Chapter 17
Georgia
“Why are you so nervous?” Roxanne asked, obviously noticing I was pacing the cold hallway.
Or maybe my blood had just turned to ice because of anxiety. “Because I had to do something that won’t make me very popular.”
“Uh-oh. What did you do?”
When I didn’t answer, instead pressing my hand against my head, she pulled me into a room, partially closing the door. We were at the arena and I had no idea how the coach was going to handle what I’d told him, but the decision was in his hands and not mine.
And the guilt was eating me alive.
I leaned against the wall, fighting with myself and an innate knowledge that Ford shouldn’t play tonight. I’d witnessed the brutal pain on his face when I’d walked in on him. There was no denying his scheme of sex making everything better just a ploy. I had to give him credit anyway.
“Ford likely has a broken rib. He was in a fight a couple days ago. I don’t know the details other than he was…
defending me. Anyway, I thought he was better, but he stands a chance of piercing his lung.
A single slap from a hockey stick or God forbid he’s boarded again, and he could have a medical emergency within seconds. ”
“Whoa. You know this how?”
I couldn’t believe I was admitting the truth.
I’d had my new life for two weeks and I was fucking it up.
“Ford and I have gotten closer. I know it’s against the rules and I could endanger his career, but something just happened and we clicked.
” I stopped there to allow her time to absorb the news and time to rake me over the coals.
I didn’t expect her laughter. “Girl, we all know you two are a thing. Did you honestly think you could sneak around like you two have been doing? You light up a room when you’re together.
My goodness, the electricity the two of you fire up could keep the arena lit.
And that trench coat was sexy but come on. ”
The flare of heat on my face was suffocating. “Oh, God. Everyone knows.”
“The internet knows. Apparently, you’ve been ignoring social media all day. After the local news highlighted your tirade against that bitch, you’re the darling of Seattle. And with celebrity comes hatred from puck bunnies.”
“Shit,” I whispered, my nerves prickling. What if Hoffman had seen the news? No, I was across the country and he wasn’t on social media. Like ever.
Roxanne shifted her hips back and forth. “However, I’m not talking about your relationship or social standing. I’m talking about the fact that you obviously have medical training that goes way beyond being a massage therapist. Don’t try and lie to me.”
“Your father didn’t tell you about my background?”
“No. I already said he would keep your secret until he dies. I gathered you came from something abusive, but that’s me just playing guessing games. I figured if you trusted me, you’d share when you were ready.”
“I do trust you, Roxanne, and your guess is right. I was stupid enough to get involved with a surgeon. I thought we were in love. At the time I was in medical school and for whatever reason, he gave a seminar to the class. One thing led to another and we had coffee, then a drink, and you know how it goes.”
“Wait a minute. You’re a doctor?”
“No. My mother became very ill and I had to drop out due to financial reasons and because my father needed help. I couldn’t swing the loans and my father couldn’t continue to afford to pay for school.
I compromised and decided to become a physical therapist. That allowed me to stay in town and work while staying close to home. ”
“Well, that’s terrible but now you’re a massage therapist. I’m confused.”
“Long story about how I had to change careers when moving here. Let’s just say the surgeon turned into a monster right before my eyes. And he doesn’t like to be told no and has the means to make good on threats.”
“Oh, my God, Georgia. I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s okay. I’m fine and able to resume some sense of a normal life thanks to your dad. I owe him for my job, a place to live, and safety. I feel safe for the first time in years. I also owe him my loyalty as I do with the entire team. Which is why what I did was excruciating.”
Her sigh was heavy. “You were that concerned about Ford. That’s obvious.”
“He thinks he’s unstoppable. He’s trying to prove something to everyone, including himself. I don’t know why, but he won’t accept that he’s partially if not mostly human.”
Seeing her cagey smile, I almost regretted telling her, although I had to admit doing so was a relief. “You really like him.”
“I don’t know. It’s weird. I feel connected to him in a way I can’t understand. I came from an abusive relationship where the asshole punched me if the towels weren’t lined perfectly. After that, I promised myself that I would never allow myself to become close to a man again. What have I done?”
