Seductively: Playing for Hearts Book 2 (Crimson Romance) (18 page)

“He says he’s fine. I couldn’t get him to talk about the game. He said he’s making everything right, though,” Grayson said. “You have to understand the life of a professional athlete. A lot goes on behind the scenes, and he’ll survive. He loves the sport.”

She shoved her hand into her purse and extracted her phone. “I’ve got to call him. Stephanie was right. Something huge is wrong with Dominic.”

“Why don’t you give him some time?” Grayson motioned over her head. “Shauna’s coming in. Talk to her.”

“I don’t want to talk to anyone but Dominic.” She cussed and pulled the cell away from her ear to look at the screen. “He’s not answering. Why wouldn’t he answer the phone if he told you he was home?”

“He’s okay — ”

Voicemail clicked on. “Dom. It’s Diana. Call me … please. It doesn’t matter when, but soon. I need to talk with you.” She disconnected the call and stood. “I have to get out of here.”

Shauna stepped in front of her. “Come back and have another drink first. You should hang with your friends.”

She shook her head. “I want to go to the hotel and see if Dominic called and left a message there. Maybe he forgot my cell number.”

“I’ll walk with you.” Shauna slipped her arm under Diana’s elbow and nodded at Grayson. “Pick me up in an hour at the hotel, okay?”

“Yeah, babe.” Grayson kissed Shauna’s cheek.

Diana walked back to the hotel with Shauna. Deep inside her head, she didn’t worry about not talking. Shauna gave her room to think.

Whatever was going on with Dominic wasn’t about his female fans bothering him again. Over the television, she would’ve heard the cheering when he skated out on the ice. Instead, the Sharks’ support sounded normal. Something else was going on, and the thought that he’d go back to Russia scared her.

Dominic drove the Porsche out of the garage and hit the remote button, locking the condominium. He had three days off and orders from Coach to get his head back into playing hockey before he’d be allowed to play in the next scheduled game against the Rangers.

In the past twenty-four hours, Dominic had completely turned his life around. Never one to put stock in money, except as a means to help support his family back in Russia, he was glad for the added pull a pouch full of money could buy him.

Once he’d gotten down to business and set a plan in his personal life, he sucked it up and met with his coach in a three-hour meeting. He explained what happened the other night at the game and promised on his home country of Russia it wouldn’t happen again. He turned onto the main road. Luckily, Coach gave him another shot.

Twenty minutes later, he parked the car and climbed into the private charter plane. He sat in the rear seat of the Cessna, heading north to Cottage Grove. He owed Grayson a beer.

Most importantly, he wanted to talk with Diana.

She’d left three messages. His phone rang. He looked at the screen and grinned. Make that four.

What he had to say was too important to talk about over the phone. He ignored the ringtone and let the call go to voicemail. She deserved more than a thank you over the cell.

Diana stole from him. Without even telling him, she took something of his without asking first, and he wanted it back. He tapped his thumb against his thigh. There was no other explanation for how his jersey came up missing. She must’ve taken it.

“We’ll be landing in five minutes,” said the pilot.

He buckled his seatbelt and peered out over the wing. He couldn’t wait to see Diana. She’d brought normalcy and enjoyment back into his life. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm his racing heart. He missed her slow smile and quick laugh. She’d become such a major part of his life in such a short time — without her, he realized, a part of himself was missing.

Independence and success often meant a lonely life. For him it was true, especially when people pushed their way into his life. Not Diana. She’d dragged her feet and put up a good fight, but once she’d made up her mind, she gave her all to him. Fierce and determined, she showed him her soft, vulnerable side and hooked him.

The plane came to a stop. He followed the pilot out the door, spotted Grayson leaning against his car, and headed in that direction.

Always the calm and cool athlete, Grayson stood stoically out on the runway. “Right on time.”

“Everything go okay?” Dominic threw his bag into the truck. “You didn’t run into any troubles getting everything done for me, did you?”

Grayson slapped him on the shoulder. “Nope, everything went smoothly. I set everything up, just like you asked. But you left a hell of a mess. Shauna tried to do damage control, but you even have her confused.”

“You didn’t mention anything to Shauna, did you?” he asked.

Grayson shook his head. “I’ve kept myself busy at the tennis center and tried to stay away from her and the girls. You know I can’t keep anything secret around Shauna … and she is asking me what is going on, but lucky for us, she went to Kate instead. Last I heard they were going to converge at the hotel and plot an intervention or burn voodoo dolls in replicas of men they know.”

He climbed into the car and grinned. “That’ll keep Diana busy. There’s no way she’ll find out I’m here and what I’m doing.”

“I don’t know. Those girls have their way of finding out everything that happens in Cottage Grove. It’s damn scary how that happens.” Grayson drove off the field toward Cottage Grove. “Right now, I’m sure they’re planning a way to hang us by the balls.”

“No … ”

Grayson shook his head. “Yes.”

“Shit.” He gazed out the window. “Would you have done what I did?”

“Yeah.” Grayson shrugged. “But, you’re going to have a helluva time making it up to her. If Diana is anything like Shauna, you’ll enjoy getting on her good side.”

He closed his eyes and groaned. If he would’ve talked to Diana first, she would’ve told him no. Stingy and proud, she’d never listen to reason. Hopefully, she’d realize why he came to Cottage Grove and forgive him.

• • •

Diana walked out of the credit union and leaned against the brick wall. Her hands perspired, and she closed her eyes against the nausea making her dizzy. After wrestling with her blankets all night, she’d decided to do the one thing she’d sworn never to do.

