Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
"Explain." I cock my head to the side.
"There are other coaches," she murmurs, her eyes locked on my face. "If they won't reclassify my position so long as I'm your executive assistant, maybe I can switch positions with one of the other assistants. Then, you aren't my boss, we still get to be together, and neither of us loses our jobs."
"You love this team, angel," I remind her.
"I do." Her hand curves around my jaw. "But I can love them from another position in this building, Stone. It doesn't matter if I work for you, or Jake, or Jim, or Lydia, or even Hector. I'll still be here, and so will you."
"Jesus." I kiss her hard again, devouring her lips until neither of us can breathe. Once she's whimpering, trying to climb my body, I pull away. "Let's go find Hector."
"Yeah?" Hope sparks in her hazel eyes. "You're willing to try?"
"You aren't getting it yet, angel," I murmur, brushing my thumb across her bottom lip. "I've waited six months, convinced that you'd never be mine. Now, you're here. You're in my arms, willing to give me your heart. I'll do anything—fight any battle, slay any dragon, wage any war—if it means you stay."
"Stone," she breathes, her bottom lip quivering.
"I love you, Seraphina. I'll fight for that, whoever and however I have to fight for it."
She chokes on a whimper, flinging her arms around me in the sweetest fucking hug anyone has ever given me.
She practically quivers beside me as we stroll down the hall to Hector's office. Neither of us says anything, but there isn't much to say, at least not until we talk to him.
He doesn't seem surprised to see us when Ms. Wanda, his receptionist, tells him that we're here. He just tells her to let us in.
"Seraphina," he says, smiling at her before he looks at me. "Stone."
"Hi, Hector," she says sweetly.
"Hector," I growl. None of this is his fault, but I'm still irritated with him. He has our future in his hands. That's not a comfortable spot to be in, not for a motherfucker like me.
"Close the door," he mutters to me.
I shove it closed before ushering Seraphina to a seat. Hector watches us like he's trying to get a bead on the situation, picking out the differences in how we act and how we gravitate toward one another now that we're together.
I don't try to hide the way I place my hand on her back or help her into the chair. I don't hide the way I hover in her space either, ready to swoop in and defend or comfort if necessary. She's mine now—mine to care for, mine to worry about, mine to love. I'll behave and keep my hands to myself because it's what she asked, but I won't hide. I did that for long enough, and while doing it, I made us both miserable. We're done with that shit now.
"What can I do for the two of you?" Hector finally asks.
"I'd like to switch positions," Seraphina says, her voice serene, her hands folded together in her lap. "I believe you're the one who can make that happen."
"Ah…" Hector's gaze shifts to me. "Like I explained to Stone—"
"That's not what she's asking," I growl. "She's asking for you to assign her to another member of the coaching staff so she no longer works for me at all."
"I see." Hector pauses, glancing at her again. "This is what you want?"
"No," she mutters, "but it's better than letting him quit just so we aren't breaking the stupid rules."
"What?" His eyes widen with surprise.
"You heard her," I say, my voice soft. "If she isn't reassigned, I'm prepared to resign, effective at the end of the season."
"Jesus Christ," he mutters, as if he genuinely never even considered that it might come to that. But if anyone should know me well enough to know I'm not fucking around, it's him. "You'd quit for her?"
I meet his gaze, holding it so he knows I'm not fucking around here or making empty threats. "Without hesitation," I say.
He stares at me for a long moment and then sighs. "I believe Jake's assistant might be willing to make the switch," he says. "They have…issues."
"What kind of issues?" I demand. If Jake Alseppi, the hockey coach, is a problem, he won't be Seraphina's problem.
"Ah, I'm not at liberty to discuss."
"She isn't working for him if he's a dick to his assistant."
"Stone." Seraphina places her hand on my arm. "It's fine. I like Jake. He and Miriam just don't get along very well."
"Why the fuck not?"
I do not like the way both Seraphina and Hector hesitate.
"Tell me," I growl.
"Miriam has opinions," Hector finally says. "And no problem voicing them."
Seraphina grins up at me. "She's probably going to want to strangle you with your whistle a lot."