Crashing the Net Read online

  That’d been two years ago. He promised himself he’d never journey that road again, yet he’d started down it with Izzy.

  Some guys never learned. Cooper didn’t want to be some guys. He was better off without her, better off without a serious woman in his life, especially one who got under his skin like she did. Hell, he’d never been the jealous type, never been five kinds of possessive—not like he’d been with her.

  Izzy brought out the worst in him. He didn’t need that. He was bad enough without a woman’s assistance.

  He needed a nice woman like his mother, quiet and agreeable yet strong, able to hold down the fort and stay unwaveringly faithful while his dad was away for long tours of duty, and willing to relinquish control when he returned. His parents were the perfect match, and until he found it himself, he’d stay single. Izzy was so not that woman. She had opinions for her opinions, did her own thing, and had to have everything her way. A little like him.

  Joker, his half black, half white cat, rubbed around his legs. Cooper absently petted his silky fur. “Be glad you don’t have to worry about women, female cats, whatever they’re called.” He thought for a moment. “Pussies?” He almost laughed.

  Joker stared at him and blinked, not finding his joke funny and giving him that look cats give an inferior being.

  Joker might be right. At least, in this instance.

  Chapter 2—Faking It

  Cooper walked into the team owner’s office later that morning, feeling like shit from lack of sleep and not in the mood to play nice with management, but he’d do it anyway.

  Ethan Parker and Cooper had a truce of sorts. Cooper hadn’t been happy about the new owner uprooting his team and moving it to Seattle, but Cooper was ultimately a team player when it came to hockey. He’d play in Antarctica if that was where his team was.

  He still didn’t one-hundred-percent trust Ethan, but he didn’t trust easily, and Ethan had betrayed that trust by insisting the team was staying in Gainesville when he damn well knew it wasn’t. Besides with one more year on his contract, Cooper had the option to take his game elsewhere next year and fully intended on exploring the possibilities. His agent was putting out feelers already.

  “Sit down, Coop.” Ethan pointed to a small set of leather chairs flanking a couch.

  “You wanted to see me?” Cooper sat on the edge of a chair, feeling like he’d been called to the principal’s office, a familiar place back in his school days.

  “For the past several days, you’ve been avoiding me.” Ethan pinned him with one of those glares that said the man was on to him, but Cooper refused to squirm.

  “My mother tells me you made a bit of a scene at a charity function last Saturday.”

  “It wasn’t exactly a scene. I just didn’t like how that asshole quarterback was dancing with Izzy,” Cooper defended himself.

  “Izzy was just doing her job.”

  “I don’t like her job,” Cooper groused, hating being called on the carpet for something so stupid.

  “I wasn’t aware you got a vote regarding her career path.”

  “I don’t,” Cooper said quietly, staring down at his hands. He could feel Ethan’s eyes on him, dissecting him, judging him, and he felt like an even bigger ass for it.

  “Well, next time you decide to barge into a black-tie affair dressed in jeans, call me first. You haven’t met my mother yet, but trust me when I tell you it’s not wise to piss her off.”

  Cooper lifted his head. “It won’t be a problem.”

  “It won’t?” Ethan’s eyes bored into Cooper’s.

  “Yeah, we’re through.” Cooper stared over Ethan’s head at the Space Needle in the distance.

  Ethan nodded slowly as if digesting this piece of information. “Then I expect this next task I’m assigning you won’t be a problem at all, and you’ll handle it like the professional you are.”

  “Next task?” Cooper snapped his attention back to Ethan and tugged on his collar, sensing some invisible noose tightening.

  “You got it.” Ethan stood and walked to the door, opening it. Seconds later, Cedric, the first-line right-winger for the Sockeyes and Cooper’s best friend, walked in.

  The tall, blonde Swede grinned his trademark shit-eating grin, like he always did when he’d been clued in and Cooper hadn’t. He sat in the chair opposite Cooper’s and propped his big feet on the glass coffee table.

  “So, gentlemen, I called you, as team leaders, here for a purpose.” Ethan got right to the point, one of the few things Cooper actually liked about the man.

