Inside Edge
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The Inside Edge: Chapter Fourteen
Walking into the dark lighting of Smokey’s Tavern, Brianne slowed to a stop as she canvassed the bar. She’d been finishing up her conversation with Danette when Fred and Mitch had passed by. With little more than a nod and the casual reminder that they’d meet her there, they’d walked out in the evening, leaving her behind to catch up. Now, as her eyes adjusted to the crowd milled around the dinky little bar, she sought out Mitch’s broad-shouldered frame. She supposed he must have been a hockey player in his own youth. He certainly had the build for it with his stocky frame, well-developed upper arms and large…
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The Inside Edge: Chapter Thirteen
“You what?” “I need to re-organize my days off… for the foreseeable future.” Pining a determined smile on her face, Brianne waited for the explosion. It wasn’t an easy task to put on Shana, especially after they’d already agreed to their scheduled work shifts. Months ago. Then again, as the General Manager, Brianne had both right and ability to alter the schedule whenever she so chose. Still, guilt had a way of overriding policy. Then again, much as she was learning, Shana never did anything according to other people’s expectations. Instead, leaning back in her chair, she leveled Brianne with a telling smile. “Hockey again?” …
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The Inside Edge: Chapter Twelve
Then again, maybe Danette had been correct in her ominous prophecy. No sooner had the game ended and Brianne found herself walking toward the exit of the hockey arena then she heard Mitch’s voice booming out over the hustle and bustle of bodies: “Hey, Brianne! Wait up for a minute…” Turning around, she was just in time to watch far too many pairs of eyes swivel from Mitch to Brianne and then back again. She supposed it was just the heightened sensation to being publicly called out, but she swore a weird sort of hush fell over the lobby as he jogged up toward her. “Hey, Coach.”…
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The Inside Edge: Chapter Eleven
It was during the second-period break that things really came to a head. Though she’d asked Danette if she could get anything for her, that woman had remained briskly polite: thank you, no. Gaining her feet as the players headed off the ice, Brianne was hardly surprised when Shana joined her. Matching their steps seamlessly, it wasn’t until they’d reached the main lobby that Shana leaned down to whisper in Brianne’s ear. “Okay, obviously not right now, but I demand the full scoop.” Turning her head a fraction, Brianne blinked innocently. “On what?” “Whatever the hell is going on. What is your role with this team?” …
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The Inside Edge: Chapter Ten
Two days later, her feet taking her at a quick clip down the back stairs of The Fitz restaurant and into the hallway leading to the bar, Brianne took a moment to survey the room. Most of the cocktail tables were full for happy hour. A sprinkling of laugher and the buzz of televisions intermixed easily together. Smiling absently as she crossed from the bar and into the dining room, she watched one of a new server greeting a table. “I think she’s going to be good.” Turning her head at the sound of Shana, who Brianne had come to realize moved so stealthily that hardly…
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The Inside Edge: Chapter Nine
Punching numbers into her keyboard, Brianne’s eyes glared at her computer screen. Beside her on the desk was the employee schedule. Gritting her teeth as she attempted mental acrobats to give everyone their requested number of shifts and sections, she felt the beginnings of a headache beating against her temples. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. Scrunching up her nose, Brianne quickly hit delete. “Fuck.” “Okay.” With a creak Shana turned toward Brianne. Her finely arched right eyebrow rose in patent amusement as she glanced over at her general manager. “What’s wrong?” Blinking up and over at Shana, Brianne shook her head. “I hate this stupid…
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The Inside Edge: Chapter Eight
Brianne blinked stupidly as the mass of bodies jostled past her for the doors that lead into the concessions and main lobby of the hockey arena. Then she blinked again. She’d enjoyed it. She’d actually enjoyed watching the hockey game. Mentally shaking her head as she and Danette slowly rose to their feet, the boys of each hockey team having long since exited the ice, she felt something warm spread in her stomach. “And they won.” The words, slipping softly out of her mouth, filled Brianne with a surprising amount of pride. “Well, of course they did!” Danette said, elbowing Brianne and letting out a friendly cackle. “You…
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The Inside Edge: Chapter Seven
Gaining the door to her office, Brianne hesitated before unlocking it and pushing the heavy structure open. Just as she’d suspected, Shana was situated in the chair beside Brianne’s, working on the weekly schedule. Gritting her teeth, Brianne pretended not to notice her second-in-command as she pulled out her chair and plopped down. Waking up her computer, she bent her attention immediately to the task ahead of her…or at least, she hoped that’s what it looked like. Letting her eyes run down the facts and figures staring back at her, she tried to concentrate on what she’d been doing earlier… “So, are you and that guy dating or…
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The Inside Edge: Chapter Six
Brianne was sitting at her desk, a half-eaten slice of pizza lying, half-forgotten on its plate, beside her mouse, checking the inventory list when there was a knock at the door. Without bothering to turn around, without bothering to take her eyes off the screen, Brianne called out a brisk, “Come in.” “Ah, hey girl…” At the unusually hesitant sound of Shana’s voice from behind her, Brianne finally pried her eyes away from the numbers ahead of her. Shifting slightly in her seat, she brought her eyes up—and stilled uncertainly at the look of bemused curiosity in that younger woman’s gaze. “What’s up?” Brianne was already…
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The Inside Edge: Chapter Five
Her short hair whipped sharply against her cheeks, the cold air swirling, biting at her neck and escaping from her mouth in cloudy puffs as she raced forward. Her body seemed to rock back and forth, back and forth, swaying naturally as she settled into position, her legs pumping gracefully against the translucent gleam of frozen water underneath her feet. The edge of the pond came in sight, the perimeter mounded with the bulk of half-frozen snow. Twirling, her skates zigged and zagged as she flew backward, her movements rhymical as the air rushed at her from behind, her legs only shifting at the last minute, cutting elegantly…
