“Hey, Stacey, right?” David Petrov strolled up to the entrance flanked by two guys with press badges around their necks.

“Shelby,” she said, more than used to people mixing up her name that way.

“Oh man. Sorry about that. Too many hits to the noggin.” With an amused chuckle, he tapped the top of his head with his knuckles. “Don’t suppose you can let me inside to go find my boys.”

Her gut twisted. The man was obviously trying to make amends with Alex and Ian. She could understand how hard that was and admired his determination to set things right, but a skate with fifth graders may not be the time to do it—especially with Lucy’s instructions.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” If Wayne Gretzky couldn’t get in, David Petrov couldn’t, either. “It’s just for the junior athletes and the team. I can let them know and they can call you after it’s over?”

“It’ll be quick.” He took a step forward as if to barrel past her. “Believe me, no one loves the little players like I do.”

“I wish I could, but I can’t.” She took a quick step to the left, blocking his path forward. Ugh. She hated having to do this, but she didn’t have a choice or another option. There had to be a way to buy some time or distract him with another possibility—oh wait! “What if I could set up a dinner with the three of you for after the event? I mean, I can’t guarantee it or anything, but—”

“Aren’t you a doll to think of arranging a dinner between a father and his boys,” he said, a snide, patronizing timbre sneaking in under his tone. “I still need to get in there now, though. These reporters came all the way from Toronto to talk to the three of us.”

Ian plus a surprise visit from his dad and reporters? That would go nuclear fast. “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

He shot a don’t-worry-about-it smile at the Canadian reporters, but when he turned back to her, his face was hard and angry.

“Which one of my sons are you fucking?” he asked, his voice quiet and mean. “Is it Ian or Alex? I hope you’re smart enough to snag Alex. He’s more talented by about a zillion and he’ll have the endorsements. More money to be had that way. You’re a smart girl; you can see what I’m leading to, can’t you?”