“Food. You’re cooking because I’m not. And beer.”
I almost smiled, feeling better than I had in a month. I was taking action to find Lanie, rather than moping around. I was healing the wounds caused by my stupidity, and I was doing the right thing, for once.
I’d find her, and I’d insist she tell me what was going on and why she ran.
Chapter Four
Not So Alone
~~Delaney~~
* * *
I handed the room keys to the middle-aged couple I’d just checked in and smiled at them.
“Do you have any questions? Or requests?”
“No, we’re good. Thank you so much. You’ve been very helpful,” the wife said, beaming at her husband. He grinned back at her and put his arm on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze. My heart stalled for a beat or two. Kaden used to put his arm around me like that, too.
I watched the couple walk away and up the stairs with sadness for what might’ve been. There wasn’t an hour in the day Kaden didn’t cross my mind, along with my left-behind friends and family. I didn’t know how long I dared stay at this charming B and B, but I knew my stay here wasn’t permanent. I enjoyed the job, even though I’d never done any cleaning beyond cleaning my DC condo. The work was strenuous and freeing. I would play games with myself to see how quickly and efficiently I was able to clean each room, and I added special touches such as flowers from Mandy’s rose garden and pitchers of ice water. Little things meant a lot. This much I was able to salvage from my past.
I’d been one of those friends who always remembered a birthday with a written card and personal gift. I’d made a point, no matter how busy, to be there for a friend in need. I strived to be the best person I could be, honest, kind, and responsible. I’d been driven by causes much larger than me, and I’d relished every minute I spent helping others.
In some ways, this job allowed me to help others, whether it was making sure each room was spotless or taking a little extra time conversing with a lonely guest. I’d always held myself to the same high standards as my father—the same father who’d asked me to lie under oath. Just like that, my momentary good mood faded as I labored to come to terms with the father I’d idolized and the flawed man he truly was.
I heard a car pull up outside and craned my neck to see out the window. We weren’t expecting any more guests this evening as far as I knew. The low, sleek metallic black sports car parked near the walk to the front door. My eyes grew wide and every cell in my body urged me to run either away or toward the driver.
I knew that car, and I knew the long-legged, hard-bodied man striding toward the front door. In fact, I knew him and that body intimately. I froze, my feet rooted to the floor, unable to plan my next move.
He was here. Drew Delacorte had suspected something and told him. Part of me wasn’t surprised, the same part that sang with joy at the sight of him. My more practical side screamed for me to run. Self-preservation was my number one priority. Panic prodded my feet into action. I spun around and exited the lobby. Willing myself to sound calm despite the storm brewing inside, I found Mandy straightening up in the living area. “Could you take over the front desk for a few minutes? I have to use the bathroom.”
Mandy glanced up, smiling, and did a double take. The expression on my face must have clued her in. I hadn’t done a good job of masking my alarm. “Are you okay?”
“It’s him,” I whispered with a shaky voice. “Please don’t tell him I’m here.”
I didn’t take the time to explain. Kaden was walking up the steps to the covered porch. I had to hide. Now.
Mandy stared at me, as if confused, then she nodded knowingly. As I suspected, Brody had told her about the visitor from a few days ago. To her credit, she hadn’t asked any prying questions. Mandy wasn’t like that. She was a calm presence who let a person know without words she would be there for them.
With no time to retreat to the safety of my room, I raced to the small powder room off the living room. Shutting and locking the door behind me, I huddled against the door, my ear against it.
“Hi, there,” I heard Kaden say to Mandy.
“Hello, what can I help you with? Are you checking in?”
“No, I’m hoping you can help me.” My heart slammed in my chest at the sound of his familiar and missed voice, deep and clear and confident. I imagined him standing tall and proud, pushing an errant strand of hair out his eyes and behind his ear. Maybe he’d finally cut his hair. He’d always complained about it, but he’d also had this superstition if he cut it he’d be like Samson and lose all his power. I’d encouraged him to keep those messy locks of unruly dark hair. I loved burying my fingers in them or feeling the strands glide down my belly and tickle my thighs when he went down on me. Oh my God, I was getting turned on just thinking about him on the other side of this door. If I didn’t control myself, I’d be masturbating. Not a bad idea, I concluded wickedly. I’d always been a good girl, but Kaden brought out the bad girl in me, even when he was on the other side of a closed door.
