Delayed Call

by Toni Aleo

  Rolling off him, she pressed her ass into his hip as she cuddled into the pillow. “Night, JoHo.”

  Reaching over, he took ahold of her butt and closed his eyes as she shook with laughter. “What?”

  “Is this how we’re sleeping, your hand on my ass?”

  “Hey, it’s my ass to hold, and you’re in my bed, so shut it.”

  “Fine.”

  “Fine.”

  “Good.”

  “Great.”

  Shaking her head, she cuddled into the bed and said, “’Night.”

  “’Night, baby.”

  As his eyes closed, his heart slowed in his chest because he wanted this.

  He wanted her.

  All of her.

  “Vaughn, answer your phone.”

  “It’s not my phone. It’s yours.”

  “No, it’s yours.”

  “Babe, I don’t have Ed Sheeran as my damn ringtone.”

  “Oh,” Brie muttered before reaching for her phone off the nightstand in the apartment where she had been living for the last three days. Since the night she stayed, she hadn’t left. Well, except to take Rodney home and to go to work, but other than that, she was in bed with Vaughn. All the time. It was normal, even, at least for her. She was worried he was still a little nervous, but he wouldn’t let her leave. He actually asked for her to stay the last two nights, and man, what a feeling that was. Things were going well, really well, and she was happy as a clam.

  Feeling all sexy and sore, she looked at the screen to see that it was Elli.

  Why was she calling?

  Sitting up, she answered. “Hello?”

  “Hey, did I wake you?”

  “Yeah, I was sleeping in, but you’re fine.”

  “Oh, good, because I need to see you today, at noon.”

  Brie paused. “Oh? Is everything okay?”

  “I’m not sure yet, but I need to see you.”

  “Oh, okay, I’ll be there.”

  “Great, see you then.”

  Then the line went dead. “What the fuck?”

  Vaughn placed his hand on her back as Tricksie wiggled up the bed to her, licking her hand. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. Elli wants to see me,” Brie said, her heart picking up in speed at the uncertainty, and it made her uneasy. She usually didn’t get called in to Elli’s office. It was usually Russell’s office, but since Rodney had been better, she had been on her game. Kicking ass at work. The special that she and Vaughn had done aired, and everyone loved it. They’d even trended on Twitter, so she wasn’t sure what could be wrong. But before she could say anything more, Vaughn’s phone rang. She looked back as he reached for it, answering it. “Hey, yeah. No, I’ve been awake, just being lazy. Oh. Am I in trouble? Okay, we have an issue. That’s not good, boss lady. No, I hear you. Yeah, I’ll be there. Okay, bye.”

  Meeting Brie’s gaze, he said, “Elli wants to see me at noon.”

  Her heart dropped. “Me too.”

  He looked away and muttered, “Fuck.”

  She could only nod. “Yeah, fuck.”

  “What do you think?” he asked, and she shrugged.

  “I was gonna ask you that.”

  “Fuck,” he groaned as he got out of bed, naked as the day was long, before he went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Her heart just dropped. If he was nervous, then that wasn’t good at all. Looking over at her, he said, “I put toothpaste on your toothbrush.”

  “My hero.”

  He laughed at that, but all she could do was sit there as she racked her brain for what Elli would want to see them both about. Maybe she had found out about them. But would that require a meeting? Why would she care but to be happy for them? Elli did not sound happy on the phone. Shit, things had been going so damn great.

  Rodney was doing awesome. He was home, he was happy, and damn it, so was Brie. The Assassins had won their game her first night back. They had a game tomorrow that Vaughn was confident they would win, and she was excited. Their Stanley Cup run was going well, and they were battling the Hawks for the number one spot. Above all that, they were happy.

  The last three days had been almost a fairy tale. They’d spent every waking moment together. Since he was letting her sleep with him after she basically forced herself into his bed, they never left. Tricksie was there, and it was nice. Just them…and Jensen, who bitched a lot about how loud they were. Not that Brie cared. Nor did Vaughn. If anything, he got louder just to piss Jensen off. But even that couldn’t make her smile as she got up and went to the bathroom.

