by Cass Kincaid
I feel like a duck finally back in the water. It does come naturally to me. I’ve been fighting my ability to play—or inability, depending on how you look at it—so damn much that it was painful at first. But now, I’m just excited about the whole thing.
I go back to the hotel, leaving Tristan at the arena. While I’m in the taxi, my phone rings. It’s my second day here, and I haven’t heard one word from Dad.
Until now.
“Dad, hey.” I smile. I’m happier than I have been in a long time, despite not scoring a goal during today’s short practice, and I hope he can hear it in my voice.
“Faith. I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
I nod. “Good, actually. The kids are little angels, to be honest. And Tristan’s sticking to his word, helping me out. He even said that maybe a recommendation from him would go a long way in my application to school.”
“What about payment?” he asks briskly. “You never did say how much he’s going to pay you. Or when.”
My brows furrow. I’m not expecting that to be the first thing out of his mouth. It’s obvious he didn’t call to ask how I’m doing. He just wants to know how much I’ll be sending him.
“Tristan says he’ll be paying me $10,000 per month, because I’m not that experienced. His words, not mine. Isn’t that incredible? The other nanny was getting—”
“When will he pay you?”
I clear my throat, standing outside the hotel. I’m putting this conversation down to Dad being stressed, because he doesn’t sound like himself. It’s not like him to cut to the chase and ask me about money. Something’s wrong. I steel myself to ask what’s happened, because I don’t think he’s in the mood for small talk. But, I have the right to know before I divulge more. “Dad, what’s happened?”
He sighs, and the ornery quality in his tone is gone. “The bank’s closing down the store, Faith. I’m...”
I feel as if my heart’s thumping out of control, waiting for him to say more. But he lets whatever he was going to say drift off.
The store. The one he started up when Mom retired from hockey, so they’d both have something to work on together. I can’t believe he didn’t talk to me about this earlier. Why leave it until today? When it’s too late?
I feel weak as I stand with the phone in my hand. I can’t let him hear weakness in my voice. I’ve got to stay strong, at least for him.
“The thing is, the house will be gone, too, if we don’t get the money,” he adds, and I can tell it’s hard for him to admit.
I don’t say anything immediately. I’m still trying to calm down enough to prevent myself from ripping into him for not telling me. He had the nerve to treat me as if I was some whore when I left the house, pimping myself out to get ahead. Now, he’s calling me for money.
“How much do you need, and when?” I’m almost afraid to know the answer.
He hesitates. “Five thousand by the end of the month.”
I nearly choke as he says the words. Five thousand is not a small amount to families like ours. It occurs to me that it might not be as big of a deal to Tristan, but that’s besides the point. I didn’t start this job to take money from him.
“That’ll save the store? And the house, too?”
“That’s what the bank manager says.”
“Fine. You’ll have it before then.” I just hope I can pull it off.
He asks, “But, that’s only two weeks away. Are you sure you can get it to me by then? I’ve tried Henry, Will, and everyone else I can think of. They managed to come up with about two thousand.”
“So, that means there’s still five thousand owing after you’ve put their money towards the debt?” I really don’t like the idea of him owing that kind of cash to anyone else.
He sighs, sheepish. “Yes.”
“Oh, Dad.” I’m not scolding him, and thankfully he doesn’t take it that way.
All this time, I’ve been coming over to the house, checking in on him daily, and he never said a word to me. I knew the store was at risk; it didn’t take a genius to figure that out.
But the house, too? I didn’t have a clue. I knew things were bad when he sold his car, but I’d convinced myself he was keeping the store going by a thread. But, that thread had snapped a while ago, it seems.
My college fund went toward Mom’s medical bills to keep her alive as long as possible. When she passed away, I thought we were in the clear, paid in full.
It hits me like a freight train. He lied to me back then, and has been continuing to lie until right now. The financial problems started way back then, not only a matter of months ago, like I’d been led to believe. I’d just been too busy wallowing in grief to notice.
“All this time, I thought it was just the store you were having problems with,” I said, defeated. “Not the house, too. I opened some of the bills, Dad. But, I never once saw a notice from the bank.”
He doesn’t try to defend himself. Instead, he clears his throat. “I should’ve been honest with you a long time ago, Faith.”
I don’t have time to be sentimental. I need to get to the kids. I should have been there nearly five minutes ago. “Yeah, you should have. But, Dad, I have to go. I’ll be in touch.” I hang up, not waiting for him to reply. I’m too busy fighting back the tears to hear anything else he has to say.
I head toward the play area where the kids are. That’s where I want to be right now. Where I need to be.
I’ll deal with Dad later. But, unlike him, it won’t be over the phone. It’ll be face to face. Then, he can remind me about how naïve I am, and I’ll just laugh, because it seems to me that he’s the one who’s had his head stuck in the sand, believing that all his financial worries would just go away, not me.
***
“Faith, this needs to be quick. I’ve got to get to the arena. We have a game tonight.” Tristan’s sitting down, ready to listen to me like I asked him to.
I hate doing this, I do. I never took this job to try and extort money from him. That was never my attention. It was never about the money, and I feel sick just having to ask for it.
