“Hey, it’s what teammates do, right?”
T.J. just stared at him, poised to deflect the sarcasticcomment that never came. Nelson was sincere, guileless, and T.J. was awash ingratitude he tried to cover up with another marble-mouthed, “Thanks.”
Together they entered a wide corridor that smelled like dampcement and headed for the locker room. T.J.’s first surprise came when he spottedthe Earthquake GM standing beside the door. The second surprise came when MacNeal said, “T.J., let’s take a walk.”
“Yeah, sure.” Heart hammering, palms a little sticky, T.J.stowed his bag and ambled alongside MacNeal down thecorridor.
Not too many steps later, the GM stopped in front of a door,looked around, then stepped inside, motioning T.J. tofollow. T.J. did, getting his third surprise. They were in the stick room.
“So …” MacNeal paused to cough.“We just came to terms with the Colorado Blizzard. You’ve been traded to yourold team.”
T.J. felt as though he was a passenger in a plane that haddone a thousand-foot free fall, his stomach firmly lodging in his throat. Heneeded an air-sickness bag.
“Are you shitting me?” he blurted.
MacNeal glanced down at his shoes.“No, ‘fraid not.”
“But I’m an enforcer. Enforcers don’t get traded mid-seasonwhen their teams are in the hunt.”
“Except you’re not playing, are you?” The man arched hisconsiderable eyebrows. “Oh, and you won’t be traveling alone. Gage Nelson’sbeen traded too.”
Stunned, T.J. raked his fingers through his hair. He mighthave even spluttered something. The Blizzard hadn’t made the playoffs in adecade. At twenty-seven fucking years old, he was running out of time.
“Hockey’s a business, T.J.”
Ha! As if T.J. didn’t know. He’d been on the “business” endof it far too many times.
MacNeal slid his eyes to the side.“You’ve worked hard for this team, but it’s time for a change. This isn’tpersonal.”
Isn’tpersonal to who? T.J. wanted to yell. Hisbrain buzzed, bombarded by thoughts ranging from how the hell to get his Hummerto Colorado to getting his dry cleaning to missing out on his favorite sushirestaurant.
“When do they expect me?”
“First thing tomorrow morning. Plenty of time.”
T.J. had less than twenty-four hours to get his affairssquared away. Good-bye, nice to know you, and, oh, by the way, good luck withyour life.
Yeah,fuck you very much.
One of the equipment guys walked in, startling T.J., the GM,and himself.
“Well, all the best.” The GM took off, leaving T.J. to lurchafter him like a three-year-old about to take the ice for the first time. Move your feet, kid, andtry not to face-plant.
As he stumbled to the locker room, his phone vibrated. Julia. He’dtotally forgotten about her as he’d mentally built his to-do list.
“Hey,” he breathed.
“Hey. You up for a home-cooked meal tonight?”
He looked at his phone as if he’d picked up the wrong one.Julia had never cooked for him, preferring trendy restaurants and high-endtakeout. “Uh …”
“Just say yes, T.J.”
“Yes, T.J.”
“Good,” she laughed. “I’ll see you around six.”
CHAPTER 5
Into Every Life, a Tornado MustRage
Natalie was frozen in place, hermind racing to take in the tornado calling herself Kristin May. The woman was small,petite even, but pound for pound, she packed a wallop. With a mental slap,Natalie blinked and came to, hitching in a breath and putting theI-won’t-be-pushed-around inflection in her voice. It had served her well in thebusiness world once. Right now it would lend her confidence she didn’t feel.
She eyed Kristin. “You are who?”
“Uh,” Colin interrupted in a loud whisper. “Maybe we shouldstep outside.” He held his arm toward the door in invitation. Kristin’snostrils flared on an angry exhale. Had she been a dragon, fire and smokewould’ve accompanied the dramatic breath.
“Fine,” she grumped, stepping in front of Natalie, forcingNatalie to follow in her wake.
In the corridor, Natalie pulled back her shoulders, drawingherself up to her full five-seven, and crossed her arms over her chest. Too badshe wasn’t wearing her Louboutin pumps so she couldadd another four inches to her height. As it was, the fuzzy pink sweater she’ddonned—because it was Kevin’s favorite—didn’t lend itself to intimidation. Shelooked more like a Peeps marshmallow chick than a badass.
Colin shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced atNatalie. “This is Kristin, Kevin’s ex-wife.” Strong emphasis on the “ex.”
Natalie mindlessly extended her hand for a shake. Kristinlooked at it as though it were booby-trapped. Natalie left it there untilKristin finally caved and shook.
“So thisis Natalie?” Kristin’s eyes traveled from Natalie’s flats to the top of herhead.
“Yes.” Colin cleared his throat. “Kevin’s—”
“Girlfriend,” Kristin drawled. “Yeah, I know. He tells me everything.”
What Kevin perhaps hadn’t told Kristin was that therelationship wasn’t much more than some flirt-a-thons, a few shared meals, anda one-night-stand rolled together. Pretty much squat. Butit didn’t keep Natalie from squaring her shoulders and saying, “Everything?”
Kristin arched a perfectly manicured brow, which neatlymatched her blond bombshell look. Kevin had never said much about his ex—he’dfocused instead on his three-year-old daughter—and when he had talkedabout Kristin, he’d been neutral, if not kind. Damn. Natalie could use some mean,Kevin-uttered words right about now because the only ones dancing in her headwere stunning,sexy,and beautiful.All words to describe the same thing: a drop-dead gorgeous woman with a killerbod packaged in the diminutive frame men always seemed to go for. She probablywore size-two clothes and size-five shoes. Double damn.
Why couldn’t Kristin have fat ankles and lopsided eyes?Small boobs and boring brown hair like Natalie’s?
“Maybe Natalie and I should take a stroll.” The blondbombshell’s appraising blue gaze locked on Natalie. Natalie’s return gaze heldsteady.
Oookay. “Sure. Why not? Kevin’s still sleeping.” Natalie darted Colin a look. His eyes andmouth had gone round. “You’ll stay with him for a bit?”
He bounced his gaze between them and nodded slowly.
To Kristin, she said, “Lead on.”
She followed Kristin along the brightly lit hall into adeserted lounge that held clustered seating areas, fake plants, and variousvending machines. Thisis so—
Kristin whirled and faced her. “Awkward, huh?” She’dsnatched the thought from Natalie’s mind.
“Just what I was thinking.”
“Drink?” Kristin’s glossy pink lips twitched in analmost-smile, throwing Natalie.
Natalie’s eyes cut to the machine. “Tea, please.”
When they’d settled into seats, Kristin took a quick sip andleaned in. “Look, I get that Kevin is … fond of you. The
