“Miss Pedersen?” said a voice from behind her.
Malin turned to see her second cousin, Jason, waiting nervously at the door. His mother had sent him to the Twin Cities when he’d failed to find a job after five years in college. He hadn’t impressed her beyond his ability to overthink nearly every project he’d been given. But Malin needed someone who’d take the job seriously, someone who’d stick to Thom Quinn like glue.
“Jason Pedersen, this is Thom Quinn,” Malin said.
“I—I know who you are,” Jason said. “I met you last spring at the fan convention. You signed my helmet.”
“Mr. Quinn, I’m going to suggest you hire a personal assistant. One who’ll live with you 24/7. I trust you can make a place for him at your home. Of course, the team will provide a stipend for his rent.”
“You want me to live with someone?” Thom asked.
“This is nonnegotiable,” Malin said. “Perhaps we should discuss this with your agent?”
“No,” he said. “It’s fine with me.”
“You’ll also pay his salary,” Malin added.
“I will?”
“Yes. Due to contract restrictions, we can’t force you to hire an assistant. We can encourage you to do it on your own, though. Which I’m now strongly suggesting.” She leaned forward, her hands splayed across the conference table. “Please do it, Mr. Quinn. Trust me, if you want to keep your job, you need to do this.”
Malin waited, knowing that her ability to sway his behavior was key to her plan working. If he fought her, then it was going to be a very difficult summer for them both.
“All right,” he finally said. “I can make room for Jason.”
Jason gasped. “What? Me?”
“You’re going to be Thom Quinn’s new personal assistant,” Malin said.
Jason’s eyes went wide. “I’m moving in with Tommy Quinn? I’m moving in with The Beast?”
“We’re not going to be using that nickname anymore,” Malin said. “Call him Mr. Quinn for now.”
“You can call me Thom,” he said, nodding at Jason.
At that moment, Thom’s agent returned to the room, his phone still held up to his ear. “What’s happening?”
“I’ve just hired a personal assistant,” Thom said in a bright tone. “This is Jason. He’s going to help me get my shit together.”
Jack glanced back and forth between his client and Jason. “That’s it?”
“Yeah,” Thom said. “He’s going to be living with me. I think it will work out just fine. Jeff and Jake both have assistants, and they say it’s great. Maybe he can also do my laundry? And clean the fridge? It will be nice to have a workout partner.” He stood, then held out his hand to Malin. “If we’re finished here, I’ll meet Jason at my place. You can give him the address and send him over with his stuff.”
The moment their hands touched, Malin felt a current race through her body. Thom’s hands were strong, his fingers long and slender. He was known for his great hands, but she’d assumed that referred to his stick handling abilities. She stared down, her mind suddenly occupied with thoughts of what his hands might do to her body. Great hands indeed. A shiver raced through her.
“What about you?” he murmured. “How will you know that I’m complying with your wishes?”
“I’ll be in daily contact with Jason, and he’ll keep me up to date on how you’re doing. You’ll be expected to work out with a team trainer and skate every day. We’ll put together a schedule.”
“All right, then,” Thom said. He suddenly let go of her hand, and Malin wondered if she’d ever have the chance to touch him again.
She watched him follow his agent out of the conference room, then flopped down into one of the leather chairs.
She was acting like a puck bunny, getting all flushed and breathless the moment she set eyes on a handsome hockey player. This had never happened to her before. Why was it happening now?
“He is so cool,” Jason said. “The Beast! How can you not like that guy?”
Malin was wondering the exact opposite—how could she stop liking him?
* * *
THOM STOOD IN FRONT of the open refrigerator door and examined the contents. Old takeout containers, a few packages of hot dogs, juice, vitamin water and beer. Though he worked hard to maintain a decent diet, it was much easier during the season when meals were provided by the club’s caterer.
“Can you cook?” he called.
“Cook?” Jason wandered into the kitchen area. “Sure. Pizza. Mac and cheese. Man, your place is so cool. What guy wouldn’t love living in an old firehouse? Was it like this when you moved in?”
“No, I renovated it myself.” Thom grabbed a couple of beers, starting to make a grocery list in his head. McCrory and Pedersen had made it clear they wanted him to lay low for the next couple of months, so he wouldn’t be dining at his favorite restaurants. He followed the sound of Jason’s voice to the family room at the rear of the house.
Jason had already found the remote for the television and was flipping through the channels. “You are old enough to drink, aren’t you?” Thom asked before handing the other man the beer.
“I’m twenty-two. But I probably shouldn’t drink since I’m on duty.”
Thom grabbed the remote and switched to the local sports report. “We need groceries. You might as well hit the store. While you’re gone, I’m going to take a run.”
Jason shook his head. “I’m not supposed to leave you alone. If you need me to shop, then you have to come with me. If you’re going for a run, I go with you. That’s what Malin told me and I’m not going to screw it up. I’m supposed to stick to you like glue on rice.” He cleared his throat. “Or maybe it was white on rice. Yeah, yeah, that’s it. White on rice. Flies on flypaper.”
“All right. We can send out for a pizza,” Thom muttered, stretching his legs out in front of him. “Why don’t you go grab a bedroom and unpack your stuff?”
“I can do that later. I—I’m just gonna sit here and watch the sports report.”
“I’m not going to sneak out while you’re upstairs.”
“No, no,” Jason said. “I trust you. Completely. Why don’t I call for the pizza? Malin—I mean, Miss Pedersen—gave me some cash. My treat.”
“Malin,” Thom repeated. “You call her Malin?”
“Not around the office. But she’s my cousin, so it would be weird to call her Miss Pedersen any other time.”
“What else did she tell you?”
Jason shrugged. “Just...stuff.”
“Like what?”
“She said I shouldn’t let you drink. That I should keep you away from sleazy women. I’m supposed to work out with you every day, and if I can get you to read an actual book, she’ll give me a bonus.”
“She expects you to do all that? She must be tough to work for.”
“Nah, she’s really nice. I’ve screwed up a few times—more than a few times—and she always gives me another chance.”
“What else do you know about her?