On the Fly (Crimson Romance) by Katie Kenyhercz Page A

skated off ice toward the locker room. Nealy spotted Jacey and glided over, swinging into the players’ box. Her smile was subdued, but her eyes sparked.
    “I see everything’s going well.” Jacey grinned.
    “They resisted at first, but I think I scare them.” Nealy laughed, sounding like an evil fairy, and leaned against the Plexiglas partition. “I give them hell, but the truth is, they look pretty good for the start of the preseason.”
    “Excellent. Luckily, our first game is at home, so we’ll have that advantage too. What’s the plan?”
    Nealy shrugged with a casual air that proved she had the nerves to coach. “These are more or less exhibition games, so we’ll play the rookies and the trades the most — get them used to the bigs and the core of our team. It’ll help us weed out the prospects that aren’t ready yet.” Jacey nodded. Nealy shook off her hockey gloves. “Something on your mind?”
    Jacey bit her lip and considered how much to say. The only reason to tell Nealy the whole thing would be to just get it off her chest, and that was selfish. But maybe she should know. “The commissioner called me today.”
    “About Phlynn? No? Oh … about me. He doesn’t want a woman coaching.”
    “He didn’t say that. He more or less asked if I knew what I was doing. I reassured him my choices were informed. You’re the best one for the job, Nealy. I really believe that. And if the commissioner or anyone else has a problem with it, too bad. We’ll show them.”
    Nealy looked about to argue, but she didn’t. After a few minutes, she said, “You’re doing a good job. It’s one thing to take the reins of a professional team with little-to-no training, but you’re practically rebuilding one from the ground up. It’s a lot. Your dad would be proud. I’m proud to be a part of it.”
    The response caught her off guard, and tears threatened. Jacey blinked them back with a small smile. “Thanks, Nealy. This is your team as much as mine.” Before they both ended up crying, she cleared her throat. “How are we looking for the first preseason game?”
    “Attendance shouldn’t be too high because it’s a Wednesday, but I’m sure the free admission will bring some butts in. That was a good idea, by the way.”
    “Hey, the best way to advertise a product is to give free samples. I figure the preseason is the perfect time to do it. But only the first two games are free. Tickets are full price starting Saturday.”
    “Lighting a fire under the new fans — nice. Our veteran players will thrive on a crowd, but it might intimidate the newbies. Best to get that out of the way before the real season starts.” Nealy slid a sweat-banded wrist across her forehead. “How was your second interview with that hockey magazine?”
    “I think it went well. There wasn’t a question I didn’t have an answer for. Their last piece wasn’t too flattering, but I’ll be damned if they doubt me twice.”
    “We’ll show ‘em.”
    Jacey nodded as she started up the arena steps. “I hope so.”

Chapter Eight
    Saturday, October 8th
    High-pitched peals of laughter echoed off the metal ceiling and bounced off the walls of the north rink in the Las Vegas Ice Center, the place the team used for practice when the arena wasn’t available. Jacey looked on from the side, greeting new fans while Nealy and the players, in their Sinners’ jerseys, skated with kids of all ages. It wasn’t a huge crowd, but some of the guys were well known and had a ready fan base.
    Carter glided by, sandwiched between twin six-year-old boys, who each claimed one of his hands. The game was that he’d skate a step ahead then slingshot one in front to their giggling glee. She smiled. It almost seemed hard to believe his ladies’ man reputation, watching him now. Until about twenty women ranging in age from fifteen to fifty crowded the ice, waiting their turn to swoon over the captain.
    Jacey kept reminding herself this was all for the good of