“Why do you look so surprised?”
“I’m sorry…I just…well, I thought all he liked to do was hunt, fish, and camp out. You know…” She gestured weakly to the rugged surroundings.
Glori’s features pinched in irritation. “Well, yes, we did do all that, but we also went to the theater in Seattle and spent long weekends in New York City.” Diggin a calfskin wallet out of her purse, she pulled out a twenty. “We had a favorite restaurant on the boardwalk of Venice Beach.” She picked up a jar of honey. “No one is one-dimensional. You know that, right? I’ve got a meeting about the festival, but if you’d like to come by my house for a visit, we can talk about Kurt’s other dimensions. I’ll leave my contact information with Mitch.” As she sashayed back to her car, she called out over her shoulder, “Keep the change.”
The scent of warm bread invaded the office, making Declan’s stomach grumble. He checked the time and realized he hadn’t had a break in hours. Time for dinner. He filed the last of the receipts and shut down the computer.
As he got up, he caught a spot of metal at the edge of the desk. He smiled when he saw it was the potato masher he’d wanted. Attached to the gingham ribbon wrapped around the wooden handle was a handwritten note.
* * *
Might as well take your consolation prize now.
* * *
A laugh burst out of him. “Like hell.” Cute, Phinny. He picked it up, running his fingers along the cool metal. Surprised at the rush of emotion, he closed his eyes, unprepared for the random memory that hit him. It was the Thanksgiving right after Sam had died. Declan had just started working for the Comets, and he’d had no plans to come back to Calamity.
Until Kurt had called. “Sweet potato casserole or mashed potatoes?” That was the first thing out of his mouth. Not How are you? Or How’s it going? Not Hey, what’re your plans for the holiday?
Declan hadn’t even hesitated. “Both.”
“Damn straight. Potato rolls or Hawaiian?”
“Hawaiian.”
“There you go. We’re on the same page. All right, then. Send me your flight information.”
He’d never liked Kurt making the hour and a half drive—well, three hours both ways—when he could easily take a bus. “You’re not picking me up in Idaho Falls.”
Click.
Needless to say, Kurt had picked him up in Idaho Falls.
He missed him, but what he felt was less grief and more…anger? No, frustration.
The thing about loss is that you don’t have a say in the matter. You don’t get to plead your case in front of a judge. You don’t get to negotiate or barter.
You can’t turn back the clock and beg your parents not to go on that vacation.
But while Declan hadn’t been ready to lose his parents, he’d at least gotten to spend eighteen months making sure Sam knew he was loved and appreciated.
Kurt, though…he’d never said anything. Which meant Declan had never gotten to thank him for giving him a purpose in life, for spending time with him and including him for holidays. For taking me under his wing.
He lowered his head into his hands.
Kurt, man, wherever you are, I hope you know how much I appreciated everything you did for me. I know I had Sam, but in so many ways, you felt like my dad.
I hope you know…
I love you.
Tears burned, and a knot formed in his throat.
Okay, this is bullshit. I’m not sitting in his office and crying.
He got up so fast the chair shot back, banging into the bookcase. Where’s my phone? He found it charging on the credenza and unplugged it, surprised to see a pile of messages. He forgot he’d silenced it so he could concentrate.
When he saw the Comets’ General Manager, he opened that thread first.
Brad: Coach asked me to get in touch. He’s sorry about your loss, but it’s been over a week, and he needs you back here ASAP.
Brad: This close to exhibition games, we’ve got some new guys you need to work with.
Declan hadn’t explained the full story, but he supposed he needed to do it now.
Declan: There’s an issue with the will that requires me to stay on the property for a month. If I leave, I lose my inheritance.
Brad: WTF?
Declan: I know. It’s fucked up. Can you send the new guys here? I can get ice time at the Elite West rink.
Brad: You know we can’t do that. It has to be here so we can onboard them. Besides, we need you with us to go over red flag numbers and tape from last season.
It wasn’t like he didn’t know the absurdity of his request, but he couldn’t walk away.
Declan: If I leave, Kurt’s ranch will be sold. I’ve got to live and work here for one month to make sure that doesn’t happen. If it were just a relative, he knew he wouldn’t stand a chance. But it was Kurt. That had to mean something to them.
It does to me.
Working in his office, taking care of receipts and orders and payroll had given him a wide view of Kurt’s operation. And it was impressive. Kurt worked with several universities and think tanks, allowing studies to be done on his land, all in the name of progress and evolving new technologies. He couldn’t let Phinny destroy all that work.
Even if it means losing my coaching job.
Brad: The property’s worth that much?
Declan: More than you can imagine.
Brad: That Kurt was a crazy mofo. Okay, well, I don’t think it’s going to fly, but I’ll give it a shot. Get back to you soon.
Declan: Appreciate it.
Well, hell. I’m about to lose my job. They wouldn’t let him miss a month. Not a chance.
Damn. He loved coaching. If he lost his job, he supposed he could apply for other jobs, ask around…but no. He supposed it made the most sense to take his share of Kurt’s team.
The twist in his gut told him what he thought of closing the door on coaching forever.
He opened the next message.
Leslie: Hey, handsome. I heard you’re in town. Want to meet up?
Declan glanced out the window. He had a few women he hooked up with when he came home. They knew he lived in Pittsburgh and wasn’t looking for anything serious, so it worked.
But he wasn’t feeling it.
Declan: Can’t. I’ve got some stuff going on.
Leslie: Are you seeing someone?
Phinny’s smiling face popped into his mind. Those toned legs, the smooth skin, the shiny hair.
Declan: No.
Leslie: Oh, come on. I heard you’re here for a month! Let’s have some fun!
Normally, he’d go for it. Why not? They were both single. Neither wanted anything serious. So, what had changed?
Phinny filled the screen of his mind. She was on her back, her lids lowered, tits bouncing as he fucked her slowly, deeply, passion slackening her features.
That’s what changed. He’d met Phinny. And she made him feel things he’d never felt before.
There’s no going back from that.
He’d only ever known what a hookup felt like. The fun of it. It could be exhilarating—until it was over, and he was left with emptiness. And the dread of wondering how to extract himself from the situation.
With Phinny, he never wanted his time with her to end.