Bad Reputation

by Nicole Edwards

  However, the girl has a seriously dirty mind. I often find myself wondering what goes on in that head of hers. Just how dirty can she get? Not that she would ever tell me. But that’s Cassie for you.

  “Time’s up,” Natalie calls out, then looks at me. “Your turn.”

  I nod as I continue to study the couple. I have to admit, Cassie’s depiction of them was pretty good.

  Cassie tosses back what’s left of her wine, then grins at me. “You might as well suck it up now, pretty boy. You’re not going to top that.”

  “Challenge accepted,” I tell her.

  “You ready?” Natalie asks.

  I nod.

  “Timer starts…now.”

  “The guy works in a pawnshop during the day. He likes to dress up at night and pretend he’s a big-shot CEO. That girl…she’s his stepdaughter.”

  “Eww,” Cassie grumbles.

  “Yep. And her mother is out of town on business. She is a CEO and that’s the reason stepdaddy dearest likes to pretend. We’ll call him George.”

  “And the stepdaughter is…?” Natalie probes.

  “Sue Ellen,” I say automatically. “And see how they’re talking? He’s trying to get closer because she has finally agreed to let him tuck her into bed tonight.”

  “That’s disgusting, Chase.” Cassie winces.

  It is rather disturbing, I won’t deny. But it’s fun and I don’t really give a damn. “He’s asking her if she’ll wear that one-piece pajama thing he bought her.”

  “A onesie?” Natalie says.

  “Sure. Whatever. And it’s got…” I try to think of something in a child’s nursery rhyme. I snap my fingers when it comes to me. “Lambs. Yes, it’s got lambs all over it. And he wants her to pretend to be Little Bo Peep.” I smile at Cassie. “Looking for her sheep.”

  Cassie’s nose scrunches up at the same time Natalie calls time.

  “I don’t know, guys,” Natalie says, glancing between the two of us. “Those were both pretty good. Plus, it proves how dirty and twisted you both are.”

  “You’ve got something better?” I ask before draining the last of my beer.

  Natalie shakes her head. “No, probably not. I was thinking schoolteacher. Him, not her. But, since we’ve taken the cheesy porno route tonight, I think I’ll pass.”

  Cassie chuckles.

  “More wine, ladies?” I offer.

  “If you’re buying, then of course,” Natalie states.

  Cassie considers it for a second. “Sure. One more. Then I really have to head home. I’ve got to be up early tomorrow.”

  I head to the bar and flag down Suzy. I take a minute to admire her as she flutters from one end to the other. There’s no denying that the woman is smoking hot. Of course, she plays it up for tips, but who can blame her? More often than not, there are guys drooling over her. She’s probably raking in the dough.

  She’s the exact opposite of Cassie. Blond instead of brunette. Short, not leggy. Cute, I’d say. Cassie’s got more grown-up sex appeal. But Suzy’s tight little body and double Ds do make her every guy’s fantasy.

  Well, every guy except me. For whatever reason, I’ve never been hard up for Suzy. She’s nice and we get along. Plus, I think she likes me because I don’t hit on her like most of the hard-up bozos in here.

  As for why I compare her to Cassie, I’m not entirely sure. I find myself doing that from time to time. A lot more lately than I used to. Sometimes I think I should be worried that I’m getting in too deep, that I’m allowing my infatuation with Cassie to turn into something it shouldn’t. I’ve managed to keep my secret, but if I’m not careful, someone is going to catch on. And that’s the last thing I need.

  “Another beer, Sin?”

  I nod, glancing over to see a guy approaching Cassie. He’s wearing a cowboy hat and a smile. The fucker.

  “And two glasses of wine for my friends.” I emphasize the word friends for all the single ladies hanging out within earshot.

  “Coming right up.”

  While Suzy grabs our drinks, I turn around and lean against the bar, surveying the room, doing my best not to pay attention to Cassie.

