Page 42 of Center Ice

When we stepped through the main office doors into the cool, air-conditioned rooms, Maggie looked up from the front desk. “Dani? What are you doing?”

I could barely meet her eyes. I felt anger simmering in my gut. She was going to have to somehow make a good impression with my replacement if she wanted a fulltime job next summer. All of our work together wouldn’t help her now if Mr. Hernandez didn’t allow me to leave a letter of recommendation for her. Hopefully, his disdain didn’t pass on to her.

“Is he in?” I didn’t have to say his name for her to know who I was talking about.

“In his office,” she answered with her brows pulled together.

“This way.” I led Sydney and Chloe down the hall to his closed door. I knocked and waited for his response before opening the door and walking in with them at my sides.

“Dani? Who are they?” His eyes flitted to each of us, and I felt Jake shift closer to me.

“I’m Chloe Murray, and this is Sydney Cullen. We’ve been planning a wedding with Dani for weeks, and it’s supposed to start in six hours. I just found out that she’s been let go. I don’t appreciate this change at all, Mr. Hernandez. I brought the Utah Fury team here because I heard Dani was the best. I wanted to work with her specifically, and now, on the actual day of our event, you decide to ruin everything?”

Chloe was getting heated, leaning over his desk.

“It’s completely out of the question,” Sydney added. We’ve put far too much time and money into this wedding for you to take away our planner. How on earth will things come together without her?”

Never in a million years did I think I’d have anyone fighting for me, let alone two amazing, powerful women that had only met me in person this week.

Chloe stepped back next to me. “Dani will be managing today. She will be in charge, otherwise we will take our party elsewhere, and you can expect to receive a lawsuit by Monday morning.”

I held back a cringe at the threat. I didn’t doubt her for a second but finding somewhere else, and getting all the vendors to go there on such short notice, would be a nightmare. But if there was one thing Mr. Hernandez hated more than me, it was losing money.

He glared at us before nodding once. “She will continue today. After that, she is done.”

Sydney put her arm around my shoulders while Chloe laughed humorlessly. “Good choice. I’ll make sure all the articles covering this wedding will leave out the name of the resort while leaving her name in.”

His eyes widened. “You can’t do that.”

Chloe smirked. “You have no idea what I can do.”

She spun and led us out of the office. Jake was waiting just outside doing a small celebratory dance.

“Nice job.” He high fived Chloe and Sydney before hugging me.

I hurried them out of the offices and back outside. “Thank you both so much. That was amazing.”

Chloe folded her arms. “That was nothing. He folded so fast.”

Sydney nodded. “I didn’t even get to argue my second point.”

I laughed and hugged both of them. “I promise this will be worth it. Colby and Noah are going to have the perfect day.”

They left me and Jake behind, and I sighed. “I have one more day. One more wedding. Then what?” I looked up at him, hoping he had the answer.

“We’ll figure that out,” he promised. “I have contacts in most major cities in the US if you want to move back. If you want to find somewhere new, I’m sure between all the guys and the Pride we’ll come up with something to help you get set up.”

He was so confident. I wanted to believe him and that it could be that easy, but I knew better.

“I don’t want you to think I’m saying this to get you to come back with me, and I know Salt Lake might not be at the top of your list, but I want you to consider it. There are plenty of couples that are still engaged on the team. You can work with them, plus we have connections with the basketball and soccer teams. There’s some really great opportunity for you there, and since most athletes are from other cities and countries, you’d probably still be doing a lot of destination weddings.”

He was right. Planning for professional athletes would be a huge opportunity for me. Just imagining how my portfolio would grow was enough to have me considering it. If I gave it a few years and didn’t like it, I could move. Easy enough.

I’d have a built-in community there, too. The girls had been so great this week, and I might even be able to really have a family like they did.

But would Jake think I was moving to be with him? The idea of being able to continue to spend time getting to know him was definitely appealing. And it wouldn’t be just for him.

“I’ll think about it.” It was the most I could commit to right now.