He was grateful to Shelley for agreeing to come along to the awards thing, albeit if it was just so she could get her hands on a fancy dress and a night hobnobbing on the Panthers’ dime. But now that she knew his secret … had guessed it … he worried about keeping up the ruse that they were together in front of Hannah.

Assuming she gave a rat’s ass either way.

But the truth was that he was kind of grateful to his trainer for the moral support too. Every time he’d got trussed up for this stuff, he ended up looking like an idiot or making a fool of himself. At least with Shelley on his arm, someone else he trusted to keep him on the straight and narrow at the best of times, all should be cool.

‘Now this is nice …’ She held up a sleek velvet emerald tux. ‘Very Harry Styles at the Grammys,’ she observed, tilting her head in admiration.

Ward snorted. ‘Isn’t that the guy who wears dresses and pearls too? Not the look I’m going for.’

‘Of course, I forgot. Ward McKenzie is way too macho to get in touch with his feminine side.’

‘It’s the NHL awards, Shelley. I don’t think me showing up dressed like a girl would go down well with the team.’ Although he’d consider it if it meant pissing off JP.

‘Let’s just wait to see what Hannah says when she—’

At that moment, the aforementioned bustled through to the personal shopping area, looking a bit frazzled. She seemed completely out of sorts and distracted too, as if she had a million things on her mind and this appointment was just one more stupid item on her to-do list.

‘Sorry, I know I’m late. Apologies.’ She smiled at Shelley and went to embrace her. ‘Hi! Great to see you.’ Then her eyes rested on Ward. ‘You OK? You don’t look happy.’

‘I’m fine,’ he answered, even as he felt the blood start to pump harder in his veins simply because she had entered the room – and at the way she now seemed to be appraising him, reading him. ‘Shelley was just looking at some of the stuff the Bergdorf’s person pulled.’ He shrugged. ‘Seems she’s a Gucci girl.’

‘Oh yes, I love this, it’s perfect,’ Hannah agreed, walking forward to touch the luxurious fabric. ‘A bit easier than last time.’ She grinned at the other woman. ‘Clearly, you have great taste.’ She chuckled. ‘Or you’re much better at keeping him in line than I am, more like.’

In response, Ward seemed determined not to meet Shelley’s eye and ignored the knowing smile on her face.

‘It’s nice, I guess,’ he muttered. He got up from his chair and retreated unwillingly to the changing room.