“Are you having fun?” I asked Paisley, holding the phone between my ear and my shoulder as I slipped on shoes. Paisley was spending a weekend with Nora. They were at Disneyland. Tate was watching me closely. He’d just spoken to Paisley, but I wanted to hear her voice too.
“Yes. Lots. Did you get the fabric samples? Pleaaaase don’t choose them without me.”
I chuckled. Paisley was obsessed with wedding details. I’d moved in with them officially, with all my things, and even though Tate and I hadn’t even set a date, she already wanted us to choose the fabric for her dress. She was going to be our flower girl, of course.
“I promise I won’t. I won’t even open the box. I’ll wait for you.”
“Thanks. I’m going to hang up now. We’re going to eat pizza.”
“Have fun,” I replied before the line disconnected. Handing the phone back to Tate, I added, “She sounds happy.”
Fortunately, Nora was more than pleased with the news that Tate was remarrying, giving her the space to be less involved in her daughter’s life. Paisley understood her mother more than any of us and took it all in stride. She knew her real family was her dad and me, and she could always count on us.
He nodded, glancing at me with a scorching-hot look.
Oh Lord.
I pointed at him. “Hey, don’t make smoldering eyes at me.”
He could convince me of anything when he looked at me like that… even of helping me with my parents’ bills. One week ago, they got yet another huge bill that caused all three of us to hyperventilate. Tate immediately offered his assistance, and he did an excellent job of convincing me. Before meeting him, I’d never in a million years agree to this, but I trusted Tate with all I had. He was my soul mate.
He stepped closer to me, catching my wrist and kissing the back of my hand.
“Why not? Afraid you can’t resist me?”
I scoffed. “Please. I’m very good at ignoring these sexy vibes you’re giving off.”
“We can test that theory anytime. Like right now.” His voice was dangerously seductive and delicious. He reached for my waist, but I scooted back before he could touch me.
I was lying, of course.
I was shit at ignoring the super-sexy vibes. Ever since Paisley left yesterday, the looks he’d been giving me grew progressively more shameless. I was so on edge that one innocent touch might make my panties go up in flames.
“Nope. We can’t be late,” I admonished. “Tyler is waiting, remember?”
“I can’t believe you’re even more involved in Operation Cheer Up Tyler than I am.”
“Hey, I have skills. It would be a shame not to use them.”
“True.” With a groan, Tate stepped back, opening the front door. “Let’s go before I lose my head completely.”
Pride surged inside me. I loved having that effect on him, and I planned to use it thoroughly once we were back, but now we were on a mission.
We drove Tyler to meet the coordinator of a volunteering program that his team’s management wanted him to participate in. Tyler was still benched due to his injury and suspended because of the fight, but he was still hopeful to make a comeback this season. After all, they hadn’t fired him. All because of Malcolm.
At least he got his due. The Halsey Group kicked him out. He also filed for bankruptcy, because it turned out he’d invested his personal money in the business too.
As Reese put it, this was not Tyler’s year. Tate was right, though. Every Maxwell had their strengths, and they came in handy now that Tyler needed them. Declan was fiercely watching out for Tyler, doing it in the typical way he showed he cared about everyone: by employing tough love. But Declan’s relentlessness was what won the lawsuit and kept Beatrice’s building safe.
Luke kept telling Tyler he could always employ him as a poster boy for his company.
Travis was throwing party after party to celebrate the sale of his company, and Tyler was the guest of honor at every one of them. According to Tate, he threw them more for Tyler’s benefit.
Sam, who’d requested a short leave from his Doctors Without Borders placement, was barhopping with him whenever he had free time, much to Declan’s chagrin, who insisted Tyler should keep a low profile. Reese was coordinating everyone’s efforts, and Kimberly tried to appease Declan. She wasn’t very successful, though. Everyone agreed that Tyler’s reputation was important, but so was his happiness, which took precedence. So far, the odds were 7 to 1, and I doubted they’d change anytime soon.
