Page 53 of Face Off
Seriously, after all these years of denying his own flesh and blood. Now he wants to meet him. Yeah, fuck that.
I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that Boyce never hurts Hayley or Camden ever again.
“He’s been blowing up my phone ever since we got back from Arizona. Stating he’s taking legal action to get his rights.” She shakes her head in disbelief. “Turns out his new fiancée is the daughter of the owner for the Heat. She doesn’t want him hurting the team’s image.”
“Hayley,” I say, sitting up to see her better. “Thank you for telling me. I’m so sorry that happened to you, and I swear I’ll do whatever I can to help you through this.”
A small smile spreads across her face as a few strands of tears stream down her cheeks. In that moment, I know I love this woman even more for her baggage. And I would do everything to protect her and Camden.
Hayley
Tis the season to be merry.
Or is it tis the season to have drama.
Currently, that’s how my life has been going. It started when my parents invited Brooks and me to join them for Christmas in Tahiti. Tahiti would have been nice, except for the fact we only have a three-day break for the holidays. Oh, and we can’t forget the small fact that during my entire confession session with Brooks a few weeks ago, I forgot to mention that my real last name is Richards, and I’m the daughter of the owner of his team. Yeah. Just a small little oversight. One where I have once again screwed myself over with a truth I can’t seem to come out with.
“Is Cassidy bringing that tool Burch to dinner tonight?” Brooks says, pulling the turkey from my double oven.
Oh, yeah. Did I forget to mention that with my own drama I have brewing, there’s unspoken drama between Cassidy and Channing now.
“I’m afraid so.”
“I want words with that ass tonight,” he snarls while sharpening the carving knife. “I don’t trust the dick, especially after hearing he sided with Cameron.”
“Shh. Can you keep your voice down?” I say, placing my hand on Brooks’ arm. His muscle bunches in tension before relaxing. “Camden still has no clue about any of this. If he heard what his father was trying to pull and then found out who he was before I had lawyers involved, it could be a catastrophe waiting to happen.”
He places down the carving knife before returning to face me, pulling me in for a tight hug. “I know. I’m just so pissed off by this entire situation. Did that girl Kyle referred you to get back to you yet?”
“Yes,” I say, pulling away to take a sip of my wine from the counter. After the Kyle debacle, he put me in touch with his friend Jess. She’s a lawyer for Tommasi, Manfredi, and Associates, a top firm here in Seattle. Even though she’s leaving the firm, she has agreed to help me. “She’ll get in touch after the holidays. Not to change the subject though…” Totally changing it on purpose. “Is Channing coming tonight?”
“Yeah, said he was bringing a date.”
A date?
I know Channing has had a thing for Cassidy since he joined the team a few years ago. He’s the one guy Cassidy has gravitated to in a long time. She’s always down for a hookup. One and done. A wham bam, thank you, ma’am type of ordeal. However, I know when Cassidy started to let Channing in, she wasn’t down for that anymore. I’m not entirely too sure what happened between Channing and Cassidy, but I know that she showed up to my house one night, dressed to the nines in thepouring down rain with tears streaming down her face. After that, she and Channing were friendly, but not as they once were.
“Is he bringing a date to make Cassidy jealous?” I say, bringing plates over to the dining room table to set up for Christmas dinner.
“Nah, I brought a date because I didn’t want to be the odd man out,” Channing says, strutting into the kitchen. “Merry Christmas,” he says, placing a kiss on my cheek before shaking Brooks’ hand. “This is Natasha Bedford, my lady of the evening.”
Natasha couldn’t be anymore opposite from Cassidy. She’s tall and modelesque, wearing a black form-fitting dress that makes her legs seem to go on for miles. While her platinum- blond hair is styled into perfect waves cascading down her back, there’s no way in hell that’s all her hair; my guess is extensions all the way. I give Brooks a curious glance as he furrows his brows in confusion.
“It’s so nice to meet you. Thank you for inviting me to your home, Harley.”
“It’s Hayley,” I say, cutting her off but not fazing her in the least.
“And Brooks, it’s always a pleasure to see you. What’s it been… almost a year?” she says, making eye contact with Brooks, a devilish smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
Oh, God. Channing has brought a fucking puck bunny to Christmas dinner. What in the sweet baby Jesus is he thinking.
“Not long enough apparently,” Brooks mumbles under his breath, pulling me closer to his side. “Almost didn’t recognize you with all the work you’ve had done recently.”
I look at Channing, who’s rolling his eyes as he pours two fingers full of whiskey, while Natasha’s smirk grows into a full-blown seductive smile. “Kind of you to notice the upgrades.”
Yup, puck bunny and a complete and total ruse to get a rise out of Cassidy.
“Party’s here!” I hear Cassidy bellow as the front door slams shut. “Sorry we’re late. Had to stop to pick up some more libations for this eve…”
