Instacrush: A Rookie Rebels Novel

by Meader, Kate

  On her way back from her third visit to the restroom (her bladder was the size of pea these days) she spotted Theo’s father approaching. She searched for the resemblance. It was there around the eyes but there was a harshness to his mouth that he hadn’t passed on to his son.

  As he walked by her, he fronted a careful blankness that rubbed her the wrong way.

  “You going to pretend you don’t know who I am?”

  He stopped. “Sorry, are you speaking to me?”

  “You know who you’re speaking to, Alderman. And a man in your position would make it his business to know what his son is doing so it won’t come back to bite him.”

  The polite mask fell away. “What exactly can I do for you?”

  Elle knew this guy, or guys like him. Would-be Masters of the Universe, with small minds and smaller dicks.

  “I just wanted you to know what a mistake you’ve made cutting Theo from your life.”

  He opened his mouth, then closed it quickly. “This isn’t really the time or place.”

  She felt drunk, though she hadn’t touched a drop. Call it a mashed-potato induced rage. “You didn’t want to step up, Alderman. I’m just letting you know that you’re missing out on knowing a wonderful man. A good son and grandson, a stalwart friend and teammate, the best damn defenseman in the NHL. He’s going to make a great dad, a stand-up parent, and a wonderful partner to me. I will never have to worry that he won’t be there for me, my baby, or any of the people he cares about because Theo Kershaw is a good person. The best person. You’re not worthy to share his DNA, Alderman. And I’m sorry for you. Sorry that you have to lie to yourself and the world about this wonderful person you produced.”

  The alderman’s color was hellfire-hot. “I don’t have to listen to this—”

  “No, you don’t. But there will come a time when your other sons are old enough to know who you are. To see the chips in the veneer you wear so well. They should know their brother and he should know them. You can make that happen or—”

  “Or what? What are you saying?”

  She shrugged. “I won’t tell them. But secrets don’t stay secret in the same way these days, Alderman. Home DNA kits, genealogy trees. Wouldn’t you rather control the mess—?”

  “Elle!”

  Theo’s sharp voice cut her off. He closed the gap between them, tucking his hand under her elbow. “Let’s go.”

  The alderman’s brow furrowed, his expression one of yearning toward his son. Dark silence clung to them as they left the restaurant.

  * * *

  Theo was furious.

  True, Elle should not have taken it upon herself to lecture dear old Dad about his parental responsibilities, but he wasn’t mad about that. No, he was furious that she’d had to even breathe his self-righteous air.

  They took the elevator down to the second lower level of the parking garage, the descent similar to the drop of his heart five minutes ago when he came across Elle defending him. Telling his father what he was missing out on. How great a man Theo was and how great a father he would be.

  The elevator opened and Elle stepped out ahead of him. As she rounded the corner to where they were parked, she pivoted. “Theo, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

  He stopped her apology with a kiss. She looked so gorgeous in that dress, so curvy and tempting. All good reasons to kiss a woman, but not his reason now. He kissed her because words were useless to express what he felt right in this moment.

  “Theo—” She tried again.

  He kissed her more. Deeper. Truer. Stealing her breath helped fuel his lungs and find the words. “I can’t believe you did that for me. Talked to him like that.”

  “Why not? You’re amazing and that fucker needed to know.” She shook her head, wonder creasing her pretty features. “Don’t you have any idea how remarkable you are, Theo? How proud I am to have you be my baby’s father?”

  “Proud? Really?”

  “Proud, blessed, overwhelmed. I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else. I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else.”

  He worried about doing something unmanly then. Sobbing, perhaps. Whimpering, even. Instead he poured all that emotion into a kiss, sliding his tongue into that sweet, velvet clasp and tasting her fury and fire. Coasting greedy hands down her hips, he grasped her ass, so round and inviting.

  It was easy to bunch the material in his fists. Pull it up inch by inch so he could remove another barrier. He was as hard as the granite beams holding this parking structure together, and he wanted her to know. Grinding his cock against the fork of her legs, he made his case.

