Chapter 21
DANIEL
She’s an angel sent to save me. There’s no other way to explain why this perfect woman would have anything to do with a guy like me. I’m trouble. It’s always been that way since I was young. I heard that more times than I ever heard I love you.
I fought to be a good dad to Roman, rejecting everything I learned from my father because I knew there had to be a better way. I studied movies and read books when I found out Mia was pregnant. I’ve worked my ass off to be the dad he needs. The role model part is still a work in progress.
I can do the same now. I can be a good partner for her. Someone she can rely on and trust, most importantly. I want to be that man for Summer. But that means pushing past the parts of me that don’t make me a better man or boyfriend. Silence helps no one. I learned that from my mom.
So looking into her pools of blues where I can swim freely and be myself, I swallow down the fear of rejection, and reply, “The PR machine has started in on me.”
The knit of her brows is overshadowed by the concern floating in her eyes. “I don’t know what that means.”
“It means the higher-ups, but more likely, the owners are trying to control the narrative to make sure I play by their rules.”
She smiles. Not the reaction I expected. “Have they met you?” Her laughter tinkers through her words as she strokes my cheek. When it settles, she says, “They can do whatever they want. We’re about to show them who’s really in control.”
I’ve gotten glimpses of this feistier side of her, mainly regarding the cottage.
It’s sexy, but more than that, it’s incredible to hear the conviction in her voice.
At the mere mention of a battle ahead, she’s willing to fight for me.
No questions asked. Not needing more details to think about it.
A simple threat in my direction has her readying to protect.
The words haven’t been said aloud, but if that’s not love, I don’t know what is.
I roll off to the side and switch off the lamp before readjusting in bed. “Maybe we show them in the morning, though.”
She curls against my side, her giggle wiggling between us. “Sounds like a good idea.”
We lie there in the dark. I can tell she’s awake like I am by the gentle tapping of her finger and the brush of her eyelashes against my skin.
I shouldn’t say anything. It would be wise to just go to sleep, but my thoughts are running rampant with different ways I should be handling this situation.
My agent sent that message with not so much as a word of advice.
So I turn to the person I trust to have my best interest at heart. “Summer?”
“Yes,” she whispers, her finger stills as she spreads her hand to rest on my chest.
“Don’t change for them, okay?”
“Who?”
I kiss the top of her head. “Anyone.” She’s so perfect, I don’t want her tainted by my reputation. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
Five Days Later . . .
I dry my hands, then hand the dish towel to Roman. He tosses it to the kitchen counter and crosses his arms over his chest. “Why do we have to do the dishes?”
“Because that’s how we contribute. Dolly, Summer, and her sisters have treated us like kings since we got here—”
“I like being king.”
His feelings are much different from mine.
I wasn’t taught to clean or to help. I was taught it was a woman’s work and stayed out of the fray.
Being here changes things. I want to help.
I like being in the fray. And Roman will get over it.
He doesn’t need to be spoiled, which I know Mia doesn’t.
This is a good reminder for him. “They’ve opened their home to us.
We can do a few dishes.” I grab his tossed cloth and drape it over the sink like I’ve seen Dolly do. “Anyway, we’re done. Go play.”
He runs out of the kitchen, as if his right to play will be revoked if he lingers too long. “Bye,” I say to a door already swinging closed.
I take a chair and sit. The quiet is a good time to think. The door swings open, and Roman peeks back in. He’s already smiling. “Bye, Dad.”
Now, I’m smiling. “Come here.”
He comes back in and right into my arms. I embrace him with my life and career rolling through my head.
My childhood and the sacrifices I made to play hockey, the events I had to say no to because I was busy becoming great, and the life I didn’t have time to live through the first year in the league.
I never think about it, so it’s odd that those memories are coming back now.
But with my son in my arms, I realize the parent he needs is important. It feeds my soul as well as his.
I can only be so lucky that he takes my presence in his life for granted.
When he starts squirming, I release him. Summer walks in and stops with the door in her hand. Her soft smile gives me the peace I need to know everything will work out. She’s also said it like five times today.
Roman runs past her. “Hi, Summer.”
