Interfering, page 18
“All I know is that he’s a former client.”
“The brutal truth is she’s a former sex worker going up against a family who are pillars of the community, even if the son has strikes against him.” Carla shook her head in obvious frustration.
“Are you saying legal action is probably not a good idea?”
“I’m saying that Heidi would be put through the wringer, and this could become very public and ugly depending on what she alleges he’s done to her. Stalking is hard to prove and harder to get a conviction.”
“What if it’s more than stalking?”
“The same issue applies. The man has connections and unlimited resources. Heidi does not. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is.”
“So I need to handle this in my own way.”
Michella’s brows shot upward, but she nodded her approval.
Carla, on the other hand, wasn’t so eager to go after him. “You’d best tread lightly. The family is tight with the Barlowes. This could affect your job, along with Heidi’s new business.”
“I don’t care about me.” I spoke the truth. I didn’t care. I could handle the negative press, but could Heidi? And if she could, would she want to?
“Trent, this is a sticky situation. Tread carefully. Do you have friends within the Barlowe family that you trust?”
“Absolutely.” I thought of Everly and Addison. Both women would help me formulate a plan.
“I’d give them a heads-up, and then I’d wait and see what transpires. He hasn’t made any threats to Heidi, has he?”
“Not that I’m aware of. In fact, she didn’t know he was stalking her until last night.”
“My advice is to wait and see if this escalates, then go to your support people.”
“I don’t want to wait that long.”
Carla heaved another long sigh. “I know this is frustrating, but law enforcement’s hands are tied. Technically he hasn’t done anything to her. She could try for a protection order.”
I wrung my hands in frustration while Michella looked on, sympathetic but just as helpless. “Okay, I’ll take it from here.” I stood to leave.
“Trent.” Carla stopped me in the doorway, and I turned.
“Yeah?”
“I want to help. I’ll do some digging and unearth dirt on this asshole we might be able to use as leverage. I’m sure there’s more than I’ve heard about.”
“Thanks.” I left the office and went straight to the practice facility. I texted Heidi at work to make sure she was okay.
Heidi: I’m fine.
Me: I’m worried about you.
Heidi: There are three other stylists in the salon. I’m safe.
For now, I thought. But what about later.
Me: I’ll pick you up when you’re off work. What time?
Heidi: five thirty.
Me: I’ll be there.
And I would be. In fact, I’d be there a half hour early, since the other stylists were always gone by five. How I’d protect her when hockey started, I had no clue, but for now I had another month before training camp.
* * *
I didn’t wait as Carla had suggested.
I marched straight for Addison’s office, ignoring everyone and everything on my way there. Staff noticed my sense of purpose and scurried out of my path. I rapped on Addison’s door but didn’t wait for an answer. I strode inside and shut the door behind me.
Addison jumped, startled by the intrusion, and glared at me, annoyed at the interruption but curious, as barging in her office wasn’t my MO.
“Addison, I need help.” My tone had a desperate edge, and she picked up on that. Her irritation transformed into concern.
She pushed her monitor aside and sat back in her chair, motioning for me to take a seat. “What can I help you with?”
I wasn’t a troublemaker or a complainer. I rarely went to a staff office without an appointment. That wasn’t me. Addison had already listened to my worries about Heidi’s background being exposed and how to do damage control. Now I had an even bigger problem.
“I have a problem. Potentially explosive.”
Her full attention was focused on me. “What kind of problem?”
Addison loved a good crisis, or so I’d heard from the guys on the team who’d dealt with her. She was a problem-solver who thrived on the stress that’d destroy most people. She relished challenges, and I was about to give her one. She’d have made a good hockey player— ruthless, cunning, and determined.
I gave her the condensed version as I knew it. She listened carefully while jotting down notes on a spiral-bound notebook on her desk. She didn’t ask questions, but let me talk.
“You rarely come to me with problems, but these last two times are doozies. The Howes are as powerful as my family in this town, if not more so.”
“What can I say? I’m desperate. The more I learn about this guy, the more nervous he makes me.”
“Do you think he’s the reason Heidi disappeared for a month?” She surprised me by knowing that fact. Everly must’ve told her.
“You know about that?”
“I make it my business to know everything about my players and their significant others. That way I can extinguish any rumors before they get started.”
“Heidi made me promise not to take any action unless he starts coming around again. My appearance hopefully spooked him enough he’ll crawl back in the hole he came out of. I’m here mostly to warn about a possible issue down the road.”
Addison nodded thoughtfully and wrote a few more notes.
“It’s vital what I’m telling you doesn’t leave this room.”
“Trent, I probably understand the sensitivity of this issue more than you do. Trust me to handle things with the utmost care.”
“Please don’t handle anything right now. This is merely an FYI. If I need the organization to intervene or I see a potential disaster in the making, you’ll be the first person I contact.”
“Absolutely.” By the way she puckered her lips, I suspected she already saw a disaster in the making, and her brain churned with contingency plans.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Turn Back Time?