“Certainly, I’d be glad to assist if I can,” Mandy said pleasantly.
“I’m looking for someone.”
I held my breath. There were several moments of silence, and I guessed he was showing Mandy the only image he had of me, the one he’d promised to delete.
“She looks like a guest from a few weeks ago, but it’s hard to say.”
I dug my fingers into my palm, wondering why she’d betray me like that. I’d asked her not to indicate I was here, but then she hadn’t said I was here, just that I might’ve been.
“Are you sure?” The hopefulness in Kaden’s tone broke my heart. I wanted to rush out of my hiding place and wrap my arms around him, letting him lull me into believing everything would be okay. Only it wouldn’t be okay. It’d never be okay. Even Kaden couldn’t fix the mess I’d found myself embroiled in.
“Brody? What do you think? Was she here a few weeks ago?”
Brody must’ve walked into the lobby. I dug my fingernails into the palm of one hand, hoping to distract myself and calm my nerves.
“Yeah, she might’ve been. Hard to say. She only stayed a night and kept to her room.”
“Do you know where she was going when she left?”
“She said something about Vancouver Island,” Mandy responded.
“Yeah, she didn’t seem to know, but she also asked about catching the Alaska ferry up in Canada.” Brody’s voice came through convincingly. I knew what they were up to. Kaden was already suspicious I’d been on the island. The clever thing to do was steer him in another direction and away from the inn. My moment of disappointment turned to gratefulness. They had my back, even though some portion of me wished they’d told him the truth, torn open the powder room door, and revealed me cowering in a corner.
“What kind of car was she driving?”
Kaden had never seen my car. I’d made sure of it. The old Toyota I’d paid cash for was a far cry from the Bimmer that’d been my high school graduation gift. I held my breath, hoping they didn’t give him an honest answer, while feeling like a bitch for wanting my newfound friends to lie even more for me.
“I didn’t see a car. I think she used the island taxi,” Brody answered confidently. I almost believed him myself.
“She was very private. Didn’t even take advantage of our free breakfast.” Mandy added to the story they were weaving about me.
“I’m sorry we can’t be more help. She paid cash on checkout. We don’t have any further information.” Mandy’s tone was sympathetic but certain. I owed her and Brody a huge thanks.
“Someone else was here a few days ago looking for this same person. Is she in some kind of trouble?” Brody asked.
“I think so, but I don’t know. We were—”
He stumbled on the next word. What had we been to each other? Lovers, definitely. Friends, maybe. I held my breath as I waited for him to continue.
“—friends. I’m worried about her. If you hear from her, would yo
u let her know I care about her, and I’d love to just know she’s okay.”
I swiped at a tear that rolled down my cheek. He wanted to make sure I was okay. What a heartless bitch I was. If I had an ounce of courage, I’d leap to my feet and open this door. But my issues weren’t just about courage, they were about his safety. And that knowledge kept me right where I was.
“Absolutely. We’ll do that,” said Mandy cheerfully.
“Thank you.” Kaden’s disappointment was tinged with sadness.
Standing, I put a hand on the doorknob, started to turn it, but dropped my hand to my side. I had to be strong. Closing my eyes, I sent a virtual hug to him, hoping somehow he’d feel it and be comforted. I’d never been much for that kind of thing, but I was adaptable. Maybe it’d work.
The inn door opened and closed. Still, I waited.
“You can come out now, Laina. He’s gone.” Mandy’s voice was firm. Make no doubt about it, I had some explaining to do.
Tentatively, I opened the door and peeked out. Brody and Mandy stood several feet away, waiting expectantly. Resigned to my fate, I left the sanctuary of the powder room.
