Suddenly the thought of Kardoklickingtook on an entirely different meaning.
My free hand rose to my throat as I swallowed, eyes glued to the screen. I’d seen the game before, of course,but it hurt each time. Not the penalty, not the loss…but the howl of pain from the penalty box as Kardok realized what was happening.
I squeezed my eyes shut, exhaled, and turned away from the television—only to startle in surprise when I realized I hadn’t been alone.
“Good morning, Lila. I didn’t realize you were a Terrors fan.”
Maddie Moskowitz’s bright teal head only came up to my chin—she was short even when I wasn’t wearing heels—and had a kind of energy that never seemed to settle. I’d been in more than one meeting with her where she’d pulled out knitting needles and produced an entire hat “just to keep her hands busy” while listening to presentations.
I did genuinely like the Teal Terrors’ head of Public Relations, even when she snuck up on me. “Hi, Maddie.” I pushed the game from my mind and smiled at her, backing up a space to give us both more room. “I thoughteveryonewas a Terrors fan?”
She laughed and hitched her computer bag higher on her shoulder. “True, but you know—the old figure skating versus hockey player rivalry. That’s a whole subtrope in romance, you know.”
I didn’t know whatsubtropemeant, but I smiled politely. “Really? I had no idea.”
“Not a romance novel reader?”
“I focus more on biographies and pop psychology.” I tried to steer us back to the topic. “The managers of the complex always did a good job of scheduling rehearsaltimes in between the team’s practices, so I never had to compete for ice time or anything like that.” I shrugged. “And Daddy is a big fan, so I think that rubbed off on me.”
There. Everything sounded very proper and correct.
No mention of eating popcorn and watching the games in my turquoise PJs, throwing kernels at the screen when the other team killed our power plays or drooling a bit when Kardok turned to the camera and did that thing with his tongue.
And nothing at all about the thick, ridged dildo I kept in my bedside drawer.
Maddie, knowing nothing of my wicked secret, was still beaming at me, bobbing her head as if she couldn’t be still. “Well, I’m glad to know you’re a fan—it’ll help today’s meeting immeasurably. You know the team has partnered with the youth league in the offseason?”
As she spoke, she turned toward Daddy’s office, her body language inviting me to walk with her. I remembered she’d been the one to call this meeting—“To discuss funding for the youth league” as I recall—but I hadn’t thought anything of it. Now, as we passed Amanda, Daddy’s secretary, I listened to Maddie list the league’s needs: not just inspiration, but new uniforms and new equipment.
“Fairbanks Enterprises already sponsors the league to an extent,” I told her when she paused outside of Daddy’s office. “Is it a case of needing more?” And if so, why was the Terrors’ PR director coming to us instead of the director of the youth league?
“It’s a case of needingdifferent,” Maddie announced with a mysterious grin as she reached for the door handle and pushed it open. “Knock knock!”
Over Maddie’s shoulder, I watched Daddy’s attention jerk up from where he’d been studying his laptop screen. He rolled his eyes as he stood. “You’re supposed to knock, notsay‘knock knock’,” he scolded Maddie, stepping around his desk. “And then I saycome in, and no one is startled.”
I couldhearMaddie’s grin as she crossed to the chairs in front of Daddy’s desk. “I knew you were going to invite us in, so I just skipped that part. How are you doing today, Rex?”
My father rolled his eyes again, but I thought I saw a twinkle in their blue depths as he reached to embrace me. “I’m ready for lunch. This oatmeal my doctor has me eating in the morning might be healthy, but I’m unimpressed with it. Good morning, Pumpkin.”
I probably mumbled something polite in return, but I was focused on leaning into his embrace.
From the time I could remember, it was me and Daddy against the world, and the smell of his cologne always reminded me of that safety. He’d always been big and strong and powerful enough to do anything, as far as I was concerned. Recent years had turned his brown hair more salty than peppery, and given him enough of a cushion around his middle to make hugging him cozy, but he still had that same kind smile and an indulgent sparkle in the blue eyes I’d inherited from him.
But today, I wondered if that gleam was for Maddierather than me. I wondered if Daddy was considering her for Wife Number Five.
If so, I couldn’t wait to see what teal-haired, knitting Maddie did to shake up the other wives at his country club. She’d be good for him, judging from their banter.
Now he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned a hip against his desk. “So what’s this about, Madison? When Amanda told me I had a meeting with just you and Lila this morning, I got worried.”
Since Maddie seemed perfectly at ease in his office, I thought perhaps Daddy’s objections were for my sake. I watched her smirk flirtatiously up at him as she arranged her own laptop and notes, as he eyed her with interest in return.
Perhaps I wasn’t necessary here.
But she’d asked for me specifically, and so I swallowed a sigh—I’d grown up watching my father’s charm work on womenandmen—and took the farther seat, opening my notebook, crossing my legs, and plastering on a look of professional interest.
Maddie launched into an explanation that seemed to focus on the funding of the youth league. It was a more in-depth look at expenses and support needed, complete with graphs and charts on her computer. I nodded along and took notes in my four-years-of-afterschool-calligraphy-lessons handwriting.
Daddy, on the other hand, wasn’t shy about his objections. He was still perched on the edge of his desk, and now interrupted Maddie to ask—as I had— “What does this have to do with Fairbanks Enterprises? I alreadysponsor the league, and since they’re paying the company for rink time, I’m dangerously close to conflict of interest. At least that’s what my accountant tells me.”
