39. Bennett
BENNETT
H oly shit.
I never thought I’d see the day Weston went soft. But here it fucking is.
My brother, the grumpy team captain and the most driven, responsible guy on the planet, pulling his PR hottie onto the ice and kissing her under the bright lights of the arena.
Honestly, it’s kinda great.
Almost gives me the warm fuzzies.
If you’re into that kind of lovey-dovey bullshit. Which, for the record, I’m definitely not.
“You two getting a room or something?” I tease, elbowing Weston in the tunnel after the game.
Even though I’m still benched, Coach made me sit next to him the entire game in my freaking suit and tie.
At least we won.
“Go away, Puck Bunny,” he growls out of the corner of his mouth, mid-lip lock with Harbor .
I chuckle, loosening my tie as I sidle down the long tunnel. Back to Call of Duty and my professional exile until the league decides my fate.
Coach Keller doesn’t think it’ll be too bad—probably only a one or two-game suspension. No biggie.
In the meantime, I’m racking up kills like nobody’s business.
“Bennett. My office.” Prince pounces on me the second I step foot in the hallway.
My muscles tense, but I play it cool, shoving a hand in my pocket.
“Did you hear from the league?” I match him stride for stride, taking quick steps to keep pace. Despite being at least five inches shorter than me, the man’s clearly on a mission.
“No, not yet.”
Shit.
If this isn’t about the suspension, what the hell does the owner want to talk to me for?
“Uh, okay. What’s this about?” I cut my eyes at him, trying to read his expression. All I get is a deep scowl of irritation.
Instead of answering, he holds his office door open and gestures for me to take a seat at his desk.
Right next to his daughter, Tori Prince. The Ice Queen herself, in her signature black blazer and white blouse. Long dark hair and even darker eyes, with those deep scarlet lips.
She’d be a real knockout if she wasn’t such an uptight bitch.
This should be fun.
I swagger in, folding my large frame down into the dark leather chair and stretching my long legs out in front of me. Tori scoots away, attempting to put space between us. But she’s effectively trapped between the desk and the wall, with nowhere to go.
Glowering at my thick thighs, her eyes flit to mine.
“Do you mind?” She waves her hand over my legs, her smooth voice dripping with disgust.
“Not at all.” I shoot her a cheeky grin and don’t budge an inch.
“Ugh.” She shoves at my knee with her perfectly manicured hand, and I chuckle. Tightening my quad, my leg’s basically immobile.
“Neanderthal…” she mutters under her breath.
Prince takes his seat behind the desk and stares at the two of us, hands folded in front of him.
“I can’t take much more stress. My cardiologist increased my blood pressure medicine and I’m so fucking wound up I can’t sleep.”
Now that he mentions it, I do see the slight twitch of his right eye. I chalked it up to a nervous tick, but maybe it’s from stress.
“Daddy—” Tori’s sympathetic, reaching across the desk and folding her hand over her father’s.
“I’d hoped the move down here would be good, calming. Being near the ocean, a fresh start, a new coach. One who isn’t fucking my wife.” His eyes drift shut for a second, and my knee jiggles up and down.
This is awkward AF.
Not sure why I’m here for all the family bullshit.
Prince sighs, opening his eyes and pinning his cold gaze on me.
“Then we get to Driftwood Cove and Rocky here decides to host fight night and TKO the local bar owner.”
“Hey—” I hold my palms up. “It was in defense of our PR consultant. I’m a hero. I averted an attempted sexual assault.”
“Sure.” Prince presses his lips together so tightly they turn white. “And now this latest bombshell with the second video.”
“I know, Daddy. It’s been a rough off-season.” Tori bobs her head, managing to at least sound sympathetic to her father’s problems.
“Damn right it has. Like I said in the meeting—I can’t have any more trouble on this team.”
“Agreed, sir.” I nod, wanting to seem like a team player.
Because I really need this job and this whole conversation’s starting to feel a little like a suspension talk.
Or worse—a trade talk.
That wouldn’t be terrible news. Driftwood Cove’s kinda boring. But I’ve never played hockey without Weston and Callum by my side. And I don’t particularly want to start now.
“Super. That’s why I called you in. Both of you.”
I shoot Prince a quizzical look and Tori’s dark brows inch up her smooth forehead.
“What are you talking about, Daddy?”
“Starting today, Tori’s going to be looking after you, Bennett.”
I guffaw and Tori makes a weird, strangled choking sound.