~~Heidi~~
Four days later, on a Friday, I worked a shift at the Puck. Trent would be by later. He’d been hovering a lot lately, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about his overprotective nature. I appreciated how much he cared, but I also needed to stand on my own two feet and face this problem head-on. Even though another part of me was scared shitless to see Rufe again.
I’d been on shift for about an hour when Everly walked in. She paused in the doorway, spotted me, and smiled, heading for the bar.
“I’d hoped you were working tonight.” Everly took a seat at the bar and glanced around. No one was nearby.
I poured her usual glass of wine and pushed it across the counter to her. “Is something wrong?”
“No, no, not with me. I’m more worried about you.”
“I’m fine,” I fibbed. I was fine, but I wasn’t. “Everly, does it bother you that your guy plays a very violent sport for a living?”
“I worry about him getting hurt, if that’s what you mean.”
“That’s part of it.”
“But not what you were referring to,” she guessed correctly.
“Do you worry that their violence on the ice might seep into your private lives?”
Everly narrowed her gaze and studied me as if I were an alien who’d just landed on the street outside. “Seep into my private life? Like how?”
I squirmed, uncomfortable with what I was thinking, but knowing I needed to ask. “Can a guy who hits and fights on the ice turn off his aggression off the ice?”
“Oh, that’s what has you worried.”
“Part of it.” I had way more worries than that, but we could start with Trent’s job.
“Heidi, no. I can understand your concern considering what you’ve dealt with in your life, but Dash isn’t like that, and neither is Trent. Hockey players leave their violent behavior on the ice. I’m sure there are exceptions, but none of them are the guys we know. You have nothing to worry about. Trent is the real deal. He’ll never mistreat you or hurt you intentionally.”
“You think?”
“I know. Trust me. I’ve been immersed in hockey this past year.”
“Why are you worried about me?” I was still skeptical, but I decided to drop the subject and ponder her responses later on.
“I just found out about Rufe stalking you.”
“Oh, that.” I turned away to load a few dirty glasses into the dishwasher. I should’ve known nothing could be kept secret among my friends and Trent’s teammates.
“Yes, that. I know him, Heidi, and he’s not only an asshole but dangerous. He’s been rumored to have raped women before.”
“I know, but I don’t understand why he’s fixated on me. I wasn’t a girlfriend. He was a paying customer.”
“Because you’re beautiful and kind and sweet, and he can’t tolerate anyone crossing him. Is he the reason you disappeared for a month?” Everly asked the question I’d been dreading. I didn’t want to answer, and I excused myself to take care of a couple tables. I took my time, but Everly was waiting when I returned behind the bar.
“You know, Heidi, everyone has secrets. Even my badass sister has secrets.”
“The one who does marketing for the Icehawks? The one I’m afraid of?”
“Everyone’s afraid of her. And yes, she does. None of us are perfect. You can tell me. Your secret is safe with me.”
I shook my head and made a show of pouring several beers for a group that’d just entered the Puck.
Everly sighed, frustration clearly on her face. “I’m here if you need to talk.”
“I know that. Thank you.” I smiled apologetically and busied myself with my patrons. Everly finished her wine and left. I felt like a shit for not trusting her enough to reveal what’d happened during that dark month, but I couldn’t tell anyone. I was too ashamed.
A couple hours passed. Trent texted that he’d be another hour as he was at a charity function, and it’d run overtime. I told him that was fine, as I still had plenty of customers and wouldn’t be closing anytime soon.
I mused about Addison, Everly’s sister, wondering what dark secret she might be harboring. I doubted her past contained anything bad enough to rival mine. Regardless, people who’d been given every advantage in their lives weren’t living perfect lives either. They had regrets and hidden truths as much as the rest of us.
By eight thirty p.m., over half the tables were full as the happy hour crowd gave way to the regulars. Our cook went off shift at nine p.m., and everyone was hustling to get their orders in before Gus left. He was already grouching about staying late, but I merely laughed at him. Gus wasn’t happy unless he was bitching about something. He loved being needed and didn’t mind working overtime, but he felt the need to complain.
Every time the main door opened, my heart rate accelerated, and my eyes were drawn toward the entrance. Each time, disappointment flooded through me because it wasn’t Trent. What was I going to do about that guy? He infuriated me by taking my personal matters into his own hands and not involving me in the solutions. On the other hand, I felt loved and protected. I walked that fine line between not wanting to be controlled and loving that he cared enough to ensure my safety.
I glanced up as the bell over the door rang. My heart sank into my toes.
Livy.
I braced myself as she strode purposefully toward the bar. I plastered a smile on my face, welcoming her like I would any patron.
“Hi, Livy, what can I get you?”
“Rum and Coke.”
I masked my surprise because I’d never known Livy to drink anything stronger than wine or beer, but I didn’t know her all that well either. I poured her drink and handed the glass across the bar.
