Reforming the Playboy

by Karin Baine

  ‘We don’t need luck when we’ve got skills, bro.’ Hunter popped the sophisticated silver and black calling card into the back of his wallet along with the picture of his son.

  As he’d discovered, life never panned out the way he often expected and he had to make the most of opportunities like this where he could. It wasn’t every day he found people who still had faith in him. Charlotte had been the first person in a very long time to show that belief in him as a father and a medical professional and he’d lost her. Perhaps it was time to start over with a clean slate somewhere new.

  * * *

  The atmosphere between Charlotte and Hunter since that afternoon with Alfie felt as though someone had run the Zamboni right through it, coating the surface with fresh ice. It seemed to her they were both afraid to take the first step out and be responsible for leaving deep grooves in the calm, crisp surface.

  Things had been as cool as could be since they’d boarded the plane to Nottingham. They hadn’t moved on from small talk about the team injury list. It was probably for the best. If they ventured into more personal matters she might actually break and tell him she’d overheard his conversation with Alfie and panicked and she didn’t want him to talk her around, tell her things would work out. She was getting in way too deep.

  Hunter Torrance, her colleague as well as a single father, was more heartbreak waiting to happen. More than she was going through now. She could just about bear the broken glass stabbing pain in her chest every time she saw him, every time she imagined his lips on hers. Another afternoon spent playing happy families only to have it torn apart again would shatter what was left of her soul.

  If she’d let herself get drawn any further into their developing relationship it would’ve meant opening her heart up for two, double the potential sense of loss when it didn’t work out. It couldn’t work out. Hunter was a family man now and she was a career woman. One successful season with the Demons and her client list would be a mile long at her own clinic. Her job was her baby and it wouldn’t hurt anyone but her if she failed at it. Not that she had any intention of that now it would be receiving her full attention again.

  ‘Anderson certainly seems to be back on form. He showed me the baby scan. I guess fatherhood really does change a man.’ Even with the sound of the crowd ringing in her ears she couldn’t bear the silence between her and Hunter as they stood and watched the game, or the noise of her own thoughts.

  The Demons had five minutes left in the third and final period of play in their match with the Glasgow Braves. They were one nil down and to her amazement Anderson hadn’t lost his cool once, even after a dodgy offside decision. He’d taken it on the chin and got straight back into the game without wasting a second of play. A week ago he’d probably have been in danger of being prosecuted for GBH.

  ‘Maggie’s here, supporting him, and I know they’ve told their folks about the baby so I guess it all worked out. It’s amazing what simple communication can do for a couple.’ The barbed comment said he was still miffed by the way she’d ended things.

  Okay, she mightn’t have handled it perfectly but she’d been in a panic. She didn’t respond well when cornered and that’s how she’d felt, trapped, listening to his heart to heart with his son. Over these past years she’d learned to run rather than walk away when things started to get serious and they didn’t get more serious than having a kid in the picture.

  ‘Hunter, I—’ Her lame apology and explanation was cut off by a deafening cheer as Anderson scored an unassisted goal.

  He didn’t hear her attempt to build bridges, celebrating the equaliser with his own ‘Yes!’ as he punched the air.

  That unexpected surge of vocal passion gave her chills beneath her fleecy jacket, pinching her nipples into little beads of need begging to experience that passion again for herself.

  She would’ve failed to snag his interest again even if she had figured out what to say as tempers began to fray on the ice. With everything to lose in this semi-final both teams were involved in a bit of pushing and shoving, trying to reclaim possession of the puck. One of the Glasgow players received a two-minute penalty for roughing, giving the Demons a power play, an extra man on the ice, in the dying moments of the game.

  Shot after shot was launched at the opposition’s net with the one-player advantage, each successfully blocked by the net minder as the seconds ticked down on the scoreboard,

  Ten. Nine. Eight...

  The sound of sticks hitting rubber echoed around the arena as players valiantly fought for victory and fans held their breath for that last burst of emotion, be it joy or sorrow.

  Time seemed to stand still, players moving in slow motion as they made their final attack. The battery of Demons launched themselves down the ice in a fearsome display of gladiatorial determination to survive the battle.

  Seven. Six. Five...

  The puck passed from player to player, taking the game towards the opposition. Both teams crowded into the penalty area, a scrum ensuing in the goalmouth. The Demons’ captain, Floret, claimed the last shot with a mighty thwack.

  Goal!

  The Demons were play-off finalists.

  The arena erupted and as ecstatic as Charlotte was about the win, she knew she and Hunter wouldn’t have a chance to reconnect for the rest of the evening. Tonight’s success and preparation for tomorrow’s battle would keep them otherwise engaged. She should’ve been glad there was less chance she’d have to explore that idea of communication he was keen on but tomorrow officially ended the season, and with it this period of her life with Hunter. Even if they both returned next season, this break sounded the death knell of their relationship.

  Instead of making her feel light and carefree, the thought of no longer being part of Hunter’s or Alfie’s lives left her feeling numb.

  * * *

  It was difficult to get the players to sit still long enough for a post-game check-up. They were still buzzing behind the scenes long after that final klaxon sounded their win.

