Page 16 of Dumping the Puck (Men of Havoc #4)

Day 6: The Amalfi Cathedral

It’s your last day. Enjoy a slow day together, and if you haven’t sealed the deal yet, you’re a lost cause and my services were wasted. If you fail, I’m switching to work for Viktor. At least he has some game off the ice.

Also, Hamlin saw the tabloid photos of you two in Italy. So. When you get back, call him immediately. He’s fucking pissed. Also, the article is pretty fucking bad. I linked it.

I click the link that Charley sent me last night. This is not how I wanted to start our final day in Italy.

Photos of Kayce

Rumors have been swirling about the Bicknelle family after Wren Kaydell ran out of her wedding to Cameron Bicknelle. There’s long been rumors about Kayce and Wren having a history that no one wants to admit to. But lately, Bicknelle has been notably absent from the Havoc’s stadium during the pre- season. But where has he been? It appears he’s vacationing with his brother’s runaway bride on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Will we see him at the next pre-season game or will be absent yet again? Could this be the end of Kayce Bicknelle’s reign with the Houston Havoc?

Fuck. This is so bad. Coach has every right to be pissed. I peek over at Wren, still sleeping soundly. I slip out of the bed and out to the patio, calculating the time it would be in Texas. He should still be in his office, it’s just the afternoon in Texas, so he won’t be preparing for the game yet.

I suck in a deep breath, and smash Hamlin’s name before I can chicken out.

“Bicknelle. You better have a good fucking reason why I’m looking at photos of you in fucking Italy instead of you being in my damn rink.”

He doesn’t even greet me. Fuck again.

“Coach. It’s a lot. There’s more to it than you think.”

“So start explaining.”

“My brother is a grade A douchebag. He was cheating on Wren, and the woman showed up at her hotel room the night before the wedding. She left him at the ceremony. Ran right out of the venue and to my truck. I didn’t know what else to do, so I took her away when she asked me to.” I blurt it all out quickly.

“You could have just fucking taken her back to your house, you didn’t have to screw me in the process.”

“I know Coach. I’m so fucking sorry. I know I fucked up. But I promise I’ll be back in two days and I’ll be there for the next game.” I plead with him to forgive me for this stunt.

“Listen. I like to think I’m a good guy, an understanding coach, but this stunt…you really screwed me with my hands tied here, Kayce. The rumors in the local papers that we let you go are swirling double time, and I can’t stop that train. I have a meeting with the big wigs in half an hour. I’ll do what I can but you’re probably definitely going to end up with a suspension of some kind. I can’t do much on that front. They won’t go for it.” He sighs, and I know it pisses him off that I put him in this spot, and that he’s going to have to bench me.

“I’m sorry. I know I’ve put you in a tight spot. But I’ll accept any consequence you have to give me.”

“Yeah. I’ll call you after the meeting. Answer your damn phone, will ya?”

“I can do that. Turning the volume up now.”

He sighs again, “I’ll call you.”

Then he hangs up. The click of the line is the loudest one I’ve ever heard. My job is actually in the balance, and it relies heavily on my relationship with Cade Hamlin, and his relationship and trust with the big wigs of the team.

Two hours pass before my phone rings again.

I see Cade’s number flashing on the screen.

“Hey, Coach.”

“I did what I could Bicknelle.” He spits out. “But it’s a ten game.”

“Ten games!” What the fuck? “Coach, we haven’t seen a ten game in a long time. Why are they coming down so hard?”

“Hard? Bicknelle you’re in breach of contract. They could let you go over this shit. You should be grateful that’s all you got. Fuck. You think I want to lose you for the first ten games of the fucking season? This sucks. You think Sanders can win games like you can? He just joined us. He doesn’t mesh with the team on ice like you do. But we all have to accept what happened and move the fuck on. So enjoy the fuck out of your last day because it’s going to have to pull you through the next two weeks.”

He hangs up before he lets me respond.

“Fucckkkk!” I punch the stone exterior wall of the hotel and pain radiates through my hand and up my arm.

“Kayce?” Wren’s soft voice comes from the doorway. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fucking great.” I spit back at her. It’s not her fault, but I’m fucking pissed. I knew it was coming. It wasn’t a shock but hearing it, and having it be real is something different than knowing it’s a possibility.

“Was that Cade?” She takes a tentative step toward me.

“Yeah. I got a ten game suspension.”

“Ten games? Why so many?” She takes my hand in hers, and walks me back into the room and into the bathroom, turning on the cold water.

“Technically they could have released me. I’m in breach of my contract.” I hiss as my hand hits the cold water.

“You’re a dumbass.”

“For what? Punching the wall or blowing off pre-season?”

“Both. I’m not worth it. The pain, or losing your career.”

I pull her to me, lifting her face to mine with my finger. “Don’t ever say that again, Wren Kaydell. You are worth everything to me.”

A tight smile appears, not the genuine one I usually get. I know she’s feeling guilty about my suspension, and I berate myself for letting her see my anger. She didn’t need that.

I wrap my arms around her. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve seeing me get angry like that.”

“It’s my fault.”

“Never. It’s never your fault, June.” I crash my lips to hers in a needy kiss. Tangling our tongues in apology.

She wraps her legs around my waist and I push her against the wall in the bathroom. My cock is screaming for attention, to feel her wrapped around me. And that’s how I know it’s time to pull back.

A whimper falls from her lips when I do. “Why’d you stop?”

“I told you I wouldn’t. I want you to figure it all out without the physical being a factor. I want you to want me. Not just my cock.”

She drops one more quick kiss to my lips. “Okay. Time.” She gives me a wobbly smile, showing that she’s conflicted on all her emotions and needs time too.

She slides down my body. Leaving my arms empty, and it feels like my heart. She slinks out of the bathroom, I’m left alone to clean up my mess.

I stick my hand back under the water, letting the sting radiate so I can remember how it feels to be so fucking stupid.