Teamwork Read Free Page B

Wrigley. Nice to meet you.”
     
    Five minutes later we sat in the hospital canteen with two strong coffees between us.
    “Raven and I have been friends for a long time,” Todd said, tipping sugar into his coffee. “You haven’t seen the best side of him. He’s a great guy underneath all that caveman crap.”
    “I’m sure he is,” I said, smiling and loving the way Todd smiled back, once again flashing his perfect white teeth. “No one is their best in hospital, I understand that.”
    “He’s having a rough time. I don’t know if he told you, but he’s only been back on the ice a few weeks after a leg injury. I had to persuade him to come to the UK with the Vipers, he wanted to stay home and just keep his fitness up before the start of the season. But I thought the tour and the warm-ups would do him a favor, get him to the top of his game again. Because he’s good, you know, in fact more than good. He’s one of the best, which is why Fergal paid a damn fortune for him, record price for a defenseman last season apparently.”
    I nodded, my mind vaguely skimming through what Todd was saying as I studied the way his mouth moved around each word.
    “So naturally I feel bad that he’s gone and got himself injured, you know, like it was my fault ’cause I persuaded him to come in the first place.”
    “Accidents happen. They’re no one’s fault. That’s why they’re called accidents.”
    He took a sip of coffee. “Yeah, I guess, but I can’t help but feel guilty.” He paused. “Which is where you come in.”
    “It is?”
    “Yeah.” He placed down his drink and leaned forward. “I’ve just spoken to Fergal—”
    “Sorry, who is Fergal again?”
    “The owner, of the Vipers.”
    “Ah, okay.”
    “And I told him what a wonderful job you did with Raven’s shoulder yesterday. How you stopped him cursing and complaining for the rest of the day after you performed your magic. Hell, Raven even cracked a smile in the evening when I came back to sit and watch TV with him.”
    “Well it wasn’t magic, it was just a bit of acupuncture and—”
    “It was completely magical. And if you can do that with his shoulder, perhaps you could help his leg too. He’s not admitting it, but I’m sure it’s still giving him grief and he’s not going to get back to the top of his game until it’s better.”
    Nodding, I said, “Yes, it is still painful for him, but he didn’t want me to go near it when I tried to help.”
    Todd widened his eyes. “Ah, so he admitted it was still a problem?”
    “Well, yes, but—”
    He leaned back and folded his arms. “That’s my point. He’s so intent on getting on the ice again, being the best defenseman on the team, in the country, that he’s willing to ignore his discomfort. But of course in the long run that’s not going to help him at all.”
    “No, it won’t. Injuries need to be fully recovered before they’re subjected to the stress of a contact sport like hockey.”
    “Exactly, which, Fiona Wrigley, physical therapist extraordinaire, brings me to my point. How would you like a working holiday in Orlando?”
    It felt as though I’d been thrown into the air. My brain was flailing for comprehension, my stomach somersaulting.
    Go to Orlando?
    “I-I… But…”
    Todd reached out and covered my hand with his. “I think your expertise could be just what Raven needs. Plus I get the feeling you won’t take any crap from him, and that’s also something he needs.”
    A whispering tingle ran up my arm and settled in my chest. His touch was firing up nerves that had been asleep for some time. “Well, no, not when it comes to treatment. I’m very passionate about what can help my patients.”
    “I’m sure you’re very passionate about many things.” He rubbed his thumb over the top of my hand and gave a crooked smile, the sparkle in his eyes speaking a thousand words, the heat in his stare stoking a flickering flame of lust burning in my belly.
    Bloody hell,