by Stacey Lynn
But two were also from Connor.
This wasn’t me. We need to talk.
Fuck! I can explain. Call me ASAP.
I sent Gage a text back. We’ll talk later. And dropped the phone into my purse. I had no strength to deal with this. Not now.
Not when I knew better and should have handled everything differently.
And as for Connor? He could take a long leap off a short pier because there was no way I was giving him the time of day.
Twenty-Nine
Gage
I stabbed the decline button on my phone for the millionth time since our Public Relations rep rushed into the workout room, a printout of emails in her hand earlier. As soon as I saw the blood drain from her face, quickly followed by a hot pink on her cheeks, I clutched the papers in my hand without looking at them.
She didn’t have to tell me.
Photos had been released. This was an epic fuck-up and it took me twenty seconds to debate who to go after first: Elizabeth or Connor.
Fucking shithead. He was worse than a pesky mosquito you couldn’t kill.
Coach Pomville reamed my ass in the workout room in front of the whole team. Since then, my phone blew up. Karen from the hospital had called, almost screeching her fears into my phone. Which sounded much more shrill coming through my SUV’s Bluetooth speakers when I was listening to voicemails. My agent Patrick wouldn’t stop calling and I’d handle all of it. I’d already texted Patrick. We’d talk, but my career wasn’t my priority.
Elizabeth was.
Lizzie likes kink. Because of course who did this would make it about her, and not me. My hands gripped my steering wheel tighter as I turned into her apartment building. If shit was bad for me, it was worse for her and we knew the risks of this. But how could I have been stupid enough to forget them? I was the one who’d approach her in the public room at Velvet. I was the one who revealed who I was. I was the one who kissed her like she was my next breath outside where any asshole could see.
I should have gone to the Rough Riders’ PR team as soon as I knew Connor had those photos. They could have at least been prepared for this to happen. But I’d trusted him when he said he wouldn’t do anything. The man must not like his balls as much I assumed he did.
Revenge was the only thing keeping me sane, which was fucked up in itself. But for the last three hours, I’d had plenty of time to plan on how to get even with that asshole while Elizabeth continued ignoring every one of my texts after she sent a reply of “we’ll talk later,” that told me nothing.
I called the station, smart enough to remember her friend Amanda’s name and asked for her directly. She’d told me everything she knew. Elizabeth was sent home, suspended indefinitely. Which meant she had to be at home.
But her car wasn’t anywhere in the parking lot as I yanked the Navigator into the visitor spot. I took the stairs to her place three at a time, breathless as I reached her door and pounded on it repeatedly. There was no answer so I yanked out my phone and called her.
“Hello, you’ve reached Elizabeth—”
I hit the End button on my phone and rested my head against the door. She wasn’t home.
Where would she be?
If she was so damn embarrassed by the fallout from both of our mistakes and wanted to hide, where would that be?
Her family.
“Fuck,” I groaned and slammed my fist to her door.
I ran back down to my car and folded myself inside. It took awhile for me to remember, but I replayed the night she talked about her brothers. Jaxon. Tanner. Blake. They’d all be Hayes. And her dad’s name? My fingers rapidly tapped the center console as I tried to remember. By the time she talked about her parents, I’d been thinking of how sweet her mouth would be wrapped around my cock. Richard? Rob? No. It was Ron.
I scribbled down their names as I thought of them onto a scrap of paper and it took me one second to figure out whom to reach out to first.
Beaux.
I had to call Jaxon. The man was lethal enough if he got wind of this before I could warn him, he’d have my ass in a sling.
Before I called Beaux, I did something marginally insane. Pulling up an address site online, I found her other two brothers’ and parents’ home addresses, listed publicly and wrote them down.
I’d start with Jaxon. Then if I had to, I’d drive all over the tri-metro area until I found where she was hiding.
“Let’s just hope this day doesn’t end with Kinky Sex Fetish wide receiver turns stalker.” Right. Because that was all I needed. “Shit, Elizabeth. Where in the fuck are you?”
