nodded. “Under some conditions,” she said.
“What would those be?”
“Maybe we ought to wait for your agent.”
“No, please. Give me my punishment. I’m willing to do what I have to do to stay with the team.”
“All right,” Malin said. “There’ll be no more drinking in public. And I’d advise no more drinking at all. You make stupid decisions when you drink.”
He stared at her silently and she paused for a moment, waiting for a comment or a refusal. But when he said nothing, Malin forged on.
“You should also probably take a break from the women, too. I don’t mean to say you can’t date, but consider keeping your private life more...private.” She cleared her throat. “And finally, we’re going to assign you a—a personal assistant.” It sounded so much better than a watcher, she thought to herself. “This person will live with you and help you make the proper choices and—”
“You’re assigning me a babysitter?” he asked.
“Of course not. You’re not a baby. You’re a full-grown man with a lot of decisions to make. Which is why you need a personal assistant.”
He chuckled softly, shaking her head. “All of this because of one photo?”
“If we hadn’t killed that photo, you could have ended up in jail.”
“I knew she was a hooker,” he said. “And that she was underage.”
“What?” Malin asked.
He nodded. “She approached me in the bar. She looked hungry and scared. She had a black eye and a swollen lip. We started to talk and it was obvious she could do with a meal and a decent night’s sleep. So I bought her dinner and rented her a room. The next morning, I stopped by her room and gave her money to go home. She took it, and as far as I know, she’s back in Kansas or Nebraska or wherever she came from. I guess the guy must have snapped a picture when we were in the bar.”
“You didn’t...”
“I do have some limits when it comes to my behavior.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
He grinned and shrugged. “I tried, but they wouldn’t listen. Besides, it wouldn’t have mattered. They see me the way they want to see me.”
She studied him silently. Malin had read his bio, the rags-to-riches story—he’d been a juvenile delinquent, virtually orphaned and living on the streets before stumbling into an after-school hockey program.
He’d never had a steady male influence in his life. Instead, he’d been forced to cobble together the rules and expectations of adulthood. Add to that the quick acquisition of wealth and fame and it would mess anyone up. But was she really prepared to untangle that mess? If it meant gaining a whole lot of respect, damn right she was.
“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
