Hard Lines & Goal Lines (Fast Ice Book 2)

by Stephanie Julian

  “I believe you’ll thank me when you hear what I have to say.”

  Gabby’s smile felt more like a grimace as she stared at her former lover. A man she couldn’t honestly believe she’d ever wanted to spend time with, much less have sex with. Now, she saw him for what he truly was.

  A petty asshole.

  She wanted him gone as soon as possible. And she really didn’t want to invite him into her office, especially not at four o’clock on a Friday afternoon when everyone else had already left for the day.

  She was literally the only person on this floor, everyone having left early because of the home game tomorrow night. The team had had practice earlier so most of them were gone as well, off to enjoy a rare free Friday. She’d planned to see Tim tonight, had hoped he’d call. They’d talked every night since Monday, the last time they’d seen each other. But there’d been something in Tim’s voice, something…off.

  She’d almost walked down to the ice, just to catch a glimpse of him, but she’d told herself it would look suspicious. Especially if she stood there and blatantly watched Tim practice.

  And now she had to deal with Rich. Ugh.

  “Okay.” She hoped her voice didn’t sound as unwelcoming as she thought it did. “I guess you should come in.”

  She walked back to her desk; putting it between them made her feel a little better. “What can I help you with?”

  He stopped directly in front of it, his smug expression making her want to bare her teeth. “I thought you’d want to know RJ’s case is going to get more complicated this week.”

  Her stomach dropped and she was pretty sure all the blood in her head rushed to her feet. Swallowing hard, she straightened her spine and gave him her best “you’re an asshole” smile. “How so?”

  Reaching into his coat pocket, he withdrew an envelope and tossed it onto her desk. For some reason, the action felt like a threat.

  Now you’re just overreacting. Chill.

  “I was told these pictures were on their way to a television station in L.A. I thought you should have a heads up.”

  Photos. Of RJ. He had photos of her brother. She reached for the envelope, trying not to treat it like a bomb about to explode in her face. Spilling them out into her hand, she leafed through them. By the time she was done, her temples throbbed with stress and anger.

  They were definitely of RJ. Couldn’t deny that. His face showed plainly in every photo. And they’d obviously been taken at a party. Was it the same party where he’d been accused, along with several other former teammates, of assaulting two women?

  The woman in the photo might have been one of the women accusing him. She certainly looked like the blonde who’d been all over the news, the twenty-one-year-old who managed to look sixteen.

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  “I was sure you’d want to see them before they made it onto the air. RJ doesn’t exactly look not-guilty in those. I know you’ve been worried. Maybe I can help you with this situation.”

  Bastard. He sounded actually happy about it.

  “And how exactly did you get these?”

  “A friend of a friend with connections in L.A. I thought, if you’d calmed down since your snit a few weeks ago, maybe I could give you a hand. Maybe discuss this over dinner tonight.”

  She caught her mouth from dropping open but only barely.

  Calmed down. Snit. Dinner.

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  His expression didn’t change and that was creepier than anything else he could have done. “I think you’re making a mistake. Why don’t you take a little time to think about my offer?”

  “Your offer of dinner or your offer for me to go to dinner with you in exchange for your silence about these pictures? I need you to spell out what you’re saying right now. Are you threatening to release this information if I don’t go out with you?”

  He looked like she’d made a lewd comment and he was someone’s really ugly spinster aunt. “Of course not. Like I said, you misunderstood. I’m trying to do you a favor. I wanted you to know what I’d heard. That’s all. I’m not threatening you. That’s absurd. Why would I do that?”

  Gabby could think of one damn good reason why he would. Because she’d broken up with him. And women didn’t break up with Rich. He dumped them.

  She wanted to say that out loud and watch him try to talk it away. Or gaslight her into believing she was the one at fault. But this bastard had threatened her brother and, until she figured out exactly what game he was playing, she couldn’t do it.

  “It certainly sounded like a threat to me.”