“Excuse me?” I cock my right brow. “With all due respect, sir, I don’t need a keeper.”
Tori snorts, and I glare over at her.
“What? I don’t. I can handle myself.”
“Uh-huh. Just like you did at the party? With a sharp left hook to the nose? ”
“He deserved it and you know it.” I fold my arms across my chest, knowing I’m fully vindicated in that matter. The courts fucking said so.
“Enough.” Prince slams his palm on the desk, the sharp sound commanding our silence. “Bennett, you’ll be moving into the condos. Everything’s arranged. Your condo’s directly next to Tori’s, so she’ll be able to keep tabs on you 24-7.”
“What?” Both of our voices rise in unison. Hot panic floods my system, an adrenaline boost I wasn’t looking for this afternoon.
“Daddy, I’m going back to New York. We talked about this. Everything’s on track here and I need to focus on the business…”
Prince waves his hand through the air, cutting her off. “No, someone else can handle that. I need you here. Now. Protecting our investment.” He tips his chin at me. “Someone has to keep an eye on him.”
Tori shakes her head, her long, dark hair swishing across the smooth fabric of her blazer.
“No, thanks. Besides, I’m sure his brothers can watch him.”
“Are you kidding me? Did you miss the whole captain – PR consultant mess?”
She blows out a breath, then scowls at me. “I haven’t babysat since I was twelve.”
“Well, good news then. I don’t need a damn babysitter.” I sit up straight, cracking my knuckles.
“The matter’s settled. Tori, here are the keys to Bennett’s new apartment. Curfew’s nine PM. Every night of the week, except game days.” Prince dangles a set of keys, holding them out to his daughter.
“You’re joking.” My jaw tenses, a vein throbbing at my temple. Blood roars in my ears and I want to scream. “I’m on fucking lockdown now? You can’t do this!”
“If you want to keep your contract, these are the terms, Steele. Take ‘em or leave ‘em.”
I slide my cell from my pocket, scrolling through my contacts. “I’m calling my agent. This is nuts.”
“Go ahead. Call. But it’s in his best interest for you to be focused on your job—playing hockey. This new living arrangement does just that.” Prince’s lips curve into an almost-smile and nausea rolls through me.
The Ice Queen’s my new damn babysitter.
Could have been a hot scenario when I was thirteen.
Now it’s just kinda fucking annoying.
I swallow down the acid rising up my throat and cross my arms over my chest. “Fine. I’ll agree to this bogus deal. But only until the league clears me to play.”
“No. No way. This arrangement stands until you prove yourself to me—and to Tori. She’ll be debriefing me daily. Toe the line and maybe I’ll let you out of the penalty box.”
I grind my molars, fury simmering in my gut.
“But I wouldn’t count on it.” Prince sits back, looking smug. Like he just solved a quantum physics problem or some shit.
“Daddy. I have things to do in Manhattan. I can’t stay here and run surveillance on this.” She waves her hand over me in a large circle, leaving a trail of expensive-smelling floral perfume in her wake.
I snicker. “You’re right—I am a lot to handle. Probably above your pay grade.”
She sneers at me. “Typical athlete. So full of himself.”
“Okay, the two of you can bicker on your own time. You’ll be spending a lot of it together. ”
With a dismissive wave, he shoos us out of his office.
I stand and stalk out, rage bubbling low in my gut.
He can’t fucking do this.
I’m a grown man. A professional hockey player.
“I don’t need a fucking babysitter,” I growl the second we’re out of earshot. “Hand over the keys, Princess.”
Shoving my palm out, I wait.
Tori glowers at me, her long arms folded across her jacket.
“Not a chance in hell, Steele.”
“What? You just said you don’t babysit.”
She dangles the keys in front of me, inches from my face.
“You’re right, I don’t. Consider me your warden until further notice.”
Then she jerks the keys away and shoves them into her pocket, a sly grin pulling up her lips. “If I’m forced to do this, I’m going to at least elicit the maximum amount of pain.”
Spinning on her stilettos, she click-clacks down the hallway, her tight little ass swaying side to side.
If I wasn’t so pissed off, I’d maybe consider checking her out.
But not now.
Not with my blood boiling, fists balling at my side.
She thinks she can handle me?
She has no idea she just invited the fire in.
Because if I’m stuck with the Ice Queen…I’m not just gonna melt her down.
I’m gonna make her beg for the burn.
Game on, Princess .