edge of the desk, leaning forward to rub them. The movement stretched the muscles in the backs of her legs and she sighed, leaning forward even more.
    What she needed was a massage. A full body, deep tissue massage. With aromatherapy oils. Yes, that was exactly what she needed. She tried to go at least once a month and she was—
    She frowned, thinking. Yes, she was definitely overdue—by about eight months, at least. Her lips twitched up in a small smile. Just one more thing she said she'd make a habit of doing that never seemed to get done. Massages, long weekends off, day trips to nearby locations.
    She sighed again then leaned back in the chair, her eyes darting around the small office. Trade-offs. It was all about the trade-offs. And the trade-offs were definitely worth it, especially if it meant being her own boss, having her own business.
    She still couldn't believe it. Not only did she have her own business, but the business was successful. They had done it, all four of them. Her and her three friends: Alyssa Harris, Jodi Randall, and Renee Gilbert. Not only had they opened a sports bar and restaurant catering to women, they had made a success of it.
    A huge success, if the nightly crowds and continued great reviews meant anything. And in this business, they meant the world.
    They had just celebrated the second anniversary of The Maypole's opening. Enough time had gone by that she didn't have to spend fifteen hours a day here, seven days a week. No, she didn't have to, but she still did. Maybe not every day, not every week like when they first opened. But enough that she still didn't make time for those little trade-offs.
    Like full body massages once a month.
    Okay, maybe that was one thing she should work on getting better at. Instead of a splurge, she could call it an investment in mental clarity, something that would make her focus a little sharper for business.
    Like right now.
    She had given hostess duty to one of the waiters so she could come back here and work on the books. It should have taken her thirty minutes at the most, since the reports were constantly kept up-to-date. That made her life so much easier, so much smoother.
    But instead of finishing the reports and heading back to the floor, she had drifted off into a ridiculous daydream.
    Not just ridiculous. Silly. Stupid. Fanciful. Completely unlike her. She was intelligent, steady, with her head firmly on her shoulders. Val didn't daydream, not like this.
    Not about guys.
    No, not just any guy. About Justin Tome. Her brother's teammate.
    She really needed to get her head out of the clouds. There was no reason for her to be dreaming about him, especially after last night.
    Except last night was probably the reason she was dreaming about him. If she hadn't stripped him naked, she wouldn't be having this problem.
    But there was no way she was going to let him sleep in her bed, on her sheets, in those disgusting, stained clothes. If she could have managed it, she would have thrown his ass in the shower. As it was, she had enough trouble getting him out of the car and into her condo. Never mind the hassle