“That’s right.”
“Huh.”
She arched her brows and crossed her arms over her dark, baggy sweatshirt. In her black baseball cap, she could’ve passed for a college student. “Are you one of those guys who’s never had a female trainer?”
Her eyebrows were dark reddish brown, and I wished I could see if her hair was the same shade, but it was buried under the hat. “No, I’ve had female trainers, but you’re … what, five feet tall in heels? And a hundred pounds soaking wet. My legs’ll knock you to the floor if you try to stretch me.”
She laughed, but was clearly not amused. “I’m 5’5” and I weigh 118. Not that it’s any of your business. And I appreciate your concern, but I’ve trained bigger men than you, and I’ve yet to be knocked over.”
Her tone and body language showed more maturity than her athletic co-ed appearance.
“How old are you?” I asked.
Her brows shot up even higher. “How old are you?”
“28,” I said, her indignation making me grin. “And 6’3”, 215 pounds, so we’re on even ground.”
“More like 225.” She eyed me from head to toe, and I realized my time off the ice must’ve caught up with me on the scale. “And I’m 25. Is my interview over? I’d like to assess you before practice is over. I have to work on several of the guys today.”
“Well, somebody’s a busy girl.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sit down and zip it, Slick.”
I took a seat on the table. “Are you a redhead?”
Another eye roll. “Yes. And yes, the carpet matches the drapes. I’ve only been asked that like three dozen times by hockey players, so don’t consider yourself original.”
“I didn’t ask that. I just wanted to say your hair’s a pretty color.”
Her face tightened tensely. “You can’t even see my hair.”
“Your eyebrows.”
She ignored me, her eyes scanning me up and down. “Can you take your pants off?”
“For you, I can.”
She sighed as I stood and pulled down my sweats. I kicked my shoes off and rid myself of the pants, sliding back on to the table.
While she looked my knee over, I was looking her over. She felt it, pressed my foot to her chest and bent it, studying the notes on her clipboard.
“Any discomfort? Ever?” she asked. Her fair, creamy skin and pale pink lips had captured my attention.
“Hmm? Oh, not really. I lifted weights last week and I felt a pull in my knee, so I took it easy after that.”
Her brow furrowed. I looked at her hand, which was still resting on my knee. It was small and graceful with practical, short nails.
“I’ll work with you before practice tomorrow,” she said, still looking at the clipboard. “And make sure you tell me if you ever have any discomfort in the knee.”
“What if it bothers me outside the rink? I’d need your number to tell you about it.”
She almost smiled. “I’ll give you my email address and you can use that if it’s urgent.”
“I’m more of a texter.” I air texted with my hands.
“I’ll bet you are.”
“Your boyfriend doesn’t like men calling you about their aching parts?”
She did smile this time, and my hopes sank. “The man in my life likes having me to himself.”
A player walked into the room, shirtless and sweaty. “My neck hurts,” he said.
“Okay, you’re dismissed, Hudson,” Dell said. “See you tomorrow.”
“See you then,” I said, not wanting to bother with a stupid line. She was pretty. Really pretty. And there was something about her. Was it the fact that she was taken? I didn’t think so. Getting with unavailable women wasn’t my thing.
I shrugged it off. I wasn’t here to look at women, pretty or not. I was here to rehab and get back to work with my team. And that would take every ounce of my focus.
***
Dell
For just a second, I wondered if Chad Lennox was going to tear through the towel I’d given him to bite down on while I worked on his leg. His grimace said it all; the guy was in serious pain, and I was inflicting it.
But he wanted to play tomorrow night, and I had to work out the knot in his leg for that to happen. I took a breath and prepared for another round, but when a tear slid from the corner of his eye, I just couldn’t do it.
“Let go,” I said softly. His teeth unclenched from the towel, leaving marks in the white terrycloth.
“Keep going,” he said, preparing to bite back down on it.
“I will. But first take a water break.”
I needed the break as much as he did. Sure, I enjoyed getting a rise out of the guys on occasion, but I didn’t enjoy their excruciating pain. They were all so hungry to prove themselves and maybe get the chance to move up to the big league that they’d endure anything to speed their recovery.