  Gabby turned toward the man who’d spoken. Tim stood in the doorway, anger plainly visible on his face. Obviously, he’d listened to their conversation long enough to figure out what was going on. And he was about to make things very much worse.

  “Are you okay, Gabby?”

  “I’m fine. Tim—”

  “Do you always walk into an office when the door’s closed?” Rich’s smirk set Gabby’s teeth on edge. “This is a private conversation.”

  “Not when you’re trying to blackmail a woman into going out with you.” Tim’s face was set in granite lines. “What kind of sick fuck does that?”

  Shit.

  A flush suffused Rich’s face. “That’s not what’s going on here, but I wouldn’t expect you to understand that.”

  She needed to get a handle on this. Now. “Tim—”

  “I understand a hell of a lot more than you think I do, asshole.” Tim took a few steps closer. “She said she wasn’t going out with you. Take the hint. Leave the photos and if I see them on ESPN or the NHL Network, I’m gonna know who they came from and I’m going to kick your ass.”

  Gabby wanted to roll her eyes at the testosterone flying around the room right now. She couldn’t say she was sorry Tim had walked in when he did, but now he was making a mess of a situation she didn’t want him anywhere near.

  “Tim, no.” She put her hand on his arm, his bicep tight and hard as rock beneath her palm. “He’s not worth your career.”

  “What career? He’s a second-rate backup whose time has passed.” Richard laughed, an ugly sound she barely heard because her entire attention had switched to Tim. “You’ll be traded before the year’s out. You’ll be lucky to play in the AHL next season.”

  “I think it’s time for you to go, Rich.” The words practically stuck in her throat, but she forced them out. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be hearing from you, Gabby. Have a good night.”

  She could practically hear Tim’s teeth grind, but he didn’t make a move toward the door as Rich slithered away.

  A gut-wrenching anger churned in her stomach, most of it directed at Rich, that bastard. But a tiny part of it was focused on the man glaring down at her. She knew it wasn’t fair, knew it wasn’t even rational. But she couldn’t help herself.

  “Why the hell didn’t you call me when he showed up? He’s dangerous, Gabby.”

  And when he spoke down to her like she was a child, she wanted to turn and walk out on him. But it was her office, goddammit.

  “I had the situation under control until you got here. Then you two started a pissing contest.”

  “He was fucking blackmailing you.”

  “Were you listening at the door?”

  “The door was partially closed, and I heard voices. So yeah, I listened to make sure I wasn’t interrupting anything.” He paused. “Wait. Are you mad at me? Seriously?”

  “I was handling him.” It was damn hard to speak through her gritted teeth. “You can’t just walk in here like you own me—”

  “What the hell? I don’t think I own you. I was worried about you. What if he’d done more than just threaten you? That guy’s got serious issues.”

  “Do you think I don’t know that? That I’m not smart enough to figure that out? I dumped him, remember? I don’t need a caretaker. I don’t need another father.”

  “Then what
do you need?”

  “I need someone who believes that I can take care of myself. Who doesn’t treat me like a child who needs protection.”

  “There’s a difference between wanting to protect someone you love and treating an adult like a child.”

  She blinked. Had he just—

  “Yeah, I said it.” He stared her down, his expression softening only slightly. “I mean it. I don’t care who knows. I love you. I have for years. I’m still not sure why our relationship has to be a goddamn state secret.”

  How could he not understand, after what had just happened, why she’d want to keep their affair out of the limelight?

  “Tim—”

  She cut off when he held up a hand, shaking his head and looking away.

  “No, just listen for a second.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry you think I’m treating you like a child. I don’t see it that way. My first instinct is to keep you safe. My first thought is for you.”

  Her heart melted, but he continued before she could say anything.

  “But I don’t want to be the secret you keep hidden from everyone.” He stopped, took a deep breath, and shook his head. “You have to be willing to meet me halfway. I want you and I’m not afraid for people to know. I’m gonna go. I think we can both use some space.”

