Page 5 of Her Power Play

I watch as she takes a step backward, then another, before she reaches behind her and produces an envelope. She shifts her hand forward, pressing the envelope against my chest. Placing my hand against it, my fingers curl around it as her hand falls.

“Think about it,” she states, and then she’s gone before I can thank her.

I think about opening the envelope right here in the middle of the arena, but ultimately decide against it. I turn to leave, but not before taking one last glance behind me to the locker room where Liam disappeared.

I don’t know what I’m expecting right now. In the fairy tale, he pushes open the door and hurries toward me, wrapping me in his arms and kissing me. In reality, I walk away, and he doesn’t even remember my name.

As I move through the arena and back to the delivery van, I take the envelope out of my pocket. Opening it slowly, I slide my finger beneath the flap, then reach inside. Slipping out the paper, I gasp at the sight of the check.

It was only twelve dozen cupcakes. One hundred and forty-four cupcakes. Plus, a setup fee of one hundred dollars. That’s all. Almost five hundred dollars—that’s what the check is supposed to be for, except it’s not.

One thousand dollars.

I blink at the numbers on the check, reading the words to make sure that’s how much the check is really for, and it is. There is no mistaking it. A thousand bucks for my work. And then there are tickets.

Tickets to the event.

Two.

One for me and one for a guest.

I have nobody to invite. But then I think about Liam, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s going to be there. I decide I’m going to throw caution to the wind and show up.

Even if it means I’m going to have all of my hopes crushed into fine powder because the man I have a crush on will likely be cuddled up to someone else. That’s what I need, though. I need all hope to be crushed into fine powder and released into the atmosphere.

I need to be reminded of who I am and what I do. I’m the help. I’m not the one who gets the guy. And I would do well to remember that about myself. He’s a hot, successful, semi-famous hockey player. It’s silly of me to think that he would even be remotely interested in me.

I’m going to the party, and I’m going to watch him. Rest assured, by the end of tonight, he’ll have made enough of an ass of himself that I won’t be attracted to him in the slightest.

That’s my hope anyway.

SIX

LIAM

There is a hand on the back of my shoulder, and a smile curves up on my lips as I turn my head. It’s Cupcake Girl. Looking over my shoulder, my smile fades instantly.

It’s not her.

It’s not the cute little cupcake girl from earlier. In fact, it’s the team owner’s niece. She’s kind of notorious for making her way around with the players, but not me, and not for lack of trying.

It’s not that she isn’t hot, because she really is a fucking knockout. It’s not that she doesn’t seem nice enough. She smiles and jokes around. I’ve never seen her angry or anything. It’s just that I don’t want the involvement with her.

It seems messy.

And I want to avoid all drama if possible.

It’s just not for me.

She’s not for me.

“Hey,” she purrs.

Taking a step forward, I turn around to face her, my gaze finding hers. Dipping my chin slightly, I give her a small smile, but it’s not enough to be considered an invitation. At least I hope it’s not.

She tilts her head to the side, her lips curving into a grin as she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip. Playfully, she shifts her body from side to side, almost in a rocking motion, before she takes a step toward me, closing the small distance between us.

I need her to go… away.