  It’s not overly crowded in here tonight, but that’s not unusual. Being that it’s Saturday, the place is crawling with puck bunnies all looking to hook up, but most of them are contained to the back wall, where several of my teammates are arguing about tonight’s game. Usually I’d be hanging with them, but I wanted to spend some time with Cass. She’s my anchor. She keeps me grounded and right now, I need that. Knowing that our season is over, I could easily get lost in my own head, so it’s easier to let my best friend provide a much-needed distraction. If it weren’t for my mental issues, I’d probably be searching for a puck bunny to call my very own for the night.

  “Here you go, Sin.” Suzy nods to the other end of the bar. “Your beer is compliments of the redhead at the end.”

  I glance down to see the redhead Suzy’s referring to.

  Damn.

  Chancing another look in Cassie’s direction, I see she’s chatting it up with the drugstore cowboy. There’s some giggling and eyelash batting.

  Okay, so maybe I should check into what’s being offered here at the bar.

  The redhead shoots me a wink and I hold up one finger, signaling for her to give me a minute.

  As I approach our table, the cowboy turns and walks away, giving me a quick once-over as he passes. Perhaps he’s sizing me up, trying to determine if I’m competition. If I were, he’d damn sure know it because I wouldn’t have let him come close to Cassie if she was mine.

  But, whatever.

  “Uh oh,” Cassie says when I pass over their wine.

  “Uh oh, what?” I frown.

  “You’ve been summoned. Thanks for the wine, Chase. Nice knowing you.”

  Right. I’ve been summoned.

  I laugh. “I saw you talking to Tex. Did you want me to stay and hang out?”

  “No, of course not.” I can tell Cassie isn’t put out by me wanting to go chat it up with that woman. She knows me. It’s what I do. “But I do want you to wear a raincoat if you’re going to play in the rain tonight.”

  I roll my eyes at the same time Cassie does. “Yes, dear.”

  Cassie

  “I can’t wrap my head around how you can just let him walk off like that,” Natalie notes, her wineglass close to her mouth, her eyes trailing after Chase as he approaches a pretty red-haired woman sitting at the bar.

  “Like what?” I watch my friend. “It’s not like we’re dating. The guy has the right to talk to whoever he wants.”

  Natalie huffs. “You really don’t see it, do you?”

  “See what?”

  “That he’s into you.”

  Okay, that makes me break into a fit of laughter. “Chase Barrett is not into me,” I announce, probably a little louder than I should. “We’re friends.”

  “So you say.”

  “Oh my God, Nat!” I turn to look her square in the eye. “There is nothing between us. Never has been, never will be.”

  “I’m going to love watching you eat those words one day.”

  I roll my eyes.

  “Seriously. Look at her.”

  My attention instantly turns to the redhead Chase is now standing beside. His body language shows he’s open and receptive to her attention. The way he casually leans against the bar, his smile bright, his eyes focused solely on her. He looks happy.

  “They aren’t gonna hook up,” Natalie predicts.

  “Why would you think that?” I take a bigger gulp of wine. It really is time for me to head home. I might not have to be at work tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a lot of work that needs to get done.

  “She’s not his type.”

  I chuckle. “If she has a vagina, she’s his type.”

  “That’s what he wants you to believe.”

  I lift my eyebrows in challenge. “Really?”

  “Yes. I’d bet money he doesn’t slee
p with half the women you think he does.”

  “I’d bet money he sleeps with twice the women I think he does,” I counter, still smiling. “But it really doesn’t matter. We’re friends. I don’t want to be anything more than that.”

  I don’t know what I have to do to prove that to Natalie. Not that I need to. I know where my relationship with Chase stands. We are just friends. We will always be just friends. That’s the way I want it. After having watched my mother hop from one man to another, never having something concrete, I’m not interested in anything else. I like having Chase in my life, I have no intention of doing anything to ruin it.

  “It’s such a shame.” Natalie’s brown eyes settle on my face. “The two of you would be so good together. Not to mention, you’d make beautiful babies.”

  Thankfully, I wasn’t taking a drink, because I choke at the thought.

  “What? It’s true. Plus, he likes you.”

