Only One Touch (Only One 4)

“Is that what you wanted me to call you about?” I ask, huffing out, turning the speed of the treadmill down in case I have to talk.

“I was wondering if we could schedule a meeting,” he says, and I worry something is wrong. His tone is tight, and I immediately stop my treadmill. My heart beats fast, and it’s not because I’m running.

“Are you in trouble?” I ask. I’m ready to help him in any way he needs it. Manning was the first big name to sign with me. He was the first one to take a chance on me, and I will never forget it.

“It’s nothing serious,” he says, and his voice goes low. “I mean, it’s serious, but I will explain later tonight if I can.”

“Come over whenever you want. I’m home all day and night,” I say.

“Okay, I’ll call you before I head over,” he says. We hang up, and the whole day I’m on pins and needles. When he shows up after eight that night, he looks ragged.

“What in the hell happened to you?” I ask, and I can see he is going through something.

“Can we sit down?” he asks. I nod, leading him into the penthouse and gesturing to the couch.

“Okay,” I say, sitting in front of him. “You are really scaring me.”

“I want to leave Murielle,” he says of his wife.

“Okay, we can do that. I have the best divorce lawyer on speed dial,” I say. “We dated for maybe a week.”

“It’s not that easy,” he says. “Last time I did that, she ran away with Jax.” He mentions his son. “And the only way she would come back is if I promised not to bring up divorce again.” He looks down and then up. “I met someone,” he says, and I see the anguish all over his face. “It hasn’t been long, but in this short time, I know I don’t want to let her go.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I say, sitting next to him.

“Murielle is having an affair with her trainer, and I have all the proof from the house camera.” My mouth opens in shock. “And I could blackmail her with it, but then …” He shakes his head. “I don’t want to use those pictures of her in my house.”

“We need to hire a private investigator to follow her and snap the pictures,” I say, getting up to get my phone.

“You have one of those on speed dial?” he asks, and I look at him.

“What do you think?” I send the private eye a message. “I have everyone screened before I sign them.” He just stares at me. “If there is anything out there, this guy is going to find it.”

“I trust you,” he says, and I nod at him.

“What are you going to do with the evidence?” The question is a loaded one.

“I’m going to get my life back.” The struggle in his voice is apparent.

“Well, Manning, I hope you got your gear on because we are about to go to war,” I say. “And I’m not about to lose to that bitch.”

Chapter 6

Nico

“We leave tomorrow,” Lizzie says from across the desk. “The team is in Buffalo.” We’ve been in my office all day going over contracts since I walked in at ten this morning. The only thing I’ve done is taken off my jacket and rolled up my sleeves.

“How long are we in Buffalo?” I ask, not sure anymore of the travel schedule. I go to every single away game and make sure to work my schedule around it. I don’t go when the team goes. Instead, I fly out for the game, and sometimes I’ll fly back with them if they are coming right back. There have been times when I follow the team, and Lizzie hates every second of it.

“For two days,” she says. “Then we go on the road with them to New York.” I lean back in my big leather chair and rock. The office I’m in was never used before. It was my father’s office, but he never stepped foot in it. When I got the team, I changed almost everything to get rid of the coldness and the emptiness of the office. I had the team sign a jersey, and I had it framed and hung on the wall in here. I then started adding pictures here and there. One from the time we played in the Winter Classic. There is a picture of me standing in the middle of the owner's box with my back to the camera as I looked out at the crowd. It was the first time the arena ever sold out, and it’s my most prized possession.

“You can opt out if you want,” I say, and she looks at me with her eyebrows raised.

“You know damn well that I would never say no to going to New York.” She taps her pen. “What’s wrong with you?” She leans back in her chair, and I just look at her. “You’ve been strange this week.”