Noah bellowed with laughter. The attorney studied him with a look that was part quizzical and part disgust while Noah got his hysterics under control. “One of us is definitely out of touch with reality, and it sure as hell isn’t me. Your offer is nothing but a joke, but I needed the laugh, so thanks for that anyway.”
“I wouldn’t dismiss it so quickly, Hunnicutt. Next time I extend an offer—ifI extend one—it’ll be twenty-five cents.”
“You can go fuck yourself, Keating.” Noah tugged on Chance’s leash, and the dog fell in beside him with one last snarl thrown in Keating’s direction.
Behind him, Keating snickered. “Youarefucking yourself, Hunnicutt.”
Good thing Noah had a hockey game later today. He was going to punish the hell out of that vulcanized rubber disk, and though it was a no-checking league, he had a powerful feeling some bodies would get slammed.
“Think of it thisway, bro,” Charlie pointed out as he pulled up to the outdoor rink, “now you have time to be a regular on the team again. And there are more silver linings. You can go skiing again, fishing … Hell, you can helpmefor a change.”
Riding shotgun beside him, Noah groused, “Stop trying to cheer me up.” He hadn’t told anyone, including Charlie, about Keating’s proposal to stick it to him.
Charlie threw his truck into park and cut the engine. “Whoa, who’s Shane got his hands full of?”
Noah peered out the windshield at the deputy wrestling with a feminine form on the ice. Not wrestling. He seemed to be helping her stay upright on her skates. Both were laughing, as was the small audience surrounding them.
Noah gaped. Could this day get any worse? “What the hell? Is that—”
“Sure looks like it. That dawg!” With a headshake and a grin, Charlie opened his door “This oughta be interesting.” He was outside, hauling his gear from the truck bed before Noah could say, “Wait!”
Noah grabbed his own bag and headed toward Neve, who sat on the bottom bleachers, strapping on her skates. He pointed toward the couple.
“What’sshedoing here?”And why is Hailey Bailey everywhere I go?
“Learning how to skate so she can be on our team,” Neve chuckled.
“She can’t,” he protested. “She doesn’t live here.”
Neve wagged her head back and forth. “If I can show her the coolest game on the planet, she might be convinced to relocate. Charlie’s working on her too. He says the Freemans are willing to rent her the Moose for real cheap while he keeps working on it. Guess they’ve run into a few more problems that extended the remod.”
Noah’s mouth dropped all the way open. “He didn’t say anything to me, and we just rode over here together!”
“Probably didn’t want to bother you with it. You’ve had a lot on your mind.” She gave her laces a final tug, tied them off, and peered up at him. “Where’s your pup?”
“Back in the apartment, sleeping off outdoor time.”
“It’s been almost a week since he was rescued. Why don’t you bring him in for a quick check after the game? I’ll make sure his recovery’s on the right track.”
“That’d be great.” His mind wandered back to Hailey living in Fall River. He’d have to run into her practically every day, and that would suck. Besides, it made no sense. She wasn’t a small-town kind of girl.
Why would Hailey live here when she already has a place in Montrose?
“You’ll have to ask her, but she said something about not wanting to go back there because it’s depressing,” Neve answered his thought—which he’d apparently uttered out loud. “Plus, she lives above some kind of eatery, and they’re not particularly fond of her there.”
“Ha! No kidding.” He snorted, feeling a little vindicated.
“Also, I expect she’s looking to cut costs—like rent—now that she’s unemployed.” Neve popped upright and jammed on her gloves.
That fact bothered him more than it should have. Pulling on his own skates, Noah went for a light touch. “If she’s playing on your team today, we’re definitely beating your asses. Big time.”
“She’s not. She hasn’t skated before, though she seems like a natural. Right now she’s getting used to the feel.” Neve glanced toward the pair on the ice and grinned broadly. “And I’m not only talking aboutShanecopping a feel.”
Noah’s head whipped toward them.“What?”
“He seems to be enjoying holding her upwaytoo much. And judging by the eager beavers onyourteam ready to teach her everything they know about hockey, it won’t be long before she’s killing it for the Margaritas.” She grabbed her stick and whacked his shin before gliding onto the ice.
His annoyance climbed. Why did everyone butNoahseem to be involved in Hailey’s life?