  “As a friend.”

  “Yes. As a friend. Which is the perfect foundation for a long, lasting relationship.”

  “You’re going to have to give this up,” I tell her, “or I’m no longer inviting you to go out.”

  Natalie huffs a laugh. “You’ve said that a million times.”

  It’s true. I have.

  “Okay, fine,” Natalie concedes. “No more talk about the sinfully sexy hockey god.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And on to…that guy.”

  I knew she’d given up too easily.

  I peer over to see Natalie looking across the bar. I follow her gaze, fully expecting to see her trying to lure Cowboy Jim back over to talk to me. I’m confused when I see her pointing out a different man.

  “Why that guy?”

  Admittedly, the man is good looking. Dark hair, dark eyes, strong jawline. Based on the way he’s dressed, he’s much more my type. His suit fits his broad shoulders perfectly, slacks cover nice legs. He’s tall, but not as tall as Chase. Slim, without the musculature that Chase has.

  Why I’m comparing him to Chase, I have no freaking clue. I blame Natalie.

  “He’s been watching you for the past half hour.”

  “Whatever.”

  “He has. I think you should go talk to him.”

  I look over at Natalie. “Did Chase put you up to this?”

  “What?” She scrunches up her nose. “No.”

  “Liar.”

  “Okay, fine. He did mention something about no pansy-ass momma’s boys on the menu for tonight. I didn’t quite know what that meant, but I agreed with him.”

  Again, I find myself rolling my eyes. I can’t believe Chase recruited Natalie to find me a date. I don’t need help in that department. If I date or not, it’s by my choice. Who I go out with is also my choice.

  And with the embarrassing fiasco with Andrew still fresh on my mind, my choice is to hold off for a while.

  A long while.

  Chapter 5

  When I asked Chase what he did in his spare time, he wasn’t as forthcoming as I thought he’d be. Then again, he also told me that his life isn’t nearly as glamorous as people think. However, he did mention that he’s rather good in the kitchen. Based on the glimmer in his eye, I’m not sure he was solely referring to cooking either.

  —Excerpt from Sports Unlimited’s Bad Boys of Sports edition

  Chase

  It isn’t until the following Wednesday that I see Cassie again. I had some meetings to deal with, which included some not so pleasant ass-chewing regarding our performance this year. It left me out of sorts for a couple of days, as usual. It sucks that we aren’t advancing to the playoffs, but what can you do?

  In desperate need of my best friend and her ability to make me feel better, I called Cassie up this morning to let her know I was heading to the gym, but I’d be around if she was up for dinner. Of course, Cass thought that the gym was code for me banging a redhead. Really. That’s what she said.

  She does that sometimes, assumes the worst in me. Not that I blame her. I have been known to chill with the ladies, however I have never given some lame excuse before. I value our friendship and to me, honesty is key to making it work.

  But, in Cassie’s defense, I haven’t bored her with the details of what happened the other night after I left the bar. For one, nothing happened. And two, although Cassie and I share everything, there are some details I purposely leave out to spare her. She doesn’t want to know everything that I do, and again, I don’t blame her. Doesn’t mean she won’t listen if I want to share the tale, but really, I know she’d rather not know.

  Now I’m beginning to question whether Cassie thinks that I was seriously blowing her off. I mean, I did offer to cook for her and since it’s my turn, she’s usually at my place long before dinner makes it to the table.

  Not today.

  Still, I shove the salmon in the oven and grab a bottle of wine for her.

  We’ve had this dinner tradition since college. One week I cook, the next she does. At least one night, sometimes more, depending on our moods and our schedules. Fast food isn’t on my approved-foods list when it comes to keeping in shape for hockey. Although, I’m certainly not above chowing down on pizza whenever possible. Since Cassie’s not big on fast food either, and back in college we were both trying to save money, we resorted to making meals at home. Since neither of us lived in the dorms, we had the ability to cook for ourselves. So we did.

  As I’m sprinkling the broccoli with soy sauce, preparing it to go into the oven, I hear a knock at my door.

