Love at The Bluebird

Moments later, he comes right back out of his office with his empty coffee mug and parks his hip against my desk. “I’m going to get more caffeine and then let’s get together for our morning meeting. We have lots to discuss, and I need to meet with all my staff before eleven thirty.”

“Sounds good,” I respond with a smile, but internally, I’m questioning how much we really have to discuss. Is there something I’m forgetting? I wonder, glancing at my short to-do list once Shane walks away from my desk. I shrug my shoulders in confusion, since I’m sure I will soon find out what else is going to be added to my plate. I grab my notebook and pen and wait for him to return to his office.

“All right,” he drawls out once he shuts his door and walks around his desk to sit behind it. “Let’s get down to business.” He folds his hands together and stares at me intently. “Please tell me you’ve heard back from that hot hockey player and have a date lined up with him.”

I burst out laughing at his eager expression while he waits for me to answer him. Only Shane would consider my love life as the most important topic of business to start off our morning meeting.

“Yes, he has called me. But!” I hold up my hand to stop him from screaming with glee. “I’m honestly only interested in being his friend.” Ever since my college boyfriend dumped me a year ago, men have been the last thing I’m interested in. I’m just starting to figure out what I want to do with my life and what I need to do to reach my goals. And if I’m honest with myself, my busy work schedule doesn’t leave me much time to date. Heck, I can barely give attention to my cat—much less a man!

“Alyson Dawson, what is wrong with you? Do you know how many women would die to have Brodie Larsen calling them?” He looks at me with such disdain that I start laughing again. Brodie Larsen is a hotshot NHL player who comes from a very famous hockey family. His father played for the Predators and Brodie was actually born here in Nashville. Fans went crazy when the Predators drafted him straight out of college, and he has been one of the more popular players since then.

Our marketing department decided it would be a good idea to give tickets to the local sports teams to any concerts our artists were having in hopes they would come and return the favor to us with hockey tickets. Brodie and two other players showed up to our suite at the arena during one of our clients’ concerts. I knew of Brodie, but was surprised at how good-looking he was with his dark hair, intense blue eyes, and lean, hard body.

He was not shy at all in introducing himself to me, and I enjoyed chatting with him, but I didn’t get the sense he was interested in me. Not that it mattered, because I definitely didn’t feel any sparks for him, so imagine my surprise when he asked for my number at the end of the evening. I didn’t hesitate in giving it to him, thinking it would be cool to have a potential new friend.

“Actually, I think I want to set him up with my best friend, Willow. She’s drop-dead gorgeous and would be right up his alley.” I tap my fingers together with an evil smile forming on my face. The more I think about the idea, the more I think Willow might be perfect for him. Now I just have to figure out how to get the two of them together.

“And what do you think you are, chopped liver? Why are you giving up on him so easily? You deserve some young, hot stud pampering you. Besides, you two would make really pretty babies.”

I shake my head at Shane and his reference of babies. No way am I anywhere near ready for a husband and babies. I want to establish myself and get in some traveling before settling down. Maybe that’s why guys are not even a priority on my to-do list right now.

“I know I’m a catch.” I roll my eyes. “I just don’t think Brodie is the one for me.”

“How would you even know if you don’t give him a chance?” Shane questions with a knowing smile.

“It sounds to me like you’re the one who wants to give him a chance. Why don’t you go ask him out?” I counter, knowing full well that Shane Adams doesn’t like to step away from a challenge when one is presented to him.

“Child please, only in my dreams would that man slap his stick for me.”

I close my eyes to get rid of the mental image he just put in my brain. If our offices were bugged, human resources would be mortified at our conversations.