Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Alina
I can tell that Sebastian is nervous as we walk over to the owner of The Hyenas. I slide my hand on his lower back and he smiles gratefully at me.
“You got this,” I whisper to him with a wink. “You can do anything.”
I know he can. I’ve watched him go from a skinny little kid to the best hockey player in the world. I’ve watched him make every dream he’s had come true.
I can’t let him down. We have to sell this well.
But really, what is there to sell? I’ve been in love with Sebastian for most of my life. There’s nothing to pretend.
Brantley Van Morgan stops talking when he sees us approaching. Not only does he look rich, but he has an aura of wealth surrounding him that all billionaires must have. It’s an aura of supreme confidence that you can only have when you’re able to get whatever or whoever you want.
“Mr. Kemp,” he says as he cuts through the crowd with his hand extended. “Thank you for coming.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Sebastian says as he shakes his hand. “Thank you for inviting us.”
Van Morgan smiles warmly at him and then turns those warm brown eyes onto me. “This must be the lovely fiancée you can’t stop talking about. Alina Hoover, is it?”
“Yes, Mr. Van Morgan,” I say, smiling as I shake his hand. “Soon to be Alina Hoover-Kemp.”
“I was excited to meet the woman who was able to steal the heart of the wild Sebastian Kemp. You must be a firecracker.”
“Oh yeah,” I say with a laugh. “I’m one hell of a bang.”
They both look at me with wide eyes. “I heard that the second it came out,” I say, trying to recover with a chuckle. “Not quite what I meant.”
“I like her already,” Van Morgan says with a gregarious laugh. “Come, let me give you both a tour of my home.”
“It’s beautiful,” I say as we walk toward it. I’ve never been in a house as large or luxurious as this and I’ve been in a lot of nice houses for work. I want to see it all, but I really want to see the closets.
“I’m glad you like it,” he says with a warm smile. “Win me five Stoney Cups and I’ll buy you one.”
“If anyone can do it, Sebastian can,” I say as I slide my hand into his. He gives my hand a little squeeze of gratitude.
“Congratulations on the engagement,” Van Morgan says as he opens the door and lets us in. “I admit, I was quite surprised to hear the news.”
“Not as surprised as I was,” I say with a laugh.
He’s watching us carefully as we linger in the giant living room. Van Morgan is an intimidating man, but so far, I’m playing it cool.
I hold onto Sebastian’s big hard bicep as I look around the room. “I love that painting.”
“It’s a Garchannio,” he says. I nod like I know who that is. I’ve never heard that name before in my entire life.
“He’s so talented,” Sebastian says as he looks at the painting. “He’s my favorite artist.”
“ She ,” Van Morgan corrects. “Elia Garchannio.”
“Oh right,” Sebastian quickly says with a shake of his head. “For a second I thought it was Steve Garchannio. My mistake.”
I look up at him, trying not to laugh.
“Steve?” I whisper as Van Morgan continues into the dining room.
We both start giggling. “He’s very famous. You should check him out.”
Van Morgan continues the tour, showing us extravagant art pieces and paintings that probably should be in a museum, and all of his excessive wealth.
We head downstairs into the wine cellar next. My jaw drops when I see how many bottles he has. His supply could last a hundred lifetimes.
“Next pandemic, I’m quarantining here,” Sebastian says with a laugh. “This place is unreal.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Van Morgan says with a smile. “And you’re welcome anytime.”
“Is there a Mrs. Van Morgan?” I casually ask. I’m wondering what the deal with this guy is. He’s good-looking and appears to be in his early fifties if I had to guess. With his full head of hair and overflowing bank account, he must be pushing women away non-stop.
“Not as of yet,” he says without elaborating any further. “Check out this bottle. It’s from 1892. I bought it at an auction from a castle in Scotland. It’s a nice collector’s item, but I doubt it tastes any better than a ten-dollar bottle from the gas station down the street.”
Sebastian takes the bottle and examines the faded label while I examine him. He’s so freaking hot. I wish I could go back in time and tell my ten-year-old self that I’m on a date with Sebastian. She’d be so freaking stoked.
I’ve always loved his face—the sharp masculine curve of his jaw, the slope of his nose, the way his bright blue eyes always seem to pop out, especially when he’s tanned.
I’ve never been able to look at him like this.
To just stare shamelessly. I’ve always had to be content with quick glances and stolen looks.
But he’s mine for tonight. I can look all I want.
I suddenly remember that we’re not alone. My eyes dart to Van Morgan. He’s watching us like he’s trying to decipher if this is all a charade.
I smile warmly at him and then take Sebastian’s arm. I stand on my toes and kiss my fake fiancé’s cheek for the show and because I have to get as many kisses in as I can before the night is over.
“You’ll love the next room, Sebastian,” Van Morgan says as he puts the old bottle back. “It’s my office.”
My heart starts pounding as we exit the wine cellar. Could this be it? Sebastian looks just as nervous.
“So, Sebastian said you met in college?” Van Morgan says as we walk. He keeps his eyes locked on me as my stomach drops. Did he? He never told me anything about a made-up college story.
Sebastian discreetly squeezes my hand. I’m not sure if that means go with it, or if it means it’s a trap.
I decide to stick with the truth.
