“Well, don’t believe everything you read. I’ve got to work twice as hard to stay where I am. Some days it’s tough to find the motivation, but I’m doing what I love and not everyone can say that about their job.”
“True. I mean, it’s not like I grew up wanting to be a waitress, but I do like to eat, so there’s that.”
“Damn, forgot to tell you. I talked to Dominique at the rink. She said you should give her a call tomorrow about that job.”
“Really?” Shock made her brain skip a few beats. “I wasn’t sure… I mean… Thank you.”
“For what?” His bemused smile made her breath catch in her throat. “I didn’t demand they hire you. I just told Dominique you’d be a good fit and she should talk to you. No big deal.”
But it was. Or it could be. Especially when the baby came, and she needed to know she’d have a regular paycheck.
“I wouldn’t even have known about the job if you hadn’t told me, so I still get to thank you. And I…”
She needed to tell him about Cookie. She wanted to tell him, but there was that little part of her brain that kept whispering, Don’t do it. He won’t be able to dump you fast enough. He doesn’t need your shit.
“Hey. Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Of course. Everything’s fine.”
Pulling up to a stop light, he took a long look at her. “Why does that sound like it’s not the whole story?”
“It’s been a long week.”
“Maybe you need a vacation.”
Her short burst of laughter sounded bitter and she smiled to offset it. “Sorry. That’s— You’re right. Of course. I could use a vacation. Then again, I’m sure that’s true of practically everyone I know. One of these days I’ll take one.”
Just wouldn’t be any time soon.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“A little tired. And maybe a little nervous about meeting your friends.”
“Nothing to worry about. You’re gonna fit right in.”
RJ knew something was off with Sugar. He just couldn’t get her to open up about whatever was bothering her.
The way she’d reacted when he’d said she needed a vacation kept coming back to him. Yes, there was a huge discrepancy in their financial situations. Did it matter to him? No.
Did she have a problem with it?
She’d known who he was from the moment they’d met. Hell, anyone could search his name and figure out what he was worth. She hadn’t acted like it bothered her. Had he missed something?
He knew she’d been on her own for the past few years, making it work and working her ass off while she did. Nothing to be ashamed of. Hell, he admired her more than other people who had a huge bank account but had done nothing other than be born into the right family.
But he couldn’t exactly come out and say that because he didn’t want to embarrass her. Though she had nothing to be embarrassed about.
Shit. Why the hell was this so damn hard?
Thankfully, it didn’t take long to get to Shane’s place. Their conversation redirected a few times and that momentary tension dialed back. Maybe he’d imagined it. Maybe she was just nervous about meeting his friends. Which really didn’t make sense because Sugar had never met a stranger.
Shane greeted them at the door, a big, quiet guy with a smile that never seemed fully formed. Unless he was smiling at his girlfriend, Bliss, whose friendly personality had already snagged Sugar and enticed her away from RJ with the promise that they’d return with drinks.
Most of the guys were already there, and he ended up talking with a few of the younger ones about their recent trip to Jamaica, keeping an eye on Sugar, who’d been absorbed into the group of women.
Most of the women had met when their guys played in Reading and were already close friends. Sugar looked as if she belonged.
“Uh, RJ? You still with us?”
“He’s gone. Just ignore him. Eventually, he’ll realize he’s lost his ba—hey!”
Without looking, RJ reached out and smacked his brother on the back of his head, which just made Brody laugh.
“My ears still work. Watch your mouth. You know I can still take you in a fight.”
“No way in hell, big brother. You’re older and wiser, but I’m younger and faster.”
Dragging his attention away from Sugar, he pinned his brother with a look that would’ve made anyone else slink off into a dark corner. Brody just smirked at him.
“And obviously not as smart. When did you get here?”
“Just a few minutes ago. Need to talk to you for a minute.”
With a nod to the other guys, Brody pulled RJ to the side, his expression sobering.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Marisol’s in town.”
It took RJ a couple seconds to process what Brody had said and a split second to realize he didn’t care.
“Last I heard, she was still in L.A. No idea why she’d be in Philly. How do you know, anyway?”
“She called me.” Brody’s face clearly expressed his feelings about that. And they weren’t good. “Wanted me to warn you that you might cross paths. At least, that’s what she said. She was absolutely fishing for information. She should’ve known she wouldn’t get any from me. I figured it’s better to let her twist in the wind, you know?”
“How many obscenities did you use when you talked to her?”
“Only a couple. You should be proud of me.”
RJ was proud of Brody, just not for his restrained use of f-bombs. “Thanks for the heads-up. I can’t believe she called you.”
“Yeah, she must be desperate to think I’d tell her anything. She’s lucky I didn’t hang up on her when I realized who it was. But I figured she might call Gabby, and Gabby would rip her a new one.”
RJ shook his head, covering up the fact that he wanted laugh by taking a sip of beer. His gaze never strayed from Sugar and the other women. They were laughing about something, shaking their heads and passing around a bottle of wine. Tara had her arm around Sugar’s shoulders as Sugar talked to Riley Hatch’s fiancée, Aly.
