Legend (Arizona Vengeance 3)

Over appetizers, the talk turns to children. Ryker has two girls, Violet and Ruby, from a former marriage, but they live full time with Ryker and Gray. Gray just had a baby boy in May.

Out comes her phone and she’s sharing photos with us of little Milo Evans. Even at only eight months old, you can tell he’s going to be big like his dad. I wonder what Charlie will look like at that age.

Gray looks at one of Milo’s pictures with a sweet smile and I can see that she’s missing her little guy. When she catches me looking at her, she seems a little embarrassed. “Just wait until you have one, Legend.”

Pepper looks at me and I look at Pepper. Charlie has not been revealed to the media yet and for good reason. Things are too fragile and unknown and I don’t want the press digging into our personal lives with Lida acting all crazy.

But this is Ryker and Gray and I know they can keep a secret. “Actually…I have a daughter. She’s two months old.”

Gray and Ryker just blink for a few moments until they seem to jolt into action. “That’s wonderful,” Gray says as Ryker slaps my back.

“What the hell, buddy,” Ryker laughs and then looks at Pepper. “You could have told us, you know.”

Pepper starts shaking her head and I laugh. “Sorry…she’s not Pepper’s.”

Confusion takes over their expressions and I find myself starting the story from the beginning so they understand what’s going on, including my legal woes with Lida and how I want to keep this out of the press.

I finish by saying, “Charlie’s at my parents’ so they can get some grandparent time, or else you’d be meeting her.”

Gray shakes her head. “I have to say, Legend, I’m truly impressed by you. You’ve taken to fatherhood extremely well.”

“And in the midst of a lot of baby mama drama,” Ryker adds on with a grimace. “Wish there was something we could do to help you.”

I laugh and reach out to take Pepper’s hand. “Pepper and I were just joking yesterday that we should just move to South America to get away from Lida.”

Ryker laughs but Gray’s eyes go serious. “Or,” she says with a mischievous glint. “You could come to Raleigh, North Carolina.”

The smile on my face dies off as I realize she’s not joking. I tilt my head and keep my tone light. “You making me a job offer, Gray?”

“Yes,” she says simply and I’m stunned.

Pepper’s head swivels back and forth, following the conversation. A brief glance at Ryker and I can tell he knew this was coming. This wasn’t about just old friends getting together for dinner.

Gray is here scouting for the Cold Fury, and she’s doing it by bypassing my agent completely.

Smart girl.

I pick up my glass of wine and take a sip. My tone is casually dismissive, as it should be. “Let’s be real for a second, Gray. You already have one of the best goalies in the league in Max Fournier. I’m playing the best hockey of my life and I’m not about to play second fiddle on any team. I bet Max feels the same way.”

“You would both be starting goalies,” she says, and it sounds ridiculous. Then she adds her sweetener. “I’d pay you more money than you’re making now. Your endorsements would skyrocket coming to a back-to-back championship team. And you know you’ve got the best shot of getting your first Cup by coming with us. It’s a perfect deal, Legend, and you would strengthen our team beyond reach.”

She makes a lot of good points. But this is not a deal I would ever consider. “While I appreciate the offer, we both know you’re not making it to strengthen the Cold Fury but rather to weaken the Vengeance. And I could never do that to my team.”

Respect flashes in Gray’s eyes and she gives a shrug. “Oh well. Didn’t hurt to try, did it?”

“It’s why you’re one of the best GM’s in the league,” I tell her as I raise my glass of wine in salute.

She smiles at the compliment but Ryker corrects me. “The best GM in the league.”

I laugh and give him an incline of my head. “You know, I actually might agree with that, but don’t ever tell Christian Rutherford that. He’d fire me.”

“And then you’d have a place on our team,” Gray says with a sly grin. “Maybe I should tell Christian what you just said.”

We all laugh and then the conversation is turned again.

“How long have you two been dating?” Ryker asks just as our meals arrive.

Pepper answers for us. “A couple months. Right around the time Charlie came into his life.”

“We’re next door neighbors so we’d known each other a few months,” I explain.

“He hated me at first,” Pepper says so seriously that Ryker and Gray go still across the table.