“I don’t care about that anymore. I’ve made up my mind to go skiing with you, and I’ll tell her so… that is, if the invitation is still open?”
Ryder turned and looked out the panoramic windows so the guys couldn’t see his face as he smiled nor overhear his conversation. “You bet. I made the reservations already, and it’s at least a five-hour drive. I’ll pick you up on the twenty-fourth around two p.m., sound good?”
“Christmas Eve?”
He chuckled into the phone. “Yeah, last I heard, that auspicious date is indeed Christmas Eve. Are you already getting cold feet?”
“Oh, I guess I thought…”
“Thought what? That you’d be waiting up for Santa with milk and cookies? I thought you were twenty-three and not thirteen. Do you want to come with me or not?”
After the words left his brazen mouth, he hesitated and chided himself. He kept forgetting that Hannah was really close to her family and most likely worried about disappointing those she loved. This would probably be her first holiday away from them.
Silence reigned for a few seconds before she spoke. “Yes, of course I do. It’s just that… I don’t have any ski clothes. I thought I could go shopping for some the day after Christmas when there are really good sales.”
Play your cards right, and you won’t need any clothes, girl.
“News flash. Santa’s got a brand new bag, honey. Climb in, or you’ll miss the ride. There’s a pro shop at the hill. Don’t worry about it, let’s just go and have fun, okay? You know, Hannah, it’s hard to be without family on Christmas, but I promise to make it worth your while. Stop overthinking things and give yourself the ultimate present. The gift of knowing your own mind and making your own decision.”
“Okay.”
“Okay. Talk soon, baby.”
Ryder swiveled his chair to face the table again and nearly dropped his phone. Across from him, between Jones and Bennett sat none other than Tiny ‘Joe’ Thibault, her mass of curly red hair virtually aglow in the moody bar lighting shining down on her head. “Allo, Ryder. That was a great shot. Bad luck, eh?”
He pocketed the phone and shifted in his chair, straightening his jacket and tie in the process. He really, really didn’t need the contest’s runner-up observing and commenting on his performance. Even if she looked hot as hell in that cream-colored shift dress with spaghetti straps.
“Yeah. Bad luck.” He shrugged. “History now. You staying in Rochester for the holidays? I thought you’d want to be home in Saskatoon by now.”
Josée pursed her lips as the guys around him started to chuckle. She leaned forward, the neck of her dress showing a bit more of her freckled chest than it should. “Say it with me,” she said. “Sas-ka-chew-ahn.”
“Sas-ka-chew-ahn,” they all mimicked in unison.
Their drinks arrived, and Ryder picked up his snifter of Murphy’s. “I’ll drink to that,” he said, then downed it in one gulp.
“I have a few friends here,” Josée went on. “They’re throwing a New Year’s party so, oui, I stay there ‘til then. Warmer here than La Ronge.”
“Didn’t think anywhere could be colder than here,” Bennett said. “I’m a California boy, and I can tell you I’m freezing my ass off up here. Where I come from, they don’t even sell winter coats.”
Josée’s head swiveled back and forth as she observed each of the men surrounding her. Taking a swig of his beer, Ryder watched the long silver strings of her earrings dangle as she moved. Definitely a looker, and would score high on the four F scale, but not exactly his type. Women athletes were a little too muscular for his taste. He liked soft and supple curves. A handful of womanly flesh everywhere his hands could stray.
“Say, never did hear who put in the highest bid for you at the auction,” Ryder said. “Who’s the lucky man?” He glanced over at Jones who gave him the finger. “Aw, some asshole outbid you, Ealon? Told you so.” General snickers sounded around the table.
“A local businessman,” Josée said, lifting her glass of wine to her lips and taking a sip. “We only spoke once since the auction. Haven’t decided where we’re going yet.”
Ryder’s eyes scoped the table, the guys all looking like canary-stuffed cats. He turned his hands palm up. “Who?”
“Spencer Davies,” Josée said. “Do you know him?”