  “Theo,” she gasped between sensual assaults on her mouth, her neck, the hollow below her ear. His favorite spot. She tasted so sweet there.

  “Turn around, Ellie.”

  “What—here?”

  He couldn’t wait for her to catch up, he was too far gone. Too hopped up on need and desire and an unmistakable well of feeling that seemed to overwhelm him whenever he was near this woman.

  Her panties were an improvement on the last ones. These beauties covered her glorious ass in silky black fabric with a pink lace trim. With a more unhurried deliberation than the situation really called for, he ran his hands over her perfect curves like he had all the time in the world.

  “Theo, please. Touch me.”

  “Patience, my gorgeous girl.” He continued his exploration, his palms smoothing over the cheeks, squeezing, testing her limits. “These are pretty.”

  “Addison gave them to me.”

  Callaghan’s wife designed underwear and Theo had to say he appreciated the connection. He slipped a hand around the front, between her legs, and cupped her. Pressing his palm against her pussy, he absorbed the damp heat of her desire.

  “Take ’em off, Elle.”

  “Are—are you sure?”

  “Yep.” He pressed against her, whispering in her ear, “Need you now. Need to be inside you.”

  Her breath hitched, her hands fell to her sides, and she pushed those sexy panties down. All that lovely, gilded skin came into view, each inch sweeter than the last. She stepped out of one leg, and that’s all the access he needed. His palm returned home, spreading her wide, stroking through that sensitive flesh until he earned a moan.

  Then another.

  “There’s no—no time,” she gasped, though it felt like they had all the time in the world. A future that had opened up when he’d overheard her defending his corner.

  She grabbed his hand and pushed against it. That made him chuckle.

  “Bastard.”

  And that made him harder. His prickly little peach. With the hand not bringing her off, he unzipped his pants and readied his cock, not that it needed much encouragement. He rubbed between the cleft of her ass, dipping into the moisture-filled crevice, seeking entry to paradise.

  She hinged her hips, tilting her ass up to meet the slide of his cock which zeroed in on its target with a will of its own. It met no resistance, only a warm, wet welcome.

  “Yes, that’s—oh, God, Theo. Yes, that’s it.”

  He withdrew a few inches, and with another thrust, she clamped hard, tightening greedily around him. He dug his fingers into her hips and held her in place for each rhythmic stroke. She balled her hands into fists against the gray wall, anchoring her body for his invasion.

  No more words, just the smooth push and pull, the erotic slap of flesh on flesh. Her body was made for his, the fit so right. One tender press to her clit sent her over. The tension peaked to an exquisite torment, and he gave himself over to the sweetness of it as he emptied into her.

  * * *

  Theo saluted Victor, the doorman to his building, as he walked in.

  “You played a barnburner last night, Mr. Kershaw. No mistake.”

  Mr. Kershaw. No matter how often he tried to get Victor to use his first name, the old-school guy was having none of it.

  “I had a good night.”

  Game four of the second-round series a
gainst the LA Quake had gone the Rebels way, pushing them over the top and making them division champions. Theo wasn’t so modest as to deny his part in it. Something about the progression of his relationship with Elle had opened up a new path inside his brain, inspiring him to be freer on the ice. He’d mentioned it to Hunt on the plane home last night—not the specifics but the feeling.

  Your planets are aligning, Kershaw, was Hunt’s crunchy-granola—for him anyway—response. The big guy said it had happened with him and Jordan. Like a dam had broken open, and that river of honesty had liberated any blockages.

  Theo understood what made Elle’s walls so thick, and now he had the sledgehammer to deal with it.

  “Mr. Kershaw, you have a visitor.” Victor gestured to the lobby sofa behind him. George Butler sat there, dressed in a sharp suit set off with a blue tie and red rose. Very dapper, but then he usually was. All the better to con you with, my dear.

  For the five days before the LA trip, he’d done his best to support his woman. He took the Butlers to dinner, invited them to an executive box at the Rebels arena for the second game, had played the perfect host to the family who would be in his kid’s life, for better or worse.

