Authors: Jecca Bartlett
They had been going to do this together, she and Greg, but now she was glad she hadn't been able to rehab the RV yet. He would have put his imprint on it for sure, and now it could be her refuge, cozy and warm and as retro as she damn well pleased.
In spite of the lure of six months off, and her RV being rehabbed, she wasn't sure she could stand one more assignment, with, of all things, a hockey player. Especially this hockey player.
Sports made her eyes glaze over. Justus, however, did not. He was a problem in too many ways to count.
"Look Colette, I really don't want this job. You promised something slower, and low key, until my vacation. Then I'll be back refreshed, and, you know, maybe even cheerful!"
Colette glanced at Eva over the rims of her granny glasses and squinted at her, barking in her gravelly voice, "You? Cheerful? After just two weeks? I don't think so doll."
Colette continued, "You and I both know that you aren't going to be cheerful until you get a lot longer than
two lousy weeks off. I'm giving you the chance of a lifetime here."
"We'll fix the RV, have it ready and waiting, and when your 4 weeks is up, you'll get 6 months, paid, on me! You can stay at the beach, or in the mountains, or hide in some downtown parking lot and mingle with the street urchins. I don't care," she said as she waved her hands theatrically, her bracelets clanking.
Eva sighed and ran her hands through her hair. Colette had her, and she knew it. Even if she worked a straight job instead of Mr. Hot and Sexy hockey, who was sure to be a challenge, she would only get two weeks off. Fixing up her RV for her was a huge bonus, because getting repairs and retrofits done was a headache, and time consuming. With this job though, she'd be on the road with Justus as his newly minted fiancée, and would travel and stay with him. Problem solved! Except she really didn't want this damn job.
"I don't want it. He's going to be a headache, I can feel it." And all the baggage that comes with it, she thought but didn't say. She knew she wasn't being 100% honest, but this wasn't the time. Eva couldn't admit she knew him. And knew him well.
"No, no, he's fine. I mean, he parties hard, yeah, but he always shows up for work. It's the insurance company, not the team who wants us on the job." She peered over her glasses again, "Wants you on the job."
"They asked for me?"
"Yeah, they did. Trailing that starlet all over Europe pretending to be her bestie and keeping her from violating her parole has made you a bit of a superstar among agents and managers, kid!"
Eva rolled her eyes, "Yeah, that's what I need to be famous for. Keeping bratty rich kids from behaving like...bratty rich kids."
"Everyone gets their 15 minutes, and I can think of worse things to get famous for. Believe me."
"Ok, say I accept your terms, which I totally haven't yet," she said giving Colette her best side eye. "What's the deal?"
Colette paced as she talked, her wild red hair bouncing as if for emphasis. "Like I said, he is a party boy, but on the ice he's all hockey all the time. Serious, insightful, a master of the game." She whirled to face Eva,
"But, playoffs are looming, the team is getting antsy and a lot is riding on his shoulders. The insurance company is worried the pressure will get to him. And if the stress shows in the form of drinking and clubbing and random women with stories to tell to the tabloids, well, then the team risks losing and that, my dear, would be a very expensive problem."
"What are the terms?" Eva sighed. It would have to be a lot to make her change her mind.
"I told you, this much money," Colette said, waving the paper she had shown Eva earlier in her face
"and we rehab the RV to your specs."
Colette smiled and lit a cigarette. "Stunning, right? There's a lot riding on hockey boy here, and they're very willing to pay. Plus, like I said we'll fix up that house on wheels you've got, to your liking, and you get half a year to play. And, you have seen him right? Sex on blades!"
Eva sat up straight. Well hell. This crazy job was the answer to her prayers. "Fine. I'm in."
"Well then, congratulations on your engagement, Eva, I hope I get invited to the wedding!" her boss winked at her, and just like that Eva was assigned, pretend engaged, and off to tour with the CoyWolves hockey team.
**************************************************************
"Justus, man, what a night!"
