Prince Pucking Charming

“You somehow managed to get a woman like Lila. If you could convince her that you’re not a total piece of shit, I’m sure you could pick up a cheerleader on your own. They’re pretty easy to get into bed.”

“It wasn’t like that with Lila,” he shoots back. “You have no idea what she was like when I met her.”

I kick my sneaker up on his table, which earns me a nasty look. “Enlighten me.”

He tips head. “Do you mind? That’s a ten-thousand-dollar table.”

Rolling my eyes, I slide my shoe off the table.

“We were high school sweethearts,” he says.

“I know.”

“I’m not the asshole you think,” Ted says, now settling into his chair with the glass of scotch. “I went out of my way for Lila for a long time, but she has a habit of pushing people away. She shut me out. We stopped talking. Sex was non-existent. I mean, what did she expect me to do? Sit around and wait for her to stop hating me?”

“Lila’s story is much different.”

“There are two sides to every story. Lila never fully recovered from her mother’s suicide. She thinks there’s something wrong with her and that her genes are corrupted. That’s why she got into psychiatry.” I give him a look that says Tell me something I don’t already know, and he continues, “You got too close. That’s why you’re here right now.”

“No, I’m here because she lost her job.”

He shakes his head with a defiant smirk on his stupid face. “You can’t get her back without it. And you know it. She’s a hard woman to love. Take it from me, Duke. You’re better off letting her go.”

“No, I’m not,” I challenge, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not giving up on Lila.”

He tips his glass to me and grins.

“Which cheerleader do you want?”

“There’s a blonde with a blue butterfly on her right shoulder blade.”

“She has a matching butterfly on her inner thigh,” I say, not proud of the fact I know this bit of information. “Her name is Alessandra.”

He rubs his hands together. “What’s she like?”

“She’s a gymnast. And a dancer. You do the math.”

“I want you to make an introduction. That’s my deal. And if she agrees to go out with me, I’ll have Senator Banks make a call to the owner. They’re old golf buddies.”

“You could’ve done this for Lila two weeks ago,” I snap, my anger seething through me.

“Nothing in life is free, Duke.” He reaches into a wooden box on the table and retrieves a cigar, stuffing it between his teeth as he looks for a lighter. “And I don’t do anything without getting something in return.”

“I can’t guarantee Alessandra will fuck you.”

She probably will.

Alessandra spreads her legs for any man with money. Ted isn’t a bad looking guy. He’s well-spoken, dresses nice, and has an Ivy League education. He won’t have to do more than flash his checkbook and smile to get her bed. I did neither and still found her spread eagle, waiting for me in the locker room one night long after the game ended.

I can’t believe this is the deal I have to make with this asshole. If I had any say in the matter, I’d take Lila and Max far away from him. They don’t need a man like him in their lives.

“Tomorrow night,” Ted says, blowing a plume of cigar smoke in my face. “You have a few more games before you’re back on the ice. Sit with me. Make the introductions. And if all goes well, Lila will have her contract back by the end of the week.”

“I don’t like this,” I say, rising from the chair. “If it weren’t for Lila, I would never agree to this deal.”

He opens his mouth, and smoke fills the space between us. I wave the cloud away from my face.

“We could be good friends, you know.”