It didn’t matter. I’d find her. I threw my SUV into the parking spot and pulled up Beaux’s name and as soon as he answered, I said, “Need some help. You got Jaxon’s number?”
His laugh wasn’t pretty. More scared for me. “Yeah but not sure he’s going to want to talk to you.”
“Yeah well, better from me than someone else.”
“Your funeral, Gage, either way, really. Dude scares the shit out of me on a good day.”
“Not what I need Beaux. Just the number.”
“I’ll text it to you. You okay? Coach is pissed the hell off.”
“I know. I’ll fix it. Somehow.”
He made a choking sound and my pulse turned rabid. “Good luck. Call if you need me.”
“Will do.” I hung up and when he texted me the phone number, I was a dead man walking toward the electric chair as I gathered up my balls and called Jaxon.
An hour and a half later, I had survived a potentially deadly phone call with Jaxon, and finally found Elizabeth’s Explorer. I was able to enlist his help and he said he’d get guys on hunting down the IP Address so we could at least figure out who sent the emails and he’d come home if he had to.
She was at Blake’s house. Of course that’s where she’d go. She’d told me he and Jaxon were her most overprotective brothers and there was no way she’d go to her parents’ house and tell them how we met.
And she might not have told Blake, but she was close with his wife.
I parked at the curb in front of the house and checked my phone. I should have turned it off, but the sick part of me had to know what was being said.
Essentially, I’d be deleting my Twitter account immediately. People were crazy there.
Another call from Patrick came through and I sighed, staring out the window at Blake’s house. I needed to get to Elizabeth, but I also had to talk to him. He’d been calling for hours and he wasn’t the guy I wanted to piss off.
“Yeah, I know, I’m an idiot,” I said by way of answering. “What’s the damage?”
“To you or her?” Patrick said. This is why I liked him, he didn’t mince words.
“Her. Although I already know she’s suspended.” I couldn’t give a shit about me.
“Bad to be honest, but not as bad as it could be. It appears there are millions of women in the world with a kinky side and some of these comments are making me uncomfortable.”
“Shit. That’s not what I wanted to hear.”
“Seriously, Gage. There are some fucking perverted women out there. You should hear—“
“No.” God no. That was the last thing I needed to hear. “What’s my damage? What’s it looking like?”
“Been on the phone with the hospital. They’re not pleased, obviously. But right now, it’s a lot of speculation. So you’re kissing a woman in public? Who cares you know? And fortunately on the photos, there’s no sign you’re really outside a sex club. So… you know, like I said, could be worse.”
“Who’s picked it up?”
“Every gossip blog on the planet but legitimate news stories seem to be steering clear for now.” He sighed in the phone. “That could change, Gage. And if more photos are shown. Right now it’s you kissing a reporter and no proof at the mention of the sex club. We can handle this. But the hospital is pissed and I don’t know what that’ll mean for the opening or your role. And for the woman? She’s a reporter making out with the guy
she’s been following for weeks. That doesn’t look good and that’s where it’s bad for her.”
“Fuck.” I scrubbed a hand down my face and blinked. There was movement at the window. A curtain fluttered. Moments later, another one moved. I had to get out of the SUV before I really did get picked up for stalking. “Keep me posted?”
“Obviously. But if I’m calling, it’s important to answer your damn phone.”
“I will. Later.”
I ended the call and jumped out of my SUV. I was halfway to the front door when it opened. Expecting Elizabeth to step onto the porch of the small two-story home that looked like every home on the street, with pretty little lawns probably courtesy of strict HOA rules, I stopped when a man stepped out.
“You must be Blake,” I said.
“You must be the asshole who’s totally fucked over my sister and killed her dream.”
I hadn’t done shit to his sister except fuck her, but I wasn’t arguing with the guy. He looked like he ate nails for breakfast and I might have been a big guy, but I kept my pounding to the football field. With pads. And rules.