  Theo was still trying to puzzle George out. What kind of man forced his family to exist on the edges like this? Theo didn’t know how much Elle had told them about his insider knowledge. There was definitely the sense that they were feeling each other out, seeking an access point to an opponent’s weakness.

  Theo had the best defense in the business. Nothing was getting by him.

  “Theo!” Elle’s dad stood and approached, hand outstretched.

  “George.” They did the manly handshake where attempts were made to break fingers. “What brings you here?”

  “Oh, just thought I’d stop by for a chat with the father of my grandchild. Not a bad time, is it?”

  “Not at all. I was about to have lunch. I make a mean sandwich, if you’re interested.” Usually he’d have gone to Elle’s but she was out for pedicures with her mom. A dual front from Team Butler.

  “A sandwich would be delightful.”

  They headed up to Theo’s apartment. George looked unimpressed, which made Theo smile to himself.

  “Would have thought you’d have something a little bigger, Theo. Not much room for a family here.”

  Theo walked through to the kitchen and opened the fridge. “This is pretty standard for the new additions to the team, especially the single ones, until they figure out where they want to end up. I’ll be looking for something bigger in the summer for Elle and the baby.”

  “I hoped you’d say that. She seems happy. You make her happy.”

  Theo kept his smile pinned on, then realized it wasn’t such a chore after all. He was happy. “I just want to take care of her and the baby. They’re my primary concern here.” He gestured to the gouda. “Cheese?”

  “Sure.”

  A moment later, Theo passed the sandwich over along with a beer (and look at him, in a glass!). He stuck with water for himself.

  “I’m glad you’ve been here for my daughter, Theo. She’s going to need your strength in the coming months.” George took a bite of the sandwich, chewed, swallowed, and declared it “perfection!”

  “That’s what I’m here for,” Theo said.

  “Good, good.” George took another bite while they chatted about the game and Theo waited for him to get to the point.

  George dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. “Her mother—well, her mother doesn’t want to bring her down, but …” He inhaled one of those breaths you take to stave off tears. Pinched the bridge of his nose. Sniffed loudly. Looked down. Shook his head. The Saugatuck Players would have been proud.

  “George, is everything okay?”

  “Dee. My Dee. She’s not well. I don’t want to stress Elle out, with the baby and all. She’s so fragile right now.”

  “Sorry to hear that,” Theo murmured. “I think Elle would prefer to know, though.”

  “Oh, no.” George said, horrified at the notion. “I saw how fragile she was during that hospital visit. I just wanted to be sure she’s being taken care of.”

  “Can I ask what the trouble is with Mrs. Butler?”

  “She needs a small operation, but you know how these things get magnified. You hear things. What’s routine isn’t always so. And well—I wanted to be sure that my daughter was in good hands while we’re away for that.”

  “You won’t have to worry about Elle, George.”

  The man met Theo’s eyes, perhaps surprised at the vehemence in his tone. When Theo had learned what George Butler was capable of, he’d expected that the man would act shiftily, unable to hold the gazes of the people he was about to cheat. Like Nick Isner or your standard politician. But George was more of a pro than that. He had a way of looking at you: sharp, shrewd, like he knew exactly what you were thinking. All your decisions would be foretold. Nothing left to chance.

  “Glad to hear it. With her mother needing …” He waved off that unpleasant topic. “We’ll be in Mexico. The healthcare is cheaper there, though still quite beyond our range. But we’ll manage and I’ll feel better knowing that my daughter is doing so well.” He took another bite of the sandwich. “Excellent vittles, Theo.”

  “You really should tell Elle about her mom. I don’t think she’ll like it if I have this knowledge and she doesn’t. We don’t keep anything from each other.”

  Something flickered in George’s eyes. “I didn’t think you knew each other that well. A one-night stand, I’d heard. Sorry if that’s indelicate.”

  “We’ve become quite close. Expecting a child together does that.”

