A Perfect Catch

by Anna Sugden

  He frowned at the papers. “The housekeeper looks kind of expensive.”

  “He or she will do everything you need at home, including managing your cleaning and yard services. Given that you’ll need all the help you can get for the first month at least, the rate is reasonable, especially for someone who doesn’t live in.”

  “But once I’m past that first month, will I really need that extra ‘support’?”

  “Do you want to focus on mundane household details or your recovery?”

  Tracy certainly knew how to sell her business. “Okay. What about the yard work? It’s November and I’ve already raked the leaves.”

  “They provide a useful winter service. They’ll keep your paths and driveway clear when it snows, and make sure they’re salted. The last thing you need is to fall.” She leaned forward, warming to her task. Her light perfume teased his nose. “You could call them when you need them, but priority goes to their contracted clients.”

  Distracted by the fact that her fragrance was one thing that hadn’t changed, he gave up on trying to concentrate on the details. If she said it was the best option, it would be.

  He closed the document and laid it on the coffee table. “This looks great. I’ll go with all your recommendations. How long will it take to set this up?”

  “Most of it can be up and running tomorrow.”

  “Perfect.” He grinned. “I can’t wait to get out of here.”

  She held up a hand. “I said most. I’ve pulled out all the stops to make things happen as fast as possible, but the housekeeper won’t be in place until the middle of next week.”

  No. Freaking. Way. He could not stay in the hospital for another week. Struggling to keep his voice even, he said, “You can’t get anyone sooner than that?”

  Tracy sat back in her seat. The whisper of her stockings as she crossed one leg over the other made his pulse jump, even as it made him grit his teeth. “It’s better to take the time now and get the right person for your needs than to make a mistake and be sorry later.”

  Intentional or not, the double meaning in her words fueled the fire burning in his belly. “I’m not staying here until next Wednesday. Fix it faster.”

  She thought for a moment. “I really think you should interview the candidates. However, you could bypass that stage, if you wanted. Then, if we complete the paperwork tomorrow, the housekeeper could be in place on Monday. That’s the best I can do.”

  “It’s not good enough.” Ike leaped to his feet. “I’m going home on Friday. If you can’t get it all signed, sealed and delivered by then, our deal is off.”

  “You’re being unreasonable.”

  “Do you say that to all your clients when the job is harder than you thought?” He regretted his words immediately, especially when she paled, but he wasn’t going to apologize. Not this time. Not if it meant being stuck here for the weekend.

  “My other clients don’t behave like spoiled brats when things don’t go their way,” she snapped back.

  Their gazes clashed, neither of them prepared to give an inch.

  “I don’t care how you do it—you can play housekeeper yourself, if that’s what it takes—but my deadline stands.”

  “Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you?” Her laugh had a bitter edge.

  “If it gets that damn specialist to sign my discharge papers, I’d welcome the Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkeys.”

  “Charming as ever. No wonder the nurses are desperate for you to go.” Tracy jumped up and shoved her folder into her briefcase.

  The snap of the case’s locks echoed in the room, jolting Ike out of the haze of anger, frustration and fear. In that moment of clarity, he realized that if Tracy walked away, he’d be stuck in here for far longer than a few extra days.

  His temper subsided like a deflated balloon.

  Ike slumped onto the couch. He went to put his head in his hands, but the damn sling got in the way. “This stupid thing is driving me bat-crap crazy.” He waved his arm in the air, only to have the sling rasp and tug against his neck. “Aargh!” he growled.

  Tracy’s expression softened fractionally. “It would drive me nuts, too.”

  “I’m sorry I’m being a jackass. Jeez, I’ve apologized more in the past few days than I have in the past year.”

  “That’s surprising how?” Her words were only mildly sarcastic, her animosity gone.

  Looked like he was back to groveling. “There must be a compromise, so I can get out of here. All Dr. Gibson needs to know is that I have the support in place. Can’t we fudge it somehow?” He sent her a desperate look. “Please. Whatever you can do, whatever it takes, to see me through to Monday—just get me out of here on Friday.”

  Tracy was silent for a few minutes. Finally, she sighed. “I suppose I could arrange what you need myself until the housekeeper can be there.”

  “I’ll be eternally grateful.”

  “Keep up your end of the deal and we’ll be all square.” She buttoned her jacket and smoothed her skirt; the professional persona was back. “I’ll send over revised paperwork and contracts for you to sign in the morning. I’ll check the house, then bring in basic groceries. When you know what time you’ll be discharged on Friday, I can arrange for your driver to pick you up. Once you’re settled at home, I’ll stop by and we can figure out what else you need me to do. Are you sure you’re happy to go with the housekeeper I recommended, without even speaking to her?”

  Since she’d compromised, he decided to do the same. “You’re right. I should meet her. As long as it doesn’t affect the timing of my release.”

  “All right. I’ll arrange the interview for Monday morning.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Ike stuck out his hand. “Thanks, Tracy. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I really do appreciate everything you’re doing for me.”

  She hesitated, but shook his hand quickly. “That reference had better be gold-plated.”

