FORCE: A Bad Boy Sports Romance (13 page)

I clenched and unclenched my fists. Jake had a huge, shit-eating grin on his face, like he thought he was the funniest motherfucker on the planet.

I will not punch him, I will not punch him.

Instead I ignored him. “Well, you heard the man,” I said to Brad, feeling no small amount of pride. “This is our chance. We’ve actually got a shot at the Cup.”

“Because of you,” Brad muttered. But I could tell he was happy.

Jake, on the other hand, looked fucking
offended,
like Brad had just ripped a giant fart or something. It vaguely crossed my mind that he hadn't been out with us in months. Frankly, I had forgotten to even bother inviting him.

He looked at me sourly, and then turned back to his locker, muttering something under his breath that I could tell he wanted me to hear, but I didn't give enough of a shit about to pay attention to.

Pushy teammates aside, I was happier than I think I'd ever been. This was our year. Taking the Cup, two years in a row? It would be the crowning achievement of my career, the goal I had been working towards since I started skating at that ratty-ass rink in the old neighborhood. Back then I only had dreams. Now, they were about to become reality.

“Randall's going to keep doing that,” I said. “Working us like dogs. He can sense it better than anyone, how ready we are.”

Brad shook his head. “Whoever thought being an athlete would be so much damned work?” He rolled his eyes sarcastically. “I don’t even have time to go out these days. With our practice schedule this way, I only have enough energy to stumble home and fall face-first into my bed.”

I knew what he meant. These past couple weeks, as our training schedule ramped up, I barely had time to see Candace. “Yeah, sucks for you,” I smirked, hiding my yawn behind my elbow. “It doesn’t bother me, at all,” I lied. “I’ve got a date tonight, and I’ve been waiting for this all week.”

“Yeah right. You’re not tired?” Brad shot back. “Don’t fall asleep mid-fuck. Not that I’d know, but I hear chicks don’t appreciate that much.”

I heard Jake's smirking laughter from around the bank of lockers, and aimed two middle fingers in his general direction.

“Not possible,” I said. “Falling asleep when I’ve got her? That’s like, an affront to God or something.”

“
You’re
an affront to God,” Brad shot back lamely, still yawning. “See you tomorrow, bright and fucking early. You’d better be looking well-rested, and as fresh as a fucking daisy. “

“You know it,” I grinned, shaking his hand, then moving in for the back slap. "Goodbye Jacob, you young whippersnapper!" I called out mockingly. "Make sure your mommy tucks you in good and tight tonight!"

He yelled something foul-mouthed, but I wasn't paying attention anymore. I was headed out to see my girl.

“Well, you look happy!” Candace smiled at me. She was waiting outside of the practice rink, bundled head to toe, as usual. Only her eyes and lips were visible, but she still was more beautiful than any scantily-clad bimbo I ever paid attention to in the past.

“How could I not be?” I asked, clamping my hands around her waist and pulling her in for a long, highly inappropriate kiss. My hands wandered underneath her parka, and she squealed and slapped them away.

“You are as cold as ice, and you’re letting in the wind,” she complained, teeth chattering.

“Well then, let’s get you someplace warm,” I said, pulling her close to me. We headed to
The Grapery
, where we were fast becoming regular fixtures.

“That’s incredible, Ian,” Candace said, setting down her menu once we were there. I had just finished telling her about Coach Randall’s pep talk this afternoon.

“It is incredible!” I echoed. “Five years ago, this team was a joke, a punch line. We’ve completely turned around our chances, and to actually be in the running for the cup
again
this year—”

“Because of you,” Candace interjected.

I puffed up.
Yes, it was definitely because of me
. Why not indulge in a little bit of chest thumping? I had the career I wanted, the most incredible girl I could ask for, and everything was coming up Ian.
Nice guys finish last, Ian fucking Carter comes in first.

Candace smiled indulgently, and let me continue bragging, but I noticed that the smile did not reach her eyes.

“Something on your mind, baby?” I asked. “Shit, sorry, how was work today?”

She waved her hand. “Work is fine, busy as hell preparing for the launch, but that’s not what I’m thinking about.”

“Well then?” I asked impatiently. I wanted to go back to talking about the Cup. “What are you thinking about?”

Her pretty, eminently kissable mouth twisted into a frown. “The playoffs, they're coming on so fast.”

“Only three more weeks!” I added excitedly.

“You’re going to be on the road a lot, right?”