He swallowed hastily, to avoid choking on his mouthful of brew. “Spud? Spud won the bid?” Ryder laughed out loud. Hadn’t seen that one coming. “Snooze you lose, guys.” He set his beer aside and stood up, heading for the men’s room. He checked his phone again for messages but noted nothing important other than the time. Twelve forty-five a.m. Shit. As good as a cold beer tasted after a game, he should get home.
He exited the washroom a few minutes later, intending to return to the table and say his farewells. With a pang of regret, he realized he might not see these guys again; at least not as teammates and on such an intimate basis. He discarded the negative thought and continued on his way. When he reached the end of the hall leading back to the lounge, a figure stepped into his path.
“Ryder,” she said, grabbing his arm. “Merry Christmas.” Josée reached up and planted a kiss on his lips, then tried to shove her warm tongue inside his mouth. At one time, he might have taken the offering with gratitude, but now, only one woman occupied his thoughts and stirred his body. Her brazen antics gave a whole new meaning to French kiss.
“Whoa,” he said, pulling away. “Merry Christmas to you too… but what…?”
Before he could say anymore, she placed a finger to his lips and tucked a cocktail napkin in his jacket pocket. Her teasing green eyes locked on his.
“I like you,” she whispered. “I like a man who challenges me. Who can keep up with me. I want to fuck you. Call me.”
Chapter Fifteen
“You’re what?”
“I’m going skiing with a friend,” Hannah said as she continued placing underwear and socks into her small carry-on case, ignoring the underlying implication of her sister’s indignant question.
Eloise stood in the doorway to the guest room, looking as though she was about to cry. “It’s early Christmas Eve morning. Mom and Dad came all this way to see us. You can’t just take off. What about midnight mass tonight? Jesus, Hannah. Why have you started being so rebellious and disappointing everyone?”
Hannah felt a strong stab of guilt, but the need to assert her independence pressed even stronger against her rigid back, shoving her forward toward what she actually wanted for a change. “I’ve seen everyone, we had a great couple of days together, and I’m likely going to be back to Columbus soon anyway. Mom and Dad are here to see you, Cole, and Christina. Not me. And since when do you attend mass?”
“Since I married a Catholic,” El said. “Since when do you ski?”
“I can learn, can’t I?” Hannah asked, flashing a smile she hoped would soften the moment. “I’ve been learning a lot of new things since I’ve been in Rochester, and I’m finding that I like stepping outside my comfort zone. Besides, we’re pretty cramped in here, admit it. Everyone’s on top of each other. This will give you more space, more time to visit with them.”
Eloise frowned. For the first time ever, things had been tense between the sisters. Hannah didn’t like it one bit, but she also didn’t like the way Eloise decided she had the right to butt into her private life. Some distance apart would do them both good.
“Do I know this friend?” El asked, one eyebrow raised. “When will you be back?”
Hannah chewed the inside of her mouth for a few seconds, deciding how best to answer. She didn’t actually know the details of where they were going or how long they planned to stay. She just trusted Ryder to make the arrangements.
“Yes, it’s someone you know. And we’ll be back the day after Christmas.”
El pursed her lips, clearly biting back the words she had in mind. “Hanna-bee, you’re not fooling anyone, least of all me. You haven’t made any friends in Rochester. I know
who you’re talking about, and I’m warning you. Do. Not. Do This. You barely know him, and you’re going away with him, alone?” Her voice turned from petulant to pleading. “You don’t know what you’re doing. What if he does something… inappropriate?”
I can only hope he does something inappropriate.
“I do know what I’m doing, El,” Hannah said, exasperated. She was doing something selfish for a change. Something she deserved. She turned to face her. “I’m not a kid anymore. I thought I proved that to you by working in the restaurant all this time. Can’t I have a little fun for a change? You said I was your rock, that I was strong. Didn’t you mean it?”
Eloise’s shoulders sagged a little as she stepped closer. “Of course I meant it. I never say things I don’t mean, so please listen to what I’m going to say to you.” She looked Hannah in the eyes, her sincerity and love showing through her penetrating gaze. “Ryder Martin is a predator. He’s only interested in one thing. Sex. He’ll seduce you, try to get you into bed, then put a notch on his stick and move on to the next willing victim. Don’t be one of them, I’m begging you, Hannah.”
