Page 66 of Ice Dance Hockey

“Good.” He smiles. “I’m sure you want to be your best, anyway, don’t you?”

I sigh because I do. “Yes.”

His demeanor brightens and he claps his hands together. “Then we’re all on the same page and we can move past this less pleasant part of the evening. I mean no harm, Logan. I know that people think being a mayor is all snipping ribbons and holding a giant key to the city, but it’s a lot more than that. I need to be protective.”

No harm? He didn’t mind harming Jack’s hockey career. What he means is that he’ll stop at nothing to do what he feels is necessary to protect his family. The collateral doesn’t matter.

I’m as much a real part of this family as I am Rhett’s real boyfriend.

What I am is insignificant collateral, and fuck, that means my skating career could be on the line. Everyone in the skating community remembers what happened to Nancy Kerrigan—even though it happened well before a lot of us were born—and the people involved in her assault didn’t have nearly the money and connections Maxwell has. He could do a lot to me if I step out of line. I suppress the shiver, but my body knows a snake is in its midst.

Is Rhett that ignorant about his father? The only option for me now is to play the game.

“I’m protective of my family, too,” I say and sip my wine. I don’t have his money or power, but love has got to count for something, right?

Chapter14

Club Elkington

Logan

For the third day in a row, heavy rain pelts relentlessly against the house and the fat drops snake like Plinko chips down the windowpanes. The wind howls and each gust rattles through the creaks and crevices of House Meyer. It’s summertime, but you’d never know it. I’m drowning in one of Jack’s sweatshirts with a cup of hot chamomile tea in my hands just to stay warm.

Jack’s at the small, round kitchen table with the baby curled under his chin, playing a game of solitaire. Merc’s bearing the elements to pick up the kids from Ari’s and bring them here for a few nights.

I’ve been stewing and digesting since the Elkington family dinner. It was weird all around and I’m sure the only one I can talk to about it is Jack. But it’s weird to talk to Jack about his ex who I’m fake dating, isn’t it?

Jack is a “different” sort of fellow, though, and I think I might give it a shot. I’m desperate.

“You have something on your mind,” he devises. “Let’s have it.”

“The Elkingtons are weird.”

“Oh, boy. I was wondering when this would come up.” He snaps a few cards down and analyzes his next move. “Yeah, they’re different, to say the least, and that’s coming from me.”

“He wants to know my entire schedule. I’m supposed to report to him, it’s fucking stupid.” I sip my tea and let the hot lemon flavor warm me up.

“By him, I assume you mean Maxwell? Wow, sounds like he’s gotten worse. Didn’t think that was possible.” There’s a hardness in Jack’s tone. That’s rare. He’s the sunniest sun that ever sunned. “Sadly, he comes with the Rhett territory, and I don’t miss that at all. Maxwell is Rhett’s hero.”

“Even after what he did to you?”

“I sense it put a chink in that armor, and that it confused him, but he’ll eventually forgive him enough to go back to his hero-worshiping ways.”

His words drip with bitterness. Interesting. Also, not very Jack.

“Yeah, and now I’m getting some kind of Club Elkington bracelet I’ll have to wear around everywhere.”

Jack laughs softly over top of Stanley. “I had one of those.”

Sitting up taller, I put my tea down. “Do you still have it?”

He looks through the front window by the door, probably checking to see if Mercy’s in the drive yet. “Yeah, but only because I haven’t figured out what to do with it yet. I was gonna talk to Merc about it, but things have only just calmed down after our last big Rhett-sparked feud. Things are so good, I’m not ready for another fight.”

“I want to see it.”

“Only if you swear to keep it to yourself so that I can tell him.”

“Cross my heart and hope to die.”

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