  As she reached for her toothbrush, Vaughn covered her hand with his. “I don’t know what’s going on, but don’t worry about it.”

  She held his gaze in the mirror. “Hard not to.”

  “Yeah, but we’re good. So it doesn’t matter.” Leaning over, he kissed her lips but then pulled away quickly, scrunching up his face. “Brush your teeth.”

  Grinning up at him as he passed by, she watched while he went to his closet. He was right, they were good.

  Really damn good.

  But were they good enough to handle whatever Elli had to say?

  “Mrs. Adler, Vaughn Johansson and Brianna Soledad are here for your noon meeting.”

  “Okay, go to lunch, and lock up behind you.”

  Brie looked to Vaughn, and he sucked in a deep breath.

  That wasn’t good.

  “Have a seat,” Elli’s assistant said.

  They did as they were told, and when they sat, Brie’s leg started bouncing like crazy as he played on his phone. Cool as a cucumber, no cares in the world. “Why did she send the assistant to lunch? Because of us?”

  He shrugged. “Not sure.”

  “Why aren’t you nervous?”

  “’Cause there isn’t anything I can do until I get in there.”

  “I understand that, but what could this be about?”

  “I have no clue,” he said, looking up at her. His body was stretched out in the chair while she was wound so tight she could scream. “But, I mean, I’m sure it’s fine. Elli isn’t an asshole.”

  That was true, she knew that. Yet, it didn’t calm her at all. When the door opened to Elli’s office, Brie almost came out of her seat as Elli filled the doorway. While she looked like a billion bucks in a pair of jeans that were rolled up at the ankle with a long, expensive-looking blue sweater along with gold jewelry and gold pumps that probably cost more than Brie’s apartment, when Brie made it to her face, her stomach dropped.

  Elli was not happy.

  Vaughn must have noticed it too because he turned on the charm quickly. “Ever so gorgeous. Have you lost weight?”

  She scoffed. “Actually gained it, but thanks, come on in.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked as he passed her. “You look thinner than when I saw you a couple weeks ago.”

  “I’m sure. It’s the sweater, hides the weight.”

  “Pfft, you don’t need to hide anything.”

  “Ha. Have a seat, Vaughn. Brie.”

  Brie was silent as she walked in, sitting beside Vaughn as he leaned on his knees, looking over at her and sending her a wink before looking back at Elli. “Is that a new picture of Quinny? He’s so cute. Though, Shelli is growing into a little lady.”

  Elli smiled as she sat slowly. “Stop, Vaughn.”

  Vaughn choked a bit. “Excuse me?”

  “You’re rambling.”

  “Oh, am I?” he asked, looking to Brie, and she nodded quickly.

  “Just a bit.”

  “Oh. My bad.”

  Folding her hands together, Elli looked out at the both of them. “I’m sure you two are wondering why I called y’all here.” When they didn’t answer, she went on. “I’m actually surprised I didn’t walk out there to you two taking digs at each other.”

  Brie pressed her lips together as Vaughn glanced over at her and then to Elli. “I guess we’ve worked out our differences.”

  “Oh, have you?” she asked, lean
ing back in her seat as Brie’s heart went insane in her chest.

  “Yeah, I think so.”

  “You know,” she said, sitting up then, “I think so too, and let me explain why. I was in the editing room when they were cutting the special on you two. To my surprise, there was digging on both y’all’s parts, which was expected, but then I actually listened to the digging and discovered there was quite a story to tell. Or was I reading too much into it?”

  Brie couldn’t speak. Her heart was in her throat, and she was pretty sure she was getting fired.

  Still blasé, Vaughn shrugged. “Not sure what you read.”

  “Oh, let me tell you. That you two obviously had something going on, or still do, and decided to act like fools in front of all your colleagues.”

  “You read it right, then,” Vaughn confirmed, and Brie’s eyes widened. She didn’t expect him to lie, but hell, he could have been a little more evasive about it.

  When Brie looked back at Elli, she was glaring. “You two should know better.”

  “I mean, it was heat of the moment stuff. You’re right, we shouldn’t have been fighting in front of everyone.”

  “That and you know better than to get involved with an employee.”

