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“Something like that.”
“Is he still in Seattle?”
“Liam, don’t. I don’t want you going after him or getting involved. I need you to promise me that.”
I take a few fast breaths. “Where does he live?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where does he work?”
Her face is unsure when she glances at me. “I won’t go after him unless he gives me reason, okay?”
“He’s a mechanic. Randy’s Auto Repairs, South Seattle.”
I know the place, and I store that information away just in case. “I won’t let him hurt you, Harper. I won’t let him hurt Gavin either, and I’m not going to say his threat against you was simply a scare tactic, but a guy like that sounds like a total coward, and would be too afraid to come around if you were with me. Men like that bully women, not other guys.”
“You’re not always going to be around, Liam,” she tells me, her body stiffening, and fuck, she’s right. I have a hockey career that takes me on the road, but deep inside what she’s saying goes deeper than that. She’s letting me know this thing between us is only temporary.
“I know,” I say. “Let’s hope you’re worried for nothing. Maybe he won’t even see this. It’s not even on the front page.”
She nods, but I don’t get the sense she believes that, and I guess she does know him better than me. “I just don’t trust him.” She lifts a shaky hand and waves it back and forth between the two of us. “Maybe I never should have…I mean, I don’t want to make my problems yours.”
Hurt and anger and protectiveness all hit at once. I fucking want her problems to be mine. I want to be there for her, but it doesn’t seem like she wants the same. Goddammit, I need to change her mind about that somehow.
My fingers fist and I work to keep the anger pinging around inside me like a runaway pinball in check, when all I want to do is go out and beat the shit out of the guy. I almost snort at that. Wouldn’t a beatdown do wonders for my career and endorsements. Fans would probably expect it, cheer me on, but my coach would kick my ass and I could kiss my endorsements goodbye. I’d still do it, though. If that fucker comes around, I’m going to be having a long-ass talk to him—with my fists.
I pull her onto my lap, and wrap my arms around her, cocooning her in my strength. She gives me a shaky smile. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ve just built this up in my head.”
I consider the noise we heard outside last night and my stomach tightens. But this article didn’t come out until this morning. If someone was banging around outside the house, it couldn’t have been him, right?
Unless…unless it was.
12
Harper
I have no idea why my stomach is in knots or why I’m so damn nervous. I’m a grown woman, meeting a friend’s family. A friend with benefits, but a friend nonetheless. Still, it’s not like I’m his girlfriend, and I’ll be under scrutiny from all his sisters. I’m being ridiculous and I know it. Unless they can tell that we have sex written all over us.
“I should have made something,” I say, and fold my hands on my lap.
“They don’t expect me to bring anything.” He chuckles quietly. “Not any more anyway.”
I study his strong profile as he drives through downtown. “What’s that mean?”
“They once asked me to make squash, and I cooked it until it was a sacrificial offering.” We both laugh at that and he adds, “I set the bar really low, so now they don’t ask.”
“Yeah, but I’m not you, and I should have brought more than a store-bought baguette. I should have made a lava cake.”
“Hell no. That sets the bar too high, and then every time you came, they’d expect it.”
“It’s not like I’m ever going to have dinner with them again, Liam,” I say, reminding him of our timeline. Oh, and why is that? Because I want him to tell me the hell with it, that we don’t have to end this when summer is over? Yup, that’s pretty much it.
I smooth my hand over my summery dress and take a look at Gavin in the back seat. He’s been so happy these last couple weeks, hanging out with Liam, and doing so many fun things. My heart squeezes tight as I listen to him singing out loud. He really needed a man in his life. A good man, like Liam. Not a man like my ex. An uneasy quiver goes through me. I really hope he doesn’t come sniffing around, now that he knows a famous hockey player is in our lives. I’m not sure what he thinks he could get out of it, but I wouldn’t put anything past him.
I go quiet, lost in thought, and a short while later, he pulls into his parents’ driveway. I glance at the older home in an older neighborhood. With its manicured lawn, and landscaping, it’s very quaint and inviting. “You grew up here.”
“Yup.” He winks at me. “Want to see my bedroom?”
