“You sure you want to park there?” he asked, pulling me against him.
“I’m suddenly tired of sneaking around like I’m a teenager breaking curfew. I’m an adult and even though there’ll be some gossip, I’m sure, it’s nothing I can’t handle. And to be honest, I like sneaking around with you.” I wound my arms around his neck. “I like being with you. And I’m not going to let a bunch of busybodies ruin it for me.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all week.” He pressed his lips to mine. “All right, do you want to park your car there now and then we can go to the movies or should we come back later and get it?”
“Let’s do it now. Rudy knows me so he’ll recognize my car. If he’s going to gossip, I can’t stop him.” I was so tired of lying, this just made it a little easier. If my reputation took a hit, I could handle it. And if Remy was serious that we might see each other again, that would shut everyone up. At least that’s what I was telling myself.
“Okay.” He kissed my forehead and got into his rental while I fired up the RAV4. I’d let him drive off and then grab some clean clothes out of the hamper in the back before following him. I hadn’t been sleeping at the arena enough to get my laundry done, so I was going to have to take care of that sooner rather than later, but it was going to be tricky. Why was everything in my life so complicated?
I should have been used to it by now, but I wasn’t. I wasn’t used to being homeless and I’d never get used to being so completely alone. With Remy in my life, I suddenly didn’t feel that way anymore and it was nice.
Hell, it was more than nice.
It was awesome.
The Holiday Appreciation Skate at the rink was always a blast, and even though it was a lot of work for me, I enjoyed running it and being part of it. We’d decorated the outdoor rink and since there was an hour before the doors opened, I’d dug out the box of my personal Christmas decorations and started putting them up in the lounge. My grandmother’s old lighted ceramic tree was on the coffee table in front of the fireplace, tinsel on the mantle, and I’d used some garland to hang ornaments on a few lamps. It wasn’t much, but better than nothing.
I’d sold my four-foot artificial tree last December because it had been the only way to have enough money to buy some things for Alexander. I’d been sad about it, but I didn’t have room for it in the car anyway, and Alexander was growing so fast he’d needed the new winter coat more than I needed an old Christmas tree I didn’t even have anywhere to put up.
“Hey, what’s all this?” Remy came into the lounge looking about as hot as a guy in jeans and a sweater could be. His broad shoulders seemed to fill the room and I already knew how great his ass looked in jeans.
“A little decorating. I use my own stuff since my current living situation isn’t conducive to holiday decorations,” I said carefully. “It makes me feel good to see my stuff here since this is where I spend most of my time anyway.”
“We should go shopping for stuff just for the rink,” he said, looking around. He walked over to the coffee table, pointing at the ceramic tree. “You know this is an antique, right? My grandmother had one. They’re worth money. You shouldn’t leave it here where someone could break it.”
I hadn’t realized it was an antique. “I didn’t know that. It’s literally the only thing I have from my mom’s mom.”
“Let’s pack it back up and tomorrow we can go shopping for decorations for the whole arena and you can keep your personal stuff safe. It’ll be fun to decorate anyway, don’t you think?”
I smiled. “Okay.” I got out the box and started putting the ceramic tree away again. I felt him behind me, one big, warm hand on my back as I put the tree away. Then I turned and moved against him, letting him kiss me.
“Get a room, for Christ’s sake.” A deep male voice made us jump apart and I smiled at one of the hockey league coaches, Jacques “Jock” Frontier.
He was a nice guy, despite his ribbing. “Hey, Jock. Have you met Remy Knight, the new owner of the arena? Remy, Jock coaches the fourteen- and fifteen-year-old team.”
The two men eyed each other before Remy approached him, holding out his hand.
“Hey, Jock.” The two men shook hands.
“So it’s true.” Jacques cocked his head. “You’re the owner now? I’d heard rumors but wasn’t sure it was accurate.”
“I am. I had no idea my dad even owned the place.” Remy looked around with a faint smile. “So no one was more surprised than I was.”
“And now you’re gonna sell it.” Jacques looked a little annoyed, and that was saying something since he was a pretty quiet guy who kept to himself when he wasn’t coaching.
“I haven’t made any decisions yet,” Remy replied patiently. “I’m trying to get a feel for the place, see what’s what before I do anything.”
“How do you two know each other?” I asked curiously.
“We played together a long time ago,” Remy said.
“Hey, Noelle, where do you want the coffee urns?” Dwayne stuck his head in the door.
“Oh, let me show you. Excuse me, guys.” I headed after Dwayne but glanced over my shoulder at Jacques and Remy. It had never occurred to me they might have played together even though I knew Jacques was a retired player. Hopefully, they'd been friends.
Chapter Fifteen
Remy
* * *
Jacques and I had played together one season early in my career. He’d been older, married, and a goalie, so our paths hadn’t crossed much outside the rink, but he’d been a nice enough guy. I’d had no idea he’d wound up here in Garland Grove, but there was no opportunity to ask.
“What are you really doing here?” Jacques asked me, squinting slightly. “You didn’t need to come all the way out to BC just to sell the place.”
I was surprised by his directness, but I liked direct, and I had nothing to hide about my intentions. “I came because I grew up skating here in the winter. I figured I’d just see the place one more time and then, somehow, I got sucked into the day-to-day activities.”
“You got sucked into the activities or you got sucked into Noelle?”
I scowled. “That’s none of your business.”
“Maybe not, but she’s a nice girl, and—”
“Woman.” I gave him a look. “She’s a grown woman.”
“Fine. She’s a nice woman, and guys like you…” He met my gaze and arched his brows a little.
“Guys like me?” I cocked my head questioningly. If he had something to say, he needed to say it.
“Come on, we both know the life.”
“We’re both out of the life, though. Retired and moving on to other things.”
It seemed like he wanted to say more, but I figured his hesitation was a good time to change the subject, because anything that had to do with my relationship with Noelle was off-limits. “So, does your team have a game tonight?”
He shook his head. “I brought my younger kids to the holiday thing. They enjoyed it last year.”