I look him directly in the eye, and all I want to do is kiss him. There’s something about the way he looks at me. That look that always makes me feel like a woman, not just a girl that works at a hardware store. Or a girl that’s been hired to look after his kids. Like I’m not just the hired help.
“It’s just that my dad called,” I begin, floundering for words. “He told me they...I’m mean, he said...” I take a breath. “The bank is repossessing his store. I know you don’t know me from Adam, and I swear this isn’t the reason I took this job. I didn’t even know—”
“You need money.”
I nod slowly, waiting for him to speak again. When he doesn’t, I continue. “Dad says he needs five thousand. I swear, this isn’t why I’m here, Tristan. I need you to know that this is news to me, too.”
“I see.”
Does he? Does he really? His tone makes me think otherwise.
“Tristan, I took this job because you needed someone to look after Darcy and Ferguson. Because I wanted to help you out, and be there for your children. If Dad hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t even be having this conversation.”
He stands up, making me even more nervous. The tension between us is thick, and I feel as if I can cut a knife through it.
“Just tell me one thing,” he demands, his gaze hard. “When you told me about your mom dying, and about how hard it’s been for you...was that a lie? Or just a lead-up to this?”
I shake my head frantically, my eyes wide. Jesus, he must think I’m some kind of scam artist, just making up stories to try to get closer to him. I can’t even respond with words.
“The kids like you.” He nods as though affirming something, and my heart feels as if it has stopped beating. Is this it?
“And that’s the important thing to me,” he continues. “I’ll give your number to my accountant. There are funds set aside for emergency situations. J
ust tell him your account details, and he’ll do the transfer. Is there anything else?”
I shake my head again, and he turns away from me. His voice is cold, and any hint that there’d been any kind of connection between us seems to have been shattered.
“Good,” he growls. “I’ve got a game to win.”
He doesn’t wait for me to say anything else. I want to cross the room, and go to him. Kiss him. Make him believe me that this isn’t some ruse to take his money. But I’m frozen in place, and only manage to whisper to his shadow, “Good luck.”
But he’s already left the room.
And I know that any chance we had of being together is gone.
I should be happy that he at least agreed to help me. But I’m selfish, wanting things to be the same as they’ve been the last few days. The innuendo, the teasing, the easy conversation. I want him to want me as much as I want him.
Instead, he thinks I’m some kind of gold digger. I head into the living room area of the suite, where the kids are glued to the television, realizing that it’s too late. It’s been planted in Tristan’s mind that I’m here for all the wrong reasons, and no matter what, nothing’s going to change that.
Chapter 13
Tristan
It’s the moment of truth, time to be in it to win it.
It’s game time, and instead I’m fucking distracted by Faith. Again.
Only, this time, it’s because she asked the question I didn’t think would fall from her lips.
She’s only here for money. I know I hired her, which means I intended to pay her every cent we agreed upon, but to hear her request it upfront, in advance...
This is why I stay away from women. Being romantically linked in any way only ends up in a fucking mess once I find out that everything I assumed about them was wrong.
That’s when I realize that maybe I’m the only one who’s romantically involved in this. I’ve only had a fleeting taste of her, but it was enough to make my balls ache desperately and send my mind into a tailspin. Maybe I’m the one who’s got it wrong, though. I might see it as romantically involved, but Faith obviously sees it as financially involved.
I send a message to Russ, my accountant, okaying the transfer of funds to Faith. She wants five thousand dollars? Fine. I’ve no doubt that the minute the money’s been received, she’ll be dropping my kids like a hot potato, just like the last nanny.
I wonder where it’ll be this time? The hotel lobby? The fucking playground?
After I finish my conversation with Russ, I dial Jeff’s number. I instruct him to keep an eye on Faith and the kids when I can’t. He wanted to help out, and this is one way he can.
At first, he’s complaining about the short notice, wanting to know why the hell I’m asking, but he agrees.
I sit back in my seat, satisfied with my temporary arrangement, but this isn’t going to help me in the long run. My childcare situation is getting out of control. As soon as I think it’s settled, something else comes out of the woodwork.
“You thinking about your hot nanny? She’s a piece of work.” Jack, one of my teammates, nudges me, before taking the seat across from me as we ride the bus, heading toward the arena.
I sigh. “Hardly. What do you mean, she’s a piece of work?”
He grins. “Sandy said she needed some relaxation, so she went to the spa, and let our boy stay in the play area. On her way back, she heard Ferguson wasn’t allowed back in the play area with the other kids. Apparently, he’d been destroying things pretty good. Your nanny walked in there, had a quick chat with Ferguson, then proceeded to tell the hotel staff that they’d got it all wrong. Which was the same thing your son said, but they ignored him.”
I sit up, listening intently. Faith failed to mention any of this to me. She never let on that Ferguson had been a handful, or that there’d been any kind of trouble.
“What happened next?”
He smiles. “Your nanny, she got the manager involved. Defended that kid of yours to the bitter end, man. The staff in the play area ended up having to apologize to Ferguson. The kid that actually caused the ruckus apologized, too. It seems Ferguson was telling the truth. They just blamed him because he was the one covered in paint.”
