1. Holden

I'm doomed.

If one more thing goes wrong with my schedule, then I'm absolutely unlucky. My eyes slide past my laptop on my desk and land on the photo of my two little devils—my kids. They are such joyous creatures, causing chaos in my life. Okay, I do love them. A lot, actually. I'll always have a soft spot reserved for them. Lori, my twelve-year-old, and Harry, my ten-year-old. I want to believe they make me a better person. That's fatherhood, right?

But holy fuck, they are challenging me in a game I'm not sure I know how to play. I'm good at games. I played professional hockey for twelve years. I win, always. Except with them… I don't.

I huff out a deep exhale and decide to look out the window of my office to find some tranquility in the scene of Lake Spark on this spring day. The blue sky and the bright sun would be perfect, except Illinois in March can be unkind on the temperature front, and it's a solid high 40s with a breeze.

The Dizzy Duck Inn is my post-pro-athlete life. It was something different and fun. There are so many professional athletes in this town and people escaping Chicago for a weekend away. It's a prime business opportunity that I snatched up when the old owners wanted to retire, then I packed up and moved my family here a year ago. I have two investors, but it's me running the show. Lake Spark is a calm little town with an excellent private school nearby that was an extra draw for parenting my kids. After all, my ex-wife decided to exit the picture long ago, leaving me to do it all.

I can be Superman.

Just not lately.

I think I'm on nanny number six in the last year alone.

I sigh as I lean back in my chair and interlace my hands behind my head."To be fair, I ignored all their attempts to flirt," I say to myself. Well… that might be a tiny lie. There was one a few years ago who seemed like a good one-night kind of drunken Christmas party thing, my bad. But I've been a perfect boss since then. My little angels? Not so much.

I shake my head, knowing that I need to focus on some numbers before the interior designer shows up to start the project of freshening up the look of this hotel. It's not that it's in bad condition, I just want to rejuvenate the atmosphere. With the spa and wedding venue here, I want to step it up to ensure guests have to book well in advance. We already have an award-winning chef.

My attention is drawn to the door when I see my friend and business partner Stone Madden peek in. We're from similar hockey circles, though we never played on the same team. We just hit it off at some charity fundraiser way back and have been friends since.We have one other smaller investor, but he takes zero part in almost everything, as it's purely the old owner's wish that his son kept a stake.

"Hey, Holden, you alive?"

I chuckle. "Today, yes. What brings you by, considering you firmly said that you would invest in this place, but I quote, ‘don't want to do one fucking single thing in regards to management, nor do I want to hear about it.' End quote."

He quickly holds his palm up. "I won't deny that, but I also said I would invest so that one day if I needed to impress someone, then I could slide in this little fact to gain me points."

My expression flattens. "And?"

"I'm using my part-ownership card. Harlow and I are taking a room for a week or two while the contractors redo our house."

"This place is getting a makeover too."

He shrugs. "Yeah, but this place has charm."

"We do our best." I grin cheekily.

"By the way, your old coach's daughter, Lexi, starts today, right? Met her a few times at various sponsor gigs long ago."

"Something like that."

I have examined her portfolio, and it's what I need. Apparently, she had grandparents that lived around here when she was younger, and she has a best friend, Summer, that lives here in town who I see around. Summer also recommended Lexi. I've met Lexi a few times. After all, her dad was my coach up in Michigan. Let's just hope she's changed since I saw her last, which was a few years ago after she graduated college. I remember running into her once during her college years. A true sorority girl who valued social life just as much as academia. I'm hoping she's a calm adult now, with baggy jeans and an oversized t-shirt. It's what I need to keep me concentrating on the task at hand. I can't afford distractions.

Besides, once you leave hockey, the team rules still apply; stay away from the coach's daughter.

"Good luck, or rather, keep it locked in. See ya, buddy." He waves his fingers in the air.

I tip my nose up in acknowledgment, and the moment the door shuts, I'm back concentrating on my task. I must lose time though, because as I'm busy typing away and clicking my mouse, I hear a soft knock on my door.

The door cracks open. "Hi, Holden." Lexi's voice sounds chipper, or excited at least. I'm sure she wants to do an excellent job on this massive project ahead.

"Hey, Lexi," I say as I glance up from my laptop while I press save on my screen. But the moment my eyes hit the image at the door, I instantly do a double-take.

Oh no.

No. No. Nope. Fuck no.

I'm cursing to myself inside my head as I attempt to keep my face neutral.

