Offside (The Barker Triplets 1)

“Asshole or not, Duke and Jackie aren’t the only ones at odds over your plan to infiltrate the men’s league.”

Billie arched a brow. “Infiltrate? Seriously? You make it sound like I’m pulling a James Bond or something. It’s just hockey and besides, why does anyone care what I do?” She leaned toward Bobbi and her sister had the good notion to take a step back. “Why do [i]you[i] care? You should have your hands full with [i]Gerry[i], or is he not enough to keep you satisfied?”

Bobbi’s eyes narrowed and her cheeks flushed crimson. “You’re such a bitch.”

Billie shrugged. “I’ve been called worse.” She paused as a thought crossed her mind. “I saw Shane Gallagher the other night at The Grill. He asked me to dance.” It was a lie, but totally worth it to see her sister’s anger triple in less time than it had taken Billie to utter the lie. For the first time since she’d returned to New Waterford, her sister was showing some life.

[i]I knew she wasn’t over him[i].

“He looks damn, good.” Billie said softly.

“For a criminal,” Bobbi retorted.

Billie shook her head. “No, he looks damn good, period, but then he always did.”

Bobbi eyes narrowed. “You did [i]not[i] dance with him.”

“I did.” Billie went for the kill. “Why wouldn’t I? I wanted to see for myself what he has that gets your panties in such a knot and now I know…”

“Know?” Bobbi was livid and for the first time since she’d been home, Billie was enjoying herself immensely. “There’s nothing to know. Shane and I had a…a thing a few years ago but it was nothing more than a…a…”

Billie’s grin widened as she interrupted her stuttering sister. “The man kisses like he’s been doing it for years, which, I suppose with his looks he has, and it makes me wonder…”

“Wonder?” Bobbi arched a brow and her voice dropped into that dangerous zone that Billie usually avoided, but she was having way too much fun to listen to the voice of reason inside her head.

“Well,” Billie shrugged, “which one of us he prefers.” Her brow furled as if she was lost in thought.

Bobbi inhaled sharply and took a step forward. For a second Billie thought her sister was going to punch her, but then a low rumble interrupted them as Gerald Dooley’s large, expensive, flashy, truck pulled up behind Billie’s modest Honda.

Gerald stepped down from the truck, his expression somewhat cautious, as he approached the girls. Billie didn’t bother to hide her disgust. The man’s jeans were ironed for Christ sake. Who did that?

He nodded toward Billie. “Big game tonight.”

“Yep.” Billie moved back up the stairs, suddenly glad her sister was leaving. Glad the tension would follow her. Glad she could get out on the ice and forget. “Surprised, you’re not staying to watch.”

“Oh,” Gerald mumbled. “I didn’t…well, we didn’t…”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Bobbi snapped. “Why would we encourage her?”

Billie’s hand was on the front door when her sister managed to get underneath her skin one last time.

“Just make sure you take some time out from your busy schedule wrecking marriages and playing tonsil hockey with Shane Gallagher to check on Dad tonight.”

“Shane?” Gerald piped up. “He’s back in town?”

Both girls ignored him and Billie’s chest tightened as she stared at her sister. The feeling of lightness, that wonderful anticipation she always felt before a game was long gone.

“Don’t worry about Dad,” she said quietly be

fore disappearing into the house. She ran to the kitchen, grabbed two bottles of Gatorade and was happy to see Gerald’s truck gone when she returned to her car.

“Break a leg, sweets.” Gramps followed her out and grinned down at her from the porch as she slid into her Honda.

She laughed. “I’ll try not to.” She threw the car into reverse and waved. “I won’t be long. Home right after the game.”

Gramps shook his head. “Don’t you worry about us old men. There’s a [i]Criminal Minds[i] marathon on the TV. We’ll keep busy. You go out with your team and have fun.”

Billie’s gaze moved upward and her heart clutched when her eyes settled on the dim light that fell from her father’s room. A shadow lingered there, once tall but now bent over with age and sickness.