by Anna Sugden
“Oh, Em. You know how devious she is. I thought we agreed you’d change where you keep the cash box every time you got your paycheck.”
Sapphie had given up trying to convince Emerald that she should keep her money in the bank account Sapphie had set up. Even though the thought of her sister with a checkbook, or worse, a credit card, sent shivers through her—especially if their mother could lay her hands on them as easily as she did the cash box—Sapphie had hoped it might provide some protection for Emerald. But like most everyone in town, her sister didn’t use the account; she paid cash for everything.
“I did. This week, I put it out in the shed, behind the tools. But I have a date with Jimmy Lee tonight and I wanted to buy a pretty dress in Simpson’s and I don’t get paid again until Monday. So yesterday I borrowed some of the grocery money and put the tin in my bedside cabinet to remind me to repay it from my wages. I forgot it was there, until I found Mom passed out on her bed, with the empties beside her. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay. Don’t worry. We’ll fix this.”
Sapphie rubbed her forehead. Though she was only four years older, she’d been taking care of her sister for as long as she could remember. The pull of drink had always been stronger for Ruby Houlihan than any maternal instinct. Their mother took advantage of Emerald’s gentle nature whenever she could.
Sapphie loved Emerald dearly, but her sister was a naive, little bunny in the den of a conniving fox.
This kind of mess was why Sapphie had left her hometown as soon as she could. And why she never went to visit for longer than a couple days. She still regretted that she hadn’t taken Em with her, even though her sister hadn’t wanted to leave any more than Sapphie could have stayed. And she felt guilty that the money she sent Em every month wasn’t the same as being there in person. But it was the best Sapphie could do. It was a solution that suited everyone involved.
She checked her watch. It wasn’t too late to get money to Emerald today so there would be food in the house for the weekend. “As soon as I hang up, I’ll wire you some money to tide you over. Like always, you should be able to collect it when you go to the store.”
“Thanks, Sapphie. You’re the best.”
Financial crisis averted, the sisters chatted briefly about Emerald’s new boyfriend—a guy from a couple towns away who was as sweet natured as she was. Sapphie hoped the two might get serious, getting her sister away from their mother’s grasp.
“When are you coming home?” Em asked wistfully. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. Remember you’re coming to visit me for Thanksgiving.” She and Issy had arranged for their sisters to visit Jersey, rather than the other way around, this year.
“I can’t wait.” Emerald sighed. “Mom’s not happy. She’s angling to come, too.”
No way in hell.
Her sister continued, “She says Thanksgiving is a family holiday.”
Yeah, right. Like their mother gave a damn about family. Ruby cared only about herself and who she could beg, borrow or steal her next drink from. Her attempts at a guilt trip hadn’t worked on Sapphie for years.
“There isn’t room for her to come, Em.” Sapphie softened her refusal. “If she gives you a hard time, I’ll speak to her.”
Just then, Scotty’s black SUV pulled into the parking space in front of her building. He waved as he climbed out.
Her heart gave a little thunk. He looked good in his khaki shorts and red polo shirt. The man had great legs. Must be all that skating.
“I have to go, Em. My ride is here. I’ll speak to you when I get to Chicago.”
While Sapphie finished her phone call and wired the money to her sister, Scotty put her suitcase in his car.
She finally put her phone away and smiled at him. “Sorry, family troubles.”
“I hear you.” He held open the car door for her, then closed it and went around the other side to climb in. “Everything okay?”
“Not really, but it’s not serious.” She was embarrassed to share the details of her dysfunctional family with him. “My sister needed some money.”
“Been there, done that, got that T-shirt.”
“Really?” She looked up, surprised, from fastening her seat belt. “You have sister problems, too?”
“Hell yeah. My mom’s great, but my sister is a pain in the ass.” He drove out of the lot. “Mom runs a bar in a nowhere small town in northern Canada. My father isn’t in the picture. He worked on the oil pipeline and hooked up with Mom one weekend in Edmonton, then disappeared into the Northwest Territories.”
“Nice. Not.”
He shrugged. “Happens a lot. At least he didn’t marry her and abuse her.”
“True.” Sapphie thought of her own father, who had married Ruby when he’d gotten her pregnant. They’d both been mean drunks who liked nothing better than to scream at each other and anyone who got in their way.
“I have a half sister who either doesn’t talk to me or harangues me with the Bible because—” he lowered his voice, as if talking about something shocking “—I play hockey—an evil, violent, godless game. She lives at home and works in Mom’s bar. When I say works, I mean that loosely. Her father never married my mother either and isn’t on the scene.” He looked at her and grinned. “Enough problems for you?”
“I definitely don’t feel abnormal anymore.”
What she didn’t get was why he was so determined to have a relationship when he clearly hadn’t grown up in a happy family and his own marriage had fallen apart. She’d have thought it would be the last thing he’d want.
Scotty flicked the indicator, then joined the slip-road for I-95. Once he’d merged into traffic, he asked, “So, what’s your story?”
