Chapter 3
THREE
Brian
“Thanks again, Colonel. I know this was?—”
“Unexpected, yes.” The Colonel shook my hand, patted me on the back, and basically pointed me toward the door. “But it’s nice to have you back, Brian. Rainy’ll help you figure out all the details.”
Rowdy walked me to the door of the Colonel’s office, his arm around my shoulder.
“I’ve got a few things to finish up with Pop, but why don’t we plan to meet for lunch? Rain should be done with you by then, right?”
Rowdy glanced at his sister, the woman I’d been avoiding looking at since I’d signed the papers making me a Devil again. I already had way too much baggage with her and now I’d basically had to beg for a job, and she had to clean up the mess.
Okay, maybe not beg, though I still felt like I was getting preferential treatment. But this wasn’t just about me. It was about Maddy too. And what was best for her.
And St. David was best for Maddy.
“Shouldn’t take that long to do the paperwork. Just come down to my office when you’re ready. It’s the last one at the end of the hall.” She made a face at Rowdy that I couldn’t figure out then shot me a smile that made my gut flip. “It’s got my name on the door and everything.”
That smile sent my blood flowing south. Which was totally not happening. Nope. I bit my tongue and willed my dick to behave. But I couldn’t quite rip my gaze away from her quick enough. The look Rowdy leveled at me let me know exactly what he was thinking. So I ignored that and held out my hand, which he took with a slight smirk. If we were on the ice, he’d totally get an elbow in the gut for that.
“Thanks again for everything, Rowdy.”
“Whiskers, if you say thank you one more time, I’m going to make you do the Rookie Rumble.”
My brain stumbled over that one, and my expression must have shown it. Rowdy’s smile became downright diabolical.
“What the hell is that?”
“Something we started last year. But I think I’ll let you find that out on your own.”
“I’m far from a rookie.”
“Yeah, but you’re a Devil again. You know we don’t do rules here.”
I shook my head, feeling my lips curve for the first time in a while. “Just guidelines, huh?”
“And those are more like suggestions.” His expression turned serious then, which didn’t look as wrong as it would’ve a few years ago. “Look, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now, but we’ve got your back now. Concentrate on Maddy and hockey. That’s all.”
Good advice. And yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about the one woman I really shouldn’t be thinking about. Not only because she was this man’s younger sister, but because I needed to be present for my niece. She needed all my attention when I wasn’t on the ice.
And when you are on the ice?
Well, that’s why we were here. Because I knew this town and these people. They wouldn’t let her struggle or disappear. They’d look out for her when I couldn’t.
“Thanks, Rowdy. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. For us.”
“Don’t thank me too much.” His grin widened. “You still gotta play hockey for the Devils.”
I wasn’t lying when I said, “That might be the best thing I’ve heard all week.”
Rowdy huffed. “Let me know if you still think that after the first few days. We’re on a winning streak so practices have been a little more, uh, intense.”
My eyebrows rose in surprise. “Winning streak, huh? That’s new.”
Rowdy’s expression brightened even more. “Yeah, it is, and I like it, so we’re trying something different this year. Actually trying to improve our game.”
Well, fuck. To say I was out of shape was an understatement. But I didn’t figure I’d be playing all that much anyway, so I wouldn’t drag the team down.
“You’ll get up to speed in no time.” Rowdy clapped me on the back. “Find me after you’re done with Rain. We can catch up.”
“Hey, can I get a rain check on that? I left Maddy in the hotel room?—”
“You know you could’ve brought her along.” Rowdy shook his head. “Look, why don’t we plan to get together for dinner this week. Tressy and Krista would love to meet Maddy, and you and I can catch up. How about Thursday night at the Tea Room? I’ll check with Tressy and let you know what time.”
“Let me make sure Maddy’s okay with that before I agree.” Since her mom was in rehab for alcohol, maybe the kid wouldn’t want to go to a bar, although the Tea Room was more than a bar. “Shouldn’t be a problem, but?—”
“No problem. Just text me and let me know.”
I nodded. “Thanks, again, man. For everything.”
“Trust me, you won’t be thanking me after your first practice.” Rowdy’s expression made my eyebrows rise. “Which, did I mention, is at ten tomorrow morning? But please stop thanking me. I told you you’re actually helping me out here.”
Shaking my head, I managed a true smile. “Can you point me toward Rain’s office?”
Rowdy’s smile turned sly. And knowing. And yeah, that was not happening.
“Last door on the left. She’ll have the paperwork you need to sign.”
I turned to look where he was pointing.
“And Brian?”
“Yeah?”
“Give yourself a break.”
Nodding, I turned and headed down the hall, my mind already consumed with the need to see her again. No, not need. That was ridiculous. I didn’t need Rain. I wanted her. Two very different things. And considering I couldn’t do anything about that want, I just needed to be professional.
Yeah, like professional and St. David Devils go together.
I stopped just before I reached the door then knocked on the jamb. The door was already open, but I didn’t just want to walk into her office.
“Come on in.”
I took a breath. “Hey, Rain.” I was going for casual, but I probably ended up sounding like a dick. She looked up from whatever she was doing on her laptop, her eyes caught mine, and I thought, yep, this is gonna be torture.
Her smile twisted my gut into knots and the welcome in her warm dark blue eyes sent my blood pressure skyrocketing. It was only through sheer determination that I did not get a hard-on. Give me a pat on the back.
