“I’m not dating Stevie. She’s helping me with PT.” I keep saying this, and no one is listening. Would I like her to help me with other things? Like some relief for the perpetual hard-on I’m always fighting off when I’m with her? Of course. She’s hot and I’m full of testosterone. But at this point what I’m saying is true.

“How often is she helping you?”

“Every day. Except yesterday and tonight.” I shoot a look at Rook, because it’s his fault last night didn’t happen.

Alex taps the arm of his chair while staring at me. He’s usually a friendly guy, so it’s kind of unnerving. “As I was saying, when Violet and I started dating, her brother, Miller, was on my team. We didn’t exactly get along. And then when he started dating my sister . . . well, that didn’t help things.”

“Is this supposed to be a pep talk?” I sip the scotch. I don’t like the way it tastes, but if I’m going to get a full story about my coach’s dating history with his now wife, I might need to up my alcohol consumption.

Rook crosses his arms over his chest. “No, he’s making a point. He ended up marrying Butterson’s sister, and Butterson married his sister. What Alex doesn’t understand is that this isn’t the same, since you’re using Stevie to get back at me.”

“Using her to get back at you for what?”

“Because I’m team captain and you’re not.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I’m not using Stevie!” I snap. “This isn’t about you getting team captain. Am I pissed about that? Sure, but you would be, too, if I was the one who got captain and you didn’t. She offered to help me. I didn’t ask. She wanted an opportunity to rehab an NHL player without having to go through you. And honestly? I get why, and so should you. But that’s all she’s doing. Besides, it’s not like I can make a move on her.” I motion to my junk. “I can’t fuck my own hand let alone another person right now.”

Alex coughs and sips his drink. “He has a point, Rookie.”

“Why keep it a damn secret if there’s nothing else going on?”

I cock a brow. “I can’t speak for Stevie, but it’s not like you and I have heart-to-hearts on the regular.”

Alex interrupts. “Here’s what I think. The team physician had a look at your scans, and he and the team physiotherapist have cleared you for light workouts.”

“Seriously?”

Alex nods, smiling slightly. “He says you’re a good week ahead of what they expected. Looks like the double PT is working, even though you should’ve run it by me and the team therapists first.”

“So I might be back on the ice in the next few weeks?” This is really good news. The kind I want to share with Stevie. Except I’m not sure she’s talking to me.

“It’s a possibility.” He spins his scotch glass on the arm of his chair. “Since you’ve been cleared for light workouts, Rook is going to handle those with you.”

And there goes my awesome mood.

“Whoa, what? I thought I was training with Bishop when he’s back on the ice.” Rook sounds about as happy as I feel over this new development.

Alex motions between the two of us. “Obviously there’s some hostility between you, and the only way to resolve that is for you two to work together.”

“But—”

He cuts Rook off. “There are no buts. Bishop is working with Stevie, and that’s not going to change because I’m authorizing it to continue.”

“What the hell, Alex?”

Alex arches a brow. “Obviously whatever she’s doing is working. And correct me if I’m wrong, but if Stevie wants to work with him, that’s her call, not yours.” He shifts his attention back to me. “And apparently you’ll listen to Stevie, so from here on out I want to see written treatment plans. You can email them to me and cc the team therapist so he can give feedback and adjust accordingly.”

“I’ll run that by Stevie when I talk to her later.”

“I think we need to have a chat, Alex, privately,” Rook says through gritted teeth.

“I’m sure you do.” Alex’s attention stays fixed on me. “I know you’ve said it’s only PT, but I have to wonder if it’s going to stay that way.”

“The fuck?” Rook sounds appalled.

I open my mouth to defend myself, even though yesterday I was ready to make it known that I’d like her to massage more than the inside of my thigh.

Alex holds up his hand. “These two are spending a lot of hours together, and Stevie’s volunteered to do it in her free time. What does that tell you?”

“It’s a smart move for her, career-wise,” I say, because it is.

“You keep working that angle, Bishop, but we both know you’re not big on following orders you don’t like, and yet you’re following my sister’s,” Rook snaps.

“Because it’s helping. Did you both miss the part where I said I can’t physically make a damn move on her, even if I wanted to?” I motion to my crotch.

“But it doesn’t mean you don’t want to.” Rook cocks a brow.

“I want to earn my salary by doing more than warming the bench.”