  I grin because there’s only one person that could be.

  I find it amusing that Cassie won’t simply open the door and come in. She always makes sure to announce her presence first. While I have no qualms about barging in, using my key to gain entry to her house, Cassie’s not that way. She rarely comes over uninvited, although she does have a key.

  “Hey! In the kitchen,” I holler when I hear her step inside.

  Peeking my head out of the kitchen, I see her setting her purse on the end table by the sofa, her eyes hesitantly scanning the room as though she’s expecting someone else to be here.

  “Why is it that you don’t just walk in?” I ask, dropping a pot holder onto the counter and passing over her glass of wine when she joins me in the kitchen.

  “For one,” she smiles sweetly as she takes the wine, “I don’t want to have to bleach my eyes out if I find you in a compromising position.”

  “Ah. And how many times has that happened?”

  “None,” she announces triumphantly. “Because I don’t barge in.” Cassie takes a sip. “But I know you, Barrett. The odds of finding your bare ass shining up at me while some nameless chick is beneath you are in my favor. I’d just prefer not to be traumatized for life.”

  I wish I could deny that would ever happen, but I can’t. It’s a possibility. Not as of late, but definitely in the past.

  Shrugging it off, I take a pull from my beer and smile at my best friend. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “Starving, actually.” Cassie leans against the huge island, her eyes darting from the stove to the oven. “What’re you making me?”

  “Maple salmon and roasted broccoli.”

  It’s her favorite.

  “You’re a man after my own heart.”

  The woman has no freaking clue, but I laugh anyway. “Don’t get too excited. I did it because it was easy.” I’m simple like that. But so is Cassie, which is why we work so well together.

  “Speaking of easy. How’d things go with the redhead the other night?”

  I grin. “Glutton for punishment, are you?”

  “I know, I know.” Her eyes glitter when she laughs. “I shouldn’t ask. I don’t really want to know.”

  “Her name is Erica,” I supply. “And we didn’t hit it off.”

  “No?” She sips her wine, her curiosity making her nose scrunch up. “That’s a first.”

  “Not really. When she started talking about getting alimony f
rom her ex-husband, I knew we were doomed before the first kiss.”

  “Alimony?”

  “Yep. Apparently lots of it, too.”

  “She was bragging?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  This seems to amuse Cassie. “How do you know you wouldn’t make the perfect second husband?”

  “You and I both know I’m not husband material.”

  She nods in agreement. “True. Not even boyfriend material.”

  I can’t deny that. I’m not the type of guy who wants to settle down. I figure maybe one day I’ll reach that point, but so far, I haven’t found a woman who interests me enough. Most of the women I’ve been with probably couldn’t even tell you the color of my eyes because the only thing they see when they look at me are dollar signs. But, I’m honest with the women I’m with, a trait Cassie has said she admires. Sure, she thinks I’m a dog most of the time, but she has to agree that I’m not the kind to lead a woman on. I’m always straight from the beginning, only offering what I can provide, which usually includes dinner, drinks, sometimes dancing, then a few orgasms and nothing more.

  “One day,” Cassie says thoughtfully. “One day you’ll find the perfect woman.”

  I turn to pull the salmon out of the oven. I set it on the stove, then grab the other pan. “I’ve already got the perfect woman,” I inform her.

  She snorts, which is uniquely Cassie.

  “I do. You might not think so, but you’re all I need, Cass.” She’s heard this before because I’ve said it plenty of times. Although I’m being completely honest, Cassie thinks I’m joking. I’m not. Not even a little bit. “You’re my idea of a perfect woman.” I toss the oven mitt to the counter so I can tick off the reasons on my fingers. “One, we’re friends. Two, you’ll cook for me. Three, you’ve memorized my stats. And, last but not least, you don’t expect a lot from me. You know, other than me cooking you dinner once a week.”

  Cassie laughs because she knows it’s all true.

  “Such a sweet talker, you are.” She stands up straight. “What can I help with?”

  “You can take the drinks outside. I set the table out there.”