“That's sort of required, yeah,” I said.

“Huh,” she said, twisting her napkin and turning away.

“Candy,” I sighed, reaching over and closing her wrist in my fingers. I loved how small and delicate the bones of her wrists were. It was like she was made to fit in my hands. “Are you worried about seeing me?”

She bit her lip, turned away, then sighed and turned back to look right into my eye. “Yes,” she exhaled exasperatedly. “I
am
worried about seeing you. Aren’t
you
worried about seeing
me
?”

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. She made a small noise. “Have you not thought about this at all?”

I shifted in my chair. “I mean—playoffs. That’s just kind of how these things go.”

“How exactly do they go, Ian?” she asked tightly. “I’ve never done this before. Please, enlighten.”

She was pissed at me, I had no idea why. “We’ll see each other when I’m in town!” I tried to explain.

“And when is that? Do you give me a schedule? Do I clear my calendar, fit my life around yours?”

I pulled my hand back. “No, I guess you don’t have to do that—If you don’t want to.”

“Do you
want
me to?” she demanded. “What do you want? Where is this going? Are we hanging out, or are we something more?”

“I think you’re reading into this situation a little bit too much, Candace,” I said tightly. “Hockey is my life, and you know this. Were you listening when I told you we had another shot at the Cup this year? Don’t you know what this means for me? This is my year! This is what I’ve been waiting for my entire life! This is the culmination of everything I’ve ever wanted.”

“I see,” Candace said shortly.

Too late, I realized my mistake. “And I want you there, too,” I finished lamely.

“Will you be there for the launch party?”

“Of course I will! I’m the one who put the fucking thing together! For
you,
I might remind you.”

She nodded indifferently, her lips still pressed together. “And my sister’s engagement party? And her wedding? Will you be there for those? Or are they not a big part of your life and the culmination of everything you’ve ever wanted?”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Maybe I am, Ian,” she sighed, burying her face in her hands. “It’s just, we haven’t talked about anything real these past few weeks. And you’ve been so busy with practice, we can barely fit in a conversation before you fall asleep.”

I stifled a yawn that cracked along my jaw. “I do not.”

“You do. This is your life. I’m not trying to take that from you. I’m just trying to figure out where I fit in it.”

“You fit in it just fine,” I said, closing my fingers around her wrists again. She looks down at where we were connected, and she smiled, but once more the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “You fit,” I said again, more urgently.

But even I could hear how hollow my words sounded.

Chapter Twenty-One

Candace

When we made love that night, something was different. Ian was quieter, his constant flow of dirty talk silenced. He held my face in his hands, watching me closely, eyes darting back and forth like I was a book he was trying to read, but written in a language he didn’t understand.

Afterward, I laid next to his warming bulk, and listened to him fighting the sleep that he so desperately wanted to overtake him.

But I was wide awake.

“What would you do?” I asked suddenly. “If you weren’t playing hockey?”

Ian sighed and rolled over heavily, his huge frame creating a divot in the center of my bed that I slipped into, my whole body resting against the length of him. “What do you mean?” He sighed again, heavier this time, as he reached out and started rubbing my back.

I pressed a kiss in the center of his chest, tasting the fine sheen of salt still left over from our lovemaking. “I mean, what else do you like to do, besides play hockey?”

“You,” he answered immediately. “I like to do you.”

I sighed. “Cute. But, you know what I mean, Ian.”

“I don’t know, Candace,” he said, flopping back onto his back and flinging his arm over his eyes. “Hockey and you. That’s what I like. I’m a simple man, with simple fucking pleasures. I like you, hockey, and beer. Pretty much in that order.”

“Not hockey, beer, then me?”

He reached down, and slid a hand between my legs. “I’d like you better than hockey if you let me sleep right now,” he said, stroking me gently.

I sighed, giving in to the sensation, but even after he had made me come twice in rapid succession, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more.

There had to be more.

He left before the sun came up, kissing me three times on the forehead and then once more on the lips when I rolled over and demanded that he “kiss me for real.”

Once he had gone, my bed—which had always seemed so tiny—felt vast. I flung my arm out, and ran my hand up and down the sheets, then rolled over and inhaled the place where he had been. My tiny apartment seemed to echo with emptiness. When Ian was here, he filled up the entire space. He was so massive, that when he walked, I swore the walls shook . He was the noisiest man I had ever met, too. His laugh made the glasses in the cupboards ring. When he fucked me, he rumbled dirty talk in a voice made for shouting over the noise of crowds, and when he came, he roared like a bull.

