A Perfect Trade (Harlequin Superromance)

by Anna Sugden - A Perfect Trade (Harlequin Superromance)

  “It’ll be interesting to have insider access to the team, with the new management shaking things up.”

  “I don’t know how much I’ll be able to get out of Hardshaw—he holds his cards close to his vest.”

  “Tracy and I have experienced that already.”

  Maggie’s tone caught her attention. “Is there a problem?”

  “The relationship with the Ice Cats seems to have cooled a little. Tracy’s worried we might lose the contract.”

  Maggie and her sister ran Making Your Move; they helped professional sports teams manage players’ relocation so there was minimal impact on play and performance. That was how Maggie had met Jake a few years ago, when she’d helped with his transfer from Chicago. Her success with Jake had resulted in Making Your Move winning a full-time contract with the Ice Cats.

  Jenny frowned. “Didn’t the Ice Cats give you an award last year for being one of their best business partners?”

  “Yes, but now that Phillip Hannah’s gone things are bound to change. All bosses like to make their own staffing decisions.”

  “I hadn’t realized that applied to suppliers, too.”

  “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t be worried. Our record speaks for itself. But Callum Hardshaw’s sister-in-law runs a competitor company.”

  Jenny grimaced. “Hardshaw can’t just hand the contract to her. He’ll have to go through due process and get quotes.”

  “That’s the problem. Tracy has pitched against the woman before and lost because we were significantly undercut. We’ve lost a few clients to her recently. Besides, Hardshaw doesn’t have to quote out small projects. He could switch business over piecemeal.”

  Maggie put down her spoon with a sigh. “I’ll put on two stone if I keep eating like this.”

  Jenny was fascinated. Was that how she’d feel if she were pregnant?

  Maggie continued, “At least being pregnant distracts me from worrying about the Ice Cats contract. This must be how players feel when they’re waiting for a trade or free agency.”

  Jenny nodded. “It’s easy to forget that a move—even a beneficial one—causes enormous disruption. I know a lot of players who leave their families where they are and commute to avoid the hassle of selling their house and switching their kids’ schools.”

  “That’s tough, especially when they’re on opposite coasts. It’s hard enough when Jake’s on the road during the season, but if home is three thousand miles away, it must be brutal. Finding family time would be almost impossible. Poor Tru. He must be so unsettled right now.”

  Jenny started at Maggie’s mention of Tru. With everything going on in her life, she’d forgotten he had problems of his own. She was surprised, and touched, he’d spent so much time worrying about her situation, when he should have been focusing on his future.

  Typical Tru. Always more worried about fixing other people’s problems than his own.

  “Jake thinks Tru will be traded.” Maggie crossed her arms over her chest. “I know it’s part of the game, but it’s bloody wrong. That’s probably why I’d never make it to the top in business. I hate people being treated like commodities.”

  “That makes you a good person.” Jenny smiled at her. “Even if Tru’s traded, it might not be forever. Maybe there’ll be another management change and he’ll come back. It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  “Still, we won’t see him over the holidays and he’ll only be home for a couple of months during the off-season. I’ll miss him, almost as much as Jake.”

  Maggie’s words flashed inside Jenny’s head like a faulty neon sign.

  Tru won’t be around much if he gets traded.

  Her pulse skittered. The less time he spent here, the less he could interfere. Even if he wasn’t traded, he’d be tied up with the team for a large part of the year. At least, until his career was over. Which could be five, even ten years away. That put his offer in a more favorable light. Sure, she was oversimplifying the situation, but it made the chance to have a baby on her terms without interference seem a little more feasible.

  Maggie departed shortly after, leaving Jenny to finish off the melting ice cream and consider Tru’s offer. No matter which angle Jenny looked at it from, she couldn’t find a major downside.

  Before she could change her mind, Jenny grabbed her cell and dialed.

  When Tru answered, she said, “Can we talk?”

  CHAPTER NINE

  TRU’S HEART LEAPED into his throat every time the diner door opened.

  He’d been edgy since Jenny’s call, as if waiting to take the ice for a play-off elimination game. He glanced at his watch—five minutes to go.

  Was it a good or bad sign that she’d come to a decision so quickly?

  Tru traced a jagged path through the beaded moisture on his beer bottle with his thumb. As important as this decision was for Jenny, his life would change forever, too—he’d be a dad. He wasn’t sure if he was thrilled or terrified.

  The bells over the door jangled.

  Tru tensed, until he saw it was an elderly couple. He watched them take the table opposite. The husband seemed to enjoy fussing over his wife, pulling out her chair. From her pink cheeks, she enjoyed it, too. They reminded Tru of Jake’s parents. Sadly, such examples of marital bliss were rare. Many more couples were like his mom and dad.

  He sighed and checked his phone. The P.I. he’d hired to investigate his father had emailed earlier to say he’d send his initial report this evening. Nothing had arrived yet.

  His cell rang just as he laid it on the table.

  Tru was surprised to see his agent’s number. “Hey, Andy, what’s up?”