Hannah almost trembled in the wake of El’s damning words. She was deadly serious and clearly desperate to protect her sister, like she always had. She would never stop trying to protect her, she understood that now. It was like trying to stop her heart from beating. But Hannah didn’t need protecting any longer and knew that part of El’s behavior stemmed from postpartum chemistry. Their mom had even said so.
“El,” she said, gripping her gently by the arms. “I hear you. I love you. I trust you. But I trust Ryder too. He’s not like you say. He’s been nothing but a gentleman to me. I know you want to protect me, but you can’t do it forever. Even if something happens, isn’t a broken heart a female rite of passage? Allow me to live my life and take my own journey. Besides, you have someone else who needs your protection now. It’s time for you to trust me. Can you do that? Please?”
Her sister relaxed her stance and gave a reluctant nod. “You’re right. I can’t protect you forever. But Hannah…”
“What?”
“Trust your feelings too. If you feel something isn’t right, or you’re asked to do something you don’t want to do, don’t ignore your gut. Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Okay.” El took a deep breath and pushed her hair back from her face. “Are you at least going to stay for breakfast? Mom’s made her famous biscuits and gravy. She’ll be disappointed if you don’t have some.”
Hannah sighed and gave in. “Sure.”
They all settled in around the dining table, Christina’s carrier on its own chair between Eloise and their mom. They’d all woken early. Hannah because Ryder wanted to hit the slopes today and the others because Christina’s wailing flowed through the condo every time she screamed to be fed.
Grandma Linda’s delight over her new grandchild was a beautiful thing to see. She gushed and cooed over her, making observations on every little aspect of the child. Hannah saw Christina every day, and though she agreed she was beautiful, she didn’t really understand how people claimed to see any resemblance to a parent at that age – newborns had their own particular countenance.
“Mom,” Hannah said, in between bites of the scrumptious, tender sausage gravy that tasted every bit as good as she remembered. “Did I look like Dad when I was a baby too? You said El and Sophia did.”
Linda looked up from her preoccupation of rattling the bright colored toys fastened to the handle of Christina’s carrier. “What, dear?”
Hannah swallowed another piece of biscuit. “You said Christina looks like Cole, but that we all looked like Dad when we were babies.”
“Oh, yes. It’s a funny thing. Girls seem to take after fathers, and boys favor their mothers. Most everyone I know says the same thing,” Linda said, pouring herself a cup of tea.
Gerry cleared his throat. “It’s random,” he said, his attention on his plate. “Just depends on which genes land where. There’s no favoritism involved.” He sopped up gravy with a chunk of roll and popped it into his mouth.
“You don’t agree with Mom’s theory?” El asked, reaching into the carrier and rearranging Christina’s blankets.
Gerry raised his head and looked at Linda while still chewing on his biscuit. His gaze switched to El, to Christina, and then to Hannah. “Well, maybe you’re right. You’re all pretty good-looking,” he said, cracking a smile.
El laughed. “Thanks, handsome.”
Gerry finished his meal and laid his napkin over his plate. “Great meal, wife. So, princess,” he said, turning his attention to Hannah. “Have you decided when you’re coming home?”
“Um, I don’t know, Dad. Still waiting to hear from Franklin for the winter admission.”
“And if you don’t?”
“There’s lots of good schools right here.” Hannah tossed a glance at her sister. El smiled and gave a tiny nod of approval. “I might apply for one of them in the fall. Maybe even look into some of the top online grad programs.”
“And what will you do until then?”
“Work, I guess. Save up some money.”
Gerry leaned his elbows on the table, interlacing the fingers of his oversized hands. “You could still come home. I know there’s a young man there who’s looking forward to seeing you again. You should get to know him better.”
Hannah ground her teeth and gripped her fork until her knuckles turned white. Don’t go there, Dad. Don’t you want anything better for me than to be the controlled wife of an ignorant bastard? She glanced at the antique clock that hung in the adjoining living room. Ryder would be here in less than half an hour. She set down her fork and drew in a huge breath.
