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She shook her head, and her little dog inched closer. “Before the picture came out, I’d managed to repair my reputation and salvage my business. Now it’s all ruined again because of you.”
“Me?” The dog whipped out her thin black tongue and licked her pointed muzzle. “I wasn’t the only one standing outside that motel.”
“Now you have to fix it.”
Sean had never responded well to demands. He kept his eyes on the dog and said, “I don’t have to fix anything. I didn’t leak that photo to the press.” He could swear the thing was licking her chops in anticipation of snacking on his jugular. He wasn’t afraid. He could take her out, but she was unnerving.
“I have a proposition that is mutually beneficial to us both and will fix everything.”
He couldn’t imagine anything that would benefit both of them. Not unless she changed her mind and wanted to get naked. He pulled his gaze from her dog and gave her his attention. “What is that, princess?”
“You have to convince everyone that you are madly in love with me.”
Nope, he wouldn’t have imagined that. Her eyes looked into his, steady and serious, and he started to laugh.
“It’s the only way that I get my reputation back and you don’t get a stick up your ass.”
His laughter turned into a deep chuckle.
Her brows lowered and she got all squinty-eyed like her mutt. She might have looked unattractive if she wasn’t so damn pretty. “I’m serious.”
“I can see that.” He rubbed the lower half of his face and tried to wipe away his smile. “How long did it take you to think up this ridiculous scheme?”
“It’s not ridiculous.” She sat back against the couch and folded her arms across her breasts.
“That’s what I thought. You’ve given it the same scrutiny you did when you agreed to marry a man you didn’t know.” He leaned forward and grabbed his beer. “Even less than you did when you signed on to the show that fucked up your life.”
“It’s going to solve our problems.”
“I don’t have a problem.” He pointed the bottle to himself, then took a drink. He wasn’t worried about anyone on the hockey team literally shoving a stick or anything else up his ass. He took a few swallows and lowered the beer. He was more worried about a figurative stick. The one that could skewer any progress he’d made with the Chinooks and especially John Kowalsky. Maybe he and Lexie could come up with something. Something about them having met and being friendly. Nothing about being forced or coerced into anything. Maybe he could work it and come out looking like a hero.
“How’s your mama doing?”
“Why?” The hairless dog caught his attention as she crept even closer.
“Just wondering.”
Sean doubted that as he watched the mutt belly-crawl, tutu and all, close enough to put her pointed nose next to his shoulder on the couch.
“Some elderly people flock to Florida or Arizona this time of year. It’s better for their health.”
Geraldine was exactly where he needed her to stay. “My mother’s health is just fine.” In fact, the last time he’d spoken to her, she’d made a miraculous recovery. He figured he had another six months before she was facing certain death again. Six glorious—chaos-free—months that he needed to focus on the Stanley Cup finals.
“Sandspit can’t be good for a woman in your mother’s delicate condition.” She sucked air between her teeth as if in pain. “Her heart palpitations are worrisome. Not to mention her skin lesions.”
“My mother would never move someplace where she doesn’t have friends or family to complain to. She could never be a little fish in a big pond. It’s just not in her.” She didn’t have much family left, just a cousin or two in Saskatoon. She did seem to have a few friends left in Sandspit—for now. “She doesn’t know anyone in Florida or Arizona.”
“She knows someone in Seattle, though. Admittedly, Seattle isn’t as warm as Sun City, but it has great hospitals and access to wonderful health care, too. I’m sure she would love a long visit with her only child.”
Sean’s gaze met hers. Her eyes were no longer squinty from anger, but filled with the triumph of a poker player who’d just shown a royal flush. He’d been about to give some thought to her plan. Rework it a little. Negotiate terms so that he’d come away looking like he kept her safe from the media horde. There had been no need to drop the gloves.
“She already thinks we’re soul mates.” She reached for her beer and smiled. “Thanks to you.”
“How long?”
“Have we been soul mates?” She shrugged. “Since before I signed on with Gettin’ Hitched.”
That wasn’t what he’d meant.