  “Good news. The Ice Cats have agreed to the deal, in principle, and their legal people are drawing up the contract. But they need a list of eight teams you’d accept a trade to. They’ll try to accommodate your wishes, but won’t guarantee anything, either now or next season.”

  “They’re still looking to trade me?” Man, that stung.

  “Don’t get your shorts in a twist. It won’t happen. Their asking price is too high. They need the list as part of the process.”

  Tru didn’t know whether to be encouraged the Cats thought he was worth so much or disappointed that more teams didn’t think he was.

  “I can’t sit on that damn committee if I’m not in Jersey.”

  “Another reason it won’t happen now. At worst, they trade you at the deadline. By then, you’ll have done your duty. Everyone will be happy.”

  “Yeah. Everyone except me.” Tru’s mom would be happy, for sure. When she’d called earlier, she’d been ecstatic about the news. She was convinced he’d make the memorial park a success. That he intended to do the opposite weighed heavily on his mind.

  The bells over the door jangled again. His gaze jerked up. Jenny stood framed in the entry. His pulse hitched.

  She’d changed clothes since he saw her earlier. A white top and slim, black jeans molded to her curves. The black suede boots with three-inch spiked heels made her look as if she meant business.

  She didn’t smile when she spotted him. Her cool blue gaze gave nothing away.

  This was not the same vulnerable woman he’d seen here over the past few weeks. The one whose world had fallen apart. This Jenny walked with a determined stride, her chin raised defiantly. The lines around her mouth and the shadows under her eyes said she wasn’t 100 percent, but she wasn’t far off.

  Tru fought back a grin. This was the Jenny he knew and...

  He broke off the thought before it got dangerous. He was glad to see her pretty much back to her old self.

  He stood as she approached the booth. “I have to go, Andy. Let me know when everything’s finalized.”

  Jenny slid into the seat opposite him as he hung up. “I’ll have one of those.” She pointed to his be
er.

  Her knee brushed his. A flash of heat streaked up his leg to his groin. He shifted to ease the tightening in his jeans. He didn’t need this now. Not with so much at stake.

  Think of this as a business deal.

  Right. Jenny and babies... As far from business as you could get.

  He signaled Shirley for two more beers. “Have you eaten?”

  Jenny shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”

  Wondering about her answer, he’d lost his appetite, too. “Maybe we can eat later.”

  As they waited for their drinks, his thoughts veered between wanting to know her decision and delaying the inevitable rejection. The heavy silence stretched out between them, despite the bustle of the diner.

  His heart thudded against his ribs as Shirley served their beers.

  “You know why I called.” Jenny twirled her beer bottle slowly.

  Tru tried to look unconcerned. “Yes.”

  “I’ve decided to accept your offer.”

  For a moment, everything stopped. Froze. Noise, movement, sensation.

  Then, as if someone flipped a switch, it started up again...louder, brighter, bolder.

  He gripped his beer bottle. “You’re saying yes?”

  She nodded. “But there are conditions.”

  “What conditions?” He frowned.

  Jenny bit her lip. “Number one. You add the cost of the IVF to what I already owe you. I want this to be a business...”

  He cut her off. “This will be my baby, too. Let me contribute the money for the next round of IVF, at least. Consider it one less thing for you to worry about. The less stress you have the better chance that the procedure will work.”

  She considered for a moment. “All right. Thank you.” Her soft tone became brisk. “Number two. I want all the details of custody, visitation and so on agreed on in advance—on paper, and legally binding.”

  “No problem. That protects both of us and it will prevent confusion down the line.” The tension began to seep out of his tight shoulders. “My only request would be that any visitation schedule is worked around my games.”

  “Okay.” Jenny scratched a fingernail against the paper label on her bottle. “We need to decide what happens if you’re traded.”

  Despite Andy’s reassurances, Tru wondered if she’d heard something. Could she have picked up inside information with her new job? Unlikely. Hardshaw never let team or player news leak.

  “That won’t be an issue,” he said flatly. “I plan to be with the Cats next season.”

  “Being traded is a hazard of your job,” Jenny argued. “Even if you sign a new deal, there’s no guarantee that you won’t be shipped off somewhere at a later date or that your contract won’t get bought out.”

  He didn’t want to think about that. “I appreciate your confidence in me.”

  “This has nothing to do with what I think about your play. You know I think they should keep you. But that doesn’t change anything. We don’t know where you’ll finally end up.”

  “Let’s assume I’ll be sticking around.”

  “Get real, Tru. We need a contingency plan, in case the worst happens.”

  “Why? I won’t let anything prevent me from being part of our child’s life, but I won’t try to take him or her from you, either.”

  Jenny said nothing; indecision in her blue eyes. She still didn’t trust him.

  Pain sliced through him. What more did he have to do to convince her she could count on him?

  Tru clenched his jaw. “Fine. Put whatever contingency you want in the papers. If it’s reasonable, I’ll sign it. Anything else?”

  “We don’t tell anyone what we’re doing, until the baby’s made it through the first trimester.”

  “What about Jake and Maggie? Lizzie?”