  She bit her tongue against the need to say whatever it took to make him stay. Because he was right. She needed time to process.

  She wanted to say something, anything. But she didn’t even know where to start.

  “I’ll make sure that asshole’s gone.” Tim spoke over his shoulder as he headed for the door. “Call me if he hassles you again. Talk to you soon.”

  He walked through the door, leaving her blinking at his retreating back.

  “Hey, I need to talk to you about something.”

  RJ lowered the volume on the west-coast game he and Tim were half-heartedly watching Sunday night. Sitting in RJ’s living room, they both had ice packs on various parts of their body—RJ’s shoulder and Tim’s thigh—and were drinking beer, ignoring the fact they’d both played shitty games this weekend.

  RJ hadn’t said anything about the pictures that asshole had given Gabby, so he didn’t know if RJ just didn’t want to talk about it or if Gabby hadn’t said anything to him. He was betting on the latter. She probably wanted to have a plan in place before she told RJ. He understood her motivation, but it was RJ’s life being fucked with. The guy deserved to know. But if Tim told him, Gabby would know where RJ had found out. She’d be pissed and he figured she was already angry enough with him.

  “Yeah, sure. What’s up?”

  “Talked to your dad yesterday. Told him I was retiring at the end of the season.”

  “Holy shit. Seriously?” RJ looked surprised but not shocked. “I mean, I know you said you were thinking about it, but it seems kinda fast. What’d Dad say?”

  “Tried to talk me out of it at first. Then he gave me something to think about.”

  “Did he change your mind?”

  “Not about quitting, no. But he did float an idea. He asked if I’d thought about becoming a goalie coach.”

  RJ’s brows drew down. “Really? Is Ellis retiring? No, wait. Collins. In Reading. I heard he was having some health issues.”

  “Yeah, I heard that too, but your dad didn’t say and I didn’t ask.”

  “So what’d you tell him?”

  “That I’d think about it.”

  “And are you?”

  “Yeah. I am.”

  RJ shook his head. “Damn, you’re really going to go through with it? You’re gonna retire? Did something happen? Or is there something else going on? Like maybe something with my sister?”

  Tim paused long enough for RJ’s lips to curve in a shit-eating grin. “And if I said yes?”

  “I’d say I don’t need details but good luck.”

  The humor in RJ’s voice made Tim smile but it was fleeting. “It’s complicated.”

  “Yeah, no shit.” RJ snorted. “Gabby’s complicated. I mean, she’s my sister and I love her but she’s so damn practical, I just wanna shake her. I’m not sure she ever has any fun.” He paused. “And I absolutely do not ever want to know what kind of fun you guys have. Man, I wanna be a good friend, but this is testing my limits.”

  Tim laughed, leaning over and clinking his bottle against RJ’s. “Don’t worry. There’s no way in hell I’m discussing my sex life with you.”

  RJ winced. “Aw, man, do you even have to say that word in relation to my sister? Not cool.”

  “I love her.”

  “Eh. Yeah, kinda knew that.”

  Hell, maybe everyone who knew him did.

  “I’m not sure she loves me. Something happened Thursday…and we haven’t talked since. I’m not sure anything I said would help right now.”

  “Did you have a fight? She can get pretty stubborn when she wants to be. She’s not mean about it. She’s just…”

  “Immoveable.”

  “Yeah, kinda like someone else I know.”

  RJ gave him a look. Tim gave him the finger.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Not sure what I can do because there’re other issues—”

  “Issues like what? Like she’s my sister and you’re my best friend?”

  “That’s part of it, yeah. There’s other shit too.”

  “Shit I should know about?”

  “Probably, yeah. Fuck it. She’s gonna know where you heard this, but you need to hear.”

  By the time he’d told RJ about the situation with Rich and the pictures, Tim felt like a fucking tattletale. And a really fucking bad friend. RJ had gone sheet white before his cheeks had bloomed fire-engine red.