They both studied me closely, their expressions filled with concern, making me feel like a bigger bitch than I’d already been. These good people deserved better.
“Let’s have coffee on the patio,” Mandy said. She grabbed the coffeepot, and Brody got three cups. I followed them out to their private patio with its view of Fiddler’s Cove.
“Have a seat.” Mandy poured a cup of coffee and handed it to me, gesturing to one of the comfy patio chairs. We both sat while Brody stood behind Mandy’s chair with his hands on the back of it. He was watchful, not just of us but of his surroundings. As if he expected trouble at any moment.
Guilt squeezed my chest. I’d invited this trouble into their lives. Kaden had come here looking for me, as had Drew Delacorte a few days ago. My presence was endangering these kind, generous people, and my denial wasn’t helping.
“Brody told me about the other visitors looking for you. And now today we have someone else. What’s going on?” Mandy’s voice was firm and insistent. I feared she wouldn’t take no for an answer. I was worn down. Weary of running. Weary of fighting. Weary of all the shit piling up in my life.
Yet how much did I dare tell them? The less they knew, the better.
I should pack and leave tonight on the last ferry off the island.
But I was tired, so very tired.
And I didn’t know where else to run.
Brody studied me but said nothing. Obviously, he was going to let his wife handle the questioning. His eyes darkened with concern, and I knew these good people cared about me and were trustworthy.
Mandy reached across the space between us and grasped my hand. “Everyone needs someone. Let us help.” She squeezed my hand and smiled at me. Behind her, Brody nodded his agreement.
Her words destroyed the dam shoring up my emotions. I came apart in the wake of such sincere caring. Tears flooded down my cheeks and violent sobs shook my body. Mandy continued to hold my hand, giving comfort. She had no idea how much I needed that. Neither of them said anything, just allowed me to get the pain out of my system. And, oh, what pain it was. I’d been a princess with my entire charmed life ahead of me, a loving family, an upwardly rising boyfriend, a good career. Everything had been mine for the taking.
Until it wasn’t.
Mandy handed me a wad of tissues, and I used every one of them, sniffling and hiccupping and further embarrassing myself in front of these kind, generous people who didn’t deserve to be dragged into my mess yet were willing to be part of it regardless.
“The guy who came here today was my boyfriend.” I choked on that last word. I wasn’t sure if he was my boyfriend or just a lover. We’d never discussed being exclusive, yet I’d been, not sure about him. In my situation, a boyfriend wasn’t possible, but I didn’t want anything else.
“And last week?”
“I’m not sure, but I think he sent them.”
“Is he who you’re hiding from?”
“No, oh, God, no. I mean it’s not like that. I am hiding from him, but for his own good, not for mine.”
Mandy and Brody exchanged glances. I was being as clear as mud, and I knew it.
“What’s going on, exactly? Who are you running from?”
“I know things about someone, bad things, things that would help keep him locked up for a long time. I’m a problem for them, and they want me gone.” That was all I could say on the subject. I’d leave them to speculate on what bad things and who they were. “Kaden, the guy who was here, knows nothing about all this. I left and didn’t tell him where I was going, but he’s figured it out.”
Of course he had. Kaden was a smart guy, and I didn’t exactly make it hard for him to find me. Had I gone to this island on purpose? Or merely because it’d sounded like a safe place to hide?
“Are you in witness protection?” Brody finally spoke.
“No, not now. I’m responsible for my own protection. That’s all I can say. I’ve said too much as it is.” Tears were building up again, and Mandy handed me another tissue. I dabbed at my eyes.
“You have us, honey.” Mandy’s kind smile made my heart ache for friends I wasn’t allowed to have and friends I’d lost.
“I should leave. I don’t want to put either of you in jeopardy.”
“You’re not leaving.” Mandy’s voice was insistent, and Brody backed her up with a firm nod.
“I—” I didn’t want to leave, but I should.
“Promise us you’ll stay for now,” Mandy begged. “I don’t know what we’d do without you, especially with that wedding coming up.”