  “No one. There’s enough pressure going through the procedure, without everyone wanting regular status updates. Also, if it doesn’t work, we won’t have to explain anything.”

  “When do we split up?” It felt weird to talk so coldly about ending a relationship before it had even begun.

  “Once the baby’s born.” Jenny crossed her arms.

  Tru’s stomach lurched. “Fine, but to be sure there’s no gossip, I think we should stay together for at least twelve months after the baby is born.”

  Her chin got that stubborn tilt again. “Six months.”

  “Not long enough.”

  Their gazes clashed. He refused to blink first.

  “All right,” she snapped. “A year. That’s it, then. We’re done.”

  “Not so fast. I have a condition, too.”

  “You do?” Her eyes widened.

  “I’m as serious about this as you are.” She couldn’t have things all her own way.

  “Okay,” she said slowly. “What do you want?”

  “Even after we split, I won’t give up my parental rights. If you meet someone else and get married, I won’t let him adopt my child.”

  Jenny looked taken aback. “That won’t be a problem.”

  “Like you said, there’s no guarantee what the future holds. I want that condition spelled out in black and white.”

  She bit her lip. “That goes both ways. You won’t try to get custody if you meet and marry someone.”

  “Nope.” He wouldn’t be marrying anyone so, like her, it wouldn’t be a problem. “Do we have a deal?”

  Jenny hesitated briefly, then nodded. “I’ll get the agreement drafted and send it to you. Once it’s signed, I’ll contact the fertility clinic and arrange for us to meet the nurse.”

  Tru let out a heavy breath. He felt as though he’d run a marathon. Truth was, the long, hard run had only started.

  “Good.” He stuck out his hand to seal the deal.

  Pleasure zinged through him the moment her fingers curved around his. From her startled expression, she felt it, too.

  She pulled her hand away. “I should go.”

  He didn’t want her to leave. “Do you still like fish-and-chips?”

  “Yes,” she said warily.

  “Let’s celebrate our arrangement with dinner.”

  She gave a half smile. “Why not.”

  Before Jenny could change her mind, Tru called Shirley over and ordered.

  Their meal was served quickly and they spent several minutes eating crisp, battered fish and thick-cut chips. Gradually, they eased into a conversation about the latest hockey news.

  “I hear Vancouver might be willing to trade Davidson.” Jenny swirled a chip in ketchup before nibbling the end.

  His heart thumped heavily.

  He watched her finish the chip, then repeat the process again; dip, swirl, nibble. Damn, but he wanted her to nibble on him. He’d be willing to repay the favor.

  “Tru?” She interrupted his heated fantasy. “What do you think?”

  He cleared his throat. What was the question? “I agree.” He hoped that made sense. She didn’t look confused, so it must have.

  Tru tried to focus on their conversation for the rest of the meal, but she could have been talking penguins playing hockey in the Antarctic for all the attention his brain let him pay.

  Dinner was over too soon.

  When she reached for the bill, he laid his hand over hers. “My treat.”

  The tip of her tongue flicked out, moistening her lower lip. “Thank you. My turn, next time.”

  Tru was skating on thin ice, but he couldn’t help himself. He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. “We should seal our deal with a kiss.”

  For a moment, she seemed to sway toward him.

  Bells jangled. The moment shattered.

  Jenny slipped her hand out from under his and rose. “Tru, please...don’t.”


  He didn’t press, but tossed money on the table and followed her.

  The tension between them was back. Damn it. Neither of them spoke until they got to Jenny’s car. She unlocked the doors, then turned to face him.

  “For the sake of our arrangement,” she said huskily. “I think we should add another condition.”

  He knew what was coming.

  “We have to keep this...us—” she waved her hand between them “—strictly business.”

  There was more chance of him scoring a hundred goals next season. But he didn’t want to give her any excuse to call off their deal. “Strictly business. Sure.”

  There was no handshake this time. Jenny nodded, then got into her car and drove away.

  Tru was left feeling vaguely unsettled. Had their discussion gone too smoothly? Had they agreed on the terms too easily? No, nothing about the situation was easy or smooth. The attraction still humming through his body was proof of that.

  Tru knew better than to question a win, no matter how lucky. Take the two points and move on.

  As he got into his Range Rover, his cell beeped. Email.

  He pulled his phone out of his pocket. A message from the P.I. Report attached.

  His thumb hovered over the document icon. While he was on a winning streak, he might as well tackle the issue of his father. Then his past would be dealt with and he could look forward to the future. He opened the file and began to read.

  * * *

  “IF YOU DON’T believe in Mr. Right, who is he?”

  Sally, the fertility clinic nurse, tilted her head toward the closed door where Tru had disappeared to “gather his donation.”

  “He’s an old friend.”

  “An old friend who wants to have a baby with you.” Sally didn’t sound convinced.

  “He’s helping me to have my baby.” Why did that sound as if she was splitting hairs?

  “The baby will be his, too.” Sally looked concerned.

  “We hammered out the details of the arrangement with the lawyers last week, and signed the papers yesterday.” She smiled. “He’ll be involved, but I’ll have full custody.”