Baby Daddies: Puck Buddies Series

by Tara Brown

  “Lawrence!” Mother barks at the moment I assumed she would.

  “Mom, you don’t even need me here. You can keep bragging but just flash a photo of me. Same thing. Nice meeting you all. Dad, Callie, I’ll see you guys when I get back.” I wave and head to the front door. My jet is already waiting at the small airport nearby so I text the pilot to meet me.

  When I get into the car, a text hits my phone from Cap saying Sukii is certain Liam is screwing with Jenny as payback for some work thing.

  Anger fills me and keeps me agitated until we land in Los Angeles at the private airport I always use. The air is hot and muggy compared to Vancouver but, fortunately, the helicopter waiting for me has air conditioning on full blast.

  When we land on the roof of the hotel where Jenny’s staying, my insides are a mess. I swear this girl has everything twisted into knots as I hurry to the front desk.

  The guy working smiles wide. “Lawrence Eckelston, no way. I wasn’t aware we had you on the books for tonight.”

  “You don’t. I’m looking for someone, Jenny Snowdon. She’s with the junket—a PR rep.”

  “Oh yeah, yeah, the redhead who played for Canada.” He scowls. “She left with the lead singer of Twin Peeks right after kissing Liam Farringdon in an elevator.” He sighs. “That girl has all the luck.”

  “So she isn’t here?”

  “No.” His eyes dart to something behind me. “But I bet he knows where she is.” He nods his head at whatever he’s looking at. “They’ve been inseparable all day.”

  I follow his gaze to Liam who is strolling alone across the foyer. “Awesome, thanks,” I say and walk to Liam. “Hey, what’s going on?” My tone betrays my anger.

  “Lori Eckelston, what the fuck? I didn’t know you were here. Sami with ya?” His Irish accent makes him sound jolly but the guy’s a goof.

  “Nope.”

  “Crazy seeing you here. It’s been ages.” Liam’s smiling as though we’re old friends when the reality is we partied together twice, maybe. And I fucked his wife while he made an ass of himself.

  “It’s no coincidence I’m here, bud.” I fold my arms and stare fiercely.

  “Fuck, what have I done now?” He laughs.

  “You kissed my girl.”

  “Shit, who now?” He narrows his eyes, though continuing to smile.

  “Jenny.”

  “Oh, I was screwing about. Nothing but putting on a show for the press. Trust me, she’s no happier about it than you are.” He winks. “Part of her job.”

  “You put your hands on her for a show?” I’m disgusted but relieved that it’s exactly what Sukii confirmed it to be.

  “Did she call ya to come here and defend her?” He steps closer, challenging me. “Thought she was better than that. Stan won’t be happy to hear how I’ve been treated.”

  He’s baiting me but I don’t move.

  “Or did you see the footage and think maybe she was playing ya for a fool?”

  I crack a grin, knowing what buttons to push with him. “Actually, I assumed this was revenge for your wife. She told me you two were separated, I swear.”

  His eyes widen and he makes the first move, shoving me hard. It’s the opening I wanted. I catch myself quickly, backhanding him before he’s recovered from the lunge.

  He staggers back as wild fury flashes in his eyes. A backhand might as well have been a slap.

  He charges me clumsily, but I’ve been training to fight with Vincenzo’s trainer, so I spin him and toss him into the front desk. Sami’s driver is the best fighter I know and I’m catching up.

  Liam lands with a crash and laughs as he gets up, wiping blood from his face and nodding as he looks at it. He pauses for a minute before he runs at me again. I move to the side, but he anticipates it and hits center mass, taking me into the sofas behind me. I roll him onto the ground and slap him openhanded.

  “You—”

  Slap!

  “Don’t—”

  Slap!

  “Put your hands—”

  Slap!

  “On women unless they consent—”

  Slap!

  He punches at me but I block it and slap him again.

  “Lawrence?” a voice I recognize shouts my name. “Liam?” she says his name too.

  We freeze in a tense struggle. I’m on top of him holding my hand in the air to hit him again. He’s grabbing at my throat and squishing my lips to the left.

