Hot Puck (Rough Riders Hockey 2)

“You were pretty wild in your younger days, Beck. And men do stupid things when they’ve had too much to drink and are overstimulated by a good or bad game.”

The statement hit Beckett in the gut. “I may have been a little wild, but I’ve never caused any trouble. Are you saying you believe that shit? After seven years with me? You believe I’m capable of that?”

Tremblay sighed. “No. I don’t. But I also don’t know how I’m going to convince Ted of that. So you’d better get this shit straightened out, because I can only do so much on your behalf. If this accusation doesn’t get cleared up, we both know you won’t be seeing an offer come July.”

“This is fucking bullshit.” Hurt blended with rage. Beckett stood, shoving the chair back so hard, it toppled. “I’ve played for you and Ted for seven fucking years. I’ve given you my all and more. Then one woman comes out with one lie, and I have to be the one to restore my credibility?” He stabbed a finger at the air. “That is bullshit.”

He walked out, letting the door swing wide and slam against the office wall. Livid. He was livid. Out of his mind furious. He’d spent a lifetime maintaining his integrity. He might have been wild for a few years, but no wilder than any college kid. And far less wild than most other athletes. How dare they question his credibility. And Kim. That bitch wanted to try to bully him into paying for their daughter? Fuck that. Fuck her.

He strode into the locker room with red hazing his vision. His heart beat in his ears. Sweat rolled down his face, his back, his arms. He opened his bag and pulled out his phone. Before he could dial Fred, a dozen messages popped up—texts and voice mails from his parents and Sarah as well as Fred.

Kim had purposely leaked this story while he’d been on the ice. That goddamned wicked—

“Henderson kicked her out.”

Donovan’s voice jerked Beckett from his misery. He turned his head and found his friend’s serious gaze on him. “What?”

“That’s why she pulled this stunt,” Donovan said, voice low, gaze cutting around the locker room before coming back to Beckett. “I called around. Henderson broke it off with her and tossed her ass out of his house. She’s living in a hotel. She must think this is her ticket to some fast cash.”

Beckett squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth to keep his voice down. “That narcissistic bitch.”

Hendrix came out of the shower and dried his hair with a towel, then dropped it around his neck. “We all pay to play, Beck. It’s your turn.”

Beckett faced Hendrix, a guy he’d played with for four years. A guy whose family knew Beckett’s family. A guy he’d treated like a brother. “What the fuck does that mean?”

Hendrix shrugged. “Hey, relax. I’m just sayin’—”

“You’re sayin’ you think it’s true. You’re sayin’ that just because a woman goes on air and spews up bullshit that makes it truth.”

His teammate got a stupid look on his face and shrugged. “Well, they don’t go through all that for fun.”

“No, you idiot, they go through it for the money. And the manipulation. Jesus Christ, you’ve got your head up your ass.” Growing angrier by the second, he turned and found everyone in the locker room looking at him. He threw his arms wide. “Anyone else want to throw away all they know of me from working side by side for years over a single allegation from a gold digger?”

“Jesus, Beck,” Hendrix said, “relax—”

“Easy for you to say, isn’t it?” He swung back to face Hendrix. “You don’t have any kids at risk here, do you?”

That shut Hendrix up. In fact, it shut the whole locker room up.

In the silence, Beckett told everyone in the room at large, “In the future, if anyone here doubts my character, I’d appreciate it if you’d be man enough to bring up any issues you have to my face and not talk about me behind my back. That’s called respect, for those of you who like to gossip like little girls. I treat you with respect, and I expect you to treat me the same. If I find out you’re acting differently, we’ll take it outside, after hours. Am I clear?”

A combination of subdued “Yes, Cap,” “Affirmative, Cap,” “Clear, Cap,” rippled through the room, and the guys went about their business.

Beckett took his phone down the hall, where the team often extended their workouts and stored equipment. He dialed Sarah and paced.

“Hi,” she answered, her voice tense with fear.

“Has she contacted anyone in the family?” Beckett asked.

“No, but the media have tried, and they’re already outside, lining the streets in the neighborhood. But worse, Lily was coloring in the family room while we were watching the game, and when it came on, we were all so shocked, we didn’t turn it off before she heard too much.”

“Fuck.” His stomach rolled. He closed his eyes and braced himself. “I haven’t seen the news. How did she take it?”

“Um…not well. She translated what she heard into the fear that Kim was coming to take her back and seriously freaked out. Like, full-on panic-attack freaked out. I’ve never seen her like that.”

Beckett’s heart broke for his daughter. “Does she need to go to the ER?”

“There were moments when we considered taking her, but we talked her down to a lower ledge, and the girls distracted her with games. But I do think you’re going to have to take her to the doctor tomorrow. She’s living in this jumpy state of terror, clinging to everyone. It’s even worse than after Kim abandoned her last year.”