"Yeah, yeah, Nate, whatever. Hey, have you seen my pants? I need to go get some coffee." He scrubbed his hands through his hair and stood and stretched. It had been a wild night, one for the books, and he needed to grab some coffee then go sweat in the gym for a while. Get rid of the alcohol. Maybe use the sauna.
"Yeah, your pants are on top of the desk over there, underneath the bucket of popcorn and the two empty whiskey bottles."
"Oh, right, I see them, thanks," Justus said as he retrieved them from the desk. He hopped around on one foot, sliding one leg into his jeans, and then leaned against the wall while he put the other leg in. He found a sock peeking out from under the bed and another one hanging on the lamp.
"You want anything?" he asked his roommate, as he pulled a tee shirt over his head.
"Nah, I'm good. Thanks. I'll be down soon."
"Okay, cool, see ya." Justus opened the door to the hotel room and ambled out. Trying to ignore the pounding in his skull, he headed toward the elevator. When the doors slid open, the last guy he wanted to see was standing there. Coach.
"Good morning there, sport."
"Morning coach," Justus said as he ducked his head and hoped this wouldn't be a long conversation.
"Rough night?"
"Nah, not especially," Justus lied. He felt like shit, and it had just occurred to him that he hadn't seen the girls they had brought back to their room last night. He hoped like hell they had left the building, coach needed exactly no more ammunition is his quest to get Justus to, in his words, 'settle the hell down'.
"Funny, cause you look kinda rough like you was rode hard and put up wet."
"Nah, I just want some coffee and some food. I'll be fine. Gotta go hit the gym, sweat it out, I'll be good as new. "
"We need to talk. This ain't the place," he gestured at the elevator, "the walls have ears, you know what I mean?"
Justus nodded, even though he strongly suspected that the elevator was not, in fact, bugged. Who would bother with some random hotel elevator in the middle of nowhere?
"Come to my room after the gym, we'll talk," the coach said, stepping off the elevator. The doors slid closed behind him and Justus leaned back against the cool metal wall of the elevator.
He didn't have to wonder what coach wanted. He knew it was about his partying. They were headed into the final games of the season and if they were to win the playoffs, they'd have to be at their best. Of course.
And he would be. He always was. He'd just have to convince coach of that. As he stepped off the elevator in the lobby he stepped aside for a striking blonde who was headed into the elevator car. Tall,
curvy, her green eyes caught his and held them for just a minute.
He felt something like a surge of electricity as she held his gaze for just a beat too long.
Holy shit. He knew her. But what was she doing here?
Justus's brain was foggy and he couldn't think of what to say. Then she stepped back into the elevator and the doors slid shut.
He reached for the elevator button to try to catch her, but then changed his mind. He'd never find her, it was just a coincidence they were in the same place. He needed coffee. Coffee then the gym, that was the mission. Maybe he'd run into her again, or maybe it would be better if he didn't.
**************************************************************
Coach Marlow stood aside and let Eva in, she glanced around and headed for the sofa, smoothing her skirt and crossing her legs as she sat down.
"Thanks for meeting me here. I asked him to come to my room later this morning. Do you have any questions for me?"
"No, I don't think so. I watched the game last night, thanks for the tickets. He's amazing."
"You like hockey?"
"I kind of do, but I really like great skating. And he's very good. Where I grew up we used to say we were a drinking town with a hockey problem. Skating was everything. I was in like, 15 or 20 ice shows with the figure skating clubs there."
"You must be pretty good then?"
"No," she laughed, "it's just that it's pretty much a rule that everyone learn to skate."
The coach smiled then sat across from her. "Can I get you anything?"
"No, I'm all set, let's just go over the details before he gets here."
"Okay, well I think we're on the same page. He needs a babysitter to..."
"Minder," she interrupted, "we call ourselves minders."
"Right," the coach looked like he was trying not to roll his eyes. "Anyway, he needs a
uh...minder, to keep him sober and keep his mind on the game."
