The problem was, I didn't know what that something else could be.
I'd been gripped by an odd sensation that something was about to change a few hours ago. That sensation had only grown stronger since getting Nathan's text, prickling my skin and dancing up and down my spine. There was no explanation for it but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't dismiss it. It sounded like a horridly twisted cliché but it felt like I was about to turn a corner and once I did, there would be no turning back the clock.
Like I was about to open a door that I wouldn't be able to close.
Like I was turning the bow of my ship straight into a raging squall instead of aiming for sunnier skies.
And could I possibly come up with any more horrendously butchered sayings? Yes, maybe—if I kept standing here in the middle of the sidewalk, getting jostled by tourists in a hurry to get to Jackson Square.
Jacqui must have finally lost her patience at being elbowed by tourists because she grabbed my arm and led me out of the flow of traffic. She pulled her glasses off and anchored them in her hair then dipped her head and looked at me. Really looked at me, like she was trying to read into every nook and cranny of my overworked brain.
"Out with it, Addy. What's going on?"
"Nothing. Why?"
"Because you've completely lost all color from your face and that poor tissue in your hand is a hair's breadth from final mutilation. This isn't like you. Now tell me what's going on. Why are you so nervous?"
I thought about telling her—again—that I wasn't then gave up. "That's just it: I don't know."
"You don't know why you're nervous?"
"No, and it doesn't make any sense. I've been so excited about seeing Nathan this evening and about having you meet him. I shouldn't be nervous."
"But?"
I lowered my gaze and shrugged. "I guess part of me is. It almost feels like something is about to change, something I won't be able to stop when it does, and I'm not sure I'm going to like it when that happens."
"Are you sure that's not your guilty conscience nagging at you?"
My head jerked up at her words. "What are you talking about?"
"Your guilty conscience."
"Why would I feel guilty?"
"Oh, I don't know. Let's see." She raised one hand and started counting off on her fingers. "Getting involved with one of your daddy's players. Sneaking around to see him. Lying about it—"
"I haven't lied."
"Not even to yourself?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I think you're more hung up on this guy than you want to admit, cher."
"I'm not." I shook my head and repeated the words for emphasis. "I'm not. We're just having fun, that's all."
"'The lady doth protest too much, methinks.' Addy, in all the time I've known you, I've never seen you this excited about anyone. You're practically mooning over him."
"I certainly am not."
"Mm-hmm. That's why you were moping around all last week and why you've been climbing the walls and bouncing up and down the last two days."
"So I like him. So what?"
"I just wonder if maybe he's not the only one enthralled with the idea of tasting the forbidden fruit."
"What are you talking about?"
"He's supposed to be off-limits, Addy. You said so yourself. Are you sure that allure doesn't have anything to do with it?"
"Of course not. Don't be silly. I didn't even know he was one of Daddy's players until Saturday night." I brushed off the idea—and the rest of her concerns—with a quick shake of my head. I could do denial with the best of them, especially when it was so easy to convince myself that everything Jacqui was saying didn't apply to me.
I wasn't mooning over Nathan and I certainly wasn't hung up on him. As for the rest—okay, technically I shouldn't be seeing him but even if Daddy did find out, so what? He might be a little mad but that was because he'd somehow convinced himself I would be a perfect match for Quinn. And while I had no idea what was behind that sudden obsession, I had no doubt he'd eventually get over it. Besides, it wasn't like I was foolish enough to think of a future with Nathan. Yes, I liked him. But we were just having fun.
That was all.
I pushed all the niggling thoughts and the last bits of nervousness away and started walking again. Jacqui sighed then quickly caught up to me, not saying anything else as we turned onto St Peter. The small restaurant was a quarter of the way up the block. Even if I didn't know exactly where it was, I wouldn't have been able to miss it because of the group of men standing outside, blocking most of the sidewalk with their combined sizes. They weren't necessarily big but there was something about them, some kind of presence, that made them seem larger than life at first glance.