“It’s almost as pitiful as yours. Although my sister, Emerald, is a sweetie.”
“Seriously? Your parents named you after gemstones?”
Sapphie twisted her lips. “It’s a Southern thing. My mother’s name is Ruby. My granny was Pearl, and I have aunties called Opal, Garnet and Topaz.”
“Go figure.”
Despite what he’d shared, Sapphie was just as embarrassed as she always was when it came to explaining about her family.
“I grew up in the same kind of nowhere place but in North Carolina. A lot of poor folks, very few jobs and a lot of hand-to-mouth living. Issy’s mom used to sum it up perfectly—‘not enough money to live, not enough money to leave.’ Her parents and mine were best friends who loved to party together.”
She decided not to sugarcoat the grim reality of her background as much as she usually did. She needed Scotty to understand why she felt so strongly about relationships and commitment. “When my parents worked, they drank their paychecks, and when they were unemployed, they drank what anyone else got them. They didn’t care about their kids, only about getting loaded. As soon as I was old enough, I took care of myself and my sister. I was the one who made sure there was food on the table and a roof over our heads. I also made sure my sister went to school and did her homework.”
Scotty looked a little shell-shocked. “Your sister still lives at home?”
“As soon as I could afford it, I helped her buy her own place, hoping to get her away from our parents. It worked for a while, but when our father was killed in a drunk-driving accident, Mom told Em she couldn’t handle living on her own and my softhearted sister bought it.”
Scotty whistled through his teeth. “Man, that’s tough. I never would have guessed where you came from and what you’ve been through.”
She didn’t need his pity, just for him to get why she was determined never to be shackled by family and responsibilities again. “I’ve worked hard to leave it behind.”
“At least my mom always looked after us. And she was the one who got me into hockey, which gave me my ticket out. When I moved in
to billets, I got lucky with a nice family. I stayed with them until I got married and had my own family.”
Sapphie realized that while on the surface their pasts seemed to have a lot in common, their stories had taken different turns, with different results. Scotty, like Issy, yearned for stability through marriage and family. For Sapphie, stability came through her financial independence. Freedom and control of her own life mattered more than anything.
Scotty must also have seen how their paths had diverged, because he asked, “Is this why you don’t want to date?”
“I won’t be dependent on anyone else for my happiness or well-being. I also don’t want the responsibility for other people’s lives.”
“You’re still taking care of your sister.”
“She has her own life. She works a couple jobs—at the local pharmacy during the week and at the hardware store on weekends. I mainly send her money to help out when she needs it.” He didn’t need to know about her guilt.
Scotty didn’t look convinced by her airy tone. “What about your business? You look after your employees.”
“Sure, but I don’t have to worry about them beyond work. What happens in their personal lives isn’t my business.” That wasn’t strictly true—she wasn’t heartless—but telling him wouldn’t help her case.
“It’s funny how similar stories led to different outcomes. Despite my unconventional upbringing and my wife leaving me, I haven’t given up on marriage or family.”
Sapphie didn’t want to pry, but curiosity overrode her good intentions. “I read that your split was amicable.”
“It was, in the end—I just didn’t expect it. I thought when I retired, we’d spend time together, doing all the things we never had a chance to when I was playing. But she wanted her own life, which I didn’t fit into.”
She wasn’t sure what to say. “I’m sorry.”
“It was tough at first, but I’m okay now. With the benefit of hindsight I can see that we’d grown apart. And I have two fabulous children who I adore and am very proud of. I’ve tried hard not to let the divorce come between us.” He shot her a quick smile. “As for the future, the right woman is out there for me and this time it will work.”
Although he didn’t add that he wanted that woman to be her, it was in his eyes.
Sapphie looked away, pretending an interest in the passing scenery as they exited the freeway for the main street of a nearby town.
This conversation proved her concerns. He was looking for someone to settle down with. To have the retirement he’d wanted with his wife. That wasn’t her. Would never be her.
“Don’t worry,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I won’t break the rules.”
Sapphie hoped not, because she really didn’t want to hurt him.
She didn’t have to come up with a response, because he turned into the parking lot of an old-fashioned diner.
“It may not look like much, but it has the best pancake breakfast anywhere.” He turned off the ignition.
Sapphie had driven past the stainless-steel building many times but had never stopped, despite the number of cars outside. She regarded the place with new interest. “I love pancakes.”
“It’s family run, been owned by the same folks since the ’50s. It was even featured in that TV show about the best diners.”
“In that case, definitely bring it on.”
Breakfast turned out to be every bit as delicious as Scotty had promised. Sapphie deliberately kept the conversation away from serious topics, asking him about his career before the NHL. In return, she shared stories from her college days. How she’d turned part-time office jobs into consultancy projects and then into a top-ranked business.
All too soon, though, it was time to head for the airport.
Scotty parked in the short-term lot, then helped her with her case, even though she told him he didn’t need to. He also insisted on wheeling her carry-on as he accompanied her through the terminal toward security.
