Page 3 of Rebel Secrets (Devils Hockey #3)

Chapter Two

E rin

I paused in the hall outside the room where I heard the voices.

I felt so bad about Dante. I knew I talked way too much sometimes and occasionally got carried away. I didn’t always realize it in time not to be a menace, but I knew tonight I’d gone a little over the line.

So much so that Rebel, of all people, had felt he had to rescue the kid.

That just frosted my cake so hard.

I wanted to apologize to Dante, needed to apologize to Dante before it consumed my every waking second. When I got in a shame loop, I needed to fix it. Immediately. And yes, I knew that was also part of the problem. Ugh.

But I couldn’t do that now, since he was in there with the person I needed to talk to.

And I couldn’t go in when he was there. Because, well…

Reasons, okay. There were reasons. So I stood there, caught in a trap of my own making.

I needed to leave. But I also needed to know what Rebel was saying to Dante so I could choose my words carefully.

But what I heard was Rebel being…kind. Listening. Answering the kid’s questions with what seemed like sincerity. I’m not sure I’d ever heard Rebel string together so many words at a time. Not even on the ice.

It made him almost human.

Almost.

Then they went silent.

Shit. I should really get the hell out of here and now. I didn’t want to be caught eavesdropping on a private conversation. But I wanted to talk to Dante. Even though I knew I should probably let it go for tonight. And even though I knew my brain would chew at this until I apologized.

No, better to go and save the apology for another day. I’d make Rainy find out what Dante’s favorite baked goodie is, and I’ll give him a year’s supply. Okay, maybe I’d start with a month.

I turned to head back to the party, but just as I was halfway down the hall, I heard Rebel say, “Erin.”

I froze, exactly as if I were guilty of listening to a private conversation. Which I was. Shit. Shit, shit, and shit.

For fuck’s sake, act your age. You’re twenty-nine years old. Not five.

I took a deep breath and plastered on a smile, though I made sure to aim it at Dante. Who looked like a deer in the headlights.

Shit.

“I’m sorry. Really. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. And I’ve said it, so I’m going.”

Dante blinked, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something. And I paused, waiting. And then he didn’t say anything, and my gaze flashed to Rebel.

Bad move. The look on his face made me want to kick him in the shins.

Hard. But not hard enough to actually hurt him.

He played hockey, and I didn’t want to do anything that would hurt his game but, oh, just one jab with the pointy tip of my shiny black pumps.

Which were killing my feet, by the way, but they made my legs look amazing, if I did say so myself.

Which I did. There was no one else in my life who would, except for maybe Rainy, but she was busy and?—

“The party’s that way.”

Rebel crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his chin toward the event room. I would call it the ballroom, but Miss Raffi never called it that, and I wasn’t sure if it would insult her if I did.

I wouldn’t mind insulting Rebel, though. The man existed on this earth just to piss me off. I could swear he was sneering at me, even though he looked exactly like he had a minute ago.

Way too handsome for his own good and built like a hockey player. Broad chest, heavy muscles and a jawline that?—

Well, never mind. That was a stupid thing to even think about. So he was handsome? All the Lawrence men were. It’s just that Rebel?—

Grr.

“I know where the party is.”

Ugh, god, what’s wrong with me. I sound like a toddler. Just walk away.

But I couldn’t seem to drop his gaze. I couldn’t help myself.

He just made me want to throw things at him.

Hard things. Not like my rolls or muffins or anything like that.

No, I wanted to throw really hard things.

Which I know he would catch because, well, I just knew he would. He was good at things like that.

Walk away, you idiot.

With a huff, I forced myself to turn on my heel and go, even though I had so many more words on the tip of my tongue to say to him. Angry words. Frustrated words. None of which would make this situation any better and would just make Rebel even more convinced I was an idiot.

Amazingly, he said nothing behind my back as I tried not to escape. Which I wasn’t doing. I was making a strategic retreat. I’d made a mess of things already and didn’t want to make more of one.

