There were still only a few other ‘regular’ neighbors, as far as she was aware, but she had noticed a newer model muscle car in one of the carport spots, though Emma was yet to spot this new neighbor. Given the Nebraska plates, what she presumed to be a mystery man was perhaps one of the hockey players, and Emma knew she could inquire to the higher ups at the team if they’d signed anyone and get all sorts of information.
But the team had been good about keeping her in the loop, working with Emma to make sure she would have access to the team. She’d have passes and media packets waiting for her at each home game. She knew it was only a matter of time before her fax machine buzzed to announce the prospective signing, and at that point, she would investigate further.
And perhaps, if she was lucky, she’d find someone worth testing that no-fraternizing clause on!
Chapter 4 - Curvy Lady
It was early in the afternoon when Emma’s doorbell rang and she chuckled to herself before heading to answer it, finding the mammoth hockey player standing outside her door with an easy smile on his face. “You must be TJ,” she murmured while holding open the door, ushering him in, with the wave of a hand.
“I’d prefer Trent if ya’d be so kind.” The voice that went with the body over a foot taller than her own, was softer than she’d expected, and with a surprising touch of wariness she wouldn’t have expected.
Still, Emma nodded, resting a hand on his elbow for a moment before answering back, “Trent it is then. Glad to finally meet you. The team had sent me over your stats and bio, but it’s always good to get to know the person outside the uniform.” Especially when they’re as good looking as he is, she mused to herself.
Trent ducked his head a bit, giving her a smile so shy that Emma briefly wondered if she was looking into the mirror before he told her, “I’m just your regular, run of the mill hockey player, trying to see how far I can make it before I prove my parents right and end up back on the farm.” Emma didn’t miss the trace of venom in his voice, and again was struck by the similarities to her own life, the overwhelming desire to prove the people who were supposed to be supporting you wrong because they didn’t believe in you.
Giving him a knowing smile and leaning into the fridge, Emma grabbed him a bottle of water and chucked it his way. After noting that he caught it with his left hand, she told him matter-of-factly, “If my family had their way, I’d be married already to some country club yutz, raising babies and otherwise being the good little housewife. They kinda missed the memo that isn’t me.”
And finally, the smile Emma received back from Trent was sincere, a fact she could tell by the crinkling near his big brown eyes. Returning the smile in force and indicating he could settle down in one of the chairs near her kitchen table, Emma waited until he did so before she did likewise, asking him, “So what brings you to Blue Springs, Trent Jarrett? Why here? Why this team?” and after another moment she added, “Not recording this, it’s for my own knowledge, but if it’s alright with you I may pull it out if your story looks like one I can make a good article of.”
Once more Trent ducked his head a bit, repeating his earlier statement of, “I’m just a regular hockey player. Nothin’ special here.” But he did pause, taking a slow drink of the water and tilting his head back while doing so – giving Emma a tantalizing tease of his neck before he continued – “I came here because it’s close to home. About a four-hour drive. Figured maybe, just maybe, if the family knew I was succeeding, they’d have the justification to come and watch and see for themselves that I could make it at this.”
Nodding a bit, Emma opened up a bit to this kindred spirit, telling him, “I went with the exact opposite thought process – I wanted as far away from home as possible – I was afraid that if I did fail, it would be too easy to crawl back home with my tail between my legs.” Seeing those dark eyes grow a bit wary again, Emma changed the subject, changing tactics, “So I see you’re a year younger than me, and already done with school, and I know I finished a year early. Same situation for you?”
“Yes ma’am.” Trent answered immediately, with the same trace of wariness that had been present in the beginning. “My final year of high school, at the magnet school I was in, was also my freshman year of college. I still have eligibility to play college hockey, but with my degree in hand, I didn’t much see a point of sticking around. So here I am.”
“And you were the Captain your final year there? That’s got to be quite the statement to your leadership abilities for someone so young to be given so much responsibility.”
And this time, Emma was pleased to see she’d hit the right note, pleased to see the eyes crinkle again, before that shy little head duck again appeared. “My coaches and teammates seemed to think so. It was an honor to be nominated and then voted that way, as you said, as someone so young.”
Giving him an almost devious little grin, Emma finally went for the tease. “And yet you drive an American Muscle Car. What happened to Mr. Responsible?”
Laughing – finally! – Trent matched her grin with one of his own, telling her, “That was a bit of a fuck you to the old man. He’d found a nice truck for me at a local dealership. And it was a nice truck, and I liked it, but it was expected. And I saw that beauty out there and decided since it was my money, I would buy her instead.”
“Her?” Emma inquired with the same wide grin, eyes dancing in Trent’s direction, even as his face took on a pretty shade of red.
“She’s too smooth, too feisty, to be a guy. Plus,” and he paused while his eyes danced, “she has a great set of curves.”
Busting out laughing, it took Emma several minutes to control herself before telling him, “I can see you’re going to keep me on my toes, Trent. Anything else fun or exciting you want to blow my mind with?”
