Scoring Off The Ice (Ice Kings #2) - Stacey Lynn Page 0,84

at Jude. “You all three came all the way here to yell at me?”

Jude shrugs. “We’re brothers. It’s what we do.”

Days have felt like weeks. For a month I looked forward to the first home game of the regular season, looking into the stands and finding Paisley. Right where she was supposed to be. Instead, her seats stayed empty. Jude had skates filled with nerves and it took him until the third period to shake them off. Who can blame him considering we were playing the team who busted his knee last season. Selkin, the guy who took him out, took to the ice like he was out for blood all over again.

Me? I had a head filled with a beautiful blonde who should have been the woman sitting in the seats in front of Katie, holding my son. Instead it was Viola. And even though I really like her, like she treats Angelo like her own son or grandson and yet does not mother me, she is not the woman I wanted cheering for me.

I wanted my family. The one I threw away. Every day we wait for news on Angela, for Jason to find out what he can from his former lovers and for Luke’s private investigator to get back to us.

It’s been seven days. One week. Seven weeks.

It does not matter. Every day I spend without Paisley, playing along with Angela’s games so I don’t end up arrested is killing me.

All I want is Paisley. And now, I am packing to leave for California for three days and two games. One in Los Angeles and then San Diego. It’s not the first time I’ve had to leave Angelo. It’s the first time I haven’t known Paisley will be watching and cheering for me even if she doesn’t understand the simplest rules like the difference between icing or off-sides.

I grin, shake my head, and go back to packing. I’m already in my suit I wear on the airplane. The coat is off to the side of my bag. I only need a few casual clothes, toiletries, so it’s not difficult and I’ve traveled enough it usually take me minutes.

I’m stalling.

I don’t want to be an entire country away from my son, and I want Paisley to give me a goodbye kiss.

I want all the things I cannot have with her and it’s eating away at me, ruining my focus on the ice.

Perhaps my father was right after all. All hockey. Nothing else. It’s the only way to stay on top.

My phone rings with the tone for the concierge desk downstairs. Viola has permission and her own key to come up and she should be arriving any minute. But it could be Luke.

Maybe.

Hoping I’m right, I answer the phone. “Pierre?”

“Mr. Lutzgo, yes, this is Monsieur Pierre. I have someone for you, someone demanding to be sent up—”

“Lutzgo. Jaxon Hayes. Tell him to send me up.”

I’m thrown by the voice and the abrupt change. “Who?”

He sighs, as if annoyed. “Jaxon Hayes. Security Specialist. I got news for you, and Luke is in Georgia. You’ll want this. Send me up.”

“The investigator?” My heart races.

I receive another sigh as a reply. “I’ll wait for you to call Luke if you want. Or call Beaux Hale. Hell, call Gage Bryant, he’s married to my sister. I’m legit. I’m also in a hurry ‘cuz I just drove my ass down here from Raleigh and I’m tellin’ you, you want to hear this. And not down here.”

Beaux Hale. Quarterback for the Raleigh Rough Riders.

And Luke is in Georgia. He let me know this week he had to leave town for a few days for his niece’s wedding. Plus, he also told me Jaxon’s office in Raleigh came recommended from the team.

“No need. Tell Pierre to send you up. And thank you.”

I get no response except the click of the phone hanging up on me, but I pick up Angelo from where he’s in a bouncy chair by my bed, kiss the top of his head and hurry to my door.

I’ve become obsessive about checking the peephole. Once, I almost left when Paisley was in the hallway and I barely stopped myself from throwing myself to my knees and begging for her mercy.

The elevator door slides open and I throw open my door, meeting Jaxon in the hallway. As he reaches me, my hellish nightmare continues because so does Paisley’s door.

She spies me and freezes, eyes sliding from me to Angelo and the Jaxon. They widen