  “Why the fuck didn’t she tell me?”

  “Because she figures you have enough on your plate, and she wanted to take care of it before it affected you. I’m pretty sure she would’ve handled it and then told you about it. Your sister likes to have everything in its box. I think she’s forgotten that not everything fits in a box. Sometimes life’s messy.”

  “Did you see the pictures?”

  “Yeah. It’s nothing graphic, but I’m pretty sure it shows you with your arms around one of the women who’s suing you.”

  “And that asshole she used to date had them?”

  “Yeah. But if he goes after you or Gabby, I’m pretty sure he knows I’m going to beat him into next week. And then I’ll make sure to tell the world what an asshole he is.”

  “So basically you stuck up for her and she thought you were trying to control her life. Yep. Sounds like Gabby. She’s the only one allowed to deal with this shit. Christ, what a fucking mess.”

  When RJ started to swear, Tim knew his mood had taken a nosedive. “What are you gonna do?”

  RJ shook his head, eyes closed. “I gotta talk to Gabby. I’m so sorry, man. She’s gonna know you told me.”

  “I know.”

  “When are you gonna tell her about retiring?”

  “No clue.” Tim tipped back the rest of his beer. “I don’t know when I’m gonna talk to her again. And after you talk to her, I’m not sure she’s gonna want to talk to me. Again.”

  “She will. She’s stubborn. Not stupid.”

  “But I’m not sure she loves me.”

  “She’d be stupid not to.”

  “Gabby, you can’t keep shit like this from me. When were you gonna tell me?”

  “After I’d made sure I’d taken care of it. You have enough to worry about. And this is my job. I can’t believe Tim tol—”

  “No.” Tim sliced a hand out in front of him. “You don’t get to take this out on Tim. He’s not the one at fault. You should’ve come to me right away. I know you wanted to take care of it. But it’s not your job to keep things like this away from me, especially when they affect my life. I have to know what’s coming at me.”

  Damn it. Damn it. She hated being wrong.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  “I�
�m not the only one you need to tell you’re sorry.”

  She winced, guilty and angry and hurt and not knowing how to get past it.

  RJ had knocked on her office door Tuesday morning, looking like a cover model in his suit and tie. The team’s last game before the holiday break was tonight and her brain buzzed with so many details about that and the upcoming holiday

  She’d been surprised to see him this early but then she’d looked at her watch and realized it was close to noon. She’d been keeping herself busy, her brain filled with last-minute details for the team and the holidays. Trying not to think about Tim.

  Which was exactly what RJ wanted her to think about.

  She looked him straight in the eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  RJ’s brows arched. “Don’t bullshit me, little sister. And don’t bullshit yourself. You know he was right to tell me.”

  The urge to pout and stamp her feet like a child nearly overwhelmed her but, damn it again, he was right. And that just made it all worse. She’d spent the weekend moping because she wasn’t with Tim. Had watched him go in to save the game Sunday only to lose it by letting in another two goals. Wondered if their fight had had anything to do with his state of mind, then wondered if she was giving herself too much credit. Except…

  “I love you.”

  He’d said the words. And she’d stood there and stared at him like he had grown an extra head.

  Sighing, she picked up a pencil from her desk and tossed it across the desk at RJ.

  “Why are you not threatening to scalp me?”

  RJ’s half-hearted grin hurt her heart. “Because I love you and I know you thought you were doing the right thing. But this mess is mine. The mess with Tim… That’s all on you.”

  Not caring how old she was, she made a face and stuck out her tongue.

  “That is definitely none of your business.”

  RJ laughed but she could tell his heart wasn’t in it. “Hey, if you can meddle in my life, I get to meddle in yours. Wanna tell me why you’re keeping him at arms’ length?”

  She hadn’t exactly kept Tim at arms’ length, but she was pretty sure her brother didn’t want to hear how close Tim had gotten to her.