Page 104 of Clear Shot

With presents.

Tears sting my eyes as Remy hugs me and hands me a large gift bag.

“Oh, you didn’t have to get me anything!” I protest.

“Of course we did.” Noelle smiles. “We hate to see you go. Remy told me so much about you, I was looking forward to getting to know you.”

“Me too.” I take a shaky breath and try to smile.

“Is there no way to fix the marriage?” Remy asks bluntly. “Should I talk to him?”

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s over.”

“Well, he and I have to talk regardless. I’m pissed off that he went behind my back to start negotiating a trade. I thought we were a family here.”

Eeek.

That’s not something I need to get involved in. The business end of hockey is out of my league, so to speak, and I don’t want to hear about Aiden any more than necessary.

“I’m sorry if I’m partly to blame,” I say softly. “This wasn’t my choice.”

“So he left you.” He stares at me intently. “Hana, would you just tell me what’s going on? Maybe I can help.”

“You can’t.”

He blows out an exasperated breath. “You truly don’t understand the depth and reach of my power, do you?”

“I do, but you can’t buy or blackmail my husband into trusting me. Or loving me.” I shrug. “It’s as simple as that. You could try—here’s a billion dollars, I order you to love her—but we both know he wouldn’tactuallylove me, he would only agree for the money. It’s a terrible example, but you know what I’m trying to say.”

He stares at me, the look in his eyes inscrutable. If I didn’t know him as well as I do I might be a little intimidated. I’m sure he makes multi-million-dollar deals with faces like that, but there’s no amount of money that will bring Aiden back to me.

“Do you love him?” he asks after a beat.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, but it does. Do you love him?”

“I did.” I try to keep my voice neutral. “But he hurt me. I’m not sure if what he broke can be fixed.”

“But if it were possible—” He cuts me off before I can protest. “—pretendit’s possible for conversation purposes. Assuming it were fixed… would you love him?”

I manage a sad smile. “More than anything.”

“Then tell me what happened.”

I sigh.

“Tell him,” Noelle whispers, squeezing my arm. “I’m going to go get some food and talk to the ladies so you two can have a little privacy. But my husband is very, very good at fixing things. Trust him, Hana.” She winks and moves away, heading straight for Juliet’s cupcakes.

“Come sit with me.” Remy leads me outside to the patio.

It’s quiet out here since it’s chilly and everyone else is inside.

“Talk to me, Hana. Come on. It’s just us. You trusted me with your life when the hurricane hit, can’t you trust me with your marriage troubles?”

I unconsciously put my hand on my stomach. “It’s not just me anymore.”

His eyes widen slightly and then understanding dawns. “You’re pregnant.”