  Once she’d gone, Ike returned to his spot by the window and stared out at the darkening sky. This time he wasn’t thinking about his teammates jetting away from him, but the woman who—despite his best intentions—had somehow landed squarely back in the middle of his life. Strangely, he didn’t feel quite so lonely anymore.

  * * *

  THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK in the hall struck four. Its deep chimes sounding through the empty house reminded Tracy of the stadium anthem the Ice Cats skated out to at the beginning of a game. Fitting, she thought, as Ike would be arriving home from the hospital shortly. His driver had texted ten minutes ago to say he was en route.

  Tracy took one final look around Ike’s kitchen and quickly ran through the printed to-do list in her client file. She’d worked her socks off for the past twenty-four hours since Ike had signed on the dotted line, and managed to complete everything she’d promised to do.

  Groceries—bought and put away. Check.

  Dinner—cottage pie—made and ready to be reheated. Check.

  Assortment of takeout and delivery menus on the kitchen table. Check.

  Client folder with housekeeper application, also on the kitchen table. Check.

  Cleaning service—been and done a thorough job throughout the house. Check.

  Laundry—done (apart from his hockey gear—there were limits!) and put away. Check.

  Fresh sheets on the bed and towels in the bathrooms. Check.

  “The mind I lost when I agreed to do this job myself...” Tracy grimaced as she strode out into the hall for one last walk-through. “No-bloody-where to be found.”

  Everything looked fine downstairs, so she headed up to the second floor. Ike’s home office, the spare bedroom he’d converted to a workout room and the two guest rooms and baths were all in good shape. Which only left Ike’s bedroom.

  Tracy took
a steadying deep breath. It wasn’t the first time she’d been in there. Yet, each time, she’d hesitated on the threshold.

  When she’d agreed to work with Ike, Tracy hadn’t been sure how being in his town house again would affect her. After all, Tracy had helped him buy the place. Helped him choose the decor for all the rooms.

  Helped him christen those rooms.

  She quickly pushed aside those particular memories. That history was never going to repeat itself.

  Tracy gave a short laugh. That was what she’d said about coming back here. That was why it had felt weird yesterday to use Ike’s key and walk into his home, as if she belonged there. Knowing she could have belonged here, if she’d accepted his offer. She’d stood in the front hall for several minutes, feeling like an intruder, until curiosity had taken over.

  Tracy hadn’t seen the finished result; she hadn’t been back to Ike’s town house since they’d split. As the afternoon shadows had lengthened yesterday, she’d walked from room to room, ostensibly to check out the house from a professional standpoint. Really, she’d wanted to see how it had come together. Would it be as she’d imagined?

  She’d been surprised not only that it was, but that Ike had followed through on every one of her recommendations, giving the house a cozy feel. Sure, there was the usual guy stuff—the humongous plasma screens, the futuristic entertainment center, the sports memorabilia on the wall of the wet bar in the basement—but it hadn’t felt like a bachelor pad. More like a home, waiting for its family to walk through the doors.

  Now, as it had the day before, her chest squeezed as an image of Ike with a wife and children, laughing and happy, flashed into her mind. The wife’s face wasn’t clear, but it clearly wasn’t her.

  Why did that bother her so much? That wasn’t the future she wanted.

  Or rather, it was a future she couldn’t have—because it wasn’t real. That happiness was a fairy tale that didn’t exist. Couldn’t exist. At least, not for her. She’d have to give up too much, especially of herself.

  She’d done the right thing when she’d said no to Ike.

  Angry words echoed in her head as she relived that final argument and the fear that had driven her. She’d realized that she’d already started to slip into dangerous territory with Ike. She’d recognized the signs. They’d become too close, too quickly. Their lives had already started to intertwine. There had already been expectations...assumptions.

  She’d had to end their relationship before she lost herself completely.

  She’d done the right thing. No matter how much it had hurt.

  Don’t think about the past. Think about the future you’re building for yourself.

  Tracy blew out an unsteady breath. Part of that future was making bloody sure everything was spot-on for Ike’s return. She walked into Ike’s bedroom, checked everything was as it should be and walked out again, without the slightest hitch in her heart rate.

  As she returned downstairs, a key scraped in the front door.

  Tracy glanced at the clock, frowning. Ike had made better time than she’d expected.

  Her pulse jumped when the front door began to open. Tracy told herself it was because she was anxious to see his response to everything she’d achieved. Just as she would be for any client using her services for the first time.

  She plastered on a smile and prepared to be the solicitous housekeeper.

  But it wasn’t Ike who walked through the door. It was Karina and Rory, carrying a large shopping bag and a cooler. Something smelled delicious, reminding Tracy that she hadn’t had a chance to eat anything since the power bar she’d had for breakfast.

  Karina beamed. “I’m glad Ike came to his senses and hired you. He can’t cope alone.”

  “No matter how much he believes otherwise.” Tracy smiled, following them into the kitchen. “I suspect the first few days home will be a rude awakening for him.”

  Ike’s mother started unpacking the shopping bag. “You’ll set him straight.”