Well, wish one is a massive failure. Lexi's in jeans, except they're tight, which isn't ideal. Wish two, a total miss too. She's in a sweater, even a turtleneck, but unfortunately for my dick that suddenly twitched, it's not a baggy shirt. Instead, it highlights her tits and taut body. I didn't even predict her long dark blonde locks that frame her face. Confidence oozes all around her.

She is what I recall, yet with less makeup, which makes her hotter… and now she's older, too.

Bad. This is bad.

She's supposed to be that college kid that I remember when I was in the height of my career and way past the early-twenties stage. It seems that she's turned into a woman that turns heads even when dressed perfectly respectably.

I swallow and throw on a polite smile. "Good to see you again."

"Yeah, I guess it's been a while. I ran into Stone in the lobby. It's like déjà vu seeing everyone from the hockey world again." She doesn't even wait for me to invite her in. Lexi strides straight in with poise and heads to the chair in front of my desk to sit down.

Oh yeah, we're supposed to have a meeting. Not me staring at her and studying the shade of gloss on her lips. Professional Holden. Yep, that's who I am now.

"Figured it was safe to hire you without an interview since you're not a stranger to most of us." I attempt to lighten the mood, and it causes her to give me a grin, with her lips that look welcoming for my co?—

"I guess being the coach's daughter has its advantages," she replies, breaking my thought.

Sure, think that, sweetheart. Screw the team rule of not going near her for life. It can go out the window. I'm a grown man anyhow. Wait, why am I even thinking all this?

I can't sit in front of her face to face, because her brown eyes seem as though they will turn me into the smug man I know I can be when I find prey. Standing, I walk to my window to divert my attention to other thoughts. "Everything good in your life?"

"Can't complain. I'm sitting in front of you for a project that's any designer's fantasy."

Her tone, I can't pinpoint it, but it causes me to snap my sight to her and find that she has a smirk, which confirms to me that she might have grown into a little spitfire.

And her mind seems to be not as straightlaced as I hoped. That's a relief, sort of. Looks like we might have a few shared interests.

Taking the high road, I keep my wry smile fixed. "And non-work life?"

She folds her hands on top of her thigh thrown over her opposite knee. "Different to last time you saw me. I'm no longer in a sorority, and I keep my weekends busy with sophisticated wine drinking and attempting to find the latest dinner hotspot."

I lean against the window. "Except you've never been here with your boyfriend. I should be offended that the Dizzy Duck Inn didn't make it to your hotspot list."

Lexi's head tips slightly to the side as she purses her lips. "It did. It was before you became owner. No boyfriend. I went with my father." New fact on availability. Noted.

My jaw ticks as her eyes are somehow possessive and cause me to feel slightly uncomfortable. "Of course you did," I mutter.

Her mouth gapes open, and she fakes shock. "Implying I'm a daddy's girl? That's not cool. Back when he was your coach, and even to this day, his team takes priority, and you know that."

I take a few steps back to my desk and hover over it by placing my fingertips on the hard oak, which could potentially be as hard as my cock might be soon. "I'm happy you're doing well." I'm sincere about that.

This time it's Lexi who stands and strolls over to the window to steal a look at the spring scenery outside. "How are you? Lori and Harry?"

I forgot that I brought them to a team holiday party when they were much younger. "Let's see…" I pop my lips and debate the best answer. "Since I last saw you, that messy divorce was finalized from the ex-wife from hell who decided motherhood wasn't for her, and my two great kids cause so much mischief that I'm beginning to wonder if I have Satan as an ancestor. But hey, gotta love them."

My light tone causes her to laugh. "Sounds like you have your hands full and not the way you prefer." Her smirk is sultry. I've been around enough women to know the differences of mouth positions.

And damn, she's at it again.

Does my expression make it that obvious that she can read that she's caught me off guard and isn't what I expected? My head retreats back as my cheeks tighten and rise up. I don't remember her having this sassy boldness, but it's quite a positive attribute to have. "Something like that. But it seems like that might change soon." That's my subtle warning. This time it's her face that has surprise or concern, I'm not sure which, but her brows rise. "With this project, of course." Bullshit, but I do need to discuss the re-design.

She clears her throat and returns to the chair in front of me, and we sit down. Our eyes lock in this unusual meeting. I'm not sure what's in the air that surrounds around us, but I'm doubting it's professionalism.