Jacqui's pace slowed to match mine. She hooked the frame of her sunglasses with one finger and slowly eased them down her nose, a glint of appreciation dancing in her hazel eyes. "Oh. My."
I smothered a laugh then walked toward the men, surprised when Nathan reached for me and pulled me in for a kiss that was somehow both too quick yet lingering at the same time. My heart slammed against my chest as his mouth closed over mine and it took everything I had not to cling to him or sigh in disappointment when he pulled away.
Piercing blue eyes met mine, shining in the early evening light as he gazed down at me, a teasing grin curling one corner of his mouth. "Hey."
"Hey yourself." I inwardly winced at the breathy huskiness of my voice, wondering if it was as obvious to everyone else as it was to me. Judging from the knowing glances and smiles being sent our way, I had a feeling it was definitely the former.
Nathan kept one arm around my shoulders as he motioned to the three men standing in front of us. "Addy, this is Dylan, Tristan, and Luke. Guys, this is Addy."
I nodded then glanced behind me to where Jacqui was still standing. I grabbed her hand and tugged her forward. "This is Jacqui. I think you met her last week."
One of them—I couldn't be sure which one—made a strangled sound that was somewhere between a laugh and cough. Nathan shifted, a hint of color staining his cheeks before he finally offered his free hand to Jacqui.
"Um, yeah, I think we did." He paused, his hand outstretched, both brows raised in question. "I don't need to duck, do I?"
"Only if you hurt my girl again."
"Jacqui!" I shot her a quick glare then turned back to Nathan. "She's only teasing. Don't mind her."
"If you two are done with your pissing match, can we go inside now? I'm starving."
"Women do not have pissing matches." Jacqui's haughty voice brought a smile to my face and a look of confusion to two of the other men. One of them opened his mouth to say something but the third man jammed an elbow into his side, silencing him. I tilted my head to the side, trying to figure out what all of that had been about, but Jacqui was already brushing by the men and leading the way inside.
We were seated almost immediately, thanks to the fact that Jacqui was friends with the entire staff as well as the owner. The table was in a far corner, giving us an illusion of privacy away from most of the noisy crowd. It was a low table, with a cushy bench that could sit three on one side and a smaller bench and upholstered chair on the other. Jacqui took the single chair without hesitation and I sat next to her on the adjoining bench, sliding over to make room for Nathan. The other three men hesitated, staring at the larger bench like they weren't sure it would hold their combined weight. They finally took a seat, elbows and knees banging together as they shifted to get comfortable.
An awkward silence settled over our small group, broken only when the waiter came to take our drink order. Luke—I think that was his name—held his menu up and stared after the retreating waiter with such a look of disappointment that I almost laughed.
"But I was ready to order."
"Don't worry, cher, he'll be back." Jacqui leaned back in the chair and crossed one long leg over the other. "Addy tells me you boys all play for her daddy."
T
he statement may have been a general comment but Jacqui's gaze was focused on Nathan. He shifted beside me and I couldn't tell if he was just trying to get comfortable or if it was a reaction to being so deliberately singled out. Even I heard the not-so-subtle accusation in Jacqui's voice and I sent her a meaningful glance.
Which, of course, she completely ignored.
"I didn't realize who Addy's father was when we first met."
One of Jacqui's brows shot up in a parody of disbelief. "No?"
"No. Not until I saw her the other night at the party."
"Hmm. What a coincidence."
The other three men must have picked up on the verbal dueling because one of them leaned forward, genuine curiosity in his gaze. "Is that place really where you live, Addy?"
"Born and raised, I'm afraid. My six-times great-granddaddy had it built in the 1860s when he moved here from Virginia and it's been in the family ever since."
Nathan shifted beside me again and I looked over, immediately picking up on his discomfort although I didn't understand the reason for it. Or maybe I did because I didn't particularly feel like talking about my father either, not with these men and certainly not with Nathan.