It made me grateful that I lived on the ground floor.

By the time the sun was peeking through the tiny sliver of curtain in my window, I was already up, dressed, and showered, and was working on my second cup of coffee. I figured there was nothing keeping me here, and I had a ton of work waiting for me at the office. Fucking Ian would make an early riser out of me yet.

I stepped onto the front stoop of my building, and looked up at the gray skies, wondering if we were in for another snowstorm.

Then something flashed bright white against my eyeballs. I stared stupidly upward.
Was it going to be thunder snow today?

Then the flash went off again and again, a bright staccato of light. I swore, and finally looked back down.

A flashbulb went off right in my face.

“Candace! Candace! Over here! Smile, Candace!” I blinked stupidly. Four cameras, fitted out with long, telephoto lenses. And behind them, four photographers, all shouting my name.

“What the hell?” I grimaced, pressing myself against the building.

“When is Ian coming back, Candace? What’s he like? Can you give us a quote?!”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I grunted. I raised a middle finger to outflow of flashes, and then bolted down the street.

“Candace!” Kyle exclaimed in surprise as I burst through the doors of
Cupid’s Arrow
. “You’re here early!” The CEO stood up at his desk and looked me up and down. “Are you okay?”

I stalked over to my desk and flung my purse down, then sank into my chair. “Yes, I’m fine,” I sighed. Then I leaned forward, and buried my head in my hands. “Actually, I don’t know.” My heart was hammering in panic.
Paparazzi now. Great
. I had to share Ian with the fans, I knew that. But now I had endure having my privacy intruded on, as well?

My boss came over and cowered at the entrance of my cubicle, wringing his hands. “Can I get you something? You take your coffee with sugar but no milk, right?” I blinked at him. “I mean, I don’t actually know how you take your coffee, sorry!” he laughed erratically. “I mean, maybe you don’t even like coffee—how would I know? I’m just trying to help here, so, er, can I get you some type of warm beverage? Coffee? Tea? You are a coffee girl, right?” He looked as panicked as I felt. “What do you need?”

I sat back in my chair. “I don’t know,” I said. “I thought I knew. But now I have absolutely no idea.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ian

The Blackhawks PR team has been a royal pain in my ass, ever since I joined the team. They never quite knew what to make of my attitude, or the girls I dated…or the fun I liked to have.

But I will say this for them.

They sure as fuck know how to put on a party.

The offices of
Cupid’s Arrow Dating Agency
had been completely transformed. The cubicles that had covered the floor when I visited with the CEO must have been removed by some kind of magic, leaving vast open space, with a frankly amazing view of the Chicago River below us.

If they could make this place look swanky, I was pretty sure they could do anything.

Anything, that is, except make Bradley Scott look comfortable in a tuxedo.

“Am I doing this shit right?” he grumbled, as I opened the door to the conference room-turned dressing room. He had twisted his tie—not even a bow tie, but just a regular necktie—into something resembling a hangman’s noose.

“Dude, didn’t your father ever teach you how to tie a tie?” I demanded, yanking it off his neck and winding it around mine. I wasn’t about to go tying his ties for him while they were still on his neck. That was a little too close for comfort.

“My dad never wore a tie in his life and you know it,” Brad complained. “How did you learn?”

“Coach Randall, of course. I mean, for all the fuck we know, my dad could now be the CEO of some Fortune 500 company somewhere and wear ties every damn day, but he sure is shit wasn’t around to show me.” I finished the half Windsor, then loosened it up and pulled it over my head and handed it to Brad. “Here, just tighten it up.”

Brad pulled the skinny end and promptly turned purple.

“Not so tight, asshole,” I laughed. “Why are you such a fucking spaz tonight? I mean, more so than normal.”

“Well, maybe you’re okay with the idea of being up on an auction block—and you’re a total failure as a best friend for not going up there with me, by the way—”

“Can’t,” I grinned, spreading my hands in a
whatcha gonna do
? shrug. “If only I were a free man, I would. But I’m taken.”

Brad glared at me. “I’m not exactly looking forward to it,” he finished.

“Really?” This was news to me. Brad had been one of the most enthusiastic supporters of my plan.

“I mean, it sounds good in theory.” He looked down, then to the right, then to the left, and finally stared directly down at my shoes.