  We turn and see Jenny standing in the foyer with her brother who I recognize. Her wide-eyed stare darts across the massive room to where people are filming us with their phones.

  Shit!

  Smiling, and laughing, I bring my hand down and pat Liam on the cheek before standing and stepping back from him.

  He laughs as he stands, nodding his head toward Jenny once but looking at me. “Good luck with this one, she’s a minx in the sack. Sucks harder than any whore—”

  My hand reacts before I think and the loud crack of me punching him in the face is followed by him landing, knocked out on the sofa behind us.

  “Thank you!” Josh shouts over Jenny who is screaming at her brother to call an ambulance.

  Josh walks to me as he dials and shoves me into the far corner so his bodyguards can take over the scene. People are still filming us. Jenny’s bent over Liam, patting him gently on the cheek.

  “Please tell me you’re the guy?” Josh asks.

  “The guy?” The way he says it catches me off guard. She told her brother about me? “Lawrence, but everyone calls me Lori,” I say, winded and holding my throbbing hand out for Josh to take.

  “I’m Josh, Jenny’s brother. That was a sweet shot, bro,” he says before he speaks into the phone, “Yeah, there’s a dude with a glass jaw knocked out for talking smack at the Ritz Carlton downtown. Oh, never mind, he’s awake now.” He hangs up and glances at me. “Should have hit him harder.”

  “I might still.” I’m vibrating with anger and something else. It’s a need to pull her into my arms and make sure she’s okay. But if looks could kill, I’d die a thousand deaths for every glare she shoots my way.

  Liam shoves Jenny off him and gets up, staggering away as a group of people surround him as if protecting him. I wonder where they were a minute ago.

  Jenny storms over to Josh and me. “Are you insane?”

  “Sorry, Lori, she means thanks for defending my honor.” Josh scowls at his sister. They make the same faces.

  “I don’t mean that!” She gives Josh and me both the death stare. The bad one. “I’m going to be fired over this! I don’t want to see either of you right now! Get out of here!”

  “I’ll call Stan and tell him—”

  “Don’t,” she snaps at me, her eyes are wild. “You’ve done enough.” She leaves, stomping to the elevators.

  “That went well,” I mutter.

  “She’ll cool off and see you did the right thing. The guy needed a beating.” Josh glances at me. “You wanna hang at my place, since she isn’t going to let you up there?” It’s an awkward offer, considering I don’t know him, but I think he’s too stoned to make that connection. Or he’s just a typical Canadian.

  “Yeah, sure.” I nod and follow him to the limo out front, though my heart has followed Jenny.

  People are still recording us. I’m still amped up, but the realization I’ve fucked up and have no idea how to fix it hits as we get into the limo and stare back at the hotel lobby.

  I lift my phone. “You mind if I make a quick call?”

  “No. Give’er.” He lights a vape with hash and offers me some but I pass.

  “I’m good.” Instead, I call Matt.

  “Hello?” he wheezes and whispers into the phone. “You better be dead. And if this call wakes Eli, I will kill you.”

  “Oh fuck, sorry. It’s like four in the morning, isn’t it?” I slap my forehead. “I’m in LA. I forgot. I messed up and need advice.”

  “Beverly,” he whispers and ends the call.

  I
stare at the phone for a second before calling Bev.

  “Honest to God, this better be important. It’s four in the goddamned morning, Lori!” she shouts because of course she wakes angry.

  “I fucked up.”

  “No, bro, you didn’t.” Josh waves me off.

  “Who is that?” Bev asks shortly.

  I put the phone on speaker. “Bev, this is Josh, Jenny’s older brother. You’re on speaker. We’re in his car.”

  “Jenny’s brother, the singer?” Bev never sounds impressed unless she’s talking to Jenny.

  “Yeah. Nice to meet you, Bev! You missed it, man. Our boy, Lawrence, here just knocked Liam Farringdon, that asshat, out cold in the lobby of the Ritz. It was epic.” He lifts the vape like it’s a beer he’s toasting me with.

  “You did what?”

  I gulp. “That’s why I’m calling. I don’t know how to fix it. He was all over her, and she didn’t want it and I just—”

  “Wait, isn’t Liam Jenny’s client she was going to LA to do the junket with?” Bev is snarly at four am. “You friggin’ idiot! Did anyone see you beat him up?”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “Did anyone record it?”

