Hourslater, he woke up in a LoDo loft apartment with a sweeping nighttime view ofthe Denver skyline and the Platte, riding a numbing wave of oblivion not unlikethe one that had gotten him into trouble in Minneapolis. A hand was strokinghim. Weaving in and out of consciousness, he pieced the night together. Yamila.Hey, baby. I’m in town for the night and wondered if you wanted to …
Atfirst, he’d said no. Didn’t you just get married? But she’d pulled outall the stops, telling him everything he wanted to hear: how sex had never beenas good since him, how she had a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family ReserveBourbon, and what she’d do to him when she got him naked. He’d let her lead himalong like a puppy with his tongue hanging out. After countless bourbon pours, whichhe put in the six-hundred-dollar range—each—he’d loosened up and she’d pulledout some high-grade cocaine. He hadn’t touched the stuff since Minneapolis,hadn’t wanted to, but he’d let her seduce him into that too, kicking what wasleft of his self-restraint to the curb. It was just for one night.
At thismoment, she was arousing him for round three. Or was it two? She’d left nothingto chance, insisting he pop a Viagra before they’d started; not that he’dneeded it before. But who was he to argue over a little insurance? He reachedfor more coke and condoms.
By thetime the sun came blazing through her windows, he’d forgotten the night’s finerdetails in a haze of alcohol, cocaine, and sleeplessness. A new detail blaredat him: he was supposed to report to Greeley, sixty-five miles northeast, in ahalf hour. And he still had to pack.
Beckettdragged his rumpled ass to his car, looking and smelling like he felt: shit. Nomatter how fast he went, it wouldn’t get him there in time, so he took it easy.Not a stellar start with his new teammates or his coach, who was probablyyounger than he was.
Hishands gripping the wheel, he sang along to 888’s tune about letting the oceancarry away critical mistakes. Yeah, I need some of that.
CHAPTER 6
Time for a Cool Change
On leave from riding the pine with the Hawks, Beckett walkedup Curtis Street in Denver to his attorney’s office. He’d been in Greeley forwhat felt like years but had, in fact, only been a few months. During thattime, he’d been trying to square with the state, the IRS, and Lacy Delgado’sfamily, who had filed a hefty lawsuit. Maybe today Tom had good news; maybetoday someone would meet him partway and settle. He wanted the evidence of hismistakes behind him so badly he nearly vibrated with it.
Jackiehad hoodwinked him for a long time, and he seethed when he thought of hersipping a mai tai, baking in the tropical sun somewhere, spending his fuckingmoney.
Payinghis employees had been a priority for him, but not for the authorities who’dfrozen his bank accounts, so he’d sold off personal belongings for cash to makethem whole, plus extra for the shit-storm he’d put them through. The restaurantwas a total loss, which didn’t bother Beckett as much as stiffing his employeesor losing the sports memorabilia he’d decorated it with—stuff he’d collectedsince he’d entered the NHL. Irreplaceable stuff.
“Beckett!”
Hestopped at the sound of his name. Lifting his sunglasses to his forehead, helooked around, scanning faces. The sidewalk was crowded, but he saw no one herecognized—until a familiar dark-haired woman slinked toward him in royal-bluehigh heels. She wore a big smile and a zebra-print skirt that barely coveredher ass and showcased long, bare legs. Shit.
WhenYamila reached him, she draped one hand over his shoulder, grabbed the back ofhis head with the other hand, and laid an open-mouthed kiss on him. Herfamiliar spicy, heavy perfume overpowered him.
“Wherehave you been, baby?” she whispered.
Beckettpulled back and looked at her. “What are you doing back in Denver?”
“I’mhere to see you, baby. I can’t get our night together out of my head.”
“What,so you’re stalking me?”
A slowcat-smile curved her lips. Both hands clamped on tight, pulling his head backto hers. She sucked his tongue into her mouth and bit it. Hard. Beckett yankedback, rubbing his hand across his mouth.
Hechecked for blood. “What the hell?”
Sheparked her hands on her hips and narrowed her dark eyes. “Why haven’t youreturned my calls or texts, you bastard?”
“I’vebeen busy. How’s your husband?”
Shelooped both arms around his shoulders and pouted. “Lame, but loaded. I missyou, baby. We have so much fun together.”
“Sorry.I’ve been in Greeley.”
Shewrinkled her nose. “Greeley? What’s in Greeley?”
“Not much.Look, I’ve got to be somewhere.”
“Dinnertonight? I’m staying at the penthouse. Alone.” Drawing close, she slid one handdown his body and grabbed his crotch. “Or maybe we could skip dinner?” Shelicked his lips.
“Ah,Yamila? People are watching.” He stepped out of her grasp.
Shepulled out a card, wrote something on it, and handed it to him with a wink.“Here’s the address, in case you forgot. Just show this to the doorman, andhe’ll let you in. I restocked your favorite bourbon, baby, so don’t make metrack you down in Greeley.”
Heglanced at the card. “You wouldn’t want to do that. Greeley stinks.” He crammedit in his pocket and hurried off, meaning to toss it in the trash.
The cardand his intent were soon forgotten as he sat across from Tom Carlisle. Pudgierand a little balder than in their college days, Tom was one of Beckett’slawyers and his favorite for one simple reason: he never pulled any bullshit.He delivered the truth without frills, no matter how tough it was for a clientto hear.
“Youdouble-checked, Tom? There’s no getting the endorsements back?”
“Thecontracts are iron-clad, Beck, and you breached every single one with theDelgado publicity. Hands down, that gives them the right to pull everything.Just ask Tiger Woods.”
“Shit.”Beckett rubbed his finger across his chin. “So if I agree to the Delgados’settlement offer, that leaves enough to clear the debts and penalties on therestaurant, and I still have a little left over. I can keep the Coloradohouses, the winery, the other assets.”
Tomraised his eyebrows. “Yeah, although you’re still carrying mortgages on thehouses, and that winery is