“Spit it out,” I commanded him.

“Fuck it,” he complained. “What if nobody bids on me? That’s what’s bothering me, okay? What if nobody wants to go out on a date with me?”

I started laughing loudly, but trailed off when I saw the anger on Brad’s face.

“I guarantee you, you will be the highest selling Blackhawk on the auction block tonight,” I promised him, thumping him twice in the chest. “Even if I have to put in a secret bid myself.”

Brad rolled his eyes. “Dear God, please, no. If you consider me a friend at all, do
not
do that.”

“You’ll never know,” I chuckled. “Now, go get ‘em, tiger.”

The party was already in full swing as we exited the conference room. The crush of people was so thick, all standing shoulder to shoulder, that for a second I panicked when I couldn’t find Candace.

But then, like the clouds parting after a storm, she appeared before me like the ray of fucking sunshine she was.

“I’m so nervous,” she whispered, as I pulled her close to me.

“Don’t be,” I told her. “You showed me everything already, and it’s brilliant. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

She looked up at me. “Don’t you ever get the least bit nervous?” she demanded. “Like, before a game or a match or whatever the hell you call it?”

I laughed. “Nope. Never,” I lied. “Because I know I’m good. And you’re good, too, so there’s no way you’re not going to do brilliantly.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“It
is
so easy.”

She smiled and straightened her shoulders, but her smile was wan, and she looked a little pale. She went paler still when her tool of a CEO went up on the makeshift stage and tapped the microphone for attention.

“Welcome, everyone,” he said, and I quickly tuned him out in my search for the drinks’ table. I only tuned back in again when he finished with the words, “Project leader Candace Hunter.”

I made sure she heard me whooping and hollering over the noise of polite applause. She shot me a grateful smile, and then launched into her talk.

She had already practiced her speech with me the night before. The data changes to the app had all been put into place, and I was proud—extra proud, as a matter of fact—that my suggestion of highlighting differences that would be compatible was their major improvement. In fact, it was the whole selling point, and drew murmurs of approval from the crowd. I grinned like a fool as I saw several members of the press nodding as they jotted down the takeaways.

Candace consulted her notes, rattling off some facts and figures about user interfaces and streamlining, and I smiled so hard it felt like my face would break. That was
my
girl. That was
my
girl up there, and now that the paparazzi photos had hit, everyone knew that was exactly who she was.

Mine.

I still couldn’t believe my luck.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Candace

“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” I concluded. “The charity auction will now begin!”

There was a burst of raucous applause, and several distinctly feminine shouts and wolf whistles from the back corner. I definitely recognized Olivia’s as the loudest among them.

The Blackhawks PR girl hopped onstage, followed by six of the team members who had agreed to be auctioned off.

As I stepped off the makeshift stage, I look out over the crowd of my coworkers and partygoers, and was startled to spot a familiar face.

“Donna!” I cried as I started to elbow my way towards her.

My sister was clapping with glee by the time I made my way to her. “Holy shit! Candace!” she exclaimed. The engagement ring glittered like a beacon on her left hand. “This is amazing! Did you really put all of this together?”

I leaned into her tight embrace. “Well, I had some help,” I demurred, blushing.

Donna turned and looked at Tim, who shrugged his shoulders helplessly. “We just shelled out like a million dollars for a wedding planner,” she explained. “We should have just hired you.”

I laughed. “Well, there might be a slight conflict of interest there,” I grinned. “Because I’m not letting you dress the bridesmaids in anything that would be unflattering for me.”

“Or allowing us to serve tuna at the dinner,” Donna nodded.

I wrinkled my nose at the mention of tuna. “Yeah, so maybe hiring a disinterested third party was the right move.” I took a deep breath. “I can’t believe it’s so close!”

Donna looked slightly nauseous. “I know. But the venue had a cancellation, and it was exactly what we wanted at a discounted price. We had to make a jump on it, and quickly.”

I nodded like I understood. Then sighed in relief when Ian showed up at my side.

“Hey there, Tim,” Ian said enthusiastically, reaching out to shake Tim’s hand. “Good to see you again, buddy.”

Tim looked vaguely awestruck. “Yes, you too.”

“The big day is in three months!” I smiled, feeling more stable with Ian at my side. “Everything is happening so fast!”

“It won’t be too big,” Donna protested. “Just the families. And some friends. The wedding party...my coworkers…”

I grinned. “That’s starting to sound kind of big to me, Donna.”

