Page 3 of Clear Shot (Lauderdale Knights #9)

Hana

Panic has set in.

The idea of packing up and leaving the US in the next five days is so far off my radar, I don’t know how to deal with it.

My family is in Slovakia so it’s not like I’ll be homeless or anything, and I’ve managed to squirrel away a nice nest egg over the last ten months.

Claudia’s parents insisted I sleep in her old room when I’m in Philadelphia, and I stay with Claudia when I’m in Fort Lauderdale.

I bought a car because I need to be able to get around, but otherwise, my expenses are minimal and I’ve been making a solid six-figure salary.

Hell, I have enough to buy a small apartment in Bratislava.

But then what?

Job prospects there in my field are slim to none, and forget about the dating pool.

I’m probably a little spoiled. Between going to MIT for four years in college and now living and working in the US, Bratislava feels small.

Part of me feels guilty for thinking that way, but I have to be honest with myself, even if I don’t vocalize those feelings.

I want more out of life. And if I’m continuing to be honest, I’m envious of my brother’s life.

He plays professional hockey, with a beautiful wife and baby, in a big house with great friends.

His life is essentially everything I want for myself, minus the hockey, of course.

The worst part, depending upon your perspective, is that he would give it to me. Not all of it, but I could live with him. He’s beyond generous with money, paying for my college expenses, giving me wonderful gifts and trips, and making my life so much better than it would be otherwise.

Except I don’t want my brother to take care of me.

I have a degree in information technology from MIT.

I should be able to support myself. Build my own life. Not count on my pro athlete big brother to take care of me.

But if I go back to Slovakia, I may not have a choice.

I pull into my brother’s driveway and take a moment to roll my shoulders.

It was a long drive from Philadelphia but I didn’t want to impose on Claudia’s parents any longer than necessary, and since I might only be in the country another four days, I might as well spend it with my brother and extended family.

Claudia is more like a sister than just a friend, and between her and Johan, and having a niece and godson here, Lauderdale has become my home. Maybe not literally, since I’ve never lived here, but this is where I would want to settle down.

I love the beach, the warm, steamy days, and even the impromptu rain showers. Hurricane season sounds less fun but I haven’t experienced one, so it’s hard to say.

“You’re here!” My sister-in-law, Sloane, meets me at the door with a big hug.

“Finally.” I hug her back. “It was a long drive but worth it to get here.”

“I know. Come on in. Johan put the chicken on the grill as soon as you texted that you were twenty minutes out. We’ll eat in ten.”

“Great. Let me use the bathroom and then I’ll go find my brother and my beautiful niece.

” I make my way to the washroom, relieve my bladder, and wash my hands.

It took me two days to drive down, my SUV packed to the gills with clothes and other things I’ve collected in the ten months since I moved here.

What a pain in the ass to ship it all back to Slovakia.

I’ll probably sell everything except my clothes and some picture frames. What would I do with my TV anyway since I would need a converter?

The stress of the situation weighs heavily on me as I pad out to the patio where Johan is at the grill.

“Hi!” He greets me with a friendly smile and holds out his arms.

I hug him tightly, so glad for our relationship. I couldn’t ask for a better brother.

“Thanks for letting me crash here until I can figure out what to do,” I whisper.

“Of course. And I have some suggestions for you.”

“Whatever they are, I don’t think there’s time,” I say sadly.

“Let’s sit down to eat and we can talk.” He turns back to the grill.

“All right. Let me see if I can help Sloane.”

“Everything is done,” he says. “Sit down and relax. We’re going to eat outside since it’s so nice out.”

“All right.” I sink into a chair by the pool and stare out at the aqua water. It’s a beautiful day, not as humid as it is in the summer, the sun is low in the sky, and the temperature is warm but not uncomfortably so.

I really do love it here.

“Okay, we’re keeping it casual tonight,” Sloane says, coming out with a big bowl and putting it on the table. “Grilled chicken skewers, homemade potato salad, and corn on the cob on the grill. Sound good?”

“Sounds wonderful. Can I help you?”

“Nope. We’re even using paper plates and plastic utensils so clean-up will be a breeze.”

We chat for a few minutes and she tells me about Joanna’s latest milestones. I love my seven-month-old niece. She’s sweet and funny and cuddly. I can’t wait to see her in the morning since she’s already in bed.

“So tell me what you found out,” I say as soon as we settle down to eat. He was planning to call an immigration attorney.

“You really only have one option,” Johan says quietly.

That sounds a little ominous, but it’s better than no options.

“Tell me,” I say curiously.

“Marry someone on the team so they can get you an emergency visa that will allow you to stay.”

I blink.

“What?”

“I know it’s not ideal,” he continues. “But either you do that or you have to leave in four days. Then it will be much more difficult for you to job hunt. This way, you can?—”

“Wait. Stop.” I’m shaking my head. “You make it sound like getting married is nothing more than a business transaction.”

“Well, in this case, that’s what it would be. Obviously, it would be a favor to me and both Jordan and Aiden offered.”

I pause, fork midway to my mouth, and I stare at him.

“You discussed this with your teammates? Without even talking to me.”

“It didn’t happen that way,” he says quickly.

“We were discussing the work situation with you and Claudia and I expressed concern that you might have to leave the US. Then someone said the team could get you a visa if you were to get married. Jordan, Felix, and Aiden were sitting there with me, Decker, and Anders.”

“So it’s a no from Felix?” I ask dryly.

He chuckles. “Well, you know Felix. It wasn’t a no so much as a ‘I’m confused and need someone to explain this to me.’”

That sounds like Felix.

“And then Jordan said he would do it as long as you understood that he would continue…living his life, so to speak.”

I can’t imagine Aiden jumping into that conversation.

But he did.

“And then Aiden just offered to marry me?” I ask. “I don’t believe that.”

“He did,” Johan says. “In fact, he was pretty firm about it. He said if anyone was going to do it, it would be him.”

I’m suddenly warm, and my insides do a little dance.

Aiden offered to marry me so I can stay in the country.

Aiden .

My friend without benefits.

Even though I want him so badly sometimes I don’t know how to hide it.

“I don’t…” It’s hard to wrap my head around this new development.

On one hand, I don’t want to go back to Slovakia.

On the other, how can I just marry a guy I’m not in love with and who isn’t in love with me?

We’re friends, though.

And the attraction has been there since day one.

We’ve just been careful to protect the friendship because neither of us wants a relationship.

Well, maybe that’s a lie. Because if Aiden wanted a relationship, I would consider it.

Of course, that’s what makes this dangerous.

I already like him more than I should, and marrying him would really up the stakes.

And yet the alternative would be much worse.

“What are you thinking?” Sloane asks softly.

“That I’m scared,” I admit. “Not of him,” I add hurriedly. “Just of the situation in general.

“I always assumed you two were hooking up on the sly,” Sloane says. “Like, casual.”

I shake my head. “No. We almost did, but we decided it would be better to be friends, considering his relationship with Johan and the fact that we run in the same friend circle.”

“But you like him?” Johan asks. “At least as a friend?”

“Absolutely.”

“This is good. Because he’s on his way over.”

My eyes widen. “You didn’t even wait for me to decide?”

“You don’t have time to wait,” he says. “And we both know if the only options are getting married or going home to Bratislava, you’re going to get married.”

I hate when people make decisions for me, but at the same time, he’s right.

There’s really no alternative.

If we’re going to truly consider this, we have to talk.

And since time is of the essence, there’s no reason not to do it immediately.