Page 18 of Heart on Ice

Tears well in my eyes. “I’m going to miss you, too, but I need this, please.”

“I can’t deny my girls anything. If you need this then I can’t see why not,” he says. Really? I can’t believe he’s giving in so easily. “But I want you home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It would be great to see you during the summer too.”

“Deal,” I tell him.

“Isabelle, you’re the future of my business. You will be the one taking over when I’m too old to continue.” I know my father, he is never going to retire. “Seeing how all our operations work is a smart idea. And the fact that you researched everything before coming to me makes me so proud. If this is what you want, then I am fine with it.”

“You are?” I still can’t believe it.

“Yes. I better not find out who this boy was who broke my baby’s heart because I will knock him out, and then I will thank him for making my baby stronger. He was a lesson you didn’t need to learn, but I think you will be better for it, my love, as horrible as it is to have your heart broken. I’m proud that you want to spread your wings. I’ve always wanted the best for my girls, and I may be overprotective, but only because I never want to see anything bad happen to you girls. That was the promise I made to you all when the doctor placed you in my arms when you were born, that I would never let anything bad happen to you all. But they don’t tell you how hard that is when your babies start to grow up and turn into three extraordinary independent girls.” Tears fall down my cheeks. “I guess I can’t shelter you any longer, and I have to deal with the fact that you’re an adult now and can make your own decisions. Whether they are good or bad, just know you can come home any time you want. You need me night or day, I am there for you.”

“I love you,” I sob to him.

“I love you too, my sweetheart.”

“Will you forgive me?Harper asks, shaking me from my memories.

“Eventually, once that man has left my home. Still can’t believe you’ve changed your tune about Pierre,” I say, shaking my head.

“He’s still a dick, but I’m not about to kick him when he’s down, plus, you know Felix …” She grins. “I’m asking a lot, but being with Felix has changed me. That man downstairs has surprised me, and he’s so patient and understanding about my past that I feel like he’s slowly teaching me how to be whole again.” Harper deserves that. I will never understand how someone as beautiful, intelligent, and wonderful as her picks the reddest flagged guys in the world. Ever since high school, she has had bad luck regarding relationships. It’s like she’s cursed.

I feel like I’ve been cursed lately. The men I’ve been dating have been jerks, I haven’t had much luck since breaking up with Pierre. I’ve dated, but they never liked the fact that I would always put work first. I had to, though, because no one respected me as a woman in a male-dominated field. I worked twice as hard to be given the same respect as a man, plus I was the boss’s daughter, too. That earned me even less respect behind my back, of course, never to my face.

“It’s nice to see you in love,” I tease.

Harper rolls her eyes. “Hold your roll there. I’m very much in the lust stage, lots and lots of lust.” She giggles.

“Ew, he’s like a brother to me.” I groan, pretending to gag which makes her laugh.

“Speaking about his brother … after this weekend, when the press finds out about his non-wedding, things are going to explode for him and not in a good way. Did you know Pierre gave me his phone on the plane?” I shake my head. “Kitty was a complete bitch to him as was her family and friends. She said some horrible things in her text to him, which I would get if she was left at the altar for no reason, but she was busted screwing someone else and yet she’s blaming him. That woman is crazy,and it’s hard to control crazy,” Harper warns. “I told Kitty to explain to everyone at the wedding that there was a family emergency back in Canada and Pierre and his family needed to leave, and if she didn’t, I would release the footage. This would give us time to plan what we needed to and keep people from speculating anything untoward. They will eventually, but hopefully not until Monday. We’ve sent Bill Reeves an email from Pierre’s lawyer and his agent asking to be let go from his Devils contract, so he can be a free agent.”

Shit. That isn’t good, not at his age. Pierre was the highest scorer this year in the league and is consistently up there, but that is a huge risk to go free agent just before a new season. People are going to have questions, and I’m not sure if anyone is willing to answer them.

“You seriously think Bill is going to let him go?”

“We have evidence of his infidelity, and I’m sure his wife, who he has no prenup with as per media reports is going to cost him more than releasing Pierre out of his contract. Of course, we have asked for his contract to be paid out for his silence,” Harper explains.

“And Pierre is okay with this?”

“He pushed for it. His agent tried to talk him out of it, but Pierre is adamant that he never wants to play for South Dakota ever again. He might be willing to retire if he must, we’ve started to put feelers out for that option too.” Wow. I don’t know what to say other than this is going to be a shit show. “I’m not trying to guilt you into anything, but his life is about to implode, maybe ease up on him a tiny bit.” I give my friend a side-eye. “I know it’s a lot to ask, especially with him living here.”

“I get it.” I groan, throwing back the rest of my champagne. “Can you believe he wants to bring his dog to my home?”

Harper bursts out laughing at the change of topic. “He loves that dog.”

“And this is my home.” I moan. My home is my sanctuary, and yes, I am anal about things, but I like structure, it makes me calm when everything is in order. Pets are chaos.

“I understand how much you like things a certain way in your home, and that when you can’t control things in your life, it makes you anxious, but maybe you need to spice up your life a little,” Harper teases me.

I glare at her. “Spice up my life? Is that a PR word for I need more chaos in it?”

Harper chuckles. “It should be. I might use it. I love you, Issy, but you’re all work and no play.”

“I play. You’ve just been too busy with Felix to see it.”

“When was the last time you went on a date?” I don’t remember, but it was a disaster. “See, it’s been so long you can’t remember,” Harper points out.

“Because I’m choosing to forget it, it was a disaster, my mind has blanked it. You know I don’t have time to date. I work sixteen-hour days. Don’t you come for me over my work-life balance when you’re the same.”

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