Page 42 of Hot Stuff
“Yes, yes, I know but this is better.” I smile to show I’m more than happy with him being there for my sister. “Now I need to go. I’ve got stuff to organize and while I can’t tell you where I’m going yet, I will as soon as I get the green light on that. My retirement announcement goes out to the media today so it’ll either hit tomorrow or the next day.”
“More like tonight. Especially if Drake is sending it wide and not just to specific media outlets,” Gannon says.
“It’s going wide. We offered the organization the right to announce but they refused. Another thing I need to do, sort out the clusterfuck that is the termination of my contract.” I shake my head. “Anyway, I’ll get out of your hair so you two can get Shelby settled. I’ll call you both later.”
I’m out the door without even a goodbye, never mind a hug for my sister or a fist bump for my best friend. But I’m on a mission. And my phone has been going off in my pocket so I can only assume—hope—Drake has discovered where Cantrell is.
I step into the elevator before I pull my phone from my pocket. I’ve got several missed calls and a couple of texts.
It’s the text I zero in on because they’re all from Drake and yes, the man has come through and found out where I can find Jerry Cantrell.
Unfortunately it’s in a place I don’t really want to go. For long minutes I debate what to do. I don’t want to see Kristina. But then if I can confront them together, I can kill two birds with one stone and get back to Oakley quicker.
I’m on the sidewalk waving down a cab when another text comes in from Drake.
They’re headed out. And a little birdie tells me they’re on their way to Maguire’s.
I stare at the message long enough the cabbie toots his horn and yells, “You getting in?”
Shaken out of my shock, I yank open the rear door and jump in. “Yeah. Sorry. You know where Maguire’s is?”
“Who doesn’t? You going there?”
“Yeah, seems that way.”
I can’t believe Cantrell is heading to one of the hottest restaurants in New York with Kristina. Does he not understand what being seen with her in an intimate setting like Maguire’s will say about them?
Unlocking my phone, I send a quick thank you text to Drake then open my browser and search Cantrell’s name. Nothing comes up that makes me think him being seen in public with Kristina is acceptable.
My next search is Laken Cantrell. Nothing pops up. Nothing when I search the New York Knights either. Or Kristina.
I have no idea what I’m walking into, but I do know what I’ll be walking out with.
Kristina will be out of my life and Cantrell will get the team lawyers or GM or whoever to release me from my contract so I can make my retirement announcement.
Hell, at this point the Knights org can make the announcement. I don’t care. I just want it done. Today.
When the cab pulls up out front of the restaurant, I can see my quarry sitting right in the window.
I take my time paying the driver. The whole time I’m studying the two of them together.
If you didn’t know who they were, you’d think they were a couple. Neither of them is taking notice of anyone else but as I get out of the cab I see two others join them.
Laken Cantrell and New York’s GM, Rafferty ‘Rafe’ King.
Stepping to the side, I take my time watching. It’s a weird combination of table occupants.
Laken and Cantrell I get—they’re husband and wife—and maybe I can understand Rafe being there too, but Kristina?
How the fuck does she play into this late lunch date?
Deciding I’ve waited long enough, I move toward the front door. Inside the hostess barely bats an eye as I move past her and head for the table of four.
Scooping up an empty chair from the table beside theirs, I spin it around and straddle it backward. “Afternoon. This is an interesting get together.”
“Alcott. What the—” Cantrell sucks in a breath. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ll ask you the same. But I’ll add ‘here with my ex who has been harassing me for months’,” I say with a smirk.
