Page 36 of Home Town Advantage
He chuckles. “Some things never change.”
I snap my head toward him and can’t help but blurt out, “Yet in a moment, everything does.”
His small smile immediately fades, and his eyes hold mine. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they were filled with unshed tears.
He stands. “I should head out.”
I nod. “I think that’s for the best.”
I pour his coffee in a to-go cup and send him on his way.
An hour later,I’m in Reagan Daulton’s office. It’s her main business office, not the one at the stadium. It’s in a huge Center City skyscraper, and she’s on the very top floor. Her office is bigger than any I’ve ever been in. She exudes power, wealth, and sophistication in a way I’ve never seen before. Yet somehow she also conveys sincerity and compassion. I like her. We all do.
She leans back in her chair behind her giant marble desk and blows out a long breath. “This isn’t good, Sulley. We’ve got anobsessed fan who knows where you live. It’s probably harmless, but I’m not willing to risk your well-being. People snap and become unhinged. We can’t allow this to escalate any further. I know you don’t want a bodyguard, but we at least need to find you an apartment with better security. I called in a few favors and can get you into a great building. It’s very secure.”
I chew my lip nervously. “Okay. I understand. How much is the rent? And I won’t leave Palmer at our place alone now that whoever the fan is knows the address. She’ll have to come with me.”
She waves her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of your rent. It will be for both you and Palmer, of course. The only problem is that they don’t have an apartment available for another month.”
“Okay. Kennedy offered to house us. She has a guestroom.”
She shakes her head. “No. I checked her building. I want you to have top-notch security. One that I know will keep you safe. A simple doorman isn’t enough. We want security officers, codes, cards, the whole works.”
“What are you proposing?” I ask.
Her blue eyes meet mine. “I considered a hotel, but?—”
“Ugh, no.”
“But I think it’s too public. People can walk in and out at will. Vance McCaffrey called me a little while ago. I didn’t realize that you two were childhood friends. He has several extra guest rooms in his condominium. He lives in a fantastic building, as I’m sure you can imagine. The best security around. He offered you and Palmer a place to live as long as you need it.”
I immediately shake my head. “Absolutely not.”
A small smile finds her lips. “He said you’d decline at first and to remind you that between his upcoming travel schedule and yours, you’d barely be there at the same time. I’m sorry to do this, but I need to insist. It’s that or a full-time bodyguard.”
I blow out a breath. I cringe at the thought of my teammatesseeing me with a bodyguard. Iknowit would cause problems. I’m officially stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Sensing my hesitation, she sighs. “I know it’s not ideal. I’ve hired a private investigator. If we can find the culprit, I’ll loosen things up a bit, but for now, please do this. Your safety is everyone’s main concern.”
With a hefty dose of trepidation, Palmer and I move into Vance’s condo that afternoon.
It’s beentwo weeks since we moved into Vance’s super-modern, smart, voodoo condo. I swear, I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s not what I would ever expect him to have. I hate it.
You can voice command everything in here from the music to the shower to the lights to the damn toilet seat. It’s ridiculous. I can’t believe Montana cowboy Vance McCaffrey lives here. Finn would laugh his ass off if he saw Vance in this place.
It’s high in the sky with great views. That’s the only part I like. Otherwise, it feels like a museum. I’m afraid to touch anything. It goes to show how much Vance has changed from the boy I once knew. I guess I don’t know Vance McCaffrey like I thought. I suppose I already realized that.
We’ve barely seen him between our travel schedules and a severely ramped-up Camels’ practice schedule heading into the start of their season. He’s been very hospitable, and we’re trying to be respectful guests. He’s been thoughtful and filled the house with things he knows I like. I laughed when I saw the French Vanilla Coffee-Mate in his refrigerator when we arrived.
As kind as he is, I just want this month to come and go with as little interaction as possible. Besides a few awkward conversations in passing, I’ve mostly managed to steer clear of him at his condo, and when our friends hang out, I always position myself away from him and talk to other people.
I often catch him staring at me. I find myself wondering whathe’s thinking when he does. He looks so empty. Frequently appearing pained but otherwise a bit stoic. It’s hard to read him at times.
The Camels arrive back in town today after a preseason game last night. We have a game tonight.
It’s late afternoon, and I’m about to leave for the stadium when my phone rings. I see it’s Shane, so accept the call. “Hey, babe.”
“Oh, good, I caught you. Did you see my game tonight?” he asks.