“No, we met much earlier than that,” I say with a grin. “I’ve known Sebastian since before he had any body hair.”
Van Morgan laughs. “That’s right. Hometown sweethearts. That’s what he said.”
Sebastian is breathing a little easier now that we’ve navigated through Van Morgan’s trap.
We turn into his luxurious office and Sebastian gasps when he sees all of the hockey paraphernalia on the shelves and hanging on the walls. He’s like a kid in a candy store as he jumps from a pair of old hockey gloves to a signed stick.
“This is Maurice Belanger’s hockey stick!” Sebastian says, pointing at it in awe.
Van Morgan shakes his head with a grin on his face. “Not anymore. It’s mine now.”
I’m watching Sebastian and marveling at the way he looks like a little kid again—the kid I fell in love with—as he looks at some old framed hockey cards.
Van Morgan steps up beside me as he lets Sebastian explore. “You know, I thought it sounded a bit fishy,” he says in a low voice, “that Sebastian Kemp was all of a sudden engaged.”
I swallow hard as I force out a smile.
“But seeing you two together,” he says with a nod. “My doubts are gone. You two look smitten with each other.”
“Really?” I stupidly ask. I just… The thought of Sebastian smitten with me is just too hard to believe.
“I’m a good judge of character and I don’t miss much, Miss Hoover,” he says with a confident nod. “I can tell you two are in love. It’s charming to see.”
I turn back to Sebastian and my breath quickens. He’s pointing to some old hockey puck and smiling like it’s a priceless diamond.
“Come look at this, Alina,” he eagerly says. “It’s signed by the entire 1979 championship team!”
I walk over with Van Morgan’s words still swirling in my head.
I can tell you two are in love.
I’m sure it’s easy to see it on my face, but with Sebastian too? Could he really be in love with me or is this all part of the act?
“Look,” he says as he puts his arm around me and points at the autographed puck that seems to be hovering magically in the glass case. “Guy Roloson, Lester Bower, Gordie Miller! They’re all here!”
I don’t really care about an old puck, but I love seeing Sebastian so excited.
“It’s so cool,” I say.
“I have one more thing to show you before we rejoin the party,” Van Morgan says. He walks over to his desk and pulls a contract out from the drawer.
I hear Sebastian suck in a breath as he stares at it with a tense jaw.
“Your agent has gone over the contract multiple times and has approved it,” he says, pointing to her signature. “It’s what we agreed on in our last meeting.”
“You want me on the team?” Sebastian says, still staring at the paper in awe.
“Like I mentioned,” Van Morgan says in a deep voice, “I had my reservations about your off-ice behavior. But after meeting your lovely fiancée, they have been assuaged.”
“I’ll keep him on a short leash,” I say, giving the billionaire a wink. “ Very short.”
He laughs. “I’m sure you will.”
“My partying days are over,” Sebastian says in a firm tone. “I promise you that.” Only, he’s looking at me more than at Van Morgan when he says it.
“I’m glad to hear that, Mr. Kemp,” Van Morgan says. “The next great hockey dynasty is waiting for you. All that’s missing is your signature.”
He offers a pen. Sebastian’s hand is trembling as he takes it.
All of his hard work, sacrifice, and determination have led to this moment.
The skinny kid who told everyone who listened that he would be a hockey superstar has become one. I’m so proud of him that it brings tears to my eyes.
A tear leaks out and slides down my cheek as I watch him sign his name.
He’s a Hyena now.
“Welcome to the team,” Van Morgan says, grabbing his hand in a firm handshake. “I’m so happy to have you both in San Antonio.”
I gulp as I force out a smile. What is he going to do when he finds out our engagement is a sham? When Sebastian moves to San Antonio and I’m stuck in Shakings, Colorado?
What am I going to do when I’m left behind?
I push that sad horrible thought out of my head and focus on the happy moment.
“See that empty shelf over the fireplace?” Van Morgan asks, pointing at it. “That’s for the Hyena’s first Stoney Cup.”
“You’re going to need a lot more shelves,” I say with a laugh. “Now that you have the great Sebastian Kemp on your team!”
We celebrate a little more and then Van Morgan excuses himself to get back to his guests at the party.
“If there’s anything you’d like, please let me know,” he says when we’re outside his office. “You’re both family now.”
“There is one thing,” I say, embarrassed to ask, but I know I’d regret it forever if I didn’t.
“What is it?”
“Can I see your closet?”
Van Morgan laughs. “That’s a new one!”
“She’s in the luxury closet business,” Sebastian explains. “She always insists on looking at everyone’s closets. It’s an occupational hazard with her.”
“Fifth door on the left,” Van Morgan says with a laugh. “Help yourself.”
I’m giddy with excitement as he walks away, still chuckling to himself.
Sebastian turns to me with wide eyes and a huge smile once Van Morgan disappears down the stairs. “I’m on the team!”
“Congratulations!” I say, trying to stay upbeat and happy.
Inside, my heart is breaking. This is over. He signed the contract. There’s no need for us to pretend any longer.
He’s going to move to San Antonio and become a huge international star, and I’m… not.
I’m going to be stuck in our tiny hometown, hoping I can see him at Christmas or whenever he returns to visit his mom.
It’s over.
I gasp as he cups my cheeks and pulls my mouth in for a warm kiss.
Or, maybe not…