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“Sergei, I was hoping I’d run into you. How’s coaching life treating you?” Nik was grinning wide, pure pleasure radiating from him.
Nik knew one of the coaches? Was this why he’d wanted to travel with the Orcas? Whoever Sergei was, Nik was clearly happy to see him. The coach was a huge man, at least six inches taller and fifty pounds heavier than Nik. Jules watched as other players began to show more interest in Nik’s presence.
“Nik and I played junior hockey together back in Ontario,” Sergei was explaining to the team.
“Sergei kept me alive,” Nik said, laughing. “Without his muscle, I wouldn’t have lasted as long as I did. He was always better than me. He got drafted, and I went to university.”
Jules examined Nik’s physique with new eyes. He’d always struck her as an athlete of some type, because he was so muscular and fit. He had clearly continued to take care of himself, even if high-level hockey was decades behind him.
Sergei punched Nik’s arm, nearly knocking him off balance. “You did all right for yourself. Do any of you know who this is?” Sergei looked at the circle of players around them. Most were shaking their heads.
“Nik is one of the partners in WYCK Capital. They own two NHL teams, an NFL team, and ... what else do you guys have? Don’t you have some European football league connections now?”
Nik shrugged modestly. “We have ownership stakes in several professional sports teams.”
Sergei nodded. “You guys need to talk to Nik. You all have money that you need to invest. He can help you.”
Nik waved off Sergei’s comments. “I’m happy to talk to any of you, but I’m not here on business. I won this trip in a charity auction. Meet Jules Roberts. It was her company, Coastal Casinos, that sponsored the auction.”
Nik reached for her hand and pulled her into the circle surrounding him. Heat climbed her cheeks at Nik’s insistence of putting her centre stage, but this was part of running the company. She needed to get used to it. “It’s nice to meet you all.”
“That auction raised a lot of money,” Sergei said. “The whole team was happy to be part of it.”
Jules relaxed as some of the players asked Nik questions about WYCK and their attention drifted away from her. She was waiting as the players boarded the plane when an urbane voice spoke quietly behind her.
“How’s life treating you, Jules?”
Jules turned to greet Chip Meecham, owner of the Orcas. “Chip. It’s good to see you. Thank you for making this happen for us.” She returned the brief hug Chip gave her. At close to twenty years her senior, Chip had treated her like a younger sister since the early days of their working together, something Jules appreciated. “I want you to meet Nik Costas from WYCK Capital.”
Nik reached for Chip’s hand, giving it a firm shake. “We were introduced once before, years ago. I doubt you remember. It’s good to see you again.”
“I remember. Hard to forget a man who owns shares in two of your competitors.” Chip’s smile took any hint of antagonism from his words. “You provided a lot of entertainment with your bid at the auction.”
Jules winced inwardly. It had only been a week, but she couldn’t wait for the events of the auction to fade from people’s memories.
“The auction was for a great cause, and it seemed like a good idea at the time.” Nik’s tone was casual.
“It was a bold move. I’ll admit, I never liked Michael, so seeing someone beat him like that was satisfying.” Chip smirked.
Jules tilted her head, confused. Chip and Michael had always seemed friendly. “I thought you got along well with Michael. You never said anything when I worked with you.”
“Michael is a self-centred egomaniac. I can say that, because I share many of the same qualities. Unfortunately, Michael doesn’t recognize his faults. I never said anything because you were his wife, and it wasn’t my place. I do very little business with his firm now.”
Warmth filled her at his words. Chip’s consideration of her feelings made a lie out of his assertion he was self-centred, but he’d pegged Michael correctly. Jules wondered idly how many other of her old business contacts thought less of Michael than they let on. It was good to know she might have more friends in the business community than she thought. “I didn’t know.”
Chip shrugged lightly as they took their seats. “Once you were divorced, I saw no reason to say anything. Your success had nothing to do with Michael.”
Pleasure filled Jules at the notes of pride and respect in his voice. She had fought hard to get to where she was, and it was satisfying to know others recognized that.
Chip handed a detailed itinerary to Jules and Nik. “You’ll find everything waiting for you at the hotel when you check in. There is a team dinner tonight; the information is there,” Chip said.
Jules skimmed the page in her hand, noting all the team events they were invited to as part of their all-access package. Team dinner, pregame practice, publicity events. The team had put together a weekend that any hockey fan would envy. “I’m sure we’ll have a wonderful weekend.”
Jules buckled her seat belt, conscious of Nik’s every movement as he settled beside her in the comfortable leather seats. Her skin prickled when his long, elegant fingers brushed her wrist as he reached for a copy of the schedule Chip had provided. Jules breathed a silent sigh of relief when Chip and Nik began talking about issues in the league. She popped in her earbuds, chose a relaxing playlist, and closed her eyes.
When they arrived in Toronto, she and Nik were taken up to a beautiful suite with a wall of windows overlooking Lake Ontario. Even in late February, the view was breathtaking.
Jules left Nik fixing himself a drink at the bar and began exploring the suite. The living area was filled with large, comfortable pieces, designed to allow you to relax and entertain. A dining area and a full bar were off to one side of the living room. There were two bedrooms, both furnished with a king bed, much to her relief. Her awareness of Nik, her attraction to him, was increasing with every moment they spent together. His intelligence and business acumen were understandable, but his kindness towards Ava, and his transparent joy at being part of her life, were things Jules had never expected. It made him more compelling, more attractive. That made him much more dangerous to her peace of mind.