  “Obviously,” Cooper said dryly, drawing a frown from Ethan.

  “My family has a long history of giving back to our community. We expect nothing less from our team.”

  Cooper narrowed his eyes, not sure was what coming, but certain he wouldn’t like it.

  “Brad’s been in contact with Seattle’s other major sports teams, regarding a joint project called Kids at Play.”

  Cooper nodded and clasped his hands in front of him. He’d worked with kids in Gainesville, loved it actually. He could do this. He glanced at Cedric, who was nodding.

  Ethan studied them, as if assessing their interest. “Cooper, you’ll be leading the Sockeyes, lining up guys to talk to schools, hold skate nights at various rinks in the area, and whatever else occurs to you.” He stopped for a moment, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “And you, Cedric, will be his wingman.”

  Cedric barked out a laugh. “I always am, boss.”

  “Good, the two of you are scheduled to meet with representatives from the other major Seattle teams next Tuesday night. I’ll be emailing you the details on the program.” He stood, signaling the meeting was over.

  Grateful to be done, Cooper headed for the door.

  “Cooper.”

  Cooper’s hand froze on the doorknob.

  “This is my mother’s pet project. She’s kicking this off with a huge fundraising party. Don’t mess this up.”

  Cooper rolled his eyes.

  “He won’t. Trust me.” Cedric gave Cooper a push out the door.

  “And you’ll be working with the Party Crashers,” Ethan got in his last parting shot.

  Cedric shut the door before Cooper could reply, and Cooper really wanted to rip Ethan a new one. What the fuck? Setting him up to work with Izzy?

  Mina, Ethan’s ancient sergeant major of an assistant, glanced up and shot them a wicked smile. “Be good, boys.”

  Cedric grinned at her. “Ah, Mina, I’m always good.”

  “I’m sure you are,” she shot back.

  Cedric hustled Cooper out of there before he opened his big mouth and pissed off the most powerful person in the organization.

  “Meet ya at the place?” Cedric said, not waiting for a response. He was halfway across the parking lot before Cooper could recover from the blow he’d been dealt.

  * * * *

  On Tuesday night, flanked by the redheaded family wild child, Betheni, Izzy strode into the private dining room at The Waterfront, a classy restaurant overlooking Elliot Bay. The large banquet table seated about twenty people, and they were the first ones to arrive.

  Izzy placed a folder of information at each plate, forcing herself to concentrate on her business rather than on the infuriatingly stubborn man who had stormed in and out of her life more than once. The storm was over, and she’d be damned if she’d allow him to screw up her carefully controlled life a third time.

  She was done.

  Now if only she could convince her heart and her body what her head already accepted.

  She looked up as Steelhead quarterback Tanner Wolfe strode in as if he owned the place and every woman in it. He’d made it clear he wanted to start something with her, and she’d tried to be interested but every time she looked into his rich brown eyes, all she could see were Cooper’s deep blue ones.

  Good God. She needed to get over the man. And she would, given time. It’d only been a week and a half.

  Tanner spotte
d her immediately and made straight for her. She smiled at him, finding him amusingly charming, even if she didn’t want a relationship with him.

  “Hey, beautiful. Have you reconsidered my offer?” He took her hand and kissed it.

  She raised one eyebrow, tugging her hand from his firm grasp. “What offer?”

  “You. Me. Naked. In a bed. In a closet. In a car. Elevator. Hell, anywhere you want.”

  Betheni giggled and stepped forward, ever ready when it came to a gorgeous man. “I’m Betheni, and you are?”

  Tanner’s wandering eye wandered right to Betheni with her enticing curves, silky red hair, and seductive smile. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned. “I’m Tanner Wolfe, quarterback for the Seattle Steelheads, fondly known in these parts as The Fish.”

  “Well, Tanner, it’s a pleasure to meet a Big Fish.”

  “In a big pond,” he added. “The pleasure’s all mine.” He took her hand and kissed it, and Betheni batted her long eyelashes, leaning in closer to him. Izzy rolled her eyes. Betheni glared at her but took the hint, stepping away from Tanner.