I reached for Nathan's hand and threaded my fingers with his, a move that partly surprised even me because there was a hint of possessiveness in it. I almost let go as soon as I realized what I'd done and how it must look but his fingers tightened around mine as he rested our clasped hands against his thigh.
I smiled then turned back to the other men. "Your first game is coming up soon, isn't it? In less than two weeks, I think?"
"Saturday after next, yeah. It's a preseason game against the Bombers."
"The Bombers?" I turned back to Nathan. "Isn't that your old team?"
"Yeah."
He looked uncomfortable again but for a different reason this time. It didn't take long for me to understand why. How awkward must it be for him, to play against his old team after they'd traded him away? I started to ask him about it but the waiter showed up with our drinks. He'd no sooner placed the last one on the table in front of Luke when the man immediately bombarded him with his order. The rest of us ordered as well and I could tell by the amused expression on Jacqui's face that she was as surprised as I was by the amount of food the men ordered.
"We just had practice." Nathan's breath was warm against my ear when he spoke, as if his words explained everything. And maybe they did—to him. But I didn't understand how skating a few laps here and there could make someone so hungry. It may have been a few years but I'd gone ice skating before and it never made me that hungry.
The waiter left again and everyone settled back in a silence that was just this side of awkward. There was a lot of shifting around as we sipped our drinks and a lot of not-so-subtle glances slid in the direction of Nathan's hand still firmly clasped around mine.
"So, Addy. Were you planning on going to the game next weekend?"
"Me?" I paused with the drink halfway to my mouth, the question surprising me. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. The Bourdons were Daddy's team, his latest distraction disguised as an investment and something I had no interest in. I knew absolutely nothing about hockey and had never considered learning because Daddy's investments didn't concern me.
I placed my drink on the table and started to shake my head, to tell the men watching me that I had no plans on going to any games at all. Something sharp struck my ankle, startling me enough that I jumped just the tiniest bit. I looked over at Jacqui, ready to ask her why on earth she kicked me, but she wasn't looking at me, she was looking at Nathan. The wide smile on her face was as fake as the jackalope I'd given Daddy as a gag gift one year, and at complete odds with the cool expression in her hazel eyes.
"Of course, we're going. We wouldn't miss it for the world."
Chapter Sixteen
Addy
The seat was hard as a rock and just as uncomfortable against my bottom, no matter how many times I shifted positions. When Daddy said we'd be sitting in the owner's box, he'd made it sound so exclusive that I'd envisioned plush seats and a clear view and maybe even a little heat. The only thing we really had was a clear view and that did absolutely nothing for me because I had no idea what I was looking at. The only thing I saw was a bunch of men whizzing back and forth on skates, making it look much easier than I remembered it being the last time I'd been ice skating. There was grace and power in their movements, something I had never expected from a sport that had a reputation for being so rough and brutal.
Unless I was confusing hockey with something else, which was quite possible.
"Did you see him yet?" Jacqui sat beside me, her voice pitched low so as not to be overheard. I didn't think there was any danger in that, not with the men behind us talking in loud tones, each trying to outdo the other. I glanced over my shoulder just in case then faced forward and shook my head.
"Just that one time."
"Maybe if the light didn't reflect so much off those hideous uniforms, we'd be able to see."
I silently agreed with her but kept my opinion to myself. Daddy had been so proud of the team's new design, showing it off one night after supper, and I hadn't said anything then, either. Maybe green, gold, and purple were fairly representative of New Orleans and the colors definitely stood out, especially compared to the more subdued black, gray, and white of the other team's uniforms. But standing out wasn't necessarily a good thing, especially when you couldn't see who was playing.
There was a small scuffle at the far end of the rink and I leaned forward, trying to make out what was going on. Was Nathan down there, or was he sitting in that box below us with all the other players? I couldn't tell because all I saw was a blur of activity that moved from the side to the front of the net. A half-second later, a red light flashed above the goal, followed by groans from the audience.