“Last call on the food if you want something.”
“I’m fine. I ate.”
Our gazes locked, and I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. Livy looked down at her drink and swirled the ice cubes in the glass. The discomfort level rose to a ten out of ten. I glanced around the bar, hoping someone needed another round, but of the few tables occupied, no one looked my way. Their drinks were all full, and their orders for food had been placed. Looking toward the kitchen, I didn’t see any food ready to deliver.
I wiped a couple wet rings off the counter, studiously going about my work as if Livy weren’t there, but she was. I felt her eyes boring into my back as I worked. Finally, she cleared her throat. With resignation, I turned back to her, appearing braver than I really was.
“Can I get something more for you?” I spoke in my most businesslike manner.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought we were friends.”
I cringed at Livy’s accusatory tone. I wasn’t good with confrontations, but I would not run away this time. “I don’t like talking about my past.”
Livy’s mouth flattened in a thin, disapproving line. “You didn’t trust me enough with your secret?”
“I don’t trust hardly anyone with my secrets.”
“Not even my brother? The man you profess to love?”
Okay, that stung. She’d seen right through me to the truth. “He knows a lot about my past.”
“But not all of it?” she guessed correctly.
“No one knows all of it.”
Livy’s anger turned to hurt, and she frowned. “You have to learn to trust people even if they eventually betray your trust, or you’re going to live a lonely life.”
“And have them react like you and your sisters did? Judge me without knowing my circumstances? Act all superior because none of you had to survive in the manner I did?” Anger rushed through me, not just at Livy and her sisters but at society and this entire fucked-up world that allowed children to be exploited as I was.
“I think we’d have reacted more favorably if you’d chosen to tell us yourself.”
“That’s why Trent invited you over. So we could tell you the truth, and you guys wouldn’t find out elsewhere.”
Livy considered my words thoughtfully before meeting my gaze. “I don’t know what to say or what to do. I want to understand, but I’m struggling.”
“I hope we can still be friends.” I braced myself for inevitable rejection, expecting her next words to tell me to go to hell.
“I don’t know. I need time to digest everything. It’s not that you were an escort as much as it’s that you kept it a secret and never gave me a chance to understand what your situation was.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I’m sorry we attacked you.” Livy’s regret showed in her eyes. “I came here tonight to let you know that I don’t hold your former profession against you, but if you’re going to make true, lasting friends, you have to share who you are with them, because your past shaped your today and your tomorrow. Without that knowledge, I can’t be the kind of friend I want to be.”
“Can we start over?” I asked hopefully.
“I need time to think about all this.”
“That’s fair.”
Livy put a ten on the table and stood without finishing her drink. “That’s all I came to say. I’ll be in touch.”
“Okay, good night.”
Livy left without another word, and I stared at the door long after she’d disappeared. I should’ve told her, but I was a private person, and I didn’t want to be judged based on my past. Perhaps I’d underestimated Livy and should’ve given her a chance. I can’t turn back time, so I had to move forward.
The table in the corner signaled for another round, and I shook off my funk, plastered on a smile, and hurried to serve them. I had a job to do, and it came first. My personal issues would have to wait.
Trent entered the bar and sat on the same barstool Livy had just vacated. I slipped behind the bar and poured him a beer. He studied me with troubled eyes.
“Was that my sister I just saw pulling away from the curb?”
“Yes, Livy was in here for a drink.”
His brows shot upward, and concern crossed his handsome face. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, she was nice enough.”
“Then why do you look like you lost your last friend on earth?”
I guess in some ways I had lost a friend, possibly. Sure, I had other friends, but Livy was the sister of the man I loved, and I wanted us to be close. Why would I spill my secrets to Trent’s sister, especially when I hadn’t told the man I loved the entire story?
“She was upset that I didn’t tell her, and she had to find out elsewhere.”
“Did you mention we’d planned on telling them that night?”
“Yes, but that didn’t seem to matter. I hurt her, Trent. I guess she expected more honesty from our friendship.”
Trent reached across the counter and entwined his fingers in mine. “Give her time. She’ll come to understand how difficult such a revelation would be and that you didn’t mean to exclude her.”
“I hope so.”
Our gazes met, and worry clouded his strong features. I wanted to fix this, but I didn’t know how. Maybe I should do as Livy said and give her and her sisters some time. But time may not be on my side. I’d put an end date on this relationship without even realizing it. Training camp started in a few weeks. If Trent and I were still dating, how long would I be able to fly under the radar before social media unearthed my background? And when they did, would Trent and I survive the fallout?
Chapter Thirty
Stupid Feud
~~Trent~~
My sisters weren’t making this easy. The day before the gala, Heidi and I, along with several other Icehawks and their significant others, went to the farm next door to help with the final setup. All three of my sibs were polite but cold to Heidi, so I gave them the same treatment. Childish, I know, but sometimes a guy can’t help himself.