Reaching across the table so that his hand was near hers but not on it, he answered with a laugh and a grin, “I had a tongue piercing for a few months. Till the old man got wind of it, and threatened to rip it out of my tongue if I wanted to keep living under his roof. So, I let it close up.”
Tilting her head thoughtfully, Emma tried to visualize the shaggy haired gentle giant in front of her with a tongue piercing and just couldn’t see it. The act as rebellion, for sure, but not the act itself. Stretching her hand so her fingers just barely ghosted over the top of his, Emma gave Trent a bit of a shy smile. “Somehow, I see you and I getting along well. I think we’re too much alike not to.”
And though she was surprised when he shifted his hand away, Emma found it didn’t bother her, because the shy smile remained on his face the entire time.
There was something comforting about this man, maybe comfortable enough to consider getting closer to him.
Chapter 5 - The French Connection
In the week and a half since Trent had moved into the ‘player’s complex’, Emma had made every excuse she could to try to spend more time with him. She wanted to get to know him better; and see if he was as into her as she was finding herself into him.
She found out that he was the middle of six kids (with twin younger sisters), as well as having a toddler aged niece courtesy of his older brother. Still, Emma felt like she only knew him as much as he wanted to be known. Which she found both frustrating and refreshing at the same time.
She seemed to be able to make him smile and laugh, and she’d even gotten a quick hug out him that afternoon – but he’d still declined her invitation to meet up with the Malones at O’Callaghan’s Pub for Gabi’s birthday, and the arrival of her brother and cousin from the East Coast. Why they were coming to this god forsaken place, she had no clue. She just shrugged it off with another sip of beer, then shook her head at Devin's tease.
“No lover boy tonight?”
“Not that I’m the best sort of judge of these things, if the past has proved any clue. Shut up Gabi! But I don’t think he’s into me that way.” Emma turned to meet the dancing eyes of her friend, knowing where her mind had been going during her spiel a
nd took the turn to tease in her own right, adding, “Just cuz it’s your birthday doesn’t mean you have rights to pick on me!”
Holding up ‘innocent hands’ even as she laughed and flat downed her beer, already well on her way to several sheets to the wind, Gabi grinned back at her, only a trace of a slur in her tone, “C’mon though, the one time we try and play matchmaker and you criticize the poor boy at the door.”
“He was wearing sweatpants for a date. Who does that?!?” Emma promptly retorted, though giggling a bit herself at both the memory and the sight of Gabi pitching over in her laughter. “But they weren’t even nice sweatpants.”
“Y’know he’s too embarrassed to be a subcontractor for me anymore? Even though you two generally got along well. I think he’s afraid I’ll hurt him because he thinks he’s hurt your feelings by not asking you out again.” Devin chuckled a bit himself, then shook a finger at his wife when she went for his beer, murmuring at her “Slow down love. I have no qualms carrying you to bed, but there’s better things we can be doing then you puking the night away.”
No sooner had Gabi huffed a bit, a loud voice cut through the bar, asking “Gabriella, où es-tu?”
As Gabi rose to her feet to wave her hands towards where the voice had come from, Emma cut her eyes towards Devin and cocked an eyebrow. With Gabi distracted, Emma could ask under her breath, “Do I even want to know?”
“Non, I mean no. But you will soon enough.” And with that Devin stood as well to greet the two men who had finally reached their table, grabbing the smaller of the two and putting him in a playful headlock. “I know your lead foot, what the hell took you so long to get here? We were starting to get worried!”
Looking between the two men and her friends, she realized that these had to be Gabi’s brother and cousin, though which was which she had no clue. And still, she had no idea why they both were out here, because they were arriving far too late to be here just to celebrate her birthday. So, Emma sat awkwardly, waiting for someone to do introductions. In the meantime, she grabbed for her beer to pick at the label, rocking side to side as her discomfort with the situation became visible.
Uncomfortable by the thought of spending time with people she didn’t know, Emma’s angst grew when the taller one finally noticed her and barked towards Gabi, “Calice, pourquoi cette grosse vache est sur ma chaise?”
Eyes widening a bit, they grew even more when Gabi found enough balance to land a well-placed kick to his shin that sent the taller man to his knees, cussing under his breath. Ignoring his glare and hitting him with one of her own, Gabi chose that moment to clarify which boy was which, snarling, “You are a fucking asshole, Luke Perrault. Quit being such a prick and start talking in English. So help me God, Tabarnak, if you repeat what you just said again and I hear about it, you’ll be drinking your beer through a straw!”
A moment later, confirming Emma’s thoughts, the smaller man, having escaped Devin’s grasp, sighed and shook his head. “Way to make an impression, Luke.” Turning his head towards Emma, he offered her a smile and extended a hand in her direction. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. I’m Ryan Perrault, Gabriella’s brother.”
Giving Ryan’s hand a quick but firm shake, Emma settled further back into her chair with her beer, trying to catch Devin’s eyes, only to find him making the sign of the cross under the table. No doubt he was trying to find penance for whatever lewd thoughts were going through his mind, before he finally gazed over in her direction. “Why are they here, and why does her cousin already hate me?” She hissed at him under her breath, being certain that only he would hear it.
