Attacking Zone (Utah Fury Hockey Book 4)

by Brittney Mulliner

  He turned and shot me a nasty glare. “Watch it.”

  “Sorry.”

  “I’ve been here for two days. If you want your shot, you’re going to have to wait.”

  “My shot?” Like a gun? I looked him over and noticed a camera strap hanging across his chest with the camera in his hand.

  “He hasn’t been seen today, so back off.”

  Who? What?

  I shook my head and took a step back. “Sorry.”

  I turned to walk away then I realized they were there for Wyatt. Poor guy. He couldn’t even walk out of his building without being hounded by photographers.

  If only I had his number, I’d warn him to stay away.

  I took another glance at the crowd before taking off toward my apartment. I couldn’t imagine living like that. No privacy. People waiting for days to take a stupid picture of me.

  Another reason why it was smart for me to leave this morning. Wyatt was not someone I needed to be around.

  Chapter Seven

  Wyatt

  The game was rough, but we’d pulled it off. We were playing again in two days, so I needed to get to the arena quickly this morning.

  No time for reading or relaxing today. It was weights and practice all day long, but I did have time to stop by for a coffee. I could only hope Kendall wasn’t there. If she wanted to run out that’s fine, but I wasn’t going to change my routine, so she could avoid me.

  I opened the door and let an older couple leave before walking in. Matt was at the counter and I let out a breath. Good. No awkward encounters.

  I shook my head. If only the guys could see me now. They would mock me forever.

  Me, Wyatt Hartman, Captain of the Utah Fury, two-time world champion--afraid of seeing a girl.

  It was ridiculous. I knew it and I bet Kendall knew it too.

  Matt waved me forward. “Your usual?”

  I nodded and handed him my card. “Are you back to working mornings?”

  That was casual, right? No underlying meaning.

  He shrugged and filled my cup. “We’re rotating now. I can’t even keep track of when I’m supposed to be here. Hopefully we’ll go back to normal soon.”

  I wanted to ask why that would happen. Was Kendall quitting?

  He passed me my drink and returned my card. “See ya, man.”

  “Thanks.” I walked over to the self-serve counter and added some milk to my coffee. It was a slow morning and there were only a few other people in the café, but it was still early, maybe I’d just beaten the crowd.

  “Excuse me?”

  I looked around and finally turned to see a young boy staring up at me.

  “Hi.” I smiled, he was probably a fan.

  “Hi. I’m Dilan. I go to North Elm Elementary. My class is fundraising for a trip to Yellowstone to study geography.”

  I looked around to see if this boy had a parent with him and saw a young-looking woman hurry over. “I’m so sorry. I told him not to talk to anyone without me, but I was ordering when he slipped away.”

  I smiled. “No problem. He was just telling me about studying geography.”

  She relaxed a bit and laughed. “Geology.”

  Dilan nodded. “Yeah, that one.”

  I laughed at the mix up. “Geology is good too. How are you guys fundraising?”

  Dilan slipped his backpack off his shoulders and unzipped it before reaching in and pulling out a box of generic candy bars. “We’re selling chocolate.”

  “No way. I love chocolate.”

  Dilan beamed at me. “Do you want to buy a bar? I have to sell two whole boxes to go on the trip.”

  That seemed a little rough on one kid. The school could have made it a little easier with at least some good candy.

  “Let’s go talk outside.” I looked to his mom and she nodded. They followed me out to the sidewalk and I was grateful the weather was warm again. “The trip sounds really fun. How many kids are going?”

  Dilan pursed his lips. “All the third-grade kids are supposed to go, but my class is the only one that hasn’t raised enough money.”

  I nodded and looked to his mom. “How many kids are there?”

  “Thirty-two.”

  Whoa. “That’s a big class.”

  She nodded. “It’s pretty mixed too. Not all of the parents can afford to pay for the trip, so his teacher had the fundraiser idea.”

  I picked up on what she meant. These kids needed help. I hated the thought of some of them being left behind because they couldn’t afford it.

  “How much does each student need to go?”

  His mom narrowed her eyes. “It’s a hundred and seventy per child.”

  I nodded. Call it fifty-five hundred total.

  “Dilan, would you mind if I bought your whole box?”

  His eyes widened, and he nodded his head like I might change my mind. “Yes!”

  “Thanks. You’re a lifesaver. I’ve been craving chocolate and haven’t had time to go to the store. Now I can take this whole box home and I’ll have a bunch to tie me over for at least a week.”

  Dilan handed me the box and I took out my wallet. I pulled out a few hundred-dollar bills and passed them back to him. His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.

  His mom stopped his hand though. “We can’t accept this. It’s way too much.”

  I smiled and shook my head. “I promise it’s not.” If she was getting freaked out now, she was going to lose her mind when she heard about the check I’d have dropped off.

  “What’s your teacher’s name, Dilan?” I asked the kid.

  “Ms. Sommer.”

  “Okay, you be sure to give that to Ms. Sommer.”

  He nodded. “I will. Thank you.”

  I gave him a high five and turned to his mom. “You have a great kid. You guys have a nice day.”

