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Tara rolled her eyes. “Dexter, we both know our relationship never got out of the blocks, so to speak.”
True. Of course, he’d thought she was hot—still did—and had fantasized about her because he did that with most every woman he met, but they’d never made it to the bedroom or anywhere else sexually interesting, and neither of them had caught feelings, leaving them as good friends.
Tara dropped the swept-up hair into a trash can. “So what did Sophie say?”
“Something about volunteer work, but because of my past indiscretions they don’t think I should be allowed to teach kids hockey, which would have been my first choice. Apparently, I’m off to the Riverbrook Animal Shelter because I’m barely qualified to work with puppies and kittens.”
“That’s a great gig! Kennedy used to volunteer there, so she can tell you all about it.”
All he needed to know was how it would extract him from this fix.
“Not getting how it’s going to make me look that good. ‘He’s kind to animals, your honor, so don’t be too hard on him.’ Is that really going to fly?”
Tara’s smile was pinned on. Hell, she could usually fake it better than this so he must be in deep doo-doo.
“Tara?”
“Of course it will! Sure, you could donate some money to various causes but that looks like you’re trying to buy your way out of it. This way, you’ll be putting in the work. Helping poor little animals. And I’m sure Sophie will do some filming and add it to the socials, which will make you look like a saint.”
She took Esme back from him and settled her against her chest. Who would’ve thought Tara would make such a great mom? He was really happy for her, if not a touch envious of how she’d found her place. After all, the Rebels were supposed to be his hood, but he hadn’t settled in the way Tara had.
“Will it be enough?”
Tara looked serious. “Okay, real talk, Dexter. To use a well-worn cliché, you are skating on thin ice. Sure you have been for a while, but there’s only so long you can keep treading that same territory and not expect to fall through to a frigid, watery death.”
“Uh, kind of morbid.”
“I know!” She grinned. “It’s a metaphor for your life and career. I want you to succeed. I always have. So what do the guys think?”
The guys? Other than his captain, Vadim Petrov, pulling him off Hughes in the bar and waiting with him while the cops questioned, then arrested, him, not much. He didn’t expect them to drop everything to be his buddy.
“They’ve got their own lives going on.”
“Well, I’m sure they’ll have plenty of advice at Hunt’s poker game.”
“Hunt’s what now?”
Another wince, then she twisted away to put Esme back in her stroller. “Never mind. I’m spouting my usual nonsense! Now, maybe we could give you a trim.” Turning, she reached for his hair, but he scooted back on the chair like a crab on wheels.
“Hold up! There’s a poker game at Hunt’s place?” And he was only hearing about it now?
“I probably misheard, but …” She sighed and folded her arms beneath her stellar rack. Married mom or not, he could still appreciate that. “Dex, I thought you were going to make more of an effort. Sure, most of the guys have families and commitments, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be more involved. More present. The guys want to stand up for you, but you have to show you’re interested in being a Rebel. And not just on the ice.”
He shifted uncomfortably in the leather seat. Dex had always been a pretty easygoing guy and traded on that as good teammate currency. But he also kept most of his connections to a surface level. Evidently the guys had picked up on that. Everyone had picked up on that.
Now there was a chance he was going to be booted before he could make amends.
“I’m going to fix this, Tara. All of it.”
Tara brightened. “Excellent. But just so you know, part of fixing it means no clubs, drag racing, or post-game benders. Keep your energy for the puppies.”
Keep your energy for the puppies. Hopefully it would be enough.
2
Coco
Domestic short-haired cat