  Cooper took this moment to walk into the room along with Cedric. Izzy’s heart skipped right up to the recalcitrant hockey player, which annoyed her to no end. Instead, she slid over to Tanner and linked her arm with his. Tanner winked at her, totally getting it. Devilment sparkled in his eyes.

  “Let’s have a little fun with the bastard, shall we?” Tanner whispered.

  Izzy nodded. Tanner was no dummy. Obviously, he knew the score with Izzy wasn’t in his favor, but that wouldn’t stop him from toying with Cooper, who’d stopped and did a double-take when he spotted Tanner and Izzy. His eyes narrowed, he reluctantly followed Cedric who crossed the room to join them.

  Betheni frowned, her scarlet lips in full pout, not used to being the odd girl out, but Cedric solved the little problem of her wounded pride, immediately looping his arm around her waist and engaging her in a private conversation.

  Meanwhile, Cooper glared at Tanner. “Not you.”

  “Yup me, you lucky bastard.” Tanner held out his hand. “Tanner Wolfe, but you can just call me Wolfe.”

  Cooper ignored him. “I’m not calling you anything other than an asshole.”

  “You wound me, Coop.” Tanner held his hands to his heart and blinked back imaginary tears. “My brother has nothing but great things to say about you.”

  Tanner’s brother played hockey and had a reputation of making the baddest of bad boys look tame. Cooper grunted, obviously not a fan of Tanner’s brother—or Tanner.

  Tanner didn’t seem the least bit fazed. “We’ll be working side by side on this project.”

  “Fucking wonderful.” Cooper rolled his eyes.

  Tanner didn’t even blink. Instead he grinned as if Cooper had given him the biggest compliment ever. “So I hear you’re the biggest stud in the NHL, next to my brother.”

  Cooper didn’t respond.

  “Well, I’m the biggest stud in the NFL, so we’ll either get along great or kill each other.”

  “We’ll kill each other,” Cooper said with absolute certainty.

  Betheni threw back her head and laughed. Izzy joined in. She couldn’t help it. Very rarely did Cooper get his comeuppance but the Seattle quarterback appeared to know every button to push to get under Cooper’s thick skin and into his thick skull.

  Just like Cooper knew every button to push when it came to Izzy. She glanced away from his intense glare, the heat of it melting her from the inside out. God, she should’ve slept with the man when she’d had the chance, instead of holding out until they got to know each other. At least, she wouldn’t be plagued with fantasies about how he’d feel inside her—instead she’d be plagued by memories of how incredible he’d been.

  “Okay, gentlemen.” Izzy extracted herself from Tanner’s faux possessiveness. “We have a few more athletes on their way. I expect everyone to play nice for the greater good. And Ethan’s mother will be here. Trust me, you don’t want to cross her.”

  Cooper nodded as if he’d heard that story before.

  Tanner shrugged good-naturedly. “Coop and I are old buddies. We go way back.”

  “We don’t go back anywhere,” Cooper muttered then slipped into silence as Ethan’s mother entered the room.

  Izzy watched as Mrs. Parker handled these huge men as if she were toting an arsenal of guns, only her arsenal was her steely gaze and take-no-prisoners smile, all the while looking like a sweet but classy grandma.

  Even Cooper behaved, listening to her intently. Not that Izzy had noticed. Well, maybe a little bit.

  Considering the personalities involved, this kickoff party might be Izzy’s biggest challenge yet. She’d be wrangling and placating all these fragile male egos, while battling this insane attraction to a man she’d started a relationship with twice.

  And she didn’t plan on three times being a charm.

  * * * *

  Cooper clenched his jaw so hard his head hurt. Tanner Wolfe’s cocky attitude and possessiveness toward Izzy boiled his blood.

  What an obnoxious prick, and the kid’s on-field performances didn’t come close to matching his off-the-field antics. Cooper had no respect for a guy who didn’t respect the game, even if football wasn’t Coop’s game.

