Page 11 of Goalie Interference

“Yeah, I have to get back to where I’m staying ASAP.”

“Place flooded or something?”

“They’re delivering my dog. He’s not good with strangers.” I was already picturing Beast with his teeth sunk in someone’s hand and the shitload of trouble he could be in.

“Want a lift?”

I’d just opened the Uber app, but I had no time to wait if there wasn’t a car nearby. “You’re a lifesaver.”

I followed Hanny out of the building to his car. He had a Porsche, a newer model, and we were heading out of the lot in moments. He asked where to go, and I read out the address from the email.

“Pretty nice area,” he commented as he turned at the first light.

“Yeah. I’m staying in the ‘carriage house.’”

He shot me a glance. “What the hell?”

“That’s what they called it. It’s modern, so there haven’t been any horses there. The whole place looks as pretentious as shit.”

“Whose home is it?”

“I don’t know yet. Just got here yesterday. There’s a workshop on the main floor, and I met the woman who works there but I don’t think it’s her place.” I checked my phone to get an idea of how quickly we might arrive, my heel thumping on the floor of the car.

About fifteen minutes later he pulled up to the gates I now recognized. I didn’t hear any yelling, which was a good sign, so maybe Beast hadn’t wasn’t here yet.

Hanny whistled. He was staring at the property.

“I know. Even the carriage house is pretty nice. You can drop me here—if Beast has arrived, I’m not sure how much trouble he’s in.”

“No problem. Happy to help. Go take care of your dog and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Chapter 6

A few crumbs short of a biscuit

Sophie

It was not a great morning. I hadn’t slept well, turning Diane’s offer over in my head and wondering what to do about the new tenant. I’d messaged my brother, again, but he didn’t get back to me. He was like that when he was in a recording session. Totally immersed in what he was doing. I got absorbed in my job, but only for a few hours at a time. When my brother was creating, he’d forget everything except the music for days, barely remembering to eat and possibly sleep. He certainly wouldn’t answer any messages till he was ready, so for now I was stuck. I focused on my current repair jobs, wanting to get done whatever tasks needed my noisier machines before the tenant returned.

Of course, when I was at the trickiest part of shaping some wood, I’d been interrupted by someone at the gate with a delivery. I swore under my breath before turning to the gate camera by the desk in the kitchen area of my workshop and pressed the button for the speaker. “Can I help you?”

“Delivery.”

“Who’s it for?”

A moment. “Can’t read the name. But this is the address I was given.”

“Can you show me? And also your ID?”

Between fans and his exes, my brother needed security, and I wouldn’t allow just anyone on the property. This wasn’t a company I was familiar with.

I peered through the camera at the waybill. I couldn’t make out the name either, but the address was clear. Whatever it was had come from Canada, which was where Cash was right now. His handwriting was atrocious so there was a good chance he’d sent this.

The driver flashed what appeared to be an official-looking badge. I’d have to check it out. I sighed.

“How big is the package?” Knowing Cash, it could be anything from an album to a major appliance.

The guy looked behind him. “The crate is about a foot high, foot and a half long, maybe a foot wide.”

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