  ‘You need that hand seen to.’ She practically had to drag Evenshaw into the room so she could treat him.

  ‘Don’t fuss. It’s only a scratch,’ he said, wiping the blood down his shorts.

  Men, why did they have to be so damn stubborn?

  Take Hunter, for example. She’d ended their relationship and yet he wouldn’t stop staring at her as if he had a right to.

  As the visiting side at the arena, they didn’t have the luxury of the space they had at home to treat their patients. She was currently sharing the small box room with Hunter, acutely aware of his eyes on her regardless of the sweaty players swarming in and out.

  With an antiseptic wipe she cleaned the blood away from her patient’s palm and watched him wince despite his protestations anything was wrong. It was a clean slice, probably from someone’s blade, which thankfully wasn’t too deep. She’d seen a lot worse recently. It was a sport where speed, sharp skates and rivalry definitely didn’t mix well.

  ‘You’ll be pleased to know you don’t need stitches.’

  ‘See. I told you.’ He attempted to get up to join the rowdy celebrations next door.

  ‘Sit.’ She pushed him back down into the chair so she could dress the wound properly.

  ‘Yes, ma’am! I do like a woman in charge.’ His toothless grin and flirty wink got him nothing except a cuff on the shoulder.

  It was a joke, something she didn’t take too seriously, but one look at Hunter and she was worried he might wade in and try to protect her honour.

  ‘Ouch. Not so hard.’ The unfortunate player on the massage table took the brunt of his apparent rage. Some might have said kneading muscles a tad too roughly was an improvement on smashing up equipment but Charlotte doubted his current patient would agree.

  ‘Sorry.’ Hunter returned his gaze from Charlotte back to the b
urly thighs of the net-minder who’d overstretched during his heroic saves.

  ‘So...can I go now?’ Her patient’s impatience drew Hunter’s attention once more.

  ‘Er...yes. Try to keep that dressing dry and stay away from sharp objects.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’ He didn’t need to be told twice and bolted towards the ruckus going on in the locker room.

  ‘You’re finished too.’ Hunter gave his permission for the net-minder to go and join the celebrations too as he went to wash his hands.

  Within seconds Charlotte and Hunter were alone for the first time since she’d called things off and she tried to get out as quickly as possible to avoid a scene.

  ‘I’m looking forward to the team dinner. It’s the most important meal for staff as well as players. I think we all need to replenish our energy stores with protein and slow-acting carbs. I’m starving.’ It was a lie. Food was the last thing on her mind but if they were going to have to talk she wanted to keep it neutral.

  ‘What happened to us, Charlotte?’ Hunter seemed to see straight through her bluster, his calm, measured voice a contrast to her erratic rambling. It made her question who was actually having more trouble accepting the break-up.

  ‘It doesn’t matter, it’s over.’

  ‘Just tell me why and I’ll walk away. I won’t bother you again.’

  She knew she couldn’t keep lying to him because he’d torture himself about what he’d done wrong when in truth he’d only ever done right by his son.

  ‘I overheard you and Alfie talking and I...I couldn’t have him thinking that I’m going to be part of this new life you have planned together. It would only end in tears. His and mine if we’d carried on believing in the fairy-tale. I’m sorry.’

  He stared at her, unblinking, probably trying to rewind back to that supposedly private conversation. ‘Charlotte, he’s a frightened eight-year-old boy still mourning the loss of his mother. You think I should’ve put him right and said we’re just having a fling? I was trying to protect his feelings, to reassure him there isn’t going to be any more disruption in his life. I wasn’t asking you to be his replacement mother. All I wanted was for you to give us a chance. I’m trying to be careful about saying and doing the right thing so I don’t hurt anyone again the way I did his mother.’ Hunter’s sincerity climbed along the back of her neck and stood the hairs there to attention.

  ‘I guess it doesn’t matter now.’ If only they’d managed to leave emotions other than rampant lust out of the equation she might still be with him. Except she knew her feelings for him had gone way past merely the physical aspects of being together and distance was no longer a safety net for her fragile heart.

  ‘I guess not.’

  ‘We’ll chalk it up as another one of those teenage impulses we needed to get out of our system.’ She forced a smile but she felt sick to the stomach pretending that was all it had been to her, and to him. A part of her wanted him to fight for her and salvage something of what they’d had but he remained silent, unmoved by the suggestion.

  There was a sharp knock on the door, calling time on their heated confessional. ‘Let’s go, people. The party bus is here.’

  ‘We should really try and catch up with everyone before they leave without us.’ She turned towards the door, unable to look at him any more without tears filling her eyes. It really was over.

  * * *

  Hunter needed to go along with Charlotte’s decision to end things because it had become impossible to ignore the growing feelings he had for her. She was much more than a friend to him. Generally, his buddies were a lot hairier, missing a few teeth, and only good company over a beer or two. He didn’t spend every waking moment thinking about kissing them or wanting to knock out one of their players for coming onto her.