“Hi, Roman,” she replies, watching him run toward the front door. “Tire swing?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She turns back to me and lets the door maneuver closed by itself. I say, “I’ve never heard him say that before.”
“He’s a fine little gentleman.” When she laughs, she adds, “And you can blame Dolly.” She pulls out a chair across from me and sits, holding her hands in her lap. “What will his mom think about that?”
“She’ll probably laugh and tell him not to call her that.” I don’t know if it’s right or wrong to talk about Mia with her. Summer is going to be in my life, so they should know about each other. “Mia has a boyfriend.”
“Oh.”
“They’ve been together for a few years.” I rest my arms forward on the table. “He’s a good guy, and he treats Roman well. He’ll even bring him to some home games so he can watch his dad play.”
“It’s nice she’s found someone who treats both of them well, and you.” Her eyes search mine as if she senses there’s more to this than I’m sharing. How does she know me so well? “What’s going on?”
I’ve been protecting her, smiling as she showed me the apiary, quiet as she worked on a presentation she might get to give, and walking in a daze, somehow believing that everything is going to work out. It always has for me, so that seemed logical.
Not anymore. Five days after reading that article, my anger hasn’t subsided. It’s grown. My agent’s avoidance of my calls adds to the frustration. My time here is spoiled by checking my phone and scanning websites to see when the next sabotage will drop.
“I haven’t gotten a call or text that indicates my agent gives one shit about my career, much less two.”
“Is that why you’ve been distracted lately?”
I shouldn’t feel guilty for caring about my career. “Taking action from the Cove makes me feel like I’m betraying the trip with my son and doing something wrong behind your back.”
She shifts in her chair, but her expression doesn’t tense. “You’re not doing anything wrong. I couldn’t take off months without working. If I could, I totally would.” She glances at the wallpaper and chuckles. “I guess the Cove has an offseason, though. Winter is rough without the tourists.”
I try to laugh along with her, but my heart isn’t in it. I know she’s working hard on her own goals, though she’s never hesitated to help me with mine.
Summer isn’t just a friend I’ve grown close to, or someone I’m insanely attracted to, though she is both.
She’s become someone I can talk to, so my stomach shouldn’t drop like it just did.
I reach across the table and hold my hand out for her.
“I need to make a quick trip back to the city. A couple of days max for meetings and to get things back on track.”
“What brought this on? The PR stuff? Isn’t the best way to fight that by controlling the access they have to you?” She glances out the window above the sink, and when she turns back, her eyes hit mine hard. “No one knows you’re here.”
My hand remains empty of hers, and although it’s hard to feel the sting of rejection, I fight it and leave it in place.
“They’re putting out that I’m on the verge of retiring.
That does damage. It gives the impression that I’m not playing at the level I used to and that I’m hiding from the press on purpose. ”
“I don’t know your levels. I wish I did, but what more do you have to prove?” She slips her hand in mine, and when her fingers curl around my hand, I breathe easier. “You have the accolades to back you up.”
“It devalues me as a brand. I could lose millions in sponsorships.”
“You’re not a brand, Daniel.” Her grasp tightens around my hand. “You’re a man, a human with real emotions.”
“I’m a brand that employs fifteen people full-time to run this career.”
“I don’t understand. You’re rarely on a call.” Her gaze drops to our hands. “How are you running a business . . .” She looks up again. “If you’ve spent the time here relaxing with your son? And with me?”
“I don’t handle the day-to-day decisions. I show up where I’m supposed to be and when I’m told.”
Detecting a touch of gray around the edges of her blues, she appears to be lost in thought. Her gaze intensifies when she asks, “What if you didn’t?”
“Didn’t what?”
“What if you didn’t show up where they told you to. What if you showed up unexpectedly? What would happen?”
“The paparazzi would have a feeding frenzy, and I’d hear from my agent.”
“And then what?” I can’t seem to think of a damn consequence that I don’t suffer, even when I do as I’m told. “Your agent has chosen The Breakaways franchise. I read that his agency consults not only with that franchise but also with the hockey league. My guess is they are his priority.”