Having someone there to see her off was a little weird, but she had to admit, it was also kind of nice. Walking together through the crowds of travelers felt good. Sapphie almost wished she didn’t have to leave.
Almost.
Riding the escalator to the security level, there was a moment of envy. A couple entwined in a passionate embrace made her want some of that for herself.
That wasn’t in the rules.
She turned her gaze away from the pair and said, “Thanks for breakfast. You were right—those pancakes were amazing. I’ll definitely go there again. Of course, I’ll have plenty of time over the next month...” She trailed off as he grinned. “That wasn’t babbling—it was enthusing.”
“Uh-huh.” His grin widened. “Maybe we can check them out together next weekend. Brunch on Sunday?”
Brunch was in the rules. “I’d like that.”
“Great. I’ll look forward to it.”
When they arrived at the security clearance area, she dug in her purse for her passport. As she started to say goodbye, she thought to hell with the rules. She twined her arms around his neck and pressed a hard kiss on his mouth.
Instantly, he let go of her carry-on and pulled her tightly to him, wrapping her in his arms. Parting her lips, he deepened the kiss, until she lost all sense of where they were. The sounds of the airport faded; the people around them disappeared. Her entire being was focused on him and the desire pumping through her veins.
Slowly, reluctantly, they parted. Sapphie resisted the urge to touch her lips, preserving the taste of him.
“There’s another one of those waiting for you when you get back to Jersey.” The husky rasp in Scotty’s voice added a sexy layer of promise to his words, as did the fire burning in his eyes.
“Great. I’ll look forward to it.”
His smile at her deliberate repeat of his earlier reply was wicked. And tempting. She wanted to accept the invitation and kiss him again until he was the one battling temptation.
Instead, she cleared her throat. “See you next week. Probably Thursday or Friday.”
Sapphie took her carry-on and walked over to security.
Scotty kept pace with her until she was ready to go through the machines. “Text me to let me know you got back safely.”
His request should have bothered her, but it didn’t. “Okay, but if there’s a problem, you’ll know about it soon enough.”
“Humor me.”
“Yes, sir, Captain.” She grinned and saluted him.
“Sadly, that’s former captain.”
“But you’ll always be captain to me.”
“Somehow I don’t think that gives me any special privileges.”
“You never know.”
Despite her teasing tone, electricity arced between them, charging the air. Sapphie looked away first when the line ahead of her shuffled forward.
“You’ll let me know your return flight details?” Scotty asked. “I’ll meet you.”
“All right. I’ll send them to you once they’re confirmed.”
Once Sapphie had cleared the scanners, she gave him a final wave before setting off toward her gate. She was surprised by the sense of emptiness once he was no longer in sight. She’d never hated saying goodbye before. She’d also never missed a man before.
The feeling lingered as she boarded the plane and strapped in. Instead of pulling out files, she stared out the window at the ground crew bustling around the plane, prepping it for departure. She was still looking out as the plane took off, giving her a spectacular aerial view of Manhattan. One she didn’t usually see because she had her head down working.
Maybe there was a message there. What else was she missing?
Once they were through the clouds, it was like a switch flipped in her brain. Thoughts of Scotty were pushed aside
and her business came to the fore. She had a lot to do before Monday morning’s meeting with her staff. Opening her case, she pulled out her laptop and files and got into what she did best.
* * *
MAN, IT WAS good to be on the ice.
As the Zamboni rumbled through the gate, Scott stepped out onto the surface that still glistened with water. Laying on a burst of acceleration, he headed around the rink like he was competing for the fastest skater in the All-Star Skills Competition. His laugh echoed around the empty facility. Like he’d ever been fast enough to compete in that.
Speed had never been his game. At his best, he could back-check the best in the league with devastating consequences. He could block shots, deliver a pretty mean hip check and, when necessary, drop the gloves and go the distance with all but the toughest goons. He’d stopped that once he’d gotten the C, but he reckoned he could still give most fighters a decent pounding.
Today wasn’t about any of that. It was about taking a necessary break after the past few weeks in the office. All the long hours with Callum, going over their plans and proposals before the review meeting, followed by yet more scrutiny as they revisited everything in light of the opposition view, all on top of the regular Cats business, meant that Scott hadn’t had time to hit the gym or the rink for a proper workout. A couple of long runs on the weekends hadn’t cut it. His body ached with the need for physical exercise.
After a couple dozen laps, Scott felt better than he had in days. Like he was where he belonged. It still frustrated him that he didn’t—that his only role for the team now was behind the scenes. He couldn’t imagine a day when he wouldn’t miss playing. Still, even though he couldn’t play any longer—not at the highest level and anything else was pointless—the ice would never stop being his home away from home.
He filled his lungs with the crisp, cold air tinged with the smell of popcorn and hot dogs and listened to the clacking of his skates as they moved in perfect rhythm. Yeah, this was what he’d needed. And there was nothing like a fresh sheet of ice. The feel of his blades scraping the smooth glass-like surface. The extra glide with each stroke, almost like he was flying. Heaven.