“I’ve got the papers you need to sign.” She waved at her desk, and I hoped like hell I didn’t have to sign all the papers covering it. It looked like the damn printer had just kept spewing papers for hours. “Sit down, and we can make this as painless as possible.”
I huffed out a laugh because just being in the same room with her was proving to be painful, considering the ache in my crotch. Taking the seat on the other side of her desk, I looked at the stack of papers she’d placed on the edge of the desk closest to me.
“If you want to read through them, I can go through each one?—”
“Not necessary.” Rowdy had already given me his word that I wouldn’t be traded, and I knew how much I’d be making. Nothing else mattered. “Just give me a pen and show me the dotted line.”
I sensed her hesitation before she grabbed the pen beside her mouse and handed it over.
“Brian?” She paused. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
I should’ve known she’d ask. That was the kind of person she was. Of course, she wouldn’t come right out and ask what was going on, even though I knew she had to be curious as hell. And I knew Rowdy hadn’t said anything to her about signing me because she’d been genuinely surprised to see me.
Looking up from the legalese that was making my eyes cross, I caught Rain as she bit her lip. And that pit in my stomach threatened to swallow all my internal organs. Fuck. My heart began to race, and my gaze got stuck on her mouth. And that definitely wasn’t good because she was sitting there staring at me, knowing that I was looking at her lips.
Shit. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Because she wasn’t into me. She’d never been into me. And I definitely didn’t want to make this weird.
Taking another breath, I said, “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know if I know what I need yet.”
She didn’t answer right away, even though I knew she must have a thousand questions. But she didn’t push or prod. Just nodded and gave me a genuinely kind smile.
“If you do, I’m here for you. For…whatever.”
If she only knew…
“Got any friends with twelve-year-old daughters?”
Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened in complete and utter shock. Then I realized what I’d said.
“Fuck. No. Sorry, that came out totally wrong. Shit.” I sighed, scrubbing a hand through my hair. “They’re for my niece. To make friends with. She’s twelve. She’s part of the reason I came back. Well, most of the reason.”
Rain blinked, and I could practically see her brain spinning. “Okay,” she said, drawing the word out to at least three syllables.
“Yeah, sorry.” I sighed and shook my head, as if that would help get my brain on track, frustration an ache in my gut. “I don’t mean to be cryptic. It’s just… I don’t really talk about this shit with a lot of people. Rowdy and your dad know what’s going on but…” I blew out a hard breath. “My sister’s in an inpatient program for the next month and a half, maybe two months. I’ve got custody of Maddy until then. I love my niece, but I’m out of my league with a kid her age.”
Rain held my gaze while she sorted through the information I’d just given her.
Then she said, “She’s a tween.”
Since that wasn’t at all what I’d been expecting to hear, I said, “A what?”
Rain’s lips quirked into a little smile. “That’s what kids her age are called. She’s almost a teen. It’s a rough age.”
“God, that’s an understatement. Don’t get me wrong, I love her to death, but I’m fucking terrified of screwing this up. Screwing her up. That’s why I came back here. Because I know there are people here who won’t let me fail. People who will look after Maddy when I can’t be around. People I trust.”
One of those people was sitting right in front of me, eyes wide and maybe a little wet. “Brian. I’m so?—”
I held up my hand to stop whatever she was going to say. “I didn’t tell you that for sympathy. We don’t need sympathy. But I do owe you an apology.”
Now her brows drew down hard. “What? Why?”
Now or never. “For laying out Zelinsky. I’m not sorry for punching him. The bastard deserved it. But I am sorry for making it awkward for you.”
Rain stared at me wide-eyed for a second before shaking her head. “You didn’t. Make it awkward, I mean. Honestly. I never heard from the bastard again after that night, so I should thank you.”
I blew out a frustrated sigh. “You don’t have to?—”
Standing, she walked around her desk and sat in the chair next to mine. Then she put her hand on my arm. And my libido sat up and practically begged for her to pet me.
“Yes, I do. Because I am thankful. But I really hope you didn’t leave the league because you thought I would do something to get you in trouble. The only reason I didn’t say anything about that night was because you left the team the next day and no one seemed to know why. Mo never said a word, at least not that I got wind of. If he had, I would’ve made sure everyone knew he’d ended up on the floor after you punched him. I just didn’t know what to do when you disappeared.”
“I’m really sorry?—”
“Brian. Stop. Seriously. Stop saying you’re sorry for sticking up for me, or I’ll think you didn’t mean to have my back and just slipped and ended up flattening Mo accidentally.”
The smile on her lips and in her eyes rocked my world. Seriously, I thought for sure the floor was shaking. I could only stare back at her and debate the wisdom of kissing her.
It wouldn’t take much for me to lean over the arm of the chair and smash my lips against hers and kiss the hell out of her, like I wanted to do. I also knew that would be the worst thing in the world. I’d prove to be just like Zelinsky, taking something she hadn’t given permission to take.
And this was the worst friggin’ time for me to be lusting after a woman, even if that woman was Rain Lawrence. Especially since that woman was Rain Lawrence.
“Now,” she continued when I couldn’t think of a damn thing to say, “you need to sign the contract so we can get you and Maddy on our health care plan. Then we can figure out the school situation. Where are you staying? I’m sure we can find you— Wait, let me get a pen so I can start making a list.”
Then she smiled and my gut clenched.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “We’ll figure this out.”