Foreplayer: A Rookie Rebels Novel

  Foreplayer

  A Rookie Rebels Novel

  Kate Meader

  This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 by Kate Meader

  Cover by Michele Catalano Creative

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Kate Meader

  1

  Ah, weddings. Who didn’t love them?

  Not Mia Wallace, that was for sure. She loved the spectacle, the dancing, the romance of it all.

  She loved the cake. (Especially the cake.)

  She wasn’t a fan of heels, though, and at five feet ten, she usually went without. But Harper Chase, her sister-in-law’s sister—say that ten times fast—had suggested heels would make her outfit “pop,” whatever that meant. So here she was at the wedding of one of her brother’s teammates, popping like a spent bubble and towering over half the men here. The other half were the Chicago Rebels hockey franchise.

  Not that she was interested in impressing one of that lot. She wouldn’t touch a hockey player with a well-taped stick. Her brother was one—a player, not a stick—and she spent much of her time around them because she spent much of her time around her brother. Despite not being too shabby on the ice herself, she didn’t get a whole lot of respect, or ogles, from that corner. Which was fine because ew, David. She’d rather give herself a root canal with a skate blade.

  No. She had her sights set a little higher than some bang-and-bolt puck chaser.

  Standing at the bar, she had a good view of the dance floor fringed by the tables. This wedding was set under a marquee tent on the grounds of Chase Manor, home of Harper and Remy DuPre, the franchise’s soap opera super couple of CEO and retired player. Hosting a Rebels wedding here had become quite the tradition. All the Chase sisters and the general manager had married at the Manor. Now Levi Hunt, the NHL’s oldest rookie, was tying the knot with Jordan Cooke, ace sports reporter. Simply magical, and a perfectly inspiring place to launch her plan.

  Operation Seduction.

  So the title needed work. Hell, the plan needed work. Because she didn’t really have a plan beyond wowing her target with … hockey stats? What else could she talk about? After twenty-four years on this green earth, she still felt like that same sheltered girl raised in half-hiding by her single mom, playing dress-up with the big girls. Definitely not the kind of woman who would attract a man so suave, so sophisticated, so urbane … so she’d obviously swallowed a thesaurus. But he was all that and more.

  And he was coming her way.

  “Mia, you look amazing!” Tommy Gordon, sports agent to the stars, and the unwitting love of Mia’s life gave her an appreciative look up and down. A non-leer, perfectly on brand. “I didn’t recognize you with all the …” He made a general hand wave that encompassed … her dress? Her hair? Her makeup? (Which felt shoveled on a la garden trowel. Curses, Harper!)

  “I figured I wouldn’t get away with sweats here.”

  He smiled kindly. Her heart swooped. With a sexily-held index finger to the bartender and a head tilt her direction, he asked, “Need a drink?”

  The bar was open but it was nice when a guy asked all the same. “I’d love a champagne cocktail.”

  “You got it.”

  She wasn’t a fan of champagne, but beer-swilling seductresses weren’t in this year. She would sip, flirt, and win the prize.

  Tommy looked out of this world—and her league—in a gorgeous black suit that must have cost thousands of dollars. It shaped his broad shoulders to perfection and made her tingle all over. With his copper brown hair and clear blue eyes, he was the embodiment of sex in a smart, refined package. Only problem, other than the pesky he-barely-knew-she-existed one, was that he was a tad older than her. Ten years to be precise.

  Oh, and he was her brother’s agent.

  Not exactly a conflict of interest, she had insisted to herself, repeatedly, for the last six months. But she could imagine easily the mighty Vadim Petrov’s reaction. Something angry, negative, and incomprehensible in Russian. That Tommy might not want to damage a relationship with one of his most lucrative clients was a distinct possibility. Her brother did more modeling than skating these days, and those endorsements earned Tommy a nice ten percent. But that would be the ultimate test, wouldn’t it? If he was interested in her, he wouldn’t care what her stupid brother had to say about it.

  “Here you go.” Tommy passed off the flute of sparkling liquid to her and raised his own glass. Likely whiskey or scotch. Maybe she should feign an interest in top-shelf distilleries. Men loved talking about that kind of thing.

  Anxious to keep his attention, she went on the conversational offensive. “Great wedding, wasn’t it?”

  Those dreamy eyes flashed with surprise at her gush. Or, that’s the interpretation her fragile ego clung to rather than the alternative that he might feel trapped in her presence.

  “Definitely. Levi’s one of my clients, you know.”

  She did know. She also knew that guys liked to drop knowledge on the ladies. “Oh, really?”

  “Yep. Such a transcendent story, sacrificing his NHL career to enlist in Special Forces, then losing his best friend in Afghanistan, and now marrying that same friend’s widow.” Tommy smiled, appreciating Levi’s journey before another, less pleased expression took over. “Of course, he could have capitalized on it more with an in-depth interview or a long-form story on ESPN.”

