by Anna Sugden
He really was the most infuriating... Tracy sucked in a deep breath before she told him exactly what she thought of him. She wouldn’t let him goad her into losing her professionalism. Two could play at that game. “Even if you could influence the Ice Cats’ contract—which we both agree you can’t—regaining it wouldn’t be enough to deliver what you promised.”
She wasn’t disappointed; she couldn’t lose what she’d never had. But it made rejecting his matchmaking idea a lot easier.
Ike wasn’t deterred. “That was only one part of my plan. Obviously, it would have been nicer if that would have worked, but the rest of it’s still doable.”
“The rest being...?”
“I’ll be the face of Helping Hands. You can use me as the centerpiece of your marketing and advertising campaigns. I’m also prepared to be on hand to personally support your pitches to organizations, at least until I’m back playing next season.”
Tracy hadn’t thought Ike could shock her anymore. Yet this morning he’d managed to catch her out twice. First with his outrageous request, and now with his unbelievable offer.
In her business, references were gold, but endorsements were rare diamonds. A professional athlete who lent his name to a service gave it credibility as well as cachet. Sure, some sports stars would push anything in return for big bucks. But everyone knew who they were. Ike wasn’t one of those guys. His support could make sports franchises listen more carefully to what she had to say. It was a game changer.
Companies paid millions for Ike’s endorsement and he was offering to give it to her free of charge.
Not free. Tracy stopped herself before she got carried away. There was a pretty hefty price tag on his endorsement.
One she couldn’t pay.
She was about to tell him that when she stopped. Was she really prepared to throw away this chance to achieve the goal she’d dreamed of for so long, simply because her nose was out of joint?
Her heart screamed yes. She couldn’t fix up Ike with other women. Watch him date them, maybe even fall in love with them? Even though they were finished, that didn’t mean she wanted a ringside seat to him finding a woman who could give him what he wanted—a family, a future. She certainly didn’t want to gift wrap said perfect woman and put her in Ike’s Christmas stocking.
As if he sensed her indecision, Ike asked, “What have you got to lose?”
She didn’t want to think about that. “And if I say no?”
Ike sighed heavily. “I’d go to your competition.” He rested his arms on his knees. “That’s not what I want, but you’re either with me or you’re not. And if you’re not, then...” He let his words trail off.
Tracy tried one last time to appeal to that courtly side of him. “I’m not sure I can do this, Ike. It’s a lot to ask of me.”
“It’s going to happen anyway.” His tone softened. “You’re not going to change your mind about us, are you?”
For a moment, she thought she saw a plea in his green eyes.
In that same moment, she wondered if there was a chance a relationship with Ike could work. Certainly there was more chance of one working with him than with anyone else.
No sooner had the thought entered her mind than she dismissed it sharply. She couldn’t give herself up to a man like that again. She couldn’t lose herself. She couldn’t take the risk. Even for Ike. She had to walk her own path. Even if it was a lonely one.
She shook her head, unable to say the words.
“Then this is the way it has to be.”
Tracy refused to give in there and then. “I can’t give you an answer right now. I’ll need to discuss it with Maggie.” Maybe her sister could see a way out.
“Okay. Let me know when you’ve made your decision.”
Though his voice was even, the hint of satisfaction in his eyes poked at her frustration. He thought...no, he knew he’d won.
Not so fast.
She stood, enjoying the advantage of looking down on him. “If we agree to this deal, I’d want it clearly outlined, specifics and details, in black and white. Signed and sealed. How many introductions and what we’ll receive in return. In particular, what your endorsement will entail.”
“Not a problem. I’d expect nothing less. Get me the paperwork whenever you’re ready and I’ll run it past my agent and lawyer. Then we’ll both be covered.”
When Ike started to get up, she held up her hand to stop him. “I can see myself out.”
Tracy kept up the cool facade until she was in her car. It started to waver as, driving home, she found herself imagining Ike dating a series of perfect women. Blonde, brunette, redhead. Tall, slim, beautiful. Successful, accomplished and willing to be Mrs. Ike Jelinek.
She shook her head to clear the mental images, then changed direction and drove to her sister’s house.
Her facade weakened further when Maggie opened her door. “This is a nice surprise. Come in.”
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Tracy blinked to keep the tears at bay. When she didn’t move, Maggie’s smile faded.
She studied Tracy’s face, then, without saying a word, folded her into a hug.
* * *
“WHEN ARE YOU going to tell me what’s wrong?” Maggie’s expression was understanding but intractable.
Maggie had provided the age-old English pick-me-up of a pot of tea and chocolate biscuits, then listened quietly as Tracy wittered on about various frustrating but admittedly minor issues that had arisen recently in their business. Tracy deliberately hadn’t mentioned the situation with Ike. She figured the longer she delayed, the more likely she’d be able to discuss it rationally.
Clearly, Maggie hadn’t been fooled by her stalling tactics.
Tracy gave it one last shot. “That’s what I’ve been telling you about for the past hour.”
“No, it isn’t,” her sister said firmly. “All those problems combined are not why you were close to tears when you arrived.”
When Tracy started to protest, Maggie cut her off with a reproving look. “Business issues don’t get you down—they challenge you.”