  She thanked me and took her son’s hand. It was nice being able to do something for people, especially when they didn’t know who I was. I’d rather be a stranger that did a nice thing than Wyatt Hartman making a donation. Hopefully it showed Dilan he should be kind and generous.

  I was about to leave when the café’s door swung open. Kendall walked out wearing a black polo and Baltimore Harbor’s hat.

  I shook my head. “Really? In public? You do realize you’re in Fury territory?”

  She ignored me. “Why did you do that?”

  “Do what?” Call her out for wearing a rival team’s apparel? Invite her to my house and give her food and a place to stay just so she could run away?

  Her eyes narrowed. “Why did you give that little boy so much money?”

  I shrugged. “He and his class needed it.”

  “You don’t know that for sure. They could have been scammers.”

  Her assumption caught me off guard. I didn’t expect her to jump to that conclusion. “You’re right. They could have been, but I didn’t think so. He told me his class needed help, and it seemed like a good cause. I can do it, so why not?”

  She just stared at me. I didn’t know what else to say. She could question me all she wanted but my answer wasn’t going to change. I liked being in a position where I could help people and I tried to be aware of situations where I could. Yeah, I could have just bought a single chocolate bar, but I had the capability do so much more.

  “They didn’t ask Wyatt Hartman for money. I don’t think they knew who I was, and that made it so much better.”

  She shook her head. “I guess I just don’t understand.”

  “What’s to understand?”

  “Having money to give away like that. I mean, I think I saw you hand him a hundred-dollar bill.”

  There were three, but I didn’t correct her.

  She folded her arms over her chest. “I guess I can’t imagine doing that.”

  I didn’t like the direction she was taking this. “I don’t throw my money around. I wasn’t doing that to flaunt anything. I wanted to help that kid’s class go on a trip. I have the means so I’m making
it happen. It’s not like I drive a car worth more than your home and wear jewelry to show off. That’s not who I am.”

  I looked at her and realized she was hugging herself. Like she was closing in on herself.

  “I’m sorry that made you uncomfortable, Kendall. I really am, but I came out here, so we’d have privacy. I tried to make it all as nondescript as possible. I know I make more money than most, but that means I can give more than most.”

  She barely nodded, but I felt like I wasn’t getting through to her. What did it matter? She ran away from me.

  Maybe she expected me to be some nightmare version of a man she made in her head.

  That wasn’t me.

  Money had never been important to me. Hockey was all that mattered. I just happened to be good enough to play professionally. It obviously made her uncomfortable, so I backed up.

  “You have people outside your building waiting for you,” she said.

  I paused and stared at her. “What?”

  She looked at the ground. “I went for a run. I ended up in this area. There was a crowd, so I stopped. Some guy with a huge camera lens told me they were waiting for you.”

  My stomach dropped to the sidewalk. They’d figured it out.

  Goodbye freedom. Goodbye privacy. It was fun while it lasted.

  “It must suck having them wait for days just to get a picture of you.”

  I sighed. “It hasn’t been bad. I moved a few weeks ago, but I guess they figured it out.”

  She nodded. “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine. I hoped they would focus on Noah for a while longer and not notice I lived there too, but I guess my time’s up.”

  She looked up, confused. “Another player lives there?”

  I nodded. “Noah Malkin, a rookie. They’ve been stalking the place for weeks. ”

  “I’ve heard that name.” Her eyebrows pulled together for a second before she looked up at me. “I just assumed.”

  “Assumed what?”

  “The photographer said ‘he’ and I just assumed he was talking about you.” She smiled. “Maybe they don’t know about you.”

  “Wait. You didn’t say I lived there right?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  I let out a breath and smiled. “Then I think my secret’s still safe.”

  “Good.” She looked down, so her hat covered her eyes.

  “I’m glad you’re safe.”

  She looked up at me, confused.

  “You disappeared. I was worried something may have happened, but I’m glad you’re okay.”

  She nodded. “Sorry. I just didn’t want it to be awkward in the morning, and I thought it would be better to get out of your way.”

  “Well, now we’re having the awkward moment.”

  I tried to make light of it and I was relieved when she laughed.

  “Yeah, I guess I didn’t think it through.”

  Well, we almost had a normal conversation. “I’ll see you later.”

  I turned and walked away without her saying anything. I didn’t get that woman. What was worse, I didn’t get why I cared.

  On my way to my car I texted my assistant and asked him to get a check over to North Elm Elementary. I wasn’t going to let Kendall’s awkwardness about the situation get to me. I would help when I could.

  I looked at the car parked in front of mine. The one with Maryland plates. I smiled and looked around. She was gone.

  I opened my trunk and pulled out a Fury bumper sticker.

  With one more glance around, I placed it on her bumper and stepped back to examine my work.

  Perfect placement.

  I got in my car and drove off before I got caught.

  It might not do much to win points with her, and I told her I wasn’t one for grudges, but I couldn’t resist a bit of teasing.

  Maybe one day, hopefully sooner rather than later, she would see me for who I really am. She met me with her opinion of me and who I was firmly established. I wasn’t just getting to know someone for the first time, I was undoing prejudices I had no part in creating. It was an uphill climb, and yet I wanted to do it. Even after she left without leaving a note. Making me worry. Seeing her today was enough. All the feelings, curiosity, attraction, frustration, flooded back the moment I saw her again.