Blake looked like bar brawls were his favorite pastime.
“I came to talk to her.”
He crossed his massive biceps over his chest. I might have been intimidated by him, but honestly, I didn’t give a shit. This was Elizabeth’s and my’s problem to deal with and we had to do it on our own. If she didn’t want anything to do with me after I possibly ruined her chance at her dream like Blake implied, it was still her job to tell me.
“Who says she wants to talk to you?”
“Maybe she doesn’t.” I stepped toward him until I was a step below him. For a brief moment, his asshole glare dissipated. Like he just realized who he was in front of and I’d timed my visit on a day where he was wearing a blue shirt with the Rough Riders logo on his chest. The man was a fan. But still a big brother. “But I wouldn’t be the guy I was if I didn’t track her down to try to work this out face to face and see where she’s at, what she’s dealing with. I care about her, Blake. And I’ve already got people working on fixing it, including Jaxon.”
“You got gonads of steel if you called him.”
Gross description of my balls aside, I gave him that. “And I’d like to keep them, which is why I called. He’s already called his office to figure out who sent the emails. But Elizabeth right now is my priority. So you can stand there and play her bodyguard, but I’ll give you five seconds to decide if you want me to force my way in, or let me do what I need to do.”
“You’re tough,” he replied. Still glaring. Then he grinned. “And if you don’t take my team to the Super Bowl this year, I’ll kick your ass.”
Damn fans. I chuckled despite the tense and fucked up day. “I’ll see what I can do. That I can promise.”
“All right. She’s in the living room, pissed I made her stay there while I told her I was coming out here to kick your ass. She’ll be happy to see I didn’t follow through.” He stepped back and toward the door.
“If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll let you get one punch in.”
He grinned. “Really?”
I shot him a look. “No.”
“Bummer. Would like to be able to tell the guys at the garage I beat the shit out of Gage Bryant. They’d probably give me a medal. Or they’d kill me.” He shrugged like either option was okay with him. “Come on in. Need a drink?”
A bottle of bourbon sounded fantastic. Too bad I didn’t drink during the season. “I’m good.”
Thirty
Elizabeth
Gage walked into my brother’s living room without a bruise in sight, which showed good things. When I showed up at Blake’s, needing Haley and her world famous hugs, I hadn’t expected Blake to be there. Bad timing on my part because it took him three seconds of looking at my tear-stained face before he went into a rampage.
Explaining everything to him was harder. Telling them the whole story of how I got involved with Gage, at his insistence, was harder.
Difficult to tell your brother about your sex kink and not want to vomit onto his carpet. Fortunately for me, I didn’t need Haley cleaning up their house when she was already battling morning sickness.
“Ohh, he’s even larger in person,” Haley whispered next to me.
I rolled my eyes and grinned at her. “Everywhere.” I wiggled my brows and stood from the couch.
“Lucky bitch,” she muttered and stood next to me. “Hi Gage, I’m Haley, Blake’s wife and you can ignore all his threats. He’s a big cuddly teddy bear in lion’s clothing.”
Gage walked toward her and held out his hand to shake it. “I’ll take your word for it. Nice to meet you.”
“You too.” She held onto his hand a bit too long before letting go. “Blake and I will let you two talk.” She glared at her husband. “Kitchen, Blake.”
He stood like a guard behind Gage. “I’m good here.”
My eyes rolled again. “It’s fine, Blake.”
“No, it’s not. He’s cost you your job and I want answers, especially about Jaxon.”
What? I whipped my gaze to Gage. “What’s he talking about?”
Gage slid his hands to his hips. He was wearing black athletic pants and one of those dri-fit athletic looking shirts. It was snug all over him and maintaining eye contact, especially as he rocked back on his heels, was difficult. “I got a hold of Jaxon. He’s making some calls and might head back.”
“But he’s on a job.”
