Page 16 of Breaking Point (IceHawks #1)
“I’m not skating with one of those red fucking tomato bulls.” Kieran shakes his head as he leans back and crosses his arms. “Over my dead body. One of them nearly broke Mitchel’s neck last year.”
Lucy holds up a hand in his direction but her eyes never leave mine.
“Fuck, Lucy, just spit it out. Who is it?”
“Chase Montgomery.”
Kieran and I jump to stand at the same time, spitting out in unison, “Fuck off!”
Lucy’s lips flatten into a line.
Chase motherfucking Montgomery .
The one man I would rather eat nails over than ever see skating in my position. The man who is not only on our rival team but is my personal rival. I’ve never despised someone as much as I have him.
He’s a pig, the biggest pig I’ve ever come across. He flings out dirty insults as frequently as he plays dirty, and it beats me why half of his shit doesn’t get called out. He’s always just a fraction away from it being something punishable.
The last straw for me was when he capitalized on Drew's death and that was the moment I realized he’s not only a dick but literal scum of the earth.
“I’ll do anything to make sure he doesn’t get on my team.” And yes, my team. I might have lost my way for a while, but those men are my family. That is my home. That is my team. Not fucking Chase Montgomery’s.
“Why on earth would IceHawks want him?” Kieran asks and I’m shocked I didn’t ask that myself.
“He’s a family man. As dirty as he is, he’s never in any PR scandals or nightmares, and after the slew of bad press Grayson has given the team, they want the security of knowing they won’t bring a player on with similar issues.”
“That’s bullshit!” Kieran explodes. “That man cheats as often as he eats M you’ve gotten sloppy. We need to build up your confidence and stamina on the ice again, make the team remember why they pay you millions of dollars a year to hit a puck with a stick.”
“A bit more to it than that, love,” Kieran quips.
Lucy and I both ignore him as I nod. “I’ll also work with the private trainers, see which area I need to improve and focus on.”
“Pretty sure it’s all of them, buddy.”
Lucy rolls her eyes at Kieran before focusing back on me. “They only want Montgomery for his skills and clean record. When you’re on your A game you’re better than him. ”
I wink. “Thanks, Lucy.”
If steam could blow out her ears, it would. “However,” she goes on, her eyes getting that hard glint warning me to not mess around, “he has what you don’t—the security of no scandals or puck bunnies.”
Kieran coughs into his fist. “He fucks them and signs NDAs.”
“Grayson can fuck whomever he wants if he also sends them NDAs.”
Groaning, I rub a palm down my face as a headache blooms. “I don’t want to get tangled up with any more puck bunnies.”
Not after what Bella had to deal with. Even the thought of bringing another puck bunny home for Bella to see the next morning makes my skin crawl.
I’ve never felt so utterly violated in my life. I was passed out unconscious and instead of turning me over so I didn’t choke on my own vomit or checking that I was okay, these women pulled down my pants and took photos of my dick.
My stomach churns. “Trust me, I don’t want to.”
Something in my tone has Lucy straightening. “Good. I’m glad.”
“I don’t think three months of good behavior will make them sign me, though. They’ll think it’s an act, and they’ll be too scared to sign a contract.”
“I agree.”
Kieran whistles. “That’s a first.”
Lucy’s gaze never wavers from mine as she lifts her chin. “That’s why I’m propositioning a relationship.”
The water Kieran was drinking goes spraying across the room.
“ What ?” we choke out in unison.
She grimaces. “Ew, not with me. Jesus Christ, guys, get your head out of your asses.”
“Did you not just hear what came out of your mouth?”
She rolls her eyes. “I meant a PR relationship. A sweet girl to take to all your games and events, to show the organization you’ve settled down and are healing from your loss. ”
Kieran’s jaw unhinges and I have no doubt I look just as shell-shocked.
“You want me to…pretend to date someone?”
“Like arm candy?” Kieran asks.
Lucy sends a glare in his direction. “Not like arm candy. We are going to spin a story that Grayson met someone who he has fallen for and is helping him grieve healthily.”
“Sounds great, but I have no idea who we can trust enough with this, let alone pay. Anyone who would want to do that would either be a gold digger or doing it for the gossip.”
That’s when Lucy smiles, a wide grin that terrifies not only me but Kieran.
“She’s been scheming,” Kieran whispers beside me.
“I’ve toyed with an idea, yes,” she admits, her chin still lifted high like she’s poised for a battle.
“And that idea would be what exactly?”
The front door opens, and the small pitter-patter of feet fills the hall before Bella steps through the archway with her arms laden with groceries.
Lucy turns to her with a wicked smile and purrs, “Her.”