The noise wasn't nearly as loud as it would have been if more seats had been filled. But for now, more than half of them were empty.
"The other team just scored."
I leaned back in my seat with a dejected sigh and looked at Jacqui. "I figured that much out already." And I had, the first two times the Bombers had scored. The third time had confused me because it was after a break and the teams had switched sides. I had started clapping, thinking the Bourdons had scored a point, only to have Jacqui grab my hands and shake her head in silent warning.
I glanced over at the huge screen hanging above the ice, my stomach lurching in sympathy when I saw the score flash across it. Four to zero. You didn't have to understand sports to know that wasn't a good thing. Judging from the shouts and banging coming from the bench below us, I figured the Bourdons' coach wasn't very happy about it, either.
My gaze drifted down to that bench, searching for a sign of Nathan, but I still had trouble picking him out. The players were all dressed alike, with nothing to set them apart except the numbers and names on the backs of their uniforms—things I couldn't make out because of the way the light reflected off the gold lettering. Jacqui nudged me and I leaned forward again, moving my gaze to where she had motioned with a small nod. There he was!
My heart tightened the faintest bit then took off in an excited gallop that startled me simply because I hadn't expected it. Yes, I was excited to finally see Nathan after searching for him for the last thirty-eight minutes, but that was no reason for my heart to nearly leap out of my chest the way it had. But I couldn't stop it, any more than I could stop the silly smile that spread across my face as I watched him.
He looked so different from the man I was used to seeing. Harder somehow, and rougher. Intense. Like a warrior focused on taking down his foe, no matter the cost.
I mentally rolled my eyes at the fanciful thought, wondering what on earth had gotten into me. Of course, Nathan looked different, that was to be expected. And while he did look more focused, it had nothing to do with being a warrior heading into battle—even if this was the team that had traded him.
&nbs
p; That was probably the reason for the flash of anger I saw cross his face when he shifted and glanced up for the briefest of seconds. Our gazes met, barely, before he turned away and I couldn't help wondering if that anger I sensed was directed at me for some reason. No, of course it wasn't. He had no reason to be angry, not with me at any rate. And it was probably nothing more than my imagination that made me think our gazes had met. In truth, I doubted if he even saw me, being so far away and focused on playing his game.
Something warm settled over my shoulders and I jumped in surprise, already hugging the material closer around me as I looked over my shoulder. The words of gratitude died on my lips as I shrugged the jacket off and let it slide to the ground.
A hint of coldness filled Quinn's gaze, quickly blinked away as he bent down to retrieve his suit jacket. He brushed it off then carefully folded it over his arm then turned his gaze back to me. "You looked cold. I was only trying to help."
"I'm fine." My gaze slid past Quinn and landed on my father, who was watching us as if he gleefully expected Quinn to drop to one knee and propose marriage. I swallowed back the biting words and forced a cool smile to my face. "Thank you."
Quinn didn't buy my little act for one second, any more than I bought his. He moved around us and took the seat next to me, his leg brushing mine as he shifted to get comfortable. I adjusted my own position, sliding my legs out of the way to avoid any more brushes with him, accidental or otherwise.
"I'm surprised to see you here, Adelaide. I didn't realize you were a hockey fan."
"I wanted to support Daddy with his new investment."
"Really? How odd, when you've never been interested in his business dealings before."
"And how would you know what I have and haven't been interested in, Quinn?"
"Our fathers are close friends. Their business ventures sometimes overlap, you know that. And I can't recall one single time when Gerard has commented on your interest, unlike tonight."
I didn't like the calculating expression on Quinn's angular face, or the overreaching interest I heard in his voice. I lifted one shoulder in a nonchalant shrug, pretending I didn't care what he thought one way or the other even though every last bit of my intuition was screaming in warning. "None of Daddy's other businesses have been quite so exciting as this hockey business."
Rule Breaker (New Orleans Bourdons Book 1) Page 10