  “Yes,” I mutter.

  “She’s supposed to put out the fires, Lori, not be part of burning everything down. This is gonna get her in trouble at work. And then what? Stan figures out you’re dating even though you’re her client. Do you honestly think he’ll be excited?”

  “Right.” I see where she’s going with this. “I could call Stan and explain.”

  “Lori, shut the hell up. Jenny is not the kind of girl who wants the guy she’s sleeping with to call her boss and explain anything to him.”

  “That’s true,” Josh agrees.

  “What do I do?”

  “Give her some space. You’ve just dumped a pile of work in her lap and outed her for sleeping with a client.” She pauses. “Sorry, Josh.”

  “It’s cool. She’s her own woman.” He hits the vape hard.

  “Is he getting high?” Bev asks.

  “Yeah, I think he’s been high from the moment I met him.”

  “Yup!” Josh says through the exhale.

  “I’m going back to bed, Lori. Don’t call her. Leave her alone. Apologize when this blows over. You’re an idiot.” She ends the call.

  “That’s the scariest-sounding girl I’ve ever heard in my life.”

  “Yeah, she is. Much scarier in real life.” I sit back and contemplate how to fix this. “She and Jenny are like two peas in a pod.”

  “Listen, man, don’t worry about this. Jenny’s into you. She might not show it or say it or ever give you a hint of it, but I’ve never seen her like this.” He hits the vape again and opens the window so the smoke starts to slither out it. “And I’m assuming since you came all the way from New York to beat Liam’s ass, you’re into her?”

  I don’t bother explaining where I came from but nod.

  He nods too but is silent for a moment and then, as if coming out of his stoned daydream, he blurts, “Are you serious about her?”

  “What?” I’m caught by surprise.

  “No offense but you’re young, rich, playing hockey, surrounded by girls who want you. As someone in a similar lifestyle, I can’t imagine being serious about one girl right now.” He cracks a grin. “So it makes me curious that you’re this into her after knowing her for what now, a month?”

  “Just shy of a month.” I laugh. “And the funny part is she is the last thing on earth I thought I wanted.” The words feel like a lie though they’re not. I didn’t want a girlfriend or even a serious fling. “But these last few weeks have been awful.”

  “Awful?” He sits back, cocking an eyebrow at me. “Why awful?”

  Remembering this is her brother, I choose my words carefully. “We hung out at the wedding and instantly—” I sigh. “And when we parted, I couldn’t stop thinking about her, but I’ve never pursued a girl in my life.”

  “Right. That’s a problem.” He laughs, understanding the issue.

  “So for weeks now I’ve blown the whole thing. I gave her space when I shouldn’t have, I came on too strong when I should have backed off.” A desperate chuckle escapes my lips with a sigh as I run my hands over my face. “I’m desperate and obsessed with making her mine, but she’s so independent and difficult.”

  “That’s all I needed to hear, bro. You have my blessing to date my sister. And I’ll do everything I can to help you win her stubborn ass over.” He leans across the space between us and slaps me on the shoulder.

  I imagine he hoped to soothe my agitation but honestly, his blessing makes it all worse. And his words that follow add to that.

  “Because this is a team effort. You have no idea what you’re in for. She brings new meaning to the word ‘independent.’ Our stepmom made it impossible for Jenny to succeed at anything. Any time Jenny did something amazing, Judith would raise the bar of her approval. She’s a real asshole and Jenny puts way too much stock in her opinion, though she’ll never admit to it.” He sighs and hits the vape again.

  He’s like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland, trying to help but ultimately creating a lot of doubts and questions, while he gets stoned.

  He talks and the pit in my stomach deepens.

  3

  Got your back

  Monday, July 10

  Jenny

  Pacing in my office, I replay the video for the hundredth time, stunned at what I see.

  Liam hits.

  Lawrence moves like he has some training in fighting, which wouldn’t surprise me at this point. And then Lori has Liam on the ground, slapping him openhanded while telling him not to put his hands on ladies unless they consent.

  Jesus.