She got a loan, and not from her father.

Just thinking about all the papers she signed moments ago, only to receive pre-approval to purchase the Ferriday house, left her wondering if she’d survive writing her name on the dotted line when she offered to buy the house and it was officially hers. She swung her purse over her shoulder and pushed off the wall. Only thing left to do is walk across the street to the real estate office and write up an official offer.

Dominic’s check weighed heavier on her mind than in her purse. She’d finally figured out last night the reason she put off running to the realtor the moment the plane landed was because of how she felt about being paid to fall in love with him.

She couldn’t use his money. She’d hate herself for the rest of her life.

Their time together meant more than a half a million dollars, and if she cashed the check, she’d forever know how much she lost. She held up her hand to stop traffic and crossed the street. Despite her broken heart, she couldn’t take money he’d normally send to his parents. The image of him as a little boy playing sock hockey in the basement with his parents cheering him on deserved the money more than her.

When all was said and done, she’d given him a couple of weeks of privacy in his crazy life but in the long run, he’d forget about her. She stepped onto the curb. Giving the money back would allow her to go on with her life; she could move on to running her own bed and breakfast, and Dominic would play hockey and enjoy his freedom to choose the right girl for him.

“Diana?” Her mom’s voice reached her.

She turned in surprise. “Hi, Mom.”

Tara Spenner, fifty-eight years old, trim, and exceedingly professional appearing in her black blazer and pencil skirt, hurried toward Diana. Diana put the envelope of papers she’d received from the bank behind her back out of guilt. Her mom was going to flip when she found out she’d used all her savings as a down payment.

“Sweetheart.” Mom kissed her cheek. “You haven’t called or stopped by the bank since you arrived back in town. Your dad and I are worried about you. You’re not acting normal, going off with a man we don’t even know. What has gotten into you lately?”

She laughed self-consciously. “It was a little vacation, Mom. That’s all. I called and left a message, remember?”

“Yes, but a man, Diana? We had no idea you were seeing anyone.” Her mom’s voice softened. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She smiled. “Better than fine, really. I-I’m buying a house.”

“What?” Mom pulled back. “But with your wages at the hotel, you aren’t scheduled to have enough money to afford your own house until you’re twenty-eight years old. Your dad has your portfolio at the bank, why don’t you find time to go sit down with him and he can help you figure out how to put more money into an IRA. Besides, what about the hotel? It’s free rent as long as you’re working there, and a great place for someone young and pretty to meet — ”

“Yes, but I want to own a bed and breakfast, Mom.” She paused and looked at the door of the real estate office. “I’m not satisfied working for someone else. I need to grow and learn. I love making others happy, giving them the best accommodations and helping them enjoy their stay in Cottage Grove. I want that satisfaction of supplying a need for the town. It’s a good business decision. Cottage Grove doesn’t have a bed and breakfast, just the hotel.”

“I don’t think your planning this right. You’ve got yourself mixed up with some man who’s giving you all these ideas. It’s ridiculous. When your father hears — ”

“No, Mom. My decision has nothing to do with a man. If I screw up then I’ll be the one to pay the price. Not you. Not Dad. Me.” She sighed. “I have an appointment, and if I don’t go, I’ll be late getting back to work. I’m on my lunch hour, so I must hurry.”

“Diana?”

“I can’t talk right now. I’ll call you tonight, okay?” She opened the door, and rushed in the building without waiting for a reply.

If she gave herself two minutes to discuss her plans with her parents, she’d chicken out. Paying on a loan for the next thirty years went against everything she believed in when it came to investing her money. Financial security was the one thing she could count on to keep her safe, happy, and content.

“Diana.” Sue Patrick walked out of her office. “Come on back to my office, and we can sit down.”

“Thank you.” She followed the forty-year-old woman and mother of two girls, and took the seat across from the desk. “I’m glad you were able to see me on such short notice.”

“My pleasure.” Sue clasped her hands together on the desk. “What can I help you with today?”

She fingered the edge of the manila envelope. “You know I’ve been interested in the real estate market lately, and you’ve been so nice to send me all the listings when I’ve asked for them.” She smiled. “I’ve made a decision. I’d like to make an offer for the Ferriday house on Baltimore Street.”

Anxiety whooshed out of her with the words, and she laughed in relief. She’d wanted to make that announcement for the last three years, ever since she’d returned from college. Nothing could stop her now. She’d held strong against her mother, worked her ass off at the hotel, and the paperwork was only a formality.

“Oh, no. I’m afraid I have bad news for you.” Sue leaned back in her chair. “I’m sorry, Diana, but the Ferriday house went off the market early this morning.”

“What?” Not possible. That was her house.

“A cash buyer approached me last night, offered full price, and the lawyer in charge of the estate accepted early this morning,” Sue said.

Gone? Diana stared at the desk. What about her bed and breakfast? The renovations? Her future?

“I would be more than glad to help you search for another house.” Sue clicked the mouse and brought up a different screen on the computer. “We have an older, one story house on Oak Street, across from the middle grade school. The house has all the original woodwork and is in great shape for the age. The new listing came on the market last week.”

“No. Um, no, thank you.” She stood.

“I’m sorry again, Diana.” Sue’s bottom lip came out in understanding. “Please call me if there is anything I can do for you in the future.”

She nodded, numb and heartbroken. In a daze, she walked outside. How could someone buy the house after all these years? It’d been on the market since she returned from college