  After everything she’d told him about her past he could see why she was wary about getting too close but that chemistry between them wouldn’t simply dissipate because they deemed it inconvenient. It made London seem more appealing by the second if Charlotte was never going to be part of the family he wanted for himself and Alfie. He couldn’t see her day after day at work, pining for her yet knowing she didn’t feel about him the way he did about her. She was right—it wasn’t fair for Alfie either to watch him develop an attachment to someone who wasn’t in this for the long haul. There didn’t seem any point in fighting for someone who clearly didn’t want them in her life.

  They made their way back out the maze of corridors to find the team bus but a familiar meaty hand on his back soon stopped him in his steps.

  ‘Good game, eh? I suppose it doesn’t matter to you who wins or loses now. After today I do expect your loyalties to lie with the Lasers. Glad to have you on board, bud.’ Another back-slap Hunter could’ve done without forced a strained smile on his face. CC wasn’t to know his timing was completely off. It was no one else’s fault but his own that he hadn’t mentioned their conversation with Charlotte yet.

  ‘What’s he talking about?’ She was staring at him, not seeing CC’s departure, only his revelation.

  ‘I’ve been offered a permanent position with the Lasers.’

  ‘You’re leaving?’ Her brow knitted into an ever-deepening wound.

  ‘I agreed to a meeting. That’s all.’

  ‘What about Alfie?’

  ‘It was Alfie I was thinking about when I said I might be interested. I thought it could be a new start for both of us in London.’

  ‘What about the team?’

  ‘It was only meant to be a temporary position. I’m sure Gray would understand if it came down to it.’

  ‘What about me?’ Her voice was small, almost impossible to hear even in the relative quiet of the arena as the Zamboni trundled out to begin cleaning the ice. If only life was as easy to start afresh, leaving no trace of past traumas, people would be a lot happier with their lot.

  ‘You said you didn’t want to be part of us.’ Yet he could see the hurt etched in her furrowed brow and her soulful brown eyes.

  ‘So the first sign of trouble and you’re running away again? I thought you were the kind of man who fought for the things that mattered? I guess that really doesn’t include me.’ She folded her arms across her chest as if she was protecting her heart. He knew his was breaking with every painful second he spent with her, unable to touch her or tell her how he really felt about her because there was no room for second thoughts when it came to Alfie’s future.

  ‘I’m not running from anything. You were the one who didn’t want commitment, remember? I was just—’

  ‘Keeping your options open? I said I didn’t want to commit to you and Alfie because I was afraid I’d get hurt. Turned out I was right all along. There is no room for me in your life. Not really. I’ll always be the one you leave behind if a better offer comes along.’

  ‘I’m a washed-up hockey player in the back of beyond. Of course I’m going to jump at the chance of a better life for my boy. He is always going to come first.’ He couldn’t care less about the money or social status, that stuff had stopped being important a long time ago. The truth was, the idea of him, Alfie and Charlotte cosied up in his cottage would be bliss if it were possible. Recent events had shown him it wasn’t. It was selfish of him to have believed he could have everything he wanted, someone was always going to suffer as a result.

  Ten years ago this would’ve been much easier. That cavalier attitude to other people’s feelings wouldn’t have given him this stabbing pain in his gut. At times such as this he missed the old Hunter who hadn’t cared about anything except making time to wallow in liquor or his own self-pity.

  ‘Of course he is. Well, good luck in London, then.’ Charlotte turned her back on him and walked away, her refusal to lose her cool and get emotional harder to watch than if she’d burst into tears. It signalled her retreat back to where she’d been when
they’d first met. She’d been right in trying to protect herself from him all along. He was still making those same mistakes, hurting people he loved and walking away from the devastation.

  This was the last time and it was for the right reasons. From now on he was completely devoted to Alfie. As he should’ve been from the start.

  CHAPTER NINE

  DINNER HAD BEEN an awkward affair. At least between him and Charlotte. Much like having to live under the same roof after a break-up. An impossible situation that couldn’t be avoided and made for a very frosty atmosphere. It wasn’t helped now they were back on the team coach on the way back to the hotel with darkness falling outside. She’d taken the aisle seat across from his rather than the empty one beside him. Close enough to prevent any questions being asked about why they were avoiding each other but also putting that significant distance between them. If there’d been no other available seats it wouldn’t have come as a surprise if she’d chosen to sit on the floor rather than next to him again.

  He didn’t blame her. All he’d done lately was confirm both of their fears he would always be the same flaky guy he’d always been, no matter how hard he tried.

  ‘Right, guys. Can I have your attention front and centre, please?’ Gray stood at the front of the coach, clapping his hands for attention, diverting it from poker games, cellphones or the very attractive team doctor.

  The bus lurched over a pothole, jogging everyone in their seats except Gray, who was undeterred from his motivational speech at the front. He simply planted his feet on either side of the aisle and gripped the headrests of the front seats. ‘I know I’ve already said it—’

  ‘Yeah. Probably at the last speech you gave about ten minutes ago.’ The brave heckler at the back prompted a chorus of whoops and whistles.

  Gray raised his hand to calm the noise back to an acceptable level. One where his voice was the only one getting airtime.

  ‘Let’s not get too cocky. As I was going to say, congratulations on tonight’s win. You deserved it and I know we were all thinking of Colton out there.’ He started a round of applause for the performance, which Hunter and Charlotte enthusiastically joined.