My sister buried her face in her hands. “I know! But every time I tried to pare down the guest list, I feel bad! It’s just, I’ve been waiting for this moment for
so long
, I just want everyone there!”

I hid my wince at her use of the words ‘so long,’ and decided to smile instead. “Donna, everyone just wants to love on you and celebrate with you. It’s your day, stop worrying about whether Aunt Hilda feels slighted.” I rubbed her broad shoulder.

She took a deep, shuddering breath, and squared her shoulders. “I know, but I still want it to be perfect.”

“It’s going to be great, I promise.”

The two men made eye contact. Ian looked amused, and Tim looked a bit green around the gills. “You look like you need a drink, Tim,” Ian observed. “I know where they are. Follow me.”

Tim practically sprinted behind him. 

“How’s he handling it?” I asked Donna, once her fiancée was out of earshot.

She sighed. “He’s been—I dunno. Is numb the right word? Like, he’s there and he’s helping out, but he’s not really—I don’t know—
there
.” She pressed her lips together. “It’s like, he’s still moving around and talking, but someone hit the off switch in his brain.”

I slung my arm around her shoulder. “He’s probably just stressed,” I said, as reassuringly as I could.

She nodded, and then did this full-body shiver, the same thing she always did when she was trying to get past something that was bothering her. She looked up at the stage and smiled. “Man, if I weren’t engaged,” she muttered, as we both turned to watch the auction going on.

The guy I recognized from that night in the bar—Ian had called him Jake—was drawing a really enthusiastic response. His chest seemed to puff out further with each successive bid, which had the add-on effect of making the bids come even faster.

“I should probably go work,” I told Donna. “I need to be collecting the final bids once they’re in.”

My sister nodded vaguely, her eyes fixed on the lineup of strapping hockey players strutting across the stage. I had to laugh.
Yeah, she might be getting married, but she definitely wasn’t dead
.

The bidding was nearly done, and as I entered all of the winning totals into the spreadsheet I was running, my eyes nearly bugged out of my head.

“You look happy,” Kyle said, sidling up beside me. He was dressed in his ever-present pleated khakis, but had marked the special occasion by donning an absolutely eye-watering amount of cologne.

“I am!” I coughed. “We’ve raised over twenty fucking thousand dollars for charity!” I tapped a few keys, “And, holy shit, wow, the app is already up to over five thousand users,
and
is trending as a hashtag on Twitter.” I couldn’t help myself. I whirled and gave the startled Kyle a huge hug.

“Ah, whoops! Okay, er—” Kyle pulled back, his eyes wide with fright. “I’m happy for you, um,
for us
, Candace, but uh—” he darted a look over my shoulder. “Please don’t make Ian have to kick my ass, okay?”

I pulled back and looked at him. “Ian wouldn’t kick your ass just for hugging me.” I said, confused.

Kyle gave a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, well, he’s probably never shown you his temper, but I know how that guy came by his reputation as a hothead. Honestly, I don’t want to be on his bad side.” He backed away, swiping his hands repeatedly down the pleated front of his khakis. “Uh, congratulations, Candace, I’m just going to—um, go now.” He disappeared into the crowd.

I stood there, just blinking, for several moments. When I felt a hand slide around my waist, I yelped and nearly jumped a mile.

“Hey, settle down, pretty lady. Do you need another drink?” Ian smiled, pulling me closer.

I smiled back at him, trying not to betray my confusion, but he could tell immediately. “You okay?”

I nodded, deciding to brush off Kyle’s odd behavior for now. Tonight was a night for celebration.

“Yeah, I just can’t believe it. Everything worked out so well!” I stood up on my tiptoes, and brushed my lips across his. He answered with a hungry growl and nipped at my lower lip. I bopped him lightly on the nose. “Simmer down, big boy. I still need to make sure all of the winning bidders are paired off with their Blackhawks,” I admonished him when he moved in for a deeper kiss.

“How about we do some matchmaking of our own?” Ian murmured.

I batted his hands away, and turned back to my computer. “Oh my gosh, Ian, you have to look at this,” I pointed at the screen.

“What am I looking at here?” He leaned forward, suddenly interested. “Wait. Is that Brad’s name?”

I nodded. “And right next to him? Read that name.”

“Olivia Bryant?” He looked up at me, a slowly dawning smile of realization on his lips. “Fertilize-my-eggs, Olivia?”