The thing is, sometimes you have an instant click with someone. That's how attraction works. Noticing someone across the bar isn't a made-up lie. Being familiar with one another just adds that extra element. In a way, it's added value to the flirting game. And I see no problem with flirting as long as the door to exploring that flirtation is deadbolted shut when it comes to my younger interior designer. I didn't think of her this way before, but now she's sauntered into my office as a woman grown and changed.

"Okay, so, I have clear steps to attack the re-design," she begins.

It seems one of us can shift to work mode as fast as a light switch.

I shut my laptop screen that I forgot I left open. Might as well save some battery, right? "Take me through the steps."

"First, I already sent suggestions to your staff manager so they could arrange logistics, and she sent back some feedback on your behalf. After we have a walkthrough, I want to start by bringing in samples. I understand we need to attack the lobby first. Already noticed the moose head on the wall." She cringes.

I chuckle. "You're not a fan of Caesar?"

She chuckles, and it's cute. "I doubt anyone is, especially if you named him after a salad."

Swiping a hand across my rough but short-shaved jaw, I fall into a more relaxed state. "Although a tradition to the inn, nobody is a fan, so you have my full permission to knock him down before an animal lover sends me an angry letter."

Her shoulders lift up then down. "Perfect. No debate there then. So, after samples?—"

Lexi is unable to finish her sentence because my phone vibrates on the desk. I reach to ignore the call and turn my phone to silent, but I pause when I see the name across the screen.

I hold my finger up. "Sorry. I just need a sec."

She doesn't hesitate. "Of course."

I hit the green button as my entire body fills with dread. "Principal Johnson," I attempt to sound pleased for her call.

"Mr. West, we seem to have a little problem at school," she begins on the other end.

I clench my jaw in an attempt to keep myself calm. "And what might that be?"

"Today it's Lori. She made quite a scene at afternoon pick-up. Lori decided to speak… disrespectfully to one of her classmate's moms when Lori and her classmate were in a little… debate." I can hear that she's trying to be delicate in her approach.

I snicker while my sight lands on Lexi who patiently waits. "Seriously? You're phoning me because my daughter spoke about a parent outside of school hours?"

"Mr. West." Principal Johnson sounds surprised. "Everyone by the sixth-grade door heard her. It left Gemma McClearly in tears that her mother was being called such things."

Damn it, Lori has been having issues with Gemma. From what I hear, she's a little brat with parents that could use a parenting book or two. And her mom? The parent committee president on a power trip to make up for her recent divorce.

"I'm sure she had a reason. You're well aware they are not the best of friends," I highlight.

"She called Ms. McClearly a gold digger looking for a husband, then decided to add that plastic isn't the look you go for, which means she must have been referring to you." Her tone is unamused.

Even my jaw drops from this incident. "I could see… how that might… be a…" Ah damn, I have no words.

"Mr. West, Gemma was in tears, and the other parents who heard were none too pleased with Lori's lack of manners. Lake Spark Academy, of course, upholds our values of kindness and respect very seriously. Lori is in my office, and you need to pick her up. I'm losing my patience with her, Mr. West."

I blow out an exhausted breath. Great, perfect, swell, exactly what I need today. I pinch the bridge of my nose, attempting to avoid an oncoming headache. "Of course, I'm on my way."

Hanging up my phone, I hear the clearing of a throat, and I glance at Lexi who's awkwardly sitting there. "Everything okay?"

I stand and grab my keys off my desk. "An urgent matter has come up."

"Oh, I hope it's not too serious." She sounds concerned as she stands, realizing this meeting has reached a close.

"Nothing but the usual. I need to get to my daughter's school. We'll have to finish this meeting tomorrow. Let's do the morning so you can get started. Stuart at the front desk will get you your room key, as I know you wanted to stay here for your creative flow."

Her hand flies up. "Don't worry. I'll figure it out. And tomorrow sounds like a plan. I'll meet you here when you figure out a time."

A near sinister sound escapes from my throat. "Not here. Meet me at my house. Early. Seven even."

"Your house?" she questions the unusual request.

I walk to the coat rack and grab my jacket. "Yeah, Stuart can give you my address."

"Your address?" she repeats, as if she's checking that she heard me right.

Throwing her one last grin, I kind of enjoy that I've thrown her off. "Don't worry, I don't bite… at least not at breakfast, anyway."

Her eyes blaze with slight fear. And that's fair enough, because a vision of bending her over my desk just flashed into my brain.

Tomorrow. I'll be on my best behavior. For sure, it's possible… I mean, impossible.

Shit, tomorrow.