Ten Ways To Sunday

Like the rest of the single members of the team, Gabriel Landeskog couldn't help but glance over to the beautiful woman who stood off to the side, next to Joe Sakic. She had arrived with the executive vice president prior to the beginning of the morning practice and only ten minutes in, the attention of the majority of the team was on her. Amazingly enough, she acted like she didn't notice the looks she was getting. Her focus was on the former Avalanche captain as she maintained a professionalism that seemed to be lacking in many female fans. Then again, the way she was dressed said that she was here strictly on business.

Her chesnut colored hair was held together by a delicate braid that rested on her left shoulder and was kept out of her exotic doll-like face. Those blue eyes reminded Gabe of sapphires on a snowy field and in them, he could see a sense of reserved pride that balanced out her razor-sharp focus. Her red clover-like lips that were just oh-so kissable stood out against the fair skin. Her delicate lithe frame was dressed in a pair of dark grey slacks and a black sleeve-less blouse that just hugged her so perfectly, allowing the imagination of the single members of the team to run wild. Around her neck, Gabe noticed that she wore a set of silver dog-tags and a ring that she would grasp occasionally. The former captain towered over her, which made her seem so tiny, but her composure never wavered. It was as if she just didn't have any reaction to the fact that it was Joe Sakic next to her.

"Who do you think she is," Matt Duchene questioned as he skated next to the current captain.

Gabe simply shrugged as he stole another glance. There was just something about her that not only attracted him, but made him curious. He had seen her as she walked towards the practice rink with a grace that belonged on a runway. Along with that elegance, she walked with a strut, giving off the impression that she could easily look like she knew where she was going, despite being on unfamiliar territory. As soon as he saw her, Gabe knew that she was definitely way out of his league.

"Whoever she is, she's a damn looker," Nate MacKinnon whistled as he too was caught looking at the mysterious woman, "She also looks be be close with Coach but not in a puck bunny way."

Everyone had to agree about that. Despite being young and beautiful, she appeared to not have the usual tendencies of the typical female fan. In fact, she appeared to not care that she was in the same building as the Colorado Avalanche. But it was the way Patrick Roy looked at her that silently spoke volumes. No, it wasn't a look of attraction; it was more of a fatherly look. Just before practice began, the head coach spoke with the woman and it was clear to see that there was a protective nature he had when he was around her. In fact, when he first saw her, Patrick instantly gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head, asking how she was and if she was eating on a regular basis. That question earned a roll of those dark blue eyes.

"Not his daughter," Gabe mused watching as she rubbed her bare arm, "They look nothing alike."

"Niece maybe," Matt offered, "A very hot single niece?"

Instantly the Swedish man smiled in amusement as some of the other guys laughed. Just as another comment was about to be made, Patrick called for a group huddle. Like Pavlov's dogs, everyone gathered around the coach and waited for him to say whatever it was he had to announce. Instead, he looked behind and watched as Joe and the woman walked onto the ice. Shockingly enough, the woman wore a pair four-inch peep toe platform heels with little silver studs adorning the band across her toes. Sure, Joe was holding on to her to make sure that she wouldn't fall but that strut still commanded attention.

Upon a closer inspection, Gabe could see the light make-up that just commented her delicate features. There were many women that he's seen that always reminded him of a clown due to the amount of make-up that was caked onto their faces. Honestly, he preferred a woman's natural beauty but the subtly of this woman's appearance was just so perfect.

"Nice shoes," Patrick smiled as she stopped next to him.

"They're my meeting shoes," the woman replied as she briefly glanced at her footware.

"More like battle shoes," muttered the coach as she shrugged, not caring for the fact that there was a very high chance that she was going to fall, "Anyway, gentlemen, since we gained a new sponsor in Grey Technologies, Alexei Lombardi will add liaison between us and her company to her long list of duties. That and she's my goddaughter so no touchy."

As he said that, he pointed his finger to every member of the Avalanche, glaring and silently daring anyone to say something. A few of the guys glanced at one another but it was Alexei who spoke. A rather sarcastic tone voiced, "You're almost as bad as my brother."

A chuckle escaped both Patrick and Joe as Alexei's dark blue eyes narrowed. Along with the rest of the team, Gabe was in complete and utter shock when it was revealed that their head coach was her godfather. Several jaws dropped but nothing was said as everyone tried to digest that new fact. He could understand the reason why Patrick was especially protective of Alexei; he had an attractive twin sister and would always be vigilant whenever a new guy was near.

"Oh, I haven't opened it yet," Alexei said, pulling an envelope from her purse and handing it to her godfather, "I've had it for a week and didn't want to open it until I saw you."

Joe leaned over as Patrick took the envelope, inspecting it. The red University of Denver logo was in in the top left which caused the two older man to look down at the small woman between them. Alexei, on the other hand, was studying each of the faces of the Avalanche. As soon as her gaze landed on him, Gabe felt like lightening was coursing through his body as her blue eyes pierced into his own light blue. It felt like hours before she blinked and her attention turned to her godfather who simply asked, "How do you feel about this?"

Alexei shrugged as she licked those red lips, "I don't know. I feel the same way when you opened the letter saying that I got a scholarship to DU for soccer: I feel hungry."

Small laughter escaped as Patrick turned the envelope over, pursing his lips. "I need a letter opener."

Reaching into her purse again, Alexei pulled out what looked like a black multi-plier tool and handed it to him which instantly caused several people to raise an eyebrow. It dawned on everyone to wonder why exactly she had one of these in her purse. Patrick just stared in shock at Alexei as he grasped the tool, just as confused as everyone else. Gabe had seen women pull out random things from their purses but never once did he see a woman pull out a multi-plier tool. Alexei on the other hand, acted like it wasn't a big deal and didn't notice the looks she was getting but as soon as she realized that people were giving her strange looks for carrying one of these in her purse, she instantly narrowed her eyes as she irritably said, "I need one for work. I swear I'm not a terrorist!"

"Who keeps a Gerber in their purse," Joe asked, also shocked.

"I do," Alexei said, throwing her arms in the air, "It is very irritating cable tracing and then needing a screw driver but the tool kit is in the other room. River gave to me for my birthday last year! Again, I'm not a terrorist!"

Notes