Page 13 of Heartless As Puck

I’d always noticed Jane in ways I shouldn’t. Pretending with her would only make it more difficult to maintain a professional distance.

He crossed his arms. “At least ask her. Make it clear she can say no and her employment won’t suffer.”

I grimaced. “I don’t know. It feels wrong.”

“If not her, what about your neighbor, Sylvia?” Gus waved toward the door. “Why don’t you get a glass of water in the break room and think it over? While you’re there, consider how badly you want to be captain before you retire.”

Ouch. I rubbed my chest. He’d hit right where it hurt. “Fine. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

I stood and made my way across the office on shaky legs. It felt like the rug had just been pulled out from under me and I didn’t know what to think about anything.

Jane Foster, the timid assistant who somehow anticipated all my needs and met them without me even having to ask, was actually Jane Wright, some kind of hockey legacy.

Next, I’d find out that Sylvia from next door was actually Joseph Trent’s long-lost daughter or something equally ridiculous.

As I strode into the open plan area, Jane started to rise. I waved for her to sit but couldn’t manage any words. My gaze lingered on her as I passed, and I couldn’t help noting that her coloring was similar to Alec Wright’s. It wasn’t enough for me to call a resemblance, but if I was looking for it, I could see the likeness.

Heading to the break room, I ignored the glances from junior agents and assistants and was relieved when I passed through the doorway and found the room empty. I grabbed a tall glass from the cupboard, filled it from the water cooler, and slumped onto a seat.

I didn’t drink because I wasn’t actually thirsty.

Instead, I just thought. Hard.

There were too many things swirling around my mind, so I snagged onto them one by one and tried to make sense of them.

First, Gus believed that my stats and reputation weren’t enough to earn me the captaincy. Much as it irritated me, I was inclined to believe him. He was usually right about these things.

Second, I didn’t have time to find and secure a real girlfriend. Moreover, I didn’t want one. It would only mean another person demanding things of me and getting upset when I fell short.

Third, there was no way in hell that I would ask Sylvia to do it. She’d been looking for a way to get her claws into me since we’d become neighbors, and if I showed any sign of weakness, I’d never get rid of her.

Honestly, I didn’t like her much anyway. She was too insincere, and I had no patience for games.

Fourth, I could wait out my contract and ask Gus to search for another team who might be interested in me next season. Unfortunately, it was unlikely that anyone would make me captain immediately, so I’d have to earn the role, and I didn’t know how many good playing years I had left. Hopefully, a few, but nothing was guaranteed.

Fifth, besides my sister, there were only two women I even remotely trusted. One was Nick’s sister, Madison, who’d made no secret of the fact she only dated women. Even if she agreed to a ruse—which wasn’t likely—people would suspect our relationship wasn’t real because she’d always lived out and proud.

Suddenly dating me would be very suspicious.

The other woman who had my trust was Jane.

Jane, who likely knew hockey inside out. Jane, who’d never hesitated to carry out any part of her job. Jane, who had proven to be a vault, no matter who pestered her for information about me.

But it wasn’t fair of me to ask so much of her. Not to mention that it would put her in a difficult position if she didn’t think she could refuse.

That left one other option: hire someone else.

The trouble was that anyone I hired might be swayed by the promise of a big payout from the media if they shared my secrets. I could have them sign an NDA, but even then, I’d always be wary of them. Even if they didn’t betray, they might think they could hold onto me for longer than the term of the contract. People often saw banknotes when they looked at me.

Then I had to factor in the fact that I liked things to be a particular way, and prior to hiring someone, I wouldn’t be able to tell whether they’d slot neatly into my life as Jane had done or if they’d knock me off-kilter. I was trying to achieve one of my major career goals and needed to be completely focused on that. I couldn’t afford a distraction.

Besides, if I was willing to hire someone to do the job, then why not pay the person already in my employ, who I knew could do it without throwing my life into chaos, and whom I trusted not to sell me out?

FOUR

JANE

Austin emerged from the break room and crossed the open plan office with purpose, his complexion pale but his chin set determinedly. He turned toward me slowly, and something about the way he looked at me gave me the chills.