“She fits here.” Brody nodded toward the women.
RJ glanced at Tara. “Were you worried she wouldn’t?”
“I’m not talking about Tara.”
Ah. “She’d fit anywhere.”
“She fits you. When you’re with her, you don’t have that stick shoved so far up your ass.”
RJ gave his brother another one of those looks, which, of course, Brody ignored. “We’ve been seeing each other for two weeks. You’re getting ahead of yourself.”
Brody shrugged. “You two have been in a relationship for, like, the past six months. You just made it official in the past two weeks. Just my two cents. But you know I’m right.”
“When did you become—”
“Hey,” Brody cut him off. “Big event’s about to start.”
“What?”
“Dude. You are so far out of the loop. Just shut up and watch.”
Sugar returned then with a beer for him, holding a glass of wine.
Without thinking, he put his arm around her shoulders and drew her into his side, which literally made Robbie Lindback, who’d probably make the jump to the NHL from the AHL this season, gawk like he’d just seen a ghost. Which earned him an elbow in the side from his brother, Mik, who played on RJ’s offensive line.
Sugar smiled up at him and RJ realized he wanted that smile for himself. He’d never felt that way about Marisol. Which was probably why they’d dated for more than two years, but he’d always shied away from taking their relationship further.
Brody was right. He’d known Sugar longer than his parents had known each other before they’d decided they were going to get married.
Sugar’s smile softened and her head tilted. “What are you thinking?”
“That—”
“Hey everyone.” Shane’s deep voice carried through the room, immediately silencing the chatter. “Bliss and I want to thank you all for
coming tonight to break in our new house. You’ve become part of our family and we’re happy to be able to share so much of our lives with you.”
“Dude, I room with you,” CJ Young shouted from across the room. “We share way too much sometimes.”
The guys groaned as Bliss tossed her head back, laughing loudly, and Shane just shook his head.
“Don’t make me repeat the Pepto story.” Shane’s deadpan delivery made everyone laugh harder. “Anyway, in addition to christening the house, we’ve got some other news to share.”
Putting one hand in his pocket, Shane withdrew a ring. From his spot across the room, RJ could tell it was an emerald solitaire. Since Bliss didn’t look surprised, RJ assumed Shane had already proposed. And from the huge smile on her face, she’d apparently said yes.
When Shane slipped the ring on Bliss’s finger, the room erupted in cheers and applause. Everyone converged on the couple as a group, shaking Shane’s hand and hugging Bliss.
As RJ waited for his turn to talk to the couple, he glanced down at Sugar, who was holding tight to his hand. Her eyes looked wet, but her smile was bright. After they’d congratulated the couple, he pulled her to a quiet corner.
“You okay? I know these guys can be a little overwhelming—”
“I’m fine. Seriously. All girls cry at weddings and engagements. It’s kind of expected.”
“Is that part of the girl code?”
“Of course.”
“You sure there’s nothing else going on?”
She didn’t say anything right away, like she was thinking over something. Finally, she shook her head. “Nothing that can’t wait. Besides, we’re at a party. We’re not supposed to be huddled away in a corner by ourselves. Your friends just got engaged. We should be celebrating.”
She wasn’t wrong. But he could tell there was something on her mind.
Leaning down to speak directly into her ear, he said, “Tonight. When we’re in bed, after I’ve made you come, I want to know what’s going on.”
Color flushed her cheeks, and her eyes narrowed. “Maybe I’ll tell you after I’ve gone down on you and made you come.”
His heart began to race, and his cock hardened. “You’re going to pay for that.”
“I can’t wait.”
RJ pumped into Sugar one last time, his cock spasming inside her as he came.
She’d already slumped down over him, her breath warm against his chest, her pussy still clenching with her own orgasm.
For several long minutes, they lay in his bed, skin fused together by the heat they’d created before he settled her next to him and got up to take care of the condom in the bathroom. When he returned, she watched him take every step. And he remembered what he’d said to her earlier.
Sliding back into bed next to her, he got them both situated under the covers.
“You ready to talk to me about what’s bothering you?”
“Why do you think there’s anything bothering me?”
“I may be male but I’m not blind. Something’s going on. Tell me.”
“I’m just thinking about making some changes in my life.”
His breath caught in his chest. “What kind of changes?”
“Job changes, mostly. I have an interview with the manager at the rink tomorrow. I need to thank—”
“No. You don’t. I told you about an opportunity. And I mentioned to the manager that I knew someone who might fit what she needed. I didn’t do anything more than that, so don’t thank me because I didn’t do anything for you that I wouldn’t have done for another friend.”
“I still appreciate it. You don’t… It just comes at a good time, especially because I want to leave Nero’s.”
Hell, maybe he should say something more to the manager about hiring Sugar. He’d do whatever he could to get her out of that hellhole of a club, even leverage a job for her.
And if Sugar found out he did more than tell her about a job opening? Then what? She was already skittish about it. Better to just let it ride.
“Work’s been rough lately?”