  I was in over my head. I knew it. Because of a girl that didn’t even like me.

  I didn’t need anyone to tell me I was crazy. I knew it. I didn’t have the time to invest in chasing after her, and I knew I’d have to. Not that she was trying to play hard to get, the odds were stacked against me.

  She had a solid, steel wall built around her and I had my work cut out for me trying to break through. If I even wanted to.

  Who was I kidding?

  This was the first woman that ever held my attention.

  Maybe it was the challenge. Unfortunately, I was used to getting the things I wanted. Some came with being in my position, but the things that mattered to me were the ones I had to fight for. This wouldn’t be easy. I had a feeling she was tougher than she looked and just as stubborn as I was. I would have to chip away at her defenses and show her who I really was.

  Chapter Eight

  Kendall

  Life wasn’t fair.

  I’d learned that lesson way too early.

  I didn’t get why some people had all the money in the world, more than they knew what to do with, while there were so many that went without.

  I got that Wyatt was trying to help people, but sometimes giving money wasn’t the solution. Sometimes it wasn’t enough to fix everything.

  It hadn’t helped me.

  The money my parents left me hadn’t done anything for me. Not until college.

  I shook away the thought and went back to work. Matt and I were working together which was a rare occurrence. Joey was actually taking a day off. She deserved it, but it meant a long day for me. If it was busier it wouldn’t have been as bad, but it had been a quiet morning, so time was passing slowly.

  “Can you refill the milk containers?”

  I looked up at Matt and nodded. I took care of cleaning up the machines as well.

  He said, “Joey said you’re going to the U.”

  Matt was standing behind the register refilling the cups, not looking at me. I would have asked who he was talking to if there was more than just me in the area.

  “Yeah. Grad school.”

  He nodded. “That’s cool. I’m almost done with my undergrad.”

  Huh. A real conversation? Matt was a quiet person and Joey told me he took a while to warm up to people. I was shocked he was making small talk already. Maybe he was as bored as I was.

  “What are you majoring in?” I asked.

  “Graphic design.”

  “Very cool.” That fit him. Not that I’d seen his artistic abilities, but he definitely had the artist vibe.

  “What are you getting your masters in?”

  “Psychology.”

  He smirked. “Are you analyzing this conversation?”

  I laughed. “No. I promise.”

  He nodded and actually started laughing.

  I smiled at the first genuine emotion he’d showed. “What’s so funny?”

  He closed his mouth and looked away.

  “Oh no. You can’t laugh like that and not tell me.”

  He finally faced me. “You’re studying people. Why they do or think things, right?”

  I nodded.

  “Yet you can’t seem to get Wyatt.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What?”

  Matt shrugged. “Joey told me about your previous encounter, then whatever that just was.” He nodded in the direction of the front door. “I don’t get why you’re so hard on him.”

  I tried to think of a defense, but he continued.

  “I don’t know the guy very well, but from everything I’ve seen he’s a good person. He’s genuine, and he’s a great tipper.”

  I laughed. Of course, that’s what he cared
about.

  Matt shrugged. “I know he’s not on your team, but that doesn’t make him a bad guy.”

  I nodded, and he went back to restocking. I couldn’t believe we’d just had this conversation. It was my first time really spending time around Matt, yet he picked up on one of my biggest flaws. I’m not good at giving people the benefit of the doubt. I’ve seen too much darkness to believe everyone has good. It’s more like they’re bad until proven otherwise.

  He was right though. I had no reason to assume anything bad about Wyatt. He’d done nothing but prove how kind and caring he was. He saved me in a storm, opened his home to me, donated to a child’s fundraiser. All things that pointed to him being a good person.

  I sighed and got back to cleaning.

  My past had made me a little bitter, but I hoped I had moved on. I thought I’d grown. Gotten better while at school. Now I was about to enter grad school to start an occupation that wouldn’t allow me to have personal prejudices. I couldn’t let my outlook on life effect how I saw other people.

  No more.

  I needed to apologize or ask to start over.

  While I worked I came up with a list of things I could do. A simple ‘I’m sorry’ wouldn’t suffice. I needed a peace offering. I could bring him a bag of his favorite coffee. No. Too simple. It was the same stuff he drank every morning, and I think he liked coming here to get it.

  I could make him dinner.

  Only I wasn’t the best cook.

  I could bring him dinner from a restaurant around here. I cringed and shook that thought away. I couldn’t afford to eat out.

  Maybe just a small treat. A cookie? Donuts?

  Did he even like those?

  I didn’t know much about him.

  Wait. He had hot cocoa at his house. That means he at least likes that.

  I bit my lip and looked out the window. Should I just bring him hot chocolate? I could make a fancy one here.

  But what if he wasn’t home?

  Could I even get to his apartment building or would there be security to stop me?

  Crap. Who knew this would be so hard?

  Fine. I would take a risk. Bring him my peace offering and hope he was home. And that I could get in.

  The café had been empty for the past twenty minutes, so I started to close up.