  “Admit it’s kind of hot,” Sukii says as she listens to the video while I pace and press replay, unable to bear the part where Liam says I sucked him off.

  “No, it’s not. It’s insane. He came all the way from Vancouver to beat up Liam for putting his hands on me. What am I, the damsel in distress?” I’m sweating again. So much for Ben being the issue. “I don’t need that kind of nonsense in my life.”

  “Maybe you do. You weren’t saying anything, just letting it happen.”

  “What was I supposed to say, Sukii? The cameras were rolling all around us.”

  “Mmmhmm.” She arches an eyebrow at me. “I think it’s hot that Lori cared enough to come all that way to dole out a beating. Liam’s a twat.”

  “So?” I say exasperatedly.

  “Lori is normally so chill and cool; for him to go from fun to alpha beating Liam in the lobby, that shows you the guy deserved what he got. I give that five stars, Jenny. Fuck it. Six stars. He gets a bonus for not punching until the end when Liam said that gross stuff.” She folds her arms over her chest.

  “I’m not saying Liam didn’t deserve it. I’m saying I’ll be fired when Stan comes out of that meeting, and homeless because I’m an idiot who took an apartment as a bribe from my boss.” I’m huffing my breaths again and the sweat worsens.

  “Stan won’t fire you. You’re a rock star. And even if he does, it’s a job and an apartment, Jenny. What if Lori is your soul mate?”

  “Oh my God.” I take deep breaths. “If he was my soul mate, he would know I don’t need defending,” I snap at her.

  “Clearly, you did. You weren’t stopping Liam’s bullshit behavior.”

  “Oh my God.” I cover my burning face. “You don’t get it. If I’d put a stop to his behavior, I would have been fired sooner. Homeless sooner.” I can’t believe I’m defending Liam or how he treated me. My brother’s words of “Stan whoring me out” flit about my mind. If I hadn’t taken the stupid apartment, none of this would be happening.

  “Again, who cares? Come stay with me. It’s no Midtown stunner with a view of the park, but it’s cute and cozy.” She walks to the door but turns to tease me, “Or you could always stay with Lori.”

  “His name is La
wrence.” I glare at her but soften as a bit of truth seeps out, “Besides, I doubt he’s speaking to me. I’m scared he believes what Liam said about me sucking—” my voice cracks.

  “Oh my God.” Sukii rushes me and wraps her arms around me. “Don’t cry at work. Just remember, you’re the paintball bitch who slaughtered the Rangers with a team of hillbillies. You don’t cry here. You save it for the shower like a winner.”

  It takes a second before I button up my emotions and nod. “Thanks.”

  “Okay, just stay calm. Stan won’t fire you. Everything will be fine. But I’ve got to get back to work. I legit can’t afford to get fired if I’m gonna be your sugar momma.” She squeezes my hand and leaves as I go back to pacing, taking deep breaths but it isn’t helping. I’ve been stuck at this same level of anxiety since I left LA.

  Coming back from the junket was brutal. Josh arranged a private flight for me, but somehow the paparazzi knew where I lived and were waiting.

  I spent Sunday night pacing while eating ice cream and staring at the varying TMZ reports coming in. They were accurate, apart from what they thought had happened between me and Liam.

  It worsened the moment Stan sent a message saying he would need to see me Monday morning at eight am, sharp. The meeting of all the senior partners in the boardroom suggested trouble.

  And now it’s ten in the morning and they haven’t come out.

  Finally, the boardroom door opens and oddly enough Lawrence exits first, his eyes dart to me in the doorway of my office. The pained expression on his face stops my heart. Why’s he here? Oh God. Is he in trouble too?

  He clenches his jaw and turns, walking to the elevator. He doesn’t try to speak to me. Stan follows him out with the senior partners and I don’t know what to make of it. He waves at someone leaving with Lawrence then makes his way to my office.

  “Jenny, good, you’re here. Sorry that took so long. We weren’t expecting Mr. Eckelston to come in. But I’m glad he did.” He enters my office and I close the door for him. “Before we start, I want you to know, I’m disappointed. I thought you were ready to take on a client solo and now I see I was wrong.”