“One I’m pretty sure he’d put on pause to help his sister,” Gage said. “Also, he was fucking pissed, but I didn’t want word to get out without me talking to him. Setting things straight.”
My brain bounced. Setting things straight? “What’d you tell him?”
“Everything.”
Oh God. I wobbled backward and settled my hand on the back of the couch. My brother’s house wasn’t big. A small two story with a simple kitchen and dining area. And considering it was all open concept, Haley’s offer to head to the kitchen was pretty worthless.
“You told Jaxon about Velvet?”
“Jesus,” Blake groaned. “I don’t even want to know how my little sister learned about those kinds of places. Stop saying it.”
“Don’t mind him,” I told Gage. “But talk.”
“I had to.” He stepped closer. My grip on the back of my brother’s couch tightened. God, the man was delicious and I’d felt bad for ignoring all his frantic calls and texts earlier, I just needed a minute to get my head wrapped around everything happening. I needed quiet. And people who loved me. “He’s going to find who sent the emails and we’ll go from there. The good news is, I talked to my agent.”
“There’s good news?” The only good news I needed to hear was that I wasn’t being fired. I’d handle stories at the zoo for the rest of my life if it meant I could keep doing what I loved.
“None of the pictures released show any proof of Velvet. So all it really is is speculation, and gossip about me finally having a girlfriend. According to thousands of fans of mine, the male ones are pissed I’m not actually gay.”
He huffed a laugh, shaking his head. Who would have thought I’d be able to smile at anything. “Well, that’s good for you.”
His expression fell and he reached for me. I wasn’t quite ready for contact with him. Even though this wasn’t his fault. It was mine. All of it, really. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. About your suspension. I called Amanda.”
“Well, wow. You’re just taking care of everything aren’t you?” I said it with a bite I didn’t fully mean, but he was invading everything. My family. My job.
“You wouldn’t return my calls and I was worried. Please.” He glanced at Blake and Haley. “Can we go somewhere and talk? Figure out what happens next?”
That was the part of my plan I had no clue what to do. If I stayed with Gage what would it mean for my job? If I walked away, what would it mean for my heart? There weren’t easy answers for any of it.
“This isn’t your fault, you know. Not really. I wasn’t suspended for kissing you outside a sex club. I was suspended for making out with the subject of one of my stories. It’s unethical and shows poor judgment.”
“I get that. And obviously there are things we should have done differently, even me once I knew who you were, but we can’t go back.”
“But can we go forward?” I asked. My throat burned at the question. The doubt. The fear. The wondering.
“I’m hoping we can figure out a way to get there, yes.” Oh, my heart. My poor aching heart melted at his words. The sweetness in his dark, stressed eyes.
Next to me, Haley sighed and placed her hand to her chest. “Oh, you two are so sweet.”
Only she would think any of this was sweet. I glared at her and she shrugged. “What? I mean, he’s hot and he’s taking care of you. I like it.”
“He’s also in the room,” I told her.
“Yeah, I don’t think he minds.” She winked at Gage who didn’t look amused.
“Actually I do.” He held out his hand to me. “Come home with me. Let’s figure it out.”
Smart or not, being with him was the only place I knew I’d be able to think clearly.
I grabbed my purse and dug out my keys, tossing them to Blake. “I’ll come get my car sometime, but in case you need to move it.”
He grabbed them out of the air and skewered Gage with a poisonous glare that would have most men melting to ash. Fortunately for Gage, he wasn’t most men. “Swear to God, you make this right for her. And expect I’ll be calling Jaxon as soon as you leave.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less,” Gage said. He held out his hand and Blake only hesitated for a split second before gripping it. “I’ve got this. Promise.”
“Good.” Blake let go and turned to me. “Take care, sis. And call me if you need anything.”
“Um.” I scratched the back of my neck and flinched. “Well, can you tell mom and dad?”
“You want me to tell mom and dad you met your guy at a sex club? You fucking insane?”
