The Slot (Rochester Riot #1)(10)
“Move back, please. Thank you for your cooperation,” she said, knowing better than to try and answer questions.
Media rule numero uno.
When the majority of people began shuffling across the street, Eloise turned and walked back through the arena. She paused briefly to watch the players performing their drills, trying to pick out Fiorino. With embarrassment, she realized she didn’t even know his jersey number.
Note to self: study team roster before you get fired. Or die from humiliation in front of the hottest guy you’ve ever seen.
Kylie looked up from her desk as Eloise returned. “How’d it go?”
“Might have gone better,” she answered. “Kyles, have you ever regretted working here?”
Kylie brushed a wisp of pink bangs aside and stared at her. “Gosh, no. I love it here, don’t you? We work in the front office of the most talented and badass team in the NHL. Why would you ask that? Is everything okay?”
El shrugged her shoulders and tried to chuckle, but it ended up croaking out her throat like a pathetic whine. “I thought the most badass team in the NHL is the Chicago Blackhawks. Anyway, I spoke with Sheehan. The bar is coming along fine, but I’m worried. The locals have valid issues. When it’s completed, the main artery into the neighborhood will be blocked. Customers won’t be able to get to their local shops without a massive detour. Worse, they may stop at Murphy’s Finest and not go any further. It really will change the economy and culture of the area. I’m not sure I like Murphy’s plan, and I’m certain I don’t like him.”
Kylie put her hands over her ears as if it hurt to hear the information. “He’s a businessman, what do you expect?” She threw Eloise a curious look. “Why do you care about the neighborhood? If the bar is a success, it’ll mean more money in our paychecks. Don’t you want the Riot’s brand to be successful? That is your job, you know.”
Eloise sank into one of the cushy visitor chairs. “Because I met one of the players today. He’s worried about a coffee house down the block.”
“Who?”
“Cole Fiorino.”
“Wow, you talked to the heir apparent?” she asked, mouth agape. “He owns a coffee shop?”
“No.” El laughed. “His friend owns it. But, yes, I did talk to him. He seems nice and genuine, you know? Not what I expected.”
And I certainly didn’t expect him to inspire every cell in my body to fire on all cylinders.
“What did you expect?”
“I don’t know,” Eloise admitted. “I guess, more of a stuck-up jock. An intolerable sense of entitlement coupled with zero sense of humor.” Her mind drifted back to rock-paper-scissors in the cool evening air. No. This one had a funny bone for certain.
“You mean like Ryder,” Kylie said.
El glared at her assistant. “He is nothing like Ryder.”
“How on earth would you know that?” A knowing smile crept across Kylie’s face. “Ah-hah. You like him. A hockey player. Just what you need. And a gorgeous one too. Did he make you squirm in your panties?”
Eloise stood and ignored the intimate question because it hit too close to home. “What I need is to find a way to make peace between the community and our owner’s interests.”
Kylie shrugged. “Why don’t you hold a – what do they call it – a Town Hall meeting? Get everyone to talk and clear the air?”
Eloise stared at her, a catlike grin curling her lips. “Miss Rose, you are more brilliant than your hair color. That’s exactly what I’ll do.”
She settled into her office and began composing an email to Sheehan, outlining the Town Hall proposal. As her fingers flew across the keyboard, she pondered Kylie’s question about why she cared so deeply about the implications to local businesses and had to admit that Cole’s relationship with his friend had influenced her. Add in Kylie’s unspoken hint that she might be attracted to the man, and her motivations became less clear-cut.
Stop already.
Eloise sighed and ran a hand through her long, chestnut waves. Was it possible to consider dating a player? The thought hadn’t crossed her mind before; too much money, too much ego, too little intelligence. But Cole Fiorino seemed different. A depth of character shone from those beautiful blue eyes that surprised her. And his physical attributes definitely weren’t unappealing. She interrupted her daydreaming by reminding herself who signed the paychecks and put the finishing touches on her proposal before hitting send.
Chapter Four
At seven the next morning, the corner newsstand had just opened for business. Eloise pulled up at the curb alongside and got out. As she’d hoped, a fresh stack of mini-doughnuts sat by the register. She purchased two packages, thinking back to her days as shift manager at the KwikTrip in Minneapolis. The job had supported her through college but left her with a lifelong addiction to the fluffy white rings. After a restless night, she felt in dire need of a sugar hit.
Visions of Cole Fiorino’s twinkling eyes and ripped body had haunted her dreams – the crazy kind of dream that woke you every hour yet somehow led you back to a different version of it each time you dozed off. Eloise found herself blushing as she recalled different bits of the dream. Her and Cole in a bubble bath, then getting it on in the executive washroom while Sheehan Murphy spied on them. Ugh! Cole finding her lost in the dark woods, ripping her shirt, pushing her up against a tree… that one made her heart palpitate even now.