And I was not going to cry, damn it. There was no reason. That man did not deserve my tears. Stress. That’s all it was. I had so much going on right now. And I know that was my own fault. I always took on too much.

But I had all these ideas, and you only lived once, right? Unless the romances I read with ghosts and reincarnation actually were true. Anyway.

Just stop. You’re spiraling.

I headed back out to the party, telling myself I could put this out of my head, just forget it ever happened. Of course, I knew I couldn’t, but I had to try. Or I had to leave.

Leaving sounded good, actually. The toasts were made. I could eat at home. I mean, I didn’t have much in the fridge because I’d forgotten to go to the store, but I could always make something and?—

“Oh!”

I collided with another body, but where I bounced, they absorbed the impact like an oak withstood a car crash.

I looked up to see Kaden Felix gazing down at me, with a smile I would’ve sold my eye teeth for at one time.

I’d had a wicked crush on the guy for several months after I’d moved here, until I realized he’d never give me the time of day.

He was into cool blondes who knew how to keep their mouths shut for more than two seconds.

Like Sunny Yeakley. She and Kaden would be perfect together with his dark pirate vibe and her blonde goddess looks.

Except for the fact that he had absolutely no intention of ever settling down, and Sunny was looking for the love of her life. He’d told me flat out on our first and only date. I hadn’t known whether I should admire his honesty or hubris.

“Hey, there. You okay, hon?”

I had the momentary urge to take offense to the “hon,” but he really wasn’t a dick. That was just Kaden. He had one hand on my shoulder to steady me, but it didn’t feel creepy. Just comforting. The guy truly cared about people.

I forced a smile, which just made his eyes narrow as he looked around me to see if there was someone he needed to deal with. Like I said, decent guy. Except, he saw Rebel and got a knowing look on his face.

Kaden leaned a little closer, until his mouth was just above my ear. “Want me to punch him?”

I rolled my eyes. Did everyone in town know how much Rebel and I hated each other?

It would be annoying if it wasn’t so damn endearing.

I loved my adopted town, but sometimes I longed for my hometown of New York City.

It was easier to be less visible there. Honestly, sometimes it was hard to be the center of attention, especially when you were like me.

“Of course not. Everything’s fine.”

I had Kaden’s full attention now, his gaze narrowed as he stared at me.

“You sure? I know you and Rebel…don’t exactly get along. He can be kind of a dick.”

My immediate reaction was to deny, that Rebel was just… what? Oh, who cares. But I also knew he’d never be intentionally mean to me.

“Nothing happened.” My lips curved in a real smile now. Kaden apparently had the same hero complex as most of the Devils players. “Seriously, I’m just heading back to the party.”

“Hey, me, too. Come on, I’ll walk with you. They’re just cutting the cake. Heard it’s pretty damn good.” He gave me another smile, which really should evoke more than a tiny flutter in my belly. Especially when Rebel?—

Nope. Nope. Nope. Rebel did nothing to at all to my insides.

I turned just enough to the side that Rebel, still watching from several feet away, could see. Then I smiled.

“Thanks. I hope everyone loves it.”

I’d made that cake. And the cupcakes. And the cookies. And all the rolls. My staff and I had prepped all week for this event. Everything had to be perfect. I really didn’t want to miss the reaction to the cake.

“Then we should probably get a move on so we don’t miss it.”

I gave Kaden another smile, grateful to him for going out of his way to make me feel better. And for recognizing that I needed his kindness.

“Rowdy wanted chocolate and Tressy wanted strawberry, which isn’t really a problem because they go together so well, but I knew Miss Raffi would want something sophisticated so I decided on a three-tier cake. But that top tier is special. It’s for Krista.”

As we walked down the hall, my mouth kept running, mostly to fill the silence. And since I didn’t want Rebel to think he’d upset me. He hadn’t.

Except, once again, he’d managed to get inside my head.