Tyler was waiting for us in front of the building. Tate stopped the car right in front of him.
‘I don’t need babysitting,’ he said the second he was in the car, ‘but I do appreciate the company. In fact, I think I’ll be sick more often. Every Maxwell seems to find a reason to bring me food or booze, or just spend time with me,’ he said in a lighthearted tone.
I liked how they stuck together. They were there for each other to celebrate the good times, but also to get through the bad times, and I knew that even though Tyler was putting on a brave face, this wasn’t easy for him.
The goal was simple. We had to spend time with him so he wouldn’t be so painfully aware of how much free time he had without daily training and games and meeting with sponsors. So far, it wasn’t going too bad, but it was only three weeks into the new season.
‘How is Blair?’ I asked as the car lurched forward.
I caught his grimace in the rearview mirror and instantly realized something had to be wrong. Tate and I exchanged a glance, and I half turned, looking straight at Tyler in the back.
‘Blair decided I’m not famous enough for her anymore.’
‘What?’ Tate sputtered.
‘Yeah. When it became obvious that I would sit out for the whole season and some of my sponsors stepped back, she realized life with me would be boring, I guess. Hey, her loss, because I’m pretty damn amazing,’ he said with a lazy smile.
I looked him straight in the eyes. He said all that with humor, but I knew it stung even someone like Tyler, who was perpetually in a good mood and laid-back and happy.
He avoided eye contact, confirming my fears. Oh, heavens. I was going to text Reese after dropping him off, because it was obvious we had to double our efforts. I was so mad at Blair. Who did something like that?
“So, what exactly will you do in this volunteer program?”
“Coach school kids in hockey. I’m actually looking forward to it, because I’m bored as fuck even with all the visits. No offense.’
‘None taken,’ Tate said.
‘Hockey is all I know how to do, so my goal is to get back in shape and get back to doing it as soon as possible. I don’t even really care about the sponsors. I just want to get back in the game, on the ice, and play.’
We arrived at the address he gave us twenty minutes later. A beautiful brunette was waiting in front of a building.
‘Tyler Maxwell?’ she said. ‘Hey, I’m Kendra. I spoke to you team’s PR person.’
Wow, she was pretty. I automatically glanced at Tyler and could barely hold back a laugh, because the guy looked like he’d just swallowed his tongue. Tate was also looking at him, frowning slightly.
‘How do you do, Kendra?’ Tyler said. ‘Nice to meet you. I heard you’ve got a magic way of pairing volunteers with volunteer programs.’
She smiled wholeheartedly, shrugging. ‘Well, some like to oversell my abilities, but I’m good at what I do. You’ll be happy. As long as you follow my instructions to a T,’ she added with a wink.
Tate burst out laughing, patting Tyler’s good shoulder. ‘This one’s barely good at following orders. I’m not sure if he can stick to instructions.’
Tyler wiggled his eyebrows. ‘Oh, he’s right.’
‘Let’s see if there’s anything I can do about that,’ Kendra said with sass in her voice.
A twinkle appeared in Tyler’s eyes that I hadn’t seen in weeks.
Well, well. This was going to be interesting.
“Challenge accepted,” Tyler exclaimed.
Kendra chuckled. “Game on, Tyler Maxwell.”
Tate laughed, shaking his head. “He’s all yours, Kendra.”
“I’ll take good care of him. I promise.”
Once Tate and I were back in the car, we were both silent, looking at Tyler and Kendra walking inside the building.
‘Was it just me, or did Tyler look like he likes Kendra a lot?” I asked.
‘No, not just you. That was the exact impression I got.’
‘Well, this is a good thing, right? He needs a distraction.’
‘Yeah, but not with Kendra. Declan will have a field day if he finds out about it. With all the trouble he’s in with team management, I think it would be a bad idea.’
‘Think that’s going to hold him back?’ I asked.
Tate grinned. ‘Absolutely not.’
