Page 49 of Hot Stuff
“What happened yesterday?” I stop and spin around to face him.
“My lack of underwear was because she somehow got hold of my laundry and took scissors to every piece of clothing in it and as I hadn’t washed in forever, all my underwear was in there.”
“Wow!”
“Yeah, but it gets better. Let’s go in so I can tell you about my day.”
He wastes no time getting us inside. Together we unload the groceries and by the time he’s put the last thing in the fridge, I’m on tenterhooks.
“Tell me, tell me, what happened today? Oh, wait, where’s the package Henry brought up. I’m assume Mrs. Cantrell is Laken Cantrell, Jerry’s wife?”
“Yeah, when I hunted down Cantrell today, he was with Kristina, at her apartment. But before I could get there they went to Maguire’s for a late lunch.”
“Maguire’s? That’s a little public, isn’t it? Not to mention on the romantic side.”
“Yes, except within a few minutes of my arrival, Mrs. Cantrell and Rafe joined them.”
My eyebrows shoot up and my mouth drops open.
“Yeah, that was my reaction too.”
“What the hell were they all doing together?” I can understand the Cantrells and Rafe, but Kristina? That doesn’t make any kind of sense.
“She tried to say she’d called a meeting to talk about me, but I put that shit to bed quickly then ended up in the back of Mrs. Cantrell’s car with her and Rafe. I told them about the pictures, and she assured me the Knights would do the proper paperwork to terminate my contract.”
“Laken did?”
“You’re on first name bases with Mrs. Cantrell?”
“Ah, yeah, we’ve met a few times. At fundraisers and such.”
“Oh, well, they gave me some information that I can’t talk about that convinced me she was on the up and up.”
I glance around. “Where’s the package?”
“Probably in the office. First door on the left after we came in,” Walker directs. “You go find that, I’ll get us a drink. We can take a look at what’s in it out on the terrace.”
“Okay, I’ll take cold water.”
“You don’t want wine?”
I shake my head. “No. Maybe with dinner. But I want a clear head while we hash out the details of our relationship. Well, the details we’re going to leak to the media.”
“I figure Danny’s already told his whole hockey team about myhotgirlfriend.” Walker waggles his eyebrows, making me laugh.
“I like that. No one can say we staged that sighting.”
“No. But maybe we should eat out?” He rubs his jaw. “How long are you in town for? What if we eat out tonight, and stay in tomorrow night after my retirement announcement goes out?”
“Will the food be good until then?”
“Yes.” He moves toward me. “Tell me exactly what you’re thinking about revealing to the press.”
“Not much. Just that we’ve been getting to know each other since you signed the sponsor contract for Rogue sportswear last June.”
“But wouldn’t you have been here when I was injured? I know I’ve only known you a day, but you’d have been at my bedside if we were together.”
“Yes and no. We weren’ttogetherthen, just friends feeling things out. We talked more after your injury and things developed from there. Until now.”
