The Hockey Captain's One-Rule Romance

a's

edside table at six o'clock in t

, ring. Vibra

is completely broken. Every single sports website, celebrity gossip blog, and social media feed has the exact same picture right at the top of the page. It is a cr

t. I stare at the screen, my fingers tre

that pictu

rapher standing down on the sidewalk could never get an angle like that, no matter how expensive their camera lens is. Someone wa

he covers off and running stra

hoes down the hallway. I pace back and forth across the expensive carpet, my chest heaving with panic. When the bat

one right into his face. "Look at this pic

cond, something dark and terrified flashes in his blue eyes. But he hides it fast, pas

i have long lenses and crazy equipment. They sit in cars acr

You can't shoot upward at a fifty-story window from across the street. The a

"You're letting your imagination run wild. Marcus said the public loves the photo. The team's PR department is celebr

f frustration stinging the corners of my eyes. "I

h a hard edge in his voice. "Just... drop it. We have a

eaving me standing alone in the middle o

xecutives, coaches, and sponsors are all smiling and clapping when Carter and I walk in together. Marcus, the publicist, l

whispers loudly, handing us both coffee cups. "T

y stomach. Every time I look at Carter, I keep thinking about that photo, and I keep thinking ab

ee, the heavy double doors at the

lls over the entir

ears a dark, expensive suit that screams power, and his sharp gray eyes scan the room like a ha

my throat. Sophia? Wh

ht at me. "I apologize for my late arrival. I was just finalizing some important organizational changes. Effective imm

plashes over the rim. "You can't do that," Carter growls, standing up half

kindness. "And she will be working very closely with your lovely new girlfriend.

't want Sophia showing me anything. I want to

Sophia corners me near the private elevators down the hall. She crosses her arms over h

pping with venom. "The little accountant from n

ut, Sophia," I say, trying to keep my

blocking the elevator doors. Her

ion," she whispers, leaning in close so her breath brushes my ear. "You think it w

I stop moving. "What

a truly ugly, t

owly, every word landing like a heavy stone.