Roxanne opened her mouth to respond when we both heard commotion outside in the hallway. I glanced in her direction and her face was a clear indication what we’d both heard was the same.
Ford.
“Just stay here,” she suggested.
“No. I’m not going to hide from him or anyone else any longer.”
I moved toward the door, throwing it open to find him storming down the hallway.
“What is going on?” Finn asked, trying to stop him from smashing the wall.
That’s when Ford noticed Roxanne and me standing in the hallway. In three long strides, he was in front of me with his finger in my face.
“You are…” His entire face was pinched, his jaw clenching to the point he was grinding his teeth. While he was full of fury, his eyes held disbelief and sadness.
As well as betrayal.
“What?” I threw out, all the heartache furrowing to the surface. “What am I? Let me guess. Just a massage therapist? Is that what you were going to say?”
“Don’t be an asshole, Ford,” Roxanne interjected.
He threw her a look while others gathered around.
“What is happening here?” the Dominator asked, Danny shaking his head as he moved closer.
In a surprise, Ford broke out into laughter. “She decided I couldn’t play tonight, telling the coach I have broken ribs.”
“And?” I challenged. “Did the coach bring in a doctor?” As he’d told me he planned on doing. Of course my question brought another wave of rage into Ford, an admittance that I’d had something to do with whatever had occurred.
“Doesn’t matter now. Does it? I’m not playing tonight. Instead, I’m headed to the hospital under direct orders or if we win the game, I won’t be allowed to play in the future. Why would you do this? Why?”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him why, but I couldn’t do it. Not just because he was so angry, but because doing so would betray myself. “You need to heal properly and you can’t do that if you’re on the ice.”
“So you say. I guess you went to medical school. Huh?”
When Roxanne started to lay into him, I squeezed her arm.
“Don’t, Roxanne. He doesn’t care what anyone has to say including medical professionals because he’s a shifter.
He can suffer through anything and poof, he’ll get better.
You know what’s funny? I was so incensed by all the assholes out there who act as if they know everything they need to know about shifters when they don’t.
Lo and behold, I’m finding out that shifters don’t know very much about their human side or they just don’t care. ”
My words hit him hard, but he certainly wasn’t going to back down.
Neither was I.
“Just stay away from me,” he said with such venom in his voice.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of interfering with your life again.” As I stepped around him, I dared any other player to jump into the middle. They didn’t, but most turned their heads.
I tried to keep my head high while fighting tears. How ridiculous that I’d allowed him to make me so upset.
A loud crunching sound sent a shockwave through me. Spinning around, I tried to figure out why I’d allowed him to get to me.
The answer was clear and even easy.
I did care about him. Plus, there was a strange connection that was driving me crazy. Almost as if we’d known each other our entire lives.
But seeing him react so violently, driving his fist into the wall was crazy and horrifying.
His actions were also a good reminder of what I’d come from and even though I did care about Ford more than I understood, I couldn’t risk falling so hard that I was blindsided.
Even as I turned my back on purpose to let him know how I felt, a few tears slipped past my lashes, splashing onto my cheeks.
* * *
My dreams had exploded, shifting eroticism into insanity.
Why did I say that?
Because as of late, I’d been certain my little house was being watched.
Not by mastermind criminals intent on stealing something of value, but by a wolf.
Or maybe several. That I wasn’t certain of, but I was positive I’d seen shimmering green eyes staring at me in the woods out back of the house.
If the person was a criminal instead, he or she would be sorely disappointed since I had nothing of real value. I’d sold the items for cash.
“That’s the woman responsible.” The man’s gruff voice dragged me from whatever new daydream I was having.
I didn’t need keen hearing to overhear what was being said. Everything I’d heard about a small town was accurate. News traveled at the speed of lightning. There hadn’t been any public shaming of course, but there hadn’t needed to be.
Plus, even with the television turned on, a requirement of the owner as if we were a sports bar, I sensed he wasn’t trying to disguise his voice. He wanted me to know how angry he was. The entire town needed to chomp down on some gummies.