  Everything stopped. Brie’s mouth hung open as Vaughn leaned forward. “Excuse me?”

  “You know you can’t start anything with an employee, and the employees can’t start anything with the players.”

  Vaughn held his hand up. “Um, you know that Reeves and the photographer girl are not only doing it on every flat or not flat surface they find, but they’re also getting married.”

  “I hired her after they were together. The rules don’t apply to them.”

  Brie felt the tears burning in her eyes as she looked over at Vaughn. He shrugged. “Well, the rules aren’t going to apply to us either, then.”

  Elli’s head cocked to the side as her eyes widened. Brie was speechless. This was his boss. “So you are still together?”

  “Hell yeah, we’re together, and we’re going to stay together. I don’t care about some rules. Fine me if you need to, but I don’t care.”

  “You’re not getting fined for me,” Brie tried, but he shook his head, holding her gaze.

  “Yes, I am. I will. Fuck that,” he said before looking back to Elli.

  “You signed a contract, as did she. And since it’s easier for her to be relocated—”

  “Hold the phone,” Vaughn laughed, holding his hands up. “I respect you, you know I do, but no way. Trade me.”

  “Vaughn!” Brie shrieked, but he waved her off.

  “I can come back on breaks, we’ll make it work. But there is no way in hell I’m having you uproot your life and worry any more about Rodney, either moving him or letting him stay here. No fucking way, because we’re staying together. I don’t care about some stupid rule.”

  Elli gave him a dry look. “Vaughn, you know I won’t trade you.”

  “Then I’ll start sucking. I’m coming up as a free agent in two years. I will ruin my play, my game, because I’m not uprooting her. I’m the one who went after her. I am irresistible, and she couldn’t resist me.”

  “You are unbelievable,” Brie muttered, but his gaze was locked with Elli’s.

  “I don’t care about these rules, and I’m pretty sure there is a way around them. And being the owner, you need to find it because you won’t have another Vaughn Johansson, nor will you find another reporter like her. She is the best you’ve got. She’s smart, she knows her game, and she engages anyone she talks to. She brings a grin to your face just watching her. You can’t get rid of that all because of who she chooses to be with. That’s stupid.” Brie’s heart couldn’t take it, and when the tears started down her cheeks, he did a double take before throwing his hands up. “Why the hell are you crying? I told you we’re fine. This is fine. Calm down.” Reaching over, he took her hand and squeezed it. “Did I say we’re fine?” She nodded, unable to speak. “Then stop.”

  “Vaughn—” Elli tried, but he shook his head.

  “No, you know I’m worth a lot. Even if I sucked for the next two years, I would still get somewhere for a hell of a lot more than you are paying me. I won’t let you do this.” Sucking in a breath, he squeezed Brie’s hand once more. “I care for you, Elli, you know I do. I love your kids and your husband too, but I will ruin all that for her. She deserves her job, and she is comfortable here. Her brother needs her, and he lives at NateWay and, no, I won’t let you do it.” He then looked to Brie, who couldn’t stop staring at the side of his face as she fell in love with him all over again. “Can I sue her for this?”

  Brie shook her head. “It’s in our contracts, apparently.”

  “Do you have copies of that?” Vaughn asked.

  Elli handed over two sheets of paper, and when he lifted them, Brie saw her signature at the bottom. Reading it over, since Elli had highlighted it for them, he nodded, his lips going into a grim line. “I’ll figure something out if we walk out of here and you are still on this ‘you guys can’t date’ shit. I don’t care what this says,” he said, laying the paper down. “I’m not breaking up with her. You breaking up with me?”

  When he looked over at her, his eyes full of fear, she shook her head. “Never.”

  “We’re good, then,” he said, looking back to Elli. “Puck’s in your zone, Elli, ’cause I’ve said my piece.” He sat back as Elli slowly shook her head. A grin pulled at Elli’s lips, but before she could say anything, Vaughn sat up again. “But let me say, the fact that Reeves and the photographer get a pass because they were together before you signed him, I call bullshit. If anyone has something to say about it, one, send them to me. I’ll kick their ass because it isn’t their business. And two, tell them we’ve been together since before Brie started.”