  “I don’t know about that.” Tracy opened the freezer and began filling it with the plastic containers Karina handed her. “At least he won’t starve.”

  Ike’s mother pushed aside the takeout menus, tutting. “As if I’d let my son eat that garbage. He needs good home cooking and lots of it.”

  Rory placed the cooler on the table, then unloaded foil-wrapped, labeled packages. “We brought enough food to feed the entire team for a month.”

  “I wasn’t sure what he’d feel like eating, so I made all his favorites.” Karina shrugged.

  “I’m sure he’ll be very grateful,” Tracy said.

  Karina tapped the side of her nose. “From what I can smell, you’ve made tonight’s dinner for him.”

  “I thought a cottage pie would be easy to manage one-handed and filling after all that ‘nutritionally balanced’ hospital food.”

  “The smell reminds me of my ma’s kitchen.” Rory rubbed his stomach. “She used to make a fine cottage pie. And a fine shepherd’s pie, come to that.”

  “There’s a difference?” Karina looked confused.

  “They’re pretty much the same except cottage pie is made with beef, while shepherd’s pie is made with lamb,” Rory explained.

  “I learn new things every day with you.” Karina smiled warmly at her husband.

  He winked. “I do my best.”

  Karina giggled and fluttered her hand at him. “Get away with you.”

  Tracy looked away from the newlyweds and concentrated on fitting the last packages into the now-full freezer. The older couple were so sweet together and were clearly in love. It was nice that they’d found each other at this stage in their lives. They’d met through one of Karina’s many community projects and it had taken a while for Rory to convince her that they weren’t too old to get married.

  Their happiness gave Tracy mixed feelings. Envy for what she didn’t have, but also a tiny spark of hope. Perhaps there was someone out there for her.

  “Making my boy dinner is very thoughtful.” Karina nodded approvingly.

  Tracy ignored the considering look in the older woman’s eye. “All part of the Helping Hands service.”

  “It’s still thoughtful. I can definitely take it easy about him being well looked after while we’re away.”

  “I think you mean ‘rest easy,’ love,” Rory said affectionately as he set the cooler down by the kitchen door.

  “Eh, it means the same thing, no?”

  “We understood what you meant,” Tracy said politely. “When do you leave for Ireland?”

  “Tomorrow night. We still have so much to do before we go. I don’t know how I’ll get all the packing done.”

  “When I convince you to leave the kitchen sink behind, you’ll be fine.” Rory laughed. “We do have shops over there, you know.”

  Karina shared a look with Tracy. “Men don’t understand, do they?”

  Tracy smiled. “They certainly don’t.”

  “It’ll be much better now that I know Ike won’t be here alone and helpless.”

  She made him sound like a lost puppy, not a six-three, two-hundred-plus-pound man, who’d cut his arm off rather than admit he was helpless. Tracy winced at the analogy.

  The doorbell rang, loud and long, as if someone were leaning on the bell.

  “Sounds like Ike’s home.” Tracy went to the front door, donning a professional smile so he wouldn’t see how much his arrival had unnerved her. But when she opened the door and heard him cursing, her smile faded. “Is there a problem?”

  “Yeah.” He leaned down to pick up the duffel bag at his feet. “Did you know it’s impossible to unlock and open this door with only one arm?”

  “Oh.” She bit her lip, trying to hold back a giggle as he glared at the offending lock. His frustration was etch
ed all over his face. “You could have asked your driver for help.”

  Ike scowled at her. “I didn’t know I’d need it until I’d already sent him away.”

  More like he hadn’t wanted to appear helpless in front of the other man. “You’ll know for next time.”

  “Yeah.” Ike stomped past her into the house like a bratty teenager.

  Tracy stood for a moment, staring out at the tree-filled park across the street. It was days like today that she found it hard to remember why she’d thought a business providing services for temperamental professional athletes was such a great idea.

  “Because you’re bloody good at it,” she said aloud to herself. “You can handle one out-of-sorts hockey player.” Tracy headed inside. Though she did quickly cross her fingers before closing the door behind her.

  * * *

  “PERHAPS WE SHOULD cut our trip short.”

  Ike sighed. Though his mom was now excited about going to Ireland, her happiness had dimmed slightly when she’d remembered that the three-week trip meant she wouldn’t be back in time for Thanksgiving. She’d somehow got into her head that he’d be stuck at home alone, eating takeout, instead of going to Jake’s parents’ annual party.

  “I promise I’ll go, so Aunt Tina can make sure I’m fed and watered,” he reassured her. “Jake and Kenny will be around most of the day before they leave for Philly. I won’t have time to feel lonely, though of course I’ll miss you.”

  She looked long and hard into his eyes before pulling his head down to kiss his forehead. “We’ll call or do Skype, so I can make sure you’re okay.”

  He agreed, then helped Rory shoo her out the door to pack.

  As pleased as Ike was that his mom finally had a good guy in her life to take care of her the way she deserved, it felt weird to think she wouldn’t be around. She’d never not been there. No matter where he’d gone or what he’d done, she’d always been the constant in his life.