  “I heard he doesn’t like to talk about his military service.” Dull, so dull. She searched for something more positive to say. “Are you close to signing anyone right now?”

  “Now, Mia, you know I can’t talk about deals in progress, but …” He leaned in and his aftershave almost gave her an orgasm on the spot. “I have a couple of irons in the fire.”

  She mirrored his body language, a move she’d read about on Bustle this morning. “My lips are sealed.”

  He wagged a finger which made her think of all the things she’d like that finger to do. “No can do. So how’s the training going?”

  “Good. I’ll be getting serious about my regimen next week on the rink.” An amazing honor, she had been invited to try out for the US Women’s Hockey Team as they chose the players heading to the Olympics in February. She couldn’t wait to prove her mettle after two years away from competition. So long.

  Too long. The bitterness
that threatened to engulf her every time she thought of her exile hazed like a red rash before her eyes. Tommy was saying something and she struggled to focus through the anger and pain. So much for being over it.

  “Vadim said you wanted to coach girls’ youth hockey for a while …” He paused and took a good look at her. “But he seems confused by that decision. Can’t say I blame him. Would’ve thought you’d want to build on the momentum of your great play at NCAA level.”

  Yes, that would have been preferred. But we don’t always get what we want.

  “I like coaching the little ones, especially girls. But now I’m ready to get back into it.”

  “Heard you parted ways with your agent.” More like was dumped. He looked sympathetically blank, and she wondered if his poker face was as good as her brother claimed.

  “Not a lot of money in youth hockey.” She smiled sweetly while inside, her heart screamed: back off from this line of questioning!

  “That’s what I told Vadim. A woman with your, well, resources doesn’t need to fight for a place on a hockey team that’s paying a pittance. Only—a word of advice, Mia.” He leaned in close, his ocean-blue eyes steady and caring. “The Olympic committee isn’t going to look too kindly on a girl who comes off as less than committed.”

  Desperate to stave of the tightening of her throat and telltale prick of tears, she dug her nails into her palm. Of course, that’s what it looked like. Mia Wallace, youngest winner of the Patty Kazmaier award, a family legacy of hockey greatness, girl-most-likely-to-play-anywhere-she-damn-well-pleased had given up her dream to go pro for what looked like no good reason at all. Now she was inching her way back by trying out for Team USA, but all anyone would see was a trust fund baby who didn’t need hockey like she needed her next breath.

  “This is what I want and I’ll do whatever’s necessary to get it.” Too many people had tried to smash her dreams. She was taking charge and now it was her way or the highway.

  A smile teased his lips. “That’s what I like to hear. I’ve always thought you have an amazing future ahead of you. Maybe we should talk about that over lunch soon.”

  She swallowed, shocked at her unexpected success. “That would be great.”

  He handed her his card. “Call me anytime.”

  She rubbed her thumb across the embossed lettering. Tommy Gordon, Sports Agent, and his number. Not that it would have been hard to get, but a personal card delivery when she was looking semi-decent seemed much more meaningful. Surely, a sign.

  “I’ll definitely be in touch. Thanks, Tommy.”

  “You’re welcome. Listen, I need to chat with that guy. It was great catching up with you!”

  He glided away in Italian loafers, leaving Mia—and her heart—floating on a puffy, romance-lifted cloud.

  * * *

  Cal Foreman wished this wedding would hurry up and die.

  Though he’d been teammates with the groom, Levi Hunt, in college, he didn’t know him all that well. But it would have looked odd if he hadn’t shown his face. Traded four months ago, Cal had spent most of that time on the Rebels injury reserve with a rotator cuff injury. Now, with training camp starting in six weeks, he was fighting fit and ready to play. Hanging with the team socially was a good way to psyche himself up for the season to come.

  But weddings. Suffering Christ, not his bag at all.

  “Babe, get me some champagne, would you?” Tara squeezed his thigh and moved her hand north, a sure sign she’d had a little too much of the fermented grape already.

  “Tara, there are children here.”

  She frowned, then seemed to remember that frowning wasn’t good for her forehead. “People should leave kids at home. It completely changes the vibe.”

  “I don’t mind kids.” He loved kids. He winked at the one who had been sneaking furtive looks his way for the last two hours. Lauren Yates, the twelve-year-old sister of Gunnar Bond’s date, Sadie, was a wicked fast hockey player who had recently put in a few weeks at the Rebels’ youth hockey camp. A video of her zig-zagging around boys twice her size was currently doing the rounds.

  “Especially ones who get too many desserts for one person.” He leaned over and grabbed a mini lemon mousse from his tweener table mate.