Tracy’s laugh was a little shaky, but she couldn’t deny the truth.
“The point is, you always find a solution and everyone involved is better off than they were before.”
Ike’s proposition would certainly leave Making Your Move far better off. If Tracy was prepared to put aside her own feelings about what he wanted her to do. All the time she and Maggie had been talking, Tracy had been going over her options in her head. No matter how she looked at the problem, it still boiled down to one simple question—did she agree to Ike’s request or not?
If only the answer was as simple. Could she achieve her goal without Ike’s help? Of course. It might take longer, but she was already well on track. Would it be easier with his endorsement? Absolutely. So, from that perspective, saying no wasn’t a major hardship.
On the other hand, she’d lose Ike’s friendship and support. Permanently. She had no doubt that he’d cut her out of his life completely and once he’d made up his mind to do that, it would take a miracle to get him to change it.
Did she really want to cross that line? No. Even if the alternative was to see Ike happy with someone else.
She couldn’t be what Ike wanted. As much as she cared for him—which was more than she had or ever could care for another man—maybe the best solution was to give him what he wanted.
Knowing what she had to do and going through with it were two different things, though.
“I can see your brain working. And you’re upset again. You’re worrying me. What’s going on?” Maggie demanded.
Tracy didn’t know why she was hesitating. She could tell her sister anything without fear of judgment and she could trust her advice. Plus, Maggie would be objective—something Tracy had no hope of be
ing. Still, it was tough to know where to start.
“Perhaps a little moral support will loosen those lips.” Maggie stood and went over to where Joe lay in his Moses basket. She picked him up and brought him to Tracy. “Cuddle your nephew. He loves you unconditionally. He won’t understand what you tell me, so he’ll still coo at you. Actually, he’ll drool all over you, but it’s done with love.”
The warm bundle snuggled against her, easing the tightness in Tracy’s chest. “We, or rather I, have had an interesting business proposition.”
“The way you said that makes me think there’s something wrong with it. Don’t tell me—the Rangers want your services.”
Tracy laughed, startling Joe. “That would put the cat amongst the pigeons.”
“Not the Blue Shirts, then. How about the Islanders? The Flyers?”
“None of the above. Right sport, wrong team.”
Maggie frowned, clearly stumped. “Don’t keep me in suspense. Who?”
“Ike.”
“Your Ike?”
“He’s not ‘my’ Ike.” Her heart hitched. “But yes, that Ike.”
“He’s come up with a way to get the Ice Cats’ contract back? Good man! For a guy with a stick up his bum, he’s okay.”
“That’s exactly where I want to shove a stick right now.” Tracy explained Ike’s request and the conclusion she’d come to.
Maggie’s eyes widened. “You’re thinking of agreeing?”
“It’s a neat solution all round. Everyone gets what they want.” The words burned her mouth.
“Sweetie, we don’t need his help that badly. Frankly, we don’t need his help at all. We’re doing well enough without his precious endorsement, thank you very much. Tell him to shove his bloody proposition where the sun doesn’t shine—along with that stick.”
Tracy smiled. She could always rely on her sister to have her back. “But I think the long-term benefit would outweigh the short-term pain.”
“Would it?” Maggie sounded doubtful.
“I admit, setting the whole thing up will be tough initially, but I reckon if we limit the number of introductions—say, to three or four—I could get this over and done with quite quickly.” She was pleased with how convincing her answer sounded.
Her sister’s snort said it wasn’t convincing enough. “You’d still have to interview the women. Plus, you’d have to go through some kind of questionnaire with Ike, so you’d know exactly what he’s looking for. Then you’d have to discuss prospective candidates with him. Are you sure you’re up for that? I know I wouldn’t have been with Jake.”
Tracy couldn’t lie to Maggie. “Probably not.”
“I thought we agreed that you’d give Ike a second chance if one came up. If you had, this whole discussion would be moot. Then again, Ike wouldn’t have come up with this ludicrous idea, either.”
“A chance hasn’t come up.” Tracy’s cheeks flushed as she recalled the kiss the previous weekend. “Well, not really.” Her heart pounded, as if calling out her lie. “We kissed. But when it came to taking things further, I couldn’t do it.”
“Wait. Back up a minute. You and Ike kissed?”
“It’s not Victorian times. I’m not ruined. There don’t have to be duels at dawn.”
“Funny. So how was it?”
“Nice.” At her sister’s glare, she added, “Fantastic.”
“And you weren’t tempted to...?” Maggie broke off and nodded at her son. She waved her finger in a circle, wordlessly finishing the sentence.
“Of course I was. He even suggested we have that hot fling you pushed for.”
“You refused a chance to tear up the sheets with him, no strings attached?” Maggie’s voice rose in pitch until she almost squeaked the last word.
“I had to.”
“Why on earth did you have to? He offered you exactly what you wanted.”
“Nothing’s changed. He’s still who he is and I’m who I am.”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “You can do better than that psychological claptrap.”
“But it’s true. He and I want different things and that’s never going to change.” Tracy sighed. “If he could have guaranteed that a fling was all he’d ever want, I’d have gladly ‘torn up the sheets’ with him. But that’s not his endgame. At some point he’d want to take things further and we’d go through the same arguments again. He wants a wife and a family. I can’t...won’t be that for him.”