  Again the flicker, before he shut it down. “Close? I see,” George mused. “So the manner of your connection might not be orthodox but lots of people are thrown together and come out of it stronger. Your baby will be better off if you two are committed. In this together.”

  Now they were getting somewhere. “I asked her to marry me.” Just as George’s thin mouth curved into a self-satisfied smile, Theo delivered the punchline. “She said no.”

  George’s jaw muscles bunched, the first indication of his true self since Theo had met him. Definitely not pleased with his daughter.

  “She’s always been so independent. It can be a curse as well as a blessing.”

  “Don’t I know it! But she was right. We don’t need a piece of paper or a ring to make this official. Elle’s only concern is that the baby be taken care of and I’ve made sure of that. Financially.”

  “Good to hear. You’ve made this old man very happy.”

  “I’m happy to do what I can while Elle’s mom is unwell. Still think you should tell her.”

  George looked pained. “I wouldn’t want to upset her. We have to do everything in our power to keep her and the baby in good shape, uh, health. I may not be able to visit as often as I’d like over the next few months. The trips add up, you see.”

  Theo had had enough with all this pussyfooting around.

  “I’ve had my lawyer do a little digging, George. If you want money, you may as well come right out and ask for it.”

  The man’s smile was feral. “I’m not sure what you mean. Your lawyer?”

  “Cards on the table.”

  George became more alert. “Has Elle said something to you?”

  Even now Theo didn’t want to destroy Elle’s relationship with her family. While he thought she’d be better off without them, he was resigned to having her make the call herself.

  “No, Elle has kept all your secrets. You don’t have to be concerned about her loyalty.”

  “Yet … she tried to warn you in her own way, I assume. Yes?” Whatever George saw on Theo’s face was enough. The man was clearly a master at reading body language. “Congratulations on getting access to her heart.”

  Theo had no more access to Elle’s heart than this man did, but he was making progress. The flattery was likely another part of the game. Nothing George said cou
ld be taken at face value.

  At Theo’s instruction, Tommy had produced the gory details: the bank accounts drained, hearts broken, lives destroyed. Sure, Theo had given her the choice to let them stay, but he wasn’t sure that she could be objective when it came to her family. What she didn’t seem to realize was that her parents’ mere presence was threat enough.

  “Is Dee really ill?”

  “We’re none of us well, are we, Theo?”

  Anger flared. The time for pretense was over. They understood each other at last. “You’ve really done a number on Elle, George. And I don’t appreciate what you’re trying to do here. I’d hoped that maybe you’d visit for a while, take the hospitality on offer, and not push your luck.”

  “Pushing my luck is how I’ve survived so long, my good man.” He chuckled. “To look at you, I wouldn’t have suspected such cynicism beneath the Captain America exterior. Could my Eloise be rubbing off on you?”

  As if Elle had tainted Theo instead of opening up his life to possibilities. The man was as toxic as they come, all the worse for never having given his daughter a chance to take another path. Instead, she had to slash her way out and find that road herself.

  A man who would lie about his wife’s health would lie about anything. Theo had overestimated his ability to trust that Elle’s family would be benign, harmless influences in their lives. He had to act to protect Elle and their baby. To protect his family.

  “George, let’s talk man to man.”

  28

  Sure, hockey paid good money. Elle just hadn’t realized it paid mansion-on-the-lake money. She got the memo loud and clear as Theo drove them up a long drive to what Violet had labeled “Stately Chase Manor.”

  Elle had thought she was kidding.

  On seeing the home that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the set of Downton Abbey, Elle came over in a cold sweat. When her parents saw this, there would be no getting rid of them.

  “Maybe we should turn the car around.”

  Cowardly? Oh, yes.

  Theo chuckled. “You know these people. They want to see you.”

  “Yeah, about that. Don’t you think it’s kind of weird that Violet would include me in this? Inviting us as guests is one thing but a joint baby shower—that’s just crazy, isn’t it? I barely know her and all these people are going to wonder who the hell that bitch is, hanging on the Chase coattails-slash-ballgown trying to act like she’s one of them.”