Ah, yes, the Schmidt wedding. The bride made most bridezillas look like angels, while the groom had agreed to the wedding to throw a big party afterward. Fiddler’s Cove had done a few smaller weddings in the past, but none of this scale and none this high-profile. There’d be upwards of a few hundred guests, and they were taking over almost every available room on the island.
“If you feel the need to leave, give us a chance to discuss it and assess the situation. We won’t stop you, but we’ll be a good sounding board. Can you make that promise?” Brody asked.
“I promise. I’ll stay at least until after the wedding.” I blinked back more tears and smiled at them. Not feeling so alone for the first time since I’d left Kaden.
Chapter Five
Moving on
~~Kaden~~
* * *
With a heavy heart, I returned to the cottage. Steele waited for me, ready to go shopping since we were out of the essentials—beer and chips. Steele might be a finicky bastard, but he didn’t cook for himself and ate whatever was on hand. He tried to eat healthy but didn’t always manage unless I was cooking. His cooking entailed boiling water for Top Ramen or mac and cheese. While Steele wasn’t a big drinker, he was a beer connoisseur, preferring microbrews and IPAs. I drank almost any beer that was put in front of me.
Steele’s gaze clouded with concern as he noted my glum expression, but he didn’t pry. At least, not yet. He wanted to get the shopping done. Food and beer first. Buddies second.
My roomie pushed the cart as I scanned the grocery store shelves. The selections were limited, but we didn’t have much choice short of taking the ferry to the mainland. At least our cottage on the cove was well stocked, though, with lots of spices, and I appreciated the locally sourced vegetables, meat, and other items. I was picky about my ingredients and only used organic, free of anything unnatural. I was weird like that. My roommates would eat anything thrown in front of them like a pack of wolves in a feeding frenzy. I’d taken it upon myself to make sure they ate healthy, at least when I was cooking.
Not that I didn’t fall into the bad-food gutter at times. I’d been known to eat pizza dripping with cheese and covered with greasy meat and fast food more than I cared to admit. My guy card was firmly intact.
I still don’t know how S
teele managed to weasel the cottage we were staying in. That guy continually surprised me. He had his special talents just like I did. He was like some kind of super-secret agent or something.
The cottage we were staying in was owned by Ethan Parker, but since I was on shaky ground with the team until I proved myself, I wouldn’t have dared ask. Steele, on the other hand, was a model rookie, serious to a fault, and everything management looked for in a player. He was one of those players who flew under the radar. A guy didn’t notice his contributions until he was gone. He wasn’t a flashy skater or a big scorer or even an exceptional defenseman. But he was there when you needed him, completely unselfish, and always looking for opportunities to steal the puck. We were defensemen on the second line, and we were a great team. Hopefully, we’d have the opportunity to hone that teamwork over several more seasons.
We finished our shopping, and I waited while the clerk rang up our purchases. Steele stuffed the items in paper bags since there wasn’t a bagger available.
I glanced out the window, taking note of the sunny day and going over my plans. I’d spend the afternoon lounging around on the deck overlooking the peaceful cove, maybe drink a few brews, and take a snooze.
A petite redhead strode down the sidewalk across the street and drew my attention. Her walk was familiar, and my heart recognized her before my head did. I gaped at her, my mouth hanging open. That body, that carriage, the nicely rounded butt. I knew that woman.
She disappeared around a corner a block away.
Spurred into action, I turned to Steele as I hurried out of the store and tossed my keys at him. “I’ll be right back. Meet you at the car.”
Not waiting for a reply, I ignored his astonishment and ran out of the store and down the street. A ferry had just unloaded, and the stream of cars prevented me from dashing across the street. Finally, I was able to cross. I hustled around the corner and down the sidewalk. I picked up the pace, jogging two blocks one way and back up the other side, glancing in windows and looking down alleys. She was gone, disappeared into the wind as if she’d never existed. Maybe she hadn’t except in my pathetically hungry imagination.
Playmaker Page 4