“Why not?”
“You know why not.”
Her sister dismissed that with a wave of her hand. “So you’d rather set Ike up with another woman than take the risk that things might not work out?”
Tracy shrugged one shoulder. “It gives us both what we want.”
“Rubbish. What you want is each other.”
“But being together won’t work.”
“How do you know if you won’t even try?”
“Because I know Ike. And I know myself.”
Her sister gave her a long look. “You won’t turn into Mum just because you get serious about a man.”
“I wish that was true, but I already know it isn’t. Look what happened when I was married to Hank. And I saw the same signs after only being with Ike a short time. Perhaps it’s in the genes.”
“If it was, I’d have the same problem. I can’t deny we’ve both made mistakes when it came to our first marriages. Lee was an extreme version of Dad.” Their father might have been controlling, even emotionally abusive, but he wasn’t the physically abusive monster that Maggie’s ex was. “You encouraged me to give Jake a chance. To have faith that he was different. That the fault lay with them, not me.”
“You’re the exception. Ike and I are a lost cause.” The admission was so painful, Tracy could hardly say the words. Was the truth that everyone else had been able to escape the past and she was the exception?
“Rubbish. You’re making it a lost cause because you’re scared of getting hurt again. And I understand that. But, sweetie, you’re throwing away a chance for happiness. It could work out this time. You’re both older and wiser and you know what the pitfalls are. You’re not the person you were when you guys dated and neither, I suspect, is Ike.”
Tracy wanted to believe her sister, but a little demon of fear deep inside her wouldn’t release its viselike grip.
“I give up.” Maggie threw up her hands in despair. “This is a mistake, but if you really think you can handle it, go ahead. Are you sure you won’t be jealous when you send Ike off on dates with those wonder-women?”
Tracy’s hesitation gave her away. “I’ll deal with it. It’s not like he hasn’t dated other women since I’ve known him.”
“But he wasn’t serious about them.”
“It’s a small price to pay for what we’ll gain for Making Your Move.”
“Just remember, even the number-one-ranked business won’t keep you warm at night.”
“Maybe not, but it will help me sleep easier.”
“Well, I’ll be here to pick up the pieces when it goes belly-up.”
“I appreciate the thought, but I’ll be okay. All I have to do is keep my eye on the prize. This will all be done and dusted in a few weeks. Maybe even by Christmas. Then we can look forward to a successful new year.”
Joe endeared himself forever to his aunt as he let out a robust cry, forcing his mother to drop the subject in favor of feeding him.
Keep your eye on the prize. Tracy repeated those words like a mantra as she drove home a short while later. It was business, just as it had been when she’d found Ike his house and helped him after his accident. Only she’d never be jealous of his house or his driver.
Enough! She’d made her decision. Now she had to be constructive and form a plan of action. The best way to do that was to get
some advice. Luckily, she had an expert on hand to provide her with the necessary expertise.
Tracy told her phone to call Layla and waited for it to connect.
* * *
THE SMELL OF an ice rink was as reminiscent of home for Ike as his mom’s baklava.
After his father had walked out on the family, the ice had provided a refuge from the responsibilities thrust onto Ike’s young shoulders. Aunt Tina and Uncle Gio had done their best—raising Karina’s four boys along with Jake—but as the oldest, Ike had worried that it wouldn’t be enough to keep his family together. In their neighborhood, tales of well-meaning social workers taking children from parents who couldn’t cope were commonplace.
Ten-year-old Ike had stepped into the role of man of the house, particularly when his mom had been at work. He’d made sure his brothers were always clean and presentable and that they all—barring Linc, who’d still been a baby—went to school. He’d packed lunches, overseen homework, listened to their reading and tested their spelling and math.
Hockey had been a chance for Ike to be a kid again. All he had to focus on was the game and keeping the puck out of his net. Since then, no matter where the rink was or how badly his team needed to win, Ike felt at home when he set foot inside.
This time, though, he wasn’t the one playing. He’d come with the rest of the family to see Emily’s Squirt Ice Cats team take on the neighboring town’s Squirt Phantoms. It was a shame Jake and Kenny couldn’t be here, but the guys had moved on to Pittsburgh after their 3–2 defeat of the Flyers. Still, Emily would have a good cheering section. Together with Ike, she’d have Maggie, Tracy and Jake’s parents.
Of course, Tracy wasn’t at the rink yet. She’d been called away to another client emergency. That was how it would always be with her. He understood better now that it wasn’t because she didn’t care about the people she loved, but that she gave so much to caring about her clients. They were priority 1 and 1A.
Unfortunately that wasn’t enough for him.
While he regretted that his future didn’t include Tracy, he didn’t want to compete with travel arrangements and house-hunting and the countless different services her agency had on offer. He appreciated that her job wasn’t a nine-to-five deal and he’d seen how much her business relied on quality of service. Hell, he’d benefitted enormously from it. Especially from Tracy’s personal touch. And that was the point—if they were together, he wanted to be the only one who got the benefit of her personal touch.