  He had even less respect for a guy who so blatantly hustled a woman like Tanner did. It was disgusting. Cooper would never behave like that when it came to a woman. He had more respect for women than that creep.

  He put the brakes on that line of thinking. Maybe he had come on strong a time or two or three, but never with a smart woman like Izzy. She’d see right through that bullshit.

  He watched her as she made a show of looking everywhere but at him.

  That meant something, didn’t it? Meant she cared, right?

  Not that it should matter.

  She was through. He was through. He didn’t need her, didn’t need a willful woman because he was a controlling man and that combination would be lethal. Better to find a nice, compliant, sweet woman who catered to his every whim in and out of bed.

  He brought up a hand to stifle a yawn and received a sharp look from Mrs. Parker.

  Jesus. He sat up straighter, and he’d thought his mother could deliver a deadly blow with one glance. She had nothing over Ethan’s mom. He almost felt sorry for the guy.

  But not quite.

  His gaze slid back to Izzy like iron to a magnet. He couldn’t stop himself. That damn woman starred in every dream he’d had since he met her, every woman he looked at was measured against her, and he couldn’t drive her sensuous lips, gorgeous eyes, and hot body out of his head.

  This was crazy—he needed to get over Izzy.

  His parents’ relationship worked because his mother was sweet and agreeable and his career soldier dad ruled the house with firmness and love. Yet it was his mom who held the family together during his father’s long absences with her quiet strength, her unwavering loyalty, and her positive attitude, even as she battled through complications caused by Crohn’s disease.

  When it came to women, Cooper didn’t trust his instincts, and he’d avoided a relationship since that last fiasco. Only Izzy made him want to stick around and figure her out, but she’d dumped him, too. At least she’d kept their relationship out of the media, proving more to him than the actual time they’d been together ever had.

  Izzy was nothing like his mother on the surface, but she possessed that same inner strength. She’d proven loyal to her sisters, sacrificing her own education for theirs, and taking care of them when their flaky parents failed to do so.

  Still…

  Izzy’s job required her to come in contact with powerful men, men used to getting what they wanted, men who took one look at Izzy and wanted her. Cooper couldn’t deal with his own trust issues, couldn’t tolerate her flirting even if it was part of her job, just flat out couldn’t come to terms with his over-active imagination. He’d been burned one too many times, and he didn’t trust hi
s judgment when it came to women.

  Yeah, it was better they’d moved on because right now he wanted to show Wolfe just how much better hockey players were at fighting. The prick wouldn’t stand a chance if Cooper took off the figurative gloves.

  Yet, he wouldn’t. He’d play nice no matter how much it killed him because this cause happened to be something he believed in. Kids were getting too soft, spending too much time playing video games, instead of outside playing ball or hide and seek. And for that reason alone, he’d put up with a million Tanners.

  Mrs. Parker finished her spiel, drafted volunteers, and reiterated their next steps. Cooper volunteered to spend his days off visiting local elementary schools and family shelters, coordinating play days with kids and explaining their program.

  Tanner volunteered to help Izzy with the kickoff fundraiser, which grated on Cooper to no end that those two would be spending more time together.

  Cooper elbowed Cedric and shot him a look. Cedric raised his hand to help with the fundraiser.

  “Let’s get a beer.” Cedric clapped him on the back as they walked out of the restaurant. Cooper stared straight ahead as Izzy and Tanner laughed and talked in front of them, but they went to their separate cars and left in separate directions.

  “Coop, you couldn’t be any more obvious,” Cedric said, jerking Cooper from his jealous stupor.

  “No shit.” Cooper didn’t bother to argue. He was being an idiot over a woman.

  “Wolfe will play your weaknesses just because he enjoys needling you.”

  Cooper nodded. He understood; after all, he was an expert of the very same thing on the ice, getting under a guy’s skin, making him doubt his abilities.

  “So either beg her forgiveness because you’re an idiot and acted like an ass or move on.” No sugar-coated sympathy from Cedric; his buddy told it like it was. Usually Cooper appreciated that about him; tonight not so much.