  “Hey!” Lauren said, eyes wide. “Get your own desserts.”

  He swallowed the tiny pastry whole. “Doing you a favor. You won’t be able to skate if you eat too many of these.”

  “They’ll have to roll you onto the ice,” she said with a cheeky grin.

  “She’s right, babe.” Tara regarded him critically. “You’ll be in full training soon. Need to watch your weight.”

  “I need 3000 calories a day so I don’t lose any muscle.” He patted his stomach, which admittedly might not have been as hard as he would’ve liked. He’d get there. Leaning in to Tara, he added in a tone not meant for children’s ears, “And anything extra can be easily worked off.”

  Tara giggled before remembering that giggling wasn’t good for the tiny lines around her mouth. She pouted instead, which apparently was neutral.

  Last night, she’d told him about all the various expressions that had a negative impact on her facial muscles and skin tone. Smiling, frowning, just being. Cal didn’t care—he liked a few laugh lines—but Tara didn’t, so he listened like a good boyfriend. Well, not boyfriend. They were dating. Casually.

  It had started one night when he came in from Montreal to play the Rebels in Chicago back in February, just before his trade. They’d hit it off at a bar after the game, hit each other hard, and then hooked up again a few weeks ago after he’d moved to Chicago. He’d fallen into a regular thing with her without too much effort. Sometimes it was easier to go with the flow.

  For the last five years he’d been going with the flow.

  This move to Chicago was supposed to be his opportunity to focus on his career and by extension, his personal life, in a way that was purposeful. Yet the first thing he did was fall into bed with Tara. She was fun, sexy, easygoing, and for the most part, not much of a challenge.

  Just thinking that pulled him up short.

  It wasn’t that he didn’t want a challenge. More like he didn’t want to have to think too hard about why any woman he was with wanted him. Not conventionally handsome or a sparkling conversationalist, he did have one thing going for him: he was a nice person, usually top of the list whenever some wag wrote anything about good guys in the NHL. But he liked to think there was more to his success with women than not being a dick. Honesty was his watchword. He was always up front about the trajectory of any relationship, meaning it usually traveled a straight line on an even keel to a mutually-agreed uncoupling. Five or six dates max, built around his training and playing schedule.

  This was his fourth date with Tara, and she had already dropped hints that she’d like them to be more serious. Something about meeting her family and setting aside an entire dresser for her stuff when he hadn’t intended to give her a single drawer.

  The end was nigh, another one in the books. Fun while it lasted, but no woman would be depositing a spare toothbrush in Cal Foreman’s mug. Never again.

  The back of his neck prickled and he turned to find the one person in the world who might cause a casual observer to doubt Cal’s reputation for niceness.

  Tommy Fucking Gordon. He represented a few of the Rebels players, so Cal shouldn’t be surprised to see him. The man was perfectly entitled to occupy whatever spaces he wanted, but Cal didn’t have to breathe the same air.

  Gordon gave the chin jerk of acknowledgment as if they were old teammates or army buddies. That decided it.

  Cal touched Tara’s leg, thinking one more tangle in his sheets would be a nice way to end things. “How about we get out of here?”

  “Sure.” But the word was barely out of her mouth when her attention was snagged elsewhere. “Oh, first I need in on that action!” She jumped up and raced to the front of the tent, where the bride was preparing for that age-old ritual: the tossi
ng of the bouquet. Tara was eyeing the best spot for a catch, but first she looked over her shoulder and gave him a thumbs up. No smile, though, because … lines.

  Lauren caught his eye and added in words and tone wiser than her years, “You’re in trouble there.”

  Yes. Yes, he was.

  2

  Mia headed back toward her table, one eye on the floor so she wouldn’t trip—stupid heels—and another scanning for Tommy. She needed to do more research. Find out what he liked. His interests, hobbies, favorite books.

  He looked like a historical biographies kind of guy.

  Was she the kind of woman who liked a historical biographies kind of guy? Did it matter?

  He had certainly formed an opinion about her, though he was likely taking his cue from her brother. She had disappointed Vadim, which was the last thing she’d ever want to do. He expected she’d take women’s hockey by storm when she graduated two years ago. Live up to the hype that surrounded her as a prodigy when she entered Harvard.

  It didn’t turn out the way she’d hoped. The way anyone hoped. She’d trusted a guy, who had taken her self-worth and shredded it like mini-wheats. Whose actions set her on the wrong path and blocked her from playing the sport she loved. Vadim had no clue what had happened.

  He would burn it all down if he ever found out.

  Despite the fact she could occasionally skate rings around him, her brother had always thought his little sister in perpetual need of his wide, protective wingspan. A childhood cancer survivor, Mia found it hard to escape the “fragile” tag Vadim had labeled her with since he’d come into her life during her teens. But escape it she would.