“Really? What a coincidence. There’s a young man here in Rochester looking forward to seeing me, and I’m going to be late if I don’t finish getting ready. Excuse me.”
She excused herself from the table and started toward her room. “Hannah!” her mom called after her.
“Let her go,” she heard her father say. “She’s going to do what she wants anyway. Like always. Stubborn streak in that girl. Don’t know where she gets it from.”
“Gerry,” Linda said in a hushed tone.
Her mother’s voice faded completely as Hannah reached her room and closed the door. It was mostly her parent’s room at the moment, their things laid out on the bureau and in the closet.
Stubborn?
Just because she didn’t want to be married off to the first guy who showed an interest and had a steady job that they approved of? She felt like she didn’t know her parents at all, the way they were behaving. Maybe having both her sisters ‘taken care of’ was making them put extra pressure on her. Did they have some crazy retirement plan she didn’t know about?
She continued packing for her trip, taking what she thought was most appropriate from the wardrobe she had on hand – sweaters, leggings, comfortable tees. But what would she sleep in? She owned a couple of nighties but mostly slept in pajama pants and camisoles. The thought of Ryder seeing her in any of it gave her chills of embarrassment.
As she stuffed one of each into the carry-on, she heard shouting from the kitchen. Dad’s voice, then Mom’s. El must have gone to put Christina down for her nap. She couldn’t make out any of the words. This was too weird. Mom and Dad didn’t fight. She’d only heard them raise their voices to each other once before.
Hannah closed her suitcase and changed into what she planned to wear while traveling. The sooner she left, the better by the sounds of things. She could wait for Ryder downstairs. The voices had quieted, so she opened the door and peeked out. Her mom was clearing away the dishes, and her dad had settled in front of the TV. El and Christina had left the room.
“Well, I have to be going,” she said cheerfully, setting her suitcase down by the hall closet and digging for her winter jacket with the faux fur trim. “Merry Christmas and all that. I’ll see you all in a few days.”
Linda turn
ed to gape at her. “It’s Christmas Eve, dear. Where are you going?”
“Didn’t Eloise tell you? I’m going skiing up at Lutsen Mountain. I’ve never been. I got invited kind of last minute.” She shrugged on her coat and tugged the Sherpa hat over her ears. “Love you guys. Bye.” She picked up her suitcase and exited before anyone could say another word.
***
“Thank you. You can reach me at this number.” Ryder ended his call with the Pulmonary Care Unit at the Mayo Clinic. He’d been told that Walter had experienced several severe respiratory episodes but had stabilized and would be moved to a co-op care unit a few blocks from the clinic within the week. Until then, he would remain in the ward for observation and treatment.
He felt like a shit for not going to see his father since the day after the fundraiser, but the old man himself had told him to stay away and focus on landing a contract with the Riot. There was nothing he could do for him. He might as well go back to pretending he didn’t exist, just as he’d done the last eight years. He’d emailed his brothers, Braden and Colt, to let them know the situation but hadn’t received a reply.
He couldn’t wait to get out of town. With so much on his mind, he felt he’d go berserk if he stuck around. His dad. The team. His job. Add to that the surprise ambush of Josée Thibault. Holy shit. When a woman said ‘I want to fuck you,’ a man generally didn’t ask questions, but he hadn’t even been close to giving in. In fact, her actions had disgusted him. He’d excused himself and left. A hookup like that was no longer what he wanted.
His phone pinged and he frowned as he recognized the number. Damn it all to hell. The incoming message put a damper on the semi he’d been harboring ever since the constant thoughts of Hannah naked and beneath him had consumed him body and soul.
Listen here. If you push my sister into sleeping with you or hurt her in any way, I’ll cut your balls off with a dull knife. I know where you work and I know where you live. This is the only warning you’ll get. Heed it well, Martin. Never fuck with a pregnant woman.
The Rebound: A Rochester Riot Sports Romance Page 13