“Yeah. It’s always something.”
“Then let me help you take your mind off your troubles.”
He felt her smile against his chest as her fingers traced his jawline.
“I’m sure you can.”
Nine
“Damn, Shug. You look like an honest-to-god adult. Hell, I’d hire you to run my life. Oh wait, you used to. And look what happened when left to my own devices.”
In the mirror, Sugar saw Cookie pat her belly as she grinned at her sister.
“I am an honest-to-god adult, and I really want this job. I just don’t want RJ to think I’m sleeping with him to get a good recommendation.”
“Oh, please. How were you supposed to know he was going to know someone with a job that you’d be right for? Seriously, you’re overthinking this whole thing.”
“I don’t know, Cook. What happens when we break up?”
“Are you planning to break up with him? I thought you liked him. Like, really liked him. I haven’t met the guy, but I understand why you wouldn’t want to spring your eight-months-pregnant, freeloading sister on him right away.”
Sugar sliced a glare her sister’s way. “You know that’s not—”
“Shug. Please. Don’t screw up a good thing because of me.”
“I’m not screwing up a good thing. It’s only been a couple of weeks.” And great sex with a man who was just too good to be true. “And—”
“And you’re already thinking ahead to the end. That’s not like you.” Cookie shook her head. “You’ve always been the one who made the rest of us look on the bright side. Look for the good in the situation instead of the bad. Why aren’t you taking your own advice?”
Her stomach turned over, which she attributed to nervousness over her interview. “It’s called being a realist. I have no idea if it’s going to work.” No matter how much she might want it to. “Our lives are just so different.”
“Are you talking about his age? I know he’s a few years old than you, but does that really matter that much? I mean, you’re the oldest twenty-three-year-old I know.”
“Gee, thanks. That makes me feel great.”
“Okay, how about the most mature twenty-three-year-old I know? Does that work for you?”
“Honestly, it just makes me feel like an imposter.”
“What? How so?”
“I’m just babbling. Forget that. I’m nervous. I’d really like to get this job.”
“Then go kill this interview and we’ll celebrate with midnight ice cream. You work ’til close tonight, right?”
“Yep.” She couldn’t stall anymore. She needed to leave now or she could be late. And that definitely wouldn’t get her the job. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Like a ride to the hospital? Who else would I call?”
Sugar turned to give Cookie a hug.
“Love you.”
“Love you too.” Cookie squeezed her just a little tighter. “Don’t give up what you want just because you think you don’t deserve it. Or him.”
RJ had thought he might see Sugar after her interview Friday morning, but by the time noon rolled around, he figured she’d been there and gone.
Not that he would’ve had much time to talk to her. The kids had acted like they’d been juiced with about a metric ton of sugar and keeping them on task had been all he could manage today. Luckily, he’d had help.
“Hey, Dad, thanks again for spending the day. I really appreciate it.”
“No thanks needed. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Reminds me of when you and your brother and sister were young.” He rolled his shoulder as they walked together to the parking lot. “It reminds me that I was also a hell of a lot younger then too.”
“You’re not old.”
“Didn’t say I was. Then again…” He rolled his neck, laughing under his breath. “You seem to be in a better mood lately.”
“Life’s bee
n good. I think…things are gonna be okay.”
His dad smiled, the one only his kids saw. The one that was a little exasperated and kind of relieved and mostly just amused at the humans he’d had a hand in creating.
“Oh yeah? And how did you finally come to that conclusion?”
He didn’t want to tell his dad he’d met a girl and that maybe she’d be the answer to all his problems because he couldn’t lay that all on Sugar. He couldn’t lay that on anyone but himself. But being with Sugar had made him realize a few things.
One, he needed to get over this funk because he was making his family worry. And two, he was sick of being alone.
“I decided I have to be.”
His dad nodded. “Good. I’ve been worried about you. That never really stops, no matter your kids’ age. So, you gonna tell me about this girl you’ve been seeing?”
“Sure. What do you want to know?”
His dad’s brows rose. “What? No pushback?”
“Why would I? She’s a few years younger, but she’s smart and sweet and we might not have a lot in common, but she fits me.”
“Then when do we get to meet her?”
“Hopefully soon. She works a lot, mostly nights. She’s a waitress.”
“Oh.”
“What?”
“No, no. Don’t take me wrong. She just seems…different than your last girlfriend.”
“Marisol wasn’t right for me. I don’t know how I didn’t see that before.”
“Maybe because you were looking at her through a different lens.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean maybe you were looking for someone who appeared to be a fit for what you thought you needed. Not someone who actually is who you need.”
“You have a psychology degree to go with your Stanley Cup?”
His dad smacked him on the back of the head as RJ laughed. “I’m still your father. Don’t piss me off.”
“Wouldn’t think of it. And I think you’re actually right.”
“Well, damn. Look at that. Took thirty years, but you finally realized what I’ve been trying to tell you all along. Now you just need to follow my advice.”
Deadlines & Red Lines: Fast Ice Sports Romance Page 14