She nodded. "That's what we do, although being billed as his fiancée is unusual. Usually, we go with best friend or trainer or something."
The coach nodded, "Right, but those won't work in this case."
"Yep, so fiancée it is!" she said, just as Justus pushed open the door to the room.
"Oh, hi boss, I didn't know you were busy. I can come back."
"No, no, have a seat, I'd like to introduce you to Eva. She'll be traveling with us for the next few weeks."
Justus blinked as he recognized the curvy blonde from the elevator. And then his eyes widened in recognition. He had been right, it was Eva! It was an all grown-up Eva, with curves and subtle makeup and fancy clothes, but it was her.
"With us? Did I hear you say she was someone's fiancée?"
"Yes, I'm your fiancée. Good to meet you," she smiled cooly and met his eyes, as she extended her hand.
"My what! What the hell is going on here coach?" Justus was floored. This was too much. Fiancée!
"Yes, we've um, we've got a babysi...um, minder for you, to you know, help you on the straight and narrow until the playoffs are over."
"What? I don't need any help! I'm the most serious player you've got. Jesus, coach, what are you thinking?"
"Justus, it's not me. It's the owner, well actually, it's the insurance company. Your last few headlines have made them sit up and take notice. They've threatened to pull your insurance if you don't have this minder. You're not a good risk going into the finals if you're a loose cannon."
"This can't be happening," Justus roared. " A fiancée? Who's gonna believe that anyway?" He looked from one to the other, "I don't even believe it." He turned to Eva, "No offense, you're lovely and all, but I'm not the engagement type."
"So I've heard," she responded with only a slight eye roll. Remarkable restraint really, she congratulated herself.
"The thing is," Eva jumped in, "you need a companion according to your insurance company. Now, me? I usually go as a personal trainer, or a bodyguard, or even the best friend from home. Those scenarios aren't going to work here, so we decided on fiancée. A girlfriend you can leave home, but the fiancée can go on the road and it won't look too suspicious."
Justus paced. "But I don't need a minder. Coach! You know me, who's more serious about the game than I am?"
"I know, but this isn't only about that, the team management sees you as someone who could be compromised, the opposition will be gunning for you. Any wrong move could put you in the tabloids and out of commission."
Justus paced furiously, "This just can't be. It's ridiculous and embarrassing. I don't need a nanny!" and with that he stormed out of the suite.
"Well, that went well."
"He'll come around," said coach, with a grim shake of his head. "He has to."
"I'll get him," Eva stood.
"No, no, I think you'd better let him cool off first. I'll send him to see you later."
******************************************
More than an hour later
Justus walked into the lobby of the hotel and headed for the elevator. Coach had let him know in no uncertain terms that this was happening, no matter what. And he was going to have to deal with it. Free Agent my ass, he thought ruefully. There was nothing free about working for someone else, no matter how good the money was. He was tempted to walk away from it all and go coach kids for a while.
God, they made him mad. He was still so furious he felt like he would burst. Justus remembered feeling like this as a kid, it was one of the reasons his parents had gotten him into hockey in the first place. They were hoping it would exhaust him and use up his energy. The house had taken a beating when he was a kid, and that wired energy and served him well on the ice. Off the ice, not so much.
Justus was pretty sure the fury was still rolling off of him in waves, and instead of the elevator he took the stairs, just to vent that much more steam.
He knocked on her door and Eva opened it slightly, just enough to see who it was. The chain was still across it, and the door held taught at the end of it.
"We need to talk," he said gruffly. "Have you told him?"
"Him who?"
"Him anyone! The coach, your boss? Does anyone know the truth?"
"No, and they're not going to either. I need this job."
"Unhook that thing, I'm coming in!"
Eva unhooked the door and stood back and Justus fairly exploded into the room. Words were tumbling out of his mouth so fast she could barely understand what he was saying.
That was fine with her, she knew why he was pissed off and she didn't blame him. But they each had a job to do, and dammit they were going to do their jobs and do them well, she'd make sure of it.