Page 20 of Hard Ruck

“Only for a little while. I didn’t want to intrude. Long enough to see you were comfortable up there, in your own skin. Then I left. Does it bother you that I was there?”

“I suppose not,” I said slowly. “I guess I should be glad you didn’t drag me off the stage in front of everyone.”

“I think your audience would have been disappointed if I tried.” He grinned. “They were enjoying the show.”

“You didn’t tell Mum or Dad, did you?” I winced.

“Of course not,” he said. “Dad might have taken himself down there and tried to drag you out. Him seeing you naked would be all kinds of awkward.”

“That’s an understatement,” I said.

Top of my list of things I didn’t want to have happen. Fortunately, our father didn’t seem to have stepped foot inside the club. Our mother would have strangled him if he had, for one thing. Possibly me for working there too. The less they knew about that, the better.

“Anyway.” He placed his hands on his knees. “I should get going. It’s my turn to cook dinner tonight and I need to go and buy the ingredients to make something special.”

“Some kind of anniversary?” I thought for a moment, but couldn’t remember him saying anything about today’s date. Granted, I couldn’t remember every detail of everything, but if it was important to him, I tried to keep track.

He smiled. “No, I just feel like spoiling them. Kennedy, Mannix and Ares are three of the best people I know. You too. My four favourite people in the whole world.” He leaned over to give me a hug.

“Sometimes I think you’re a little unhinged, but then you go and say things like that.” I squeezed him back.

“I like to keep people guessing,” he said. “Sometimes I’m sweet and sometimes a little bit psycho.”

“A little bit,” I echoed with a laugh. Some would say he was a lot more than a little bit out of his mind. But that was part of his charm. None of us would have him any other way.

“Just a bit.” He held his fingers apart as far as they’d go. “But I want to meet these guys of yours. To make sure they’re good enough for you.”

“I think you’ll like them,” I said. “Don’t go scaring them off, okay?”

His smile suggested he’d make no promises, but he wouldn’t be difficult unless they were.

I waited until he stepped out of my apartment before closing and locking the door behind him. I thought about changing the locks, but he’d find a way to get another key. Plus his presence didn’t really bother me, even if it was unexpected. And it was nice to know Belinda was taken care of.

Now she could only bother me in my dreams.

Chapter Nine

Chelsea

“This place is packed!”I shouted to make myself heard over the music and crowd at Hazards. If I had to guess, I’d say half of Dusk Bay was here.

Most of the Smashers players were gathered around the bar. Off to the side, were the Dusk Bay Demons ice hockey team and their wives and girlfriends. I spotted a few professional soccer players here and there, and a couple of members of the rock band, Ice Blue Roses.

“It’ll be quieter up the back.” Storm grabbed my hand and pulled me past the worst of the crowds, to an empty table at the rear of the bar. It was still noisy, but we wouldn’t have to shout as loud.

I slipped into a chair. Storm claimed the one beside me by placing his large hands on the back of it. Frost sat next to him, and Dallas opposite me.

They left the chair next to me empty. For now.

“I’ll get the first round.” Storm took our orders before elbowing through the crowds to get back to the bar. He returned a few minutes later, placed drinks in front of us and took his seat. Beer in his hand, he raised it to toast us all. “Here’s to the last night out before the season starts.”

I returned his toast and sipped my wine. “I watched your training today. You’ve peaked at just the right time.” They hadn’t missed a pass, or skipped a beat. They were so focused, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t know I was present the entire time. They were impressive anyway, but when they were on their game, they were a pleasure to see.

“The Smashers are gonna smash everyone this season,” Frost declared. “If we don’t, I’ll suck Atlas’ cock.”

“Just admit you want to do that anyway.” Atlas himself flopped into the chair beside me. The glance he gave Frost was somewhere between a sneer and a challenge.

“Keep telling yourself that,” Frost said. He didn’t deny it.

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