“Where was Darcy in all this?”
Jack shrugs. “Don’t know. All I know is that my wife said, if you don’t want to keep this nanny of yours permanently, then we could sure use someone like her. She’s one of a kind, Wright.”
I sit back, my mind whirling. Jeff may not be needed after all.
Maybe I’ve been too harsh on Faith. She said her dad called and that was the only reason she was asking, so it was an emergency. And, hell, there’d been tears in her eyes as she spoke about her mom.
Fuck, I’m an asshole. I really need to learn to trust people again. My own mother said that was my problem—I didn’t trust myself enough to trust others. I loved Hayley, sure, but I never gave my whole heart to her, even after two children. She was my everything, but on some level, I’d always expected her to leave me, because I wasn’t good enough for her, which became a self-fulfilling prophecy in the end.
“You okay, man?” Jack asks, staring at me blankly.
I’m lost in thought. “Yeah. It’s just that Faith never said anything to me. I don’t get it.”
He shrugs again. “You had a game to deal with, and she didn’t want to bother you with it. At least, that’s what she told the manager when he suggested getting you involved.”
My mind is consumed by Faith again. She didn’t deserve the way I treated her. She did more than just babysit my kids—she went up to bat for them. I just wish I’d seen her in action. She isn’t as innocent and weak as she comes across, that much is true.
I send her a text message, hoping to smooth things over as much as written words will allow.
Me: Everything okay with the kids?
I wait with the phone in my hand. Jack has resumed his banter with the guys, and they’re their usual rowdy selves as they talk about the upcoming game once again. I try and get involved, but I’m not focusing.
I need her to reply.
Finally, my phone vibrates.
Faith: Kids are good. Just getting ready to head out. Waiting for Darcy to finish eating.
I know that Darcy’s the fussiest eater in the world. She’s picky, and takes forever to eat a meal. It’s just one of her quirks.
Me: Poor you. By the time she finishes, the game will be over!
I smile to myself at my feeble joke, wishing I could just tell her exactly what’s on my mind. The real reason I’m sending her a damn message in the first place. I take a deep breath, not waiting for her to reply before sending another one.
Me: Sorry about earlier. I acted like a jerk. I know you must have been in a real bind to ask for money like that. I mean it, I’m sorry.
Faith: I’m sorry I had to ask. I hated every minute of it. But I’m glad you’re okay with it. I swear, I only came here to look after your kids and get better at hockey. That’s all I want and need for now.
Shit. I flinch, startled as the coach shouts my name, barking at me to put my damn phone down and get off the bus. I don’t bother sending her a message back.
The fucking grin on my face is wide and mischievous, and Faith’s words tumble through my brain on a continuous loop.
That’s all I want...
For now.
Let’s get this game over with, so I can get back and find out exactly what that means.
Chapter 14
Tristan
I feel as though I’m the fucking king of the world. Nothing can bring me down. The first two games are over, and we’ve not only won, but owned that goddamn rink. It’s as if there’s no stopping us.
I manage to talk my way out of the big celebration with the guys. I had a beer with them in the dressing room after the game, but now there’s only one person on my mind.
Faith.
She sent me a text when she arrived at the arena with the ki
ds, but I’d have known they were there even if she hadn’t. It’d be hard not to notice. Darcy waved and shouted so boisterously, it was impossible to miss her. I gave a wave back when I could, and tried to keep an eye on them as best I could throughout the game without being completely distracted, but it was a bit hard.
I had only one thing on my mind—win the hell out of this game and get back to Faith so I could fix the riff that I’d caused between us.
They left the arena before I did, and the moment I walk through the door of the hotel suite, there she is, sitting on the edge of my bed.
“How come you’re always waiting in my room?” I tease.
She laughs, a melodic sound that makes my muscles clench. “Congratulations. That was some game. You were on fire. Well, not just you, but the team, too.”
She’s rambling, which amuses me. I can’t take my eyes off her as she stretches out, trying to make out like she’s tired. But I can tell she’s a bundle of nerve, and very much alert, as I lower my bag to the floor. I idly wonder if it’s my stare that’s making her feel that way.
“Where are the kids?”
She smiles, unable to hide the glint in her eye. “In bed.”
“Asleep?” The door to the adjoining room is partway open, and I peer in, seeing two motionless forms in the two beds.
She chuckles. “Yeah, they were kind of exhausted. It was a late night for them.”
There’s no one in the room apart from Faith and I. Tomorrow is another day, one that’ll involve me leaving, and all I want to do is plunge inside her right now and never come up for air.
I can’t let anything get in the way of the opportunity we have right now. She could have stayed in the kids’ room. She didn’t need to wait up for me.
But, she did. Because she wants more than a kiss. Lust is written all over her pretty face. Her hair is loose, something she rarely does. It’s always pinned back, hiding its true beauty. Her cheeks are flushed, and I can visualize those full, pink lips around my cock.
Fuck, she’s so sexy.
I move closer to her. “I’m heading to San Jose tomorrow.”