Page 72 of Her Rugged Guardian

“Cause I knew what you’d say.”

“Yeah? And what was that?”

“That I’m not ready.”

I took a deep breath, holding the frigid air in my lungs. “You’re not. You’re hotheaded and a boozer. The coach won’t stand for it.”

“Fuck you, Jake. You come out on the ice once in six years and think you can give me advice? That’s bullshit.”

“It’s the truth, Riley. You asked me to face my demons and you know what? You’ve been right all along. I allowed my anger andhatred to turn into self-pity. That’s been my crutch. Booze is yours.”

“Damn you.” Riley’s jaw was clenched and he looked away. I hated the awkwardness more than ever, the toxic situation created by our father’s expectations something that had remained like a dark shadow over us our entire life.

“Did Pops put you up to this?” When all he did was exhale, I bristled. I’d tried so hard over the years to protect my brother, to ensure the kid was allowed to grow up and be whoever he wanted to be, but I’d turned my back on him like I had everyone else. “You don’t have to do this, dude. This is your life.”

“Yeah? Well, since you dropped out of the world, I’m required to take your place.”

Goddamn my father and his bullshit. “Don’t destroy your life, Riley, like I did mine. You deserve to be happy.”

“I am happy. Can’t you tell?”

“That’s why you’re trying to self-medicate. Right?”

His answer was to shove me with enough force I was pitched onto my butt once again. “Leave me alone, Jake. Live your fucking life the way you want and let me live mine the way I’m forced to.”

As I slid several feet, he raked his hand through his hair before skating toward me.

When he offered me a hand, I waited before accepting, using the momentum to punch him in the face only once.

“What the hell was that for?” he asked, immediately slapping his hand across his cheek.

“That’s for wasting your goddamn talent. Do you know what I’d give to be in your shoes, to have the kind of talent you do?”

When he didn’t say anything, I half laughed and headed back toward the penalty box.

“Maybe that woman will be the best thing for you,” he threw out.

“Maybe you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t get it, do you, Jake?” he asked in a voice I hadn’t heard in a long time.

“Get what?”

“All I’ve ever wanted to be is you.”

CHAPTER 20

Cassandra

Who the fuck gargled wine?

The asshole standing in front of me, that’s who. I think my mouth was slack, enough so that it was a good thing there weren’t any insects in the barn turned winery. If there had been, I’d be crunching down on gnats right about now. Why? Because he’d tossed back a small glass of wine from one of the barrels decorating an entire wall, tilting his head back as if he was wearing a medal stating he was sommelier of the year.

Okay, so maybe I was jaded since I knew nothing about growing grapes, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t incensed by the sneer the great wine expert had on his face the moment he’d walked into the facility. The instant dislike had been on both sides, his expression of disdain quickly turning into a leer.

When the bastard spit the entire amount into an empty glass, pulling out a perfectly white handkerchief from one of his pockets, my fuse was about to blow.

“You don’t like the wine, Mr. Stocker?”

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