“He doesn’t hate you, he’s just an arrogant prick when he wants to be; which he seems to be tonight. As for why they’re here…”
Unbeknownst to Emma, Ryan had chosen to drop into the open chair beside her, leaning closer to tell her in the same soft voice as Devin had been using, “We’re here to play hockey. But shoosh, team hasn’t sent out the release yet and we’re not supposed to tip the media or something.”
Cackling at that, despite her better judgment, Emma gave Ryan a small wink, teasing, “Emma Connelly, KC Times, beat reporter for your brand-new hockey team.” And turning towards Luke and giving him a ‘go fuck yourself’ smile, she added, “Now tell me how to spell your name so I know who not to write about.”
Snorting as he settled into the only remaining chair, between his cousins, Luke was still bent over rubbing at his shin even as he answered in almost flawless English, “You will find out soon enough that you will have no choice but to write about me.”
Returning his snort with one of her own, Emma turned back to Ryan, asking, “So what position do you play?” only briefly cutting her eyes to catch Devin’s to make sure she’d asked the question properly.
“I’m a goalie.” and at noting the flicker of confusion on Emma’s face that she wasn’t quite able to hide, he added, “The one with all the extra equipment, always on the ice, and with fingers and toes crossed, the starter for this team. So far, I’m the only goalie signed.”
“Crisse de Tabarnak. She’s the reporter and she doesn’t even know what a goalie is?” Luke barked, before almost immediately groaning as Gabi’s fist swatted out and caught him in the gut.
But before Gabi, Devin, or even Ryan could comment, it was Emma smoothly inquiring, “Such filthy language. Do you kiss your Mama with that mouth?”
Eyes widening just a bit at Emma having understood what he’d said, Luke still retorted just as fast, “Non, but there are plenty of other lips that I can and will be kissing as this season progresses. Mark my words.”
Emma could only make a low tsk noise at that before eyeing Devin, murmuring at him, “Please tell me this one isn’t staying in one of the units anywhere near me.” And when his eyes lowered, she groaned, asking him, “Whyyyyyy?”
Devin shrugged a bit, tilting his head towards his wife, who was still engaged in a staring/glaring match with her cousin and answered, “Her doing.”
Raising her eyes to gaze around the Pub, she noted that many of the eyes in the room were still on them – making her even more uncomfortable with the situation than she already was. Taking one final pull from her beer to empty the bottle she rose to her feet again and gave Gabi her best forced smile. “Listen, I don’t want to interrupt the family reunion, and I’ve got work that I should be doing anyways.”
Gabi, Devin, and Ryan all frowned at her words, but Emma wasn’t surprised to see the small smile curl over Luke’s lips. She wished that she’d thought to bring her recorder and leave it in her satchel, but who’d have thought she’d need it for a birthday celebration with friends? Still, she knew that whatever had been said was about her, and based on Gabi’s reactions, wasn’t even remotely kind.
“I can’t convince you to stay?” Gabi asked quietly before she shot another murderous glare in her cousin’s direction. When Emma shook her head no, Gabi sighed and murmured, “Dev, will you walk her out to her car at least?”
Devin bounded to his feet, bent down to kiss his wife and then hooked his arm through Emma’s, leading her away from where their table was and towards the busier bar area. When they were well out of earshot of the party of Perrault’s, he finally said softly, “She means well.”
“So, I’ll have her brother as my constant shadow to make sure no boogiemen go bump in the night?” Emma inquired as they finally reached the parking lot and she started fishing into her satchel to grab her car keys.
“Oh, I’m sure she’d not object to you and Ryan becoming a couple, though he will protest loudly that he’s just here to play hockey, not have his sister play matchmaker.” When Emma turned to stare dumbstruck at Devin, he held his hands up in the air as a gesture of innocence. “I have nothing to do with this, little one. I’m just as along for the ride as you are. Besides, you could do far worse than Ryan.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “Yeah, like Luke. What the hell was his problem? And what was he calling me that got her so pissed off?”
“I don’t know.” Devin said too quick and Emma immediately shoved him. “Okay, I do know, but if I told you, she’d kick my ass. And that would be more kinky shit you wouldn’t want to hear about, so can we just stick with I don’t know?”
Making an ‘urrrrgh’ noise in his direction, Emma was already shaking her head. “Brain bleach. I need to stock up on brain bleach. Crisse de Tabarnak.” And as soon as the expression left her mouth, she blinked and stared at Devin harder. “That was Jesus Fucking Christ. I looked that one up after you guys left.” Gears once again spinning, Emma started pacing around her car, “So she called him a Fucker?”
“Not exactly. Well, um, I think she was intending for something a bit stronger than ‘fucker’. Tabarnak is, well, a very versatile word.”
‘Versatile’ she mouthed back at him.
Just Another Season Page 3
