And why? Because he’d been implicated in a crime he hadn’t committed? Because his family never had money when he was growing up? So what? His parents loved each other, and their marriage had thrived despite their financial difficulties. What did money and success really matter when you didn’t have someone to share it with? Someone you loved?
A loud laugh suddenly slipped out of his mouth, and he noticed the receptionist giving him a funny look. Releasing a breath, he crossed the lobby toward the hallway and walked back in the direction of the conference room. Fuck, he was an ass. He’d been searching for a woman who’d look at him and see past the athlete, and he’d found her. Hayden didn’t care if he was a hockey star and she didn’t care how much money he made, as long as he was there for her.
He wasn’t willing to lie to protect her father, but he should have told her he’d stand by her no matter what happened with her dad. His relationship with the team owner’s daughter might throw a negative spotlight on him, but it was worth it if it meant keeping Hayden in his life.
“Brody?”
He almost tripped when he saw Hayden standing at the end of the hall, right in front of the conference-room door.
“Hey. What are you doing here?” he asked, quickening his pace.
She stepped toward him, and he noticed her red-rimmed eyes. Had she been crying?
“I came to talk to my dad,” she answered. “And then I remembered that you were being interviewed, too, so I thought I’d find you before you had to go in...” Her voice drifted, and she cleared her throat.
The pain in her eyes tore at his insides. He hated seeing her this way, and he knew why she’d been crying.
Resting his hand on her arm, he slowly pulled her away from the conference-room door and led her to the end of the hall.
“I’m not going to lie,” he said gruffly.
Confused, she tilted her head to meet his eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut in before she could.
“But I want you to know that just because I won’t lie for Pres doesn’t mean I won’t be there for you. Because I will, babe. I don’t care what the blogs write about us. I don’t care how my career is affected. I don’t care about anything but you. I’ll stay by your side. I promise I’ll be here for you, as long as you need me.”
He blew out a breath, waiting for her to reply, praying she didn’t say, Well, I don’t need you, asshole. It was just a fling.
But she didn’t say that. She didn’t say anything, in fact.
Instead, she burst out laughing.
“Seriously? You think it’s funny?” he said in annoyance, raking both hands through his hair. “Remind me never to make a romantic speech again.”
She giggled. “Sorry. I only think it’s funny because I came to tell you I’ll stay away from you until the investigation is finished. That I’m willing to do anything to keep you in my life, even if it means staying apart for a while.”
“What?”
“I respect your decision. So if you want to lie low until this blows over, I’ll do that.” She curled her fingers over his arm and looked at him imploringly. “But I don’t want it to be permanent. I don’t want us to end, Brody.”
His features softened. “Neither do I. And I also don’t want us to lie low.”
“Are you sure?”
He moved closer, bending down to plant a kiss on her mouth, right there in the hallway. He didn’t give a shit if anybody saw them. All he cared about was kissing her. Because he hadn’t kissed her in days and he was fucking hungry. They both made a noise when his tongue slid past the seam of her lips and toyed with hers. He was semi-hard in seconds, desperate to drive the kiss deeper, to touch every inch of her body.
Flushed, she broke the kiss and stepped back before he gave in to the urge to pull her into the nearest restroom and fuck her senseless.
“Come to the hotel when you’re done?” she said, her voice coming out breathy.
He grinned. “I’ll be there with bells on.”
“No bells. But naked would be good.” Her smile was so beautiful it almost knocked him off his feet. “And don’t keep me waiting too long. There are definitely a few things I still need to say to you.”
THIRTY-ONE
A couple hours later, Brody stepped into the elevator at the Ritz and waited for the bellhop to turn the key that gave him access to the penthouse floor. When the guy left, Brody sagged against the wall of the car, feeling as if he’d just run the Boston Marathon and followed that up by climbing Everest. The interview with the league investigators had been pure torture. He’d sat there in his suit, with this fucking oxygen-depriving tie, and he’d had to sell out a man he’d once considered a friend and another he’d respected as a boss.
Thank God this day from hell was over. He didn’t know what the investigation would turn up, how it would all end, but a load had been lifted off his chest.
One load, at least. He still hadn’t quite accepted the fact that Becker had betrayed him. He knew it would take more than one afternoon to come to terms with it. But he’d walked out of that conference room today with his conscience clear, and now he couldn’t wait to lose himself in Hayden’s arms and forget about everything except the love he felt for her.
“Babe?” he called as the elevator doors opened and he entered the living room.
Her voice drifted out from the hall. “In here.”
He found her in the bedroom, sitting cross-legged in the center of the bed, still clad in the flowy green skirt and yellow top she’d been wearing earlier. Well, damn. He’d been hoping to find her naked.
But that could be easily amended.
She slid off the mattress, her skirt swirling around her firm thighs as she moved toward him. “How was the interview?”
“Terrible. But I think I convinced them I wasn’t guilty of any wrongdoing.”
Relief flooded her features. “Good.” Then, looking somber, she added, “I found out something about Sam Becker that you’re not going to like.”
He swallowed. “I know already. But who told you?”
“I overheard my dad talking to him on the phone earlier.” She bit her bottom lip. “So it’s true? He really did do it?”
