Page 31 of The Publicity Stunt

He told the reporter Bri's a very busy woman, and as much as he'd love to have her there in person, he knows she needs rest days just like the rest of the world. Her schedule is more demanding than his, and that says a lot for anyone who understands a hockey schedule.

When she asked if he was seeing Bri after the game, he dodged the question and walked into the locker room to get his ass handed to him. When he came out for the third period, he played like the superstar he'd been before, and the Bootleggers won by three points.

Now, Kace sits in the locker room and looks at his phone. Bri texted him, apologizing for missing his game. As it turns out, she also took care of Tessa, and he can't help the smile. Even though she missed his game, she did what she could from where she was. Plus, Tessa showing up out of the blue didn't sound too good.

He gets an idea, and he messages her back. Maybe, just maybe, he found an excuse to see her tonight.

Kace calls Neo after reading her replies.

"Hey, thank God you pulled yourself together in the third period. Especially with speculation about you and Bri being on the outs since she landed in St. Petersburg but isn't at the game. You two really know how to keep a guy on his toes, don't you?" Neo says.

He rolls his eyes. "Yeah, glad I could make your job easier. Listen, I need a favor."

"What's up?"

"Are you able to call in an order to-go at a BBQ place called Smithers? I have no idea where they are, but they’re somewhere near here."

The taps from Neo's tapping on his phone screen tell Kace he's doing the work Kace probably could have done, but he pays Neo a shit ton of money to act as both his publicity rep as well as an assistant when needed. "Yeah, it looks like they're open for another hour. What do you need?"

"That's a good question. I know I need the brisket, but maybe an array of different meats and sides?"

"You got it. I'll make sure the car has the address for them. Taking it back to your hotel?"

"Oh, that's right. I also need another favor. Can you find out from Nia what hotel Bri's at? I want to surprise her with the food."

He chuckles. "That post saved our asses. And food... yeah, sure. Got it."

The comment stirs something loose, and he knows Neo being back in Texas is for the best. "She's a good girl, Neo."

"Hey, I believe you. But I saw that kiss at the awards show, and believe me, Nia and I both agree there's more than just a fake situation going on with you two. Being in the same area as you two feels electric. It's not unfathomable that you two would be taking this into very real territory."

"Just watch what you say, okay?"

"Got it. I didn't mean any disrespect. I'll get the order called in, and the driver will take care of bringing you everywhere you need to go."

Hanging up, he sneers at the phone. Kace hasn't seen Bri since the awards show, and she hasn't left his mind. He's also done major soul searching the past few weeks, and he knows without a doubt he doesn't love Sasha anymore. He's angry and hurt, but he doesn't want her to come back. If she did, he'd turn her away. That surprised him more than he'd expected.

Walking out to the car, Kace rides to the restaurant and finds it surprising Bri Waters has ever eaten here. Part of him wonders if Neo found the right place because it's nothing more than a literal hole in the wall. The outside looks more like a shack than a restaurant, and it doesn't look what he'd consider to be clean. He'd eat there without a doubt, but Bri's diet and standards seem really different than his.

He steps out of the car with the food in his hand in front of the hotel, and like he expected, cameras flash in his face. Security forces them back, and he mutters, "I don't think I'll ever get used to this," to himself.

"Kace," Nia says with a smile and meets him in the lobby. "Neo called and said you'd be here."

The woman always has short skirt suits on, and he can appreciate the long legs with the ridiculous heels she wears. What impresses him most is how she looks like she glides, and he wonders if she ever participated in beauty pageants. She looks like she'd have been Miss Something-Or-Other.

"I wanted to surprise her, otherwise I'd just ask her," Kace says.

"Bobby will bring you up to her suite."

A man almost as large as Kace, only six inches shorter, meets him at the elevator and rides with him to the penthouse suite. Bobby keeps eyeing him from the side as they head up to the top floor on what seems to be the longest elevator ride ever.

"What's up, man?" Kace asks.

"Just so we're on the same page, I'm protective of that girl," Bobby says, the veins in his neck visible like he holds back explosive rage. "She's been hurt enough by stupid people, so I just want to make sure you know that if you're a stupid person, back off now."

Kace can’t help but laugh. "Excuse me?"

"You might be taller than me, but you can't take me. I can promise you that. And especially not when I'm mad. If you hurt Brianna, I will hurt you. Might even end your hockey career before you make it to the Cup. Who knows?"

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