CHAPTER 21
Tighter, Tighter
A short while later, they climbed into her truck, and as shewas backing out of her garage, she said, “I checked my calendar, and gettingaway to the mountains doesn’t look promising.”
“Well,I guess I’ll just be praying one of your deals falls through. I’m aself-serving son of a bit—gun. And speaking of sons of guns, have you spoken toAdrian?”
Sheshook her head.
“Then Ishould explain what went down yesterday afternoon.”
Frowning,she shifted the car into drive and accelerated. “What do you mean, what wentdown?”
Hecleared his throat, eyeing her profile. She even had a perfect nose. “Adriansurprised me at my office, and I sort of, uh, hit him.” Without thinking, herubbed his hand.
Shesnapped her head to him. “You what? Hit as in punched?”
“Afraidso. Watch the road.” He pointed straight ahead.
“Beckett,why—what the hell happened?”
Uh-oh.She’s swearing.
“Hetold me to stay away from you. He thinks we’re … you know.” He shrugged.
Shecame to a stop at a red light and gawked at him. “He thinks we’re having sex?You told him the truth, right?”
Beckettran his finger over his chin and tapped it against his bottom lip. “I mightnot have corrected his false assumption.”
Hornsblared behind them, and she surged the truck forward.
“So youcame to blows.” She sounded incredulous.
“Wecame to one blow. I hit him, and he left.”
“That’sit?”
“Well,he threatened to sue my ass, but he can get in line.”
She letout a wild, maniacal sort of laugh.
Thisis worse than her swearing. I think. Then again, she hasn’t asked if he’s hurt.
“Sodoes this mean you’re not talking to me again?” He held his breath.
A hugesigh left her body. “After we … um, he wanted to get back together. Maybe hethinks I won’t because of you—hey, how did he know where your office wasanyway? Oh my gosh! Did you get hurt? Did you hurt him?”
He gaveher a sidelong glance. “He walked out cussing at me, so I assume he’s fine. Hesaid you told him where I worked, and that you couldn’t bring yourselfto blow me off so you asked him to do it for you.”
Sheparked along the curb outside his building and swung her head to him once more,her eyes wide. “I never said any of that.”
“Noteven in bed?” He kept his eyes fixed on hers, ignoring his aching gut check. Shedidn’t wanna sleep with him. She’s done with him. Let it go.
“Especiallynot in bed. I was … well, I just wanted the hell out of there.”
His gutrelaxed a fraction. “So you are still talking to me?”
Shethumped the heel of her hand against her forehead. “Oh God! He asked mequestions about DeFunked; he said he knew someone who wanted to invest. I toldhim you’d just moved into a new office.” She sucked in a sharp breath. “Ohcrap! I even told him you were out of town and when you’d be back. Oh, Beck, hedid get that information from me, but not the way he said.”
Herface scrunched as if she might cry.
He letout a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, then tapped her nose. “Itdoesn’t matter, Andie. It’s done, forgotten. Just think about getting away,okay? Even a day trip. It’s beautiful up there, and you’d love it.”
She sighedand gave him sad eyes. “I’ll try.”
.~ * * * ~.
The following week whizzed by, and though Beckett spoke toAndie daily, their conversations were brief. Too brief. He’d traveled toChicago for a meeting, and as he sat at O’Hare waiting for his flight, hisagent called. His heart began pounding.
“Hey,Herb. Long time no talk. How’ve you been?”
“Doingwell, Beckett. Staying out of trouble?”
“Ohyeah.”
“Well,that’s good. Listen, the reason I’m calling is I was contacted about youtoday.”
Beckett’sheart lurched into his throat, tossed there by his bouncing stomach. “Yeah?Which team?”
Herbchuckled. “Well, that’s the funny part. It was some advertising companywondering if you’d be interested in modeling.”
Beckettshook his head as though he had water stuck in his ear. “What? Hockey gear?”
NowHerb guffawed. “No, son. A men’s clothing line. Heard of Grant Paul?”
“Yeah,who hasn’t? But, Christ, Herb! What did you tell them?”
“I toldthem that wasn’t in my wheelhouse and that I’d pass you the gal’s number. Iguess they liked that underwear ad,” he snickered. “In all seriousness,Beckett, you should talk to them. I know it’s not what you want, but there’sstupid money in it. And lots of very pretty women. It’d be a temporary gig.”
Beckettsnorted. “Yeah, pretty women are not going to help my hockey career,Herb.”
Beckettjotted down the number and thanked him. As they announced his flight, he calledAndie. “Hey, pixie! Glad I caught you. I have some weird news, but first I wantto know if you were able to clear time off. I’m heading to the cabin in themorning, and reception up there sucks.”
The bigsigh at the other end didn’t bode well. “I don’t think I can swing it, Beck. Ijust got another deal, and my roofing company purchase got bumped up.”
Hecouldn’t keep the disappointment from his voice. “Well, you have the address incase something changes, right?”
“Yes.I’ll still try. I miss you.”
“They’recalling my flight, pixie. I gotta go.”
“Hey!What about your news?”
“Notimportant. I’ll fill you in later.” He hung up.
Modelingmen’s clothing? What a joke. He might as well stick a fork in his hockey careerand call it done. And spending time alone at the cabin? Not his top choice,especially since he wouldn’t be able to watch a movie with Andie on the phone, muchless see her in person.
Thedisappointment didn’t go away during the uneventful trip home. He awoke thenext morning and methodically packed everything, loaded the Escalade, and drovewest on I-70 into the mountains ahead of an oncoming storm. He stopped inEvergreen and stocked up. The storm wasn’t supposed to bring much snow, but onenever knew in the Rockies.
When hereached the cabin, he cranked up the furnace and stowed the groceries. Severalhours later, he lounged in front of a crackling fire and sipped his firstbourbon. He had plenty of firewood, and judging by the sheets of snow outside,he would need it. Six inches had fallen since he’d arrived. Small storm.Yeah, right.
John C.Maxwell’s Failing Forward lay open beside him, but he couldn’t read morethan two sentences without having to start all