  Silence filled the office, and Brie swore all she could hear was her heart pounding in her chest, rattling her soul. She couldn’t believe this, believe him. Who was this man? Giving up everything for her? Closing her eyes, she shook her head as the tears leaked out the sides of her eyes. She wasn’t crying because of the threat of losing her job; she was crying because of the love he was showing her.

  He loved her.

  He loved her like she loved him.

  When Brie glanced back to Elli, she was holding Vaughn’s gaze. “I’m impressed, Vaughn.”

  He just watched Elli as Brie’s heart stayed stuck in her throat. She, too, was completely impressed. She almost didn’t recognize the man who held her hand, but that was Vaughn. He was a guy of big gestures. Her guy.

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Elli scoffed. “I don’t know too many players who would give it all up for a girl—”

  “Shea would. In an instant. And you know he would.”

  A smile played on her lips. “He would.”

  “It takes the right girl. The right circumstance.”

  “You’re right.”

  “And she is the girl, the circumstance.”

  Brie was speechless as Elli’s face curved, and she met Brie’s gaze. “Same for you?”

  “Excuse me?” she croaked out, and she felt Vaughn’s gaze fall on her.

  “Would you give it up for him?”

  Would she? But before she could really think of all the specifics, Rodney, her life in Nashville, anything, she declared, “Absolutely.”

  Unable to move, Brie watched as Elli looked down at the paperwork laying in front of her and sucked in a deep breath. Reaching for the papers Vaughn had thrown down, she got up, walking around her desk. Brie looked to Vaughn, and he just smiled before they both watched Elli go to the paper shredder. Turning it on, she put the two pieces of paper through it as she looked up to them. “If anyone is to bring you two up, I will not send them to Vaughn, for one. And for two, as far as I know, you two have been dating on and off for the last two years.”

  As Brie’s eyes fell shut, Vaughn let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God ’cause I really don’t want to go to anoth
er team, and I’m not really one to suck.”

  Elli laughed as she nodded. “And I didn’t want to let either of you go. Now get out of here. I need to call my husband and tell him I love him.”

  Vaughn stood then, going to Elli and hugging her tightly. “Tell him he’s welcome when you two find yourself in the bathroom for that sneaky sex.”

  She laughed out loud as Brie came to her, hugging her too. “Thank you.”

  “Just don’t break up and cause issues. Stay professional. Please.”

  They both nodded. “Of course.”

  “No problem.”

  “All right, get out of here, and we won’t speak of this ever again.”

  “Done,” Vaughn said, taking Brie’s hand in his before he pulled her out the door. When it shut behind them, Brie let out a laugh as she met his gaze. He smiled, and she smiled back before he gathered her in his arms, pressing his lips to hers in a heated kiss. As she got lost in his kiss, her emotions were swirling around like crazy, and she couldn’t handle them. Couldn’t handle him. He had been ready to give it all up. For her.

  But most of all, she knew he loved her.

  Pulling back, he kissed her nose. “Told you we’d be fine.”

  As she held his face, she knew her heart was in her eyes. “I can’t believe you did that.”

  “I’m not losing you.”

  Her lip started to tremble, and she couldn’t keep it in. She had to say it. So with the biggest smile imaginable, she declared, “I love you, Vaughn Johansson. So damn much. I love you.”

  She had never felt so good in her life as she did saying those three little words. But when his smile dropped, his eyes filling with terror, Brie’s heart stopped.

  And in that second, she realized she had it all wrong.

  Panic.

  That was all Vaughn felt as he held his girlfriend in his arms and stared down into her quickly saddening blue eyes.

  Say it.

  Fucking say it.

  You know you feel the same.

  Don’t you?

  Fuck.

  Covering up the tears he was sure were about to fall, she laughed, “Vaughn? This is the part when you say, ‘I love you too, babe.’ Or something clever that includes those three words.” But he didn’t say anything. It was like his mouth was glued shut as he stayed in her heated gaze, his heart pounding so hard that was all he could hear. “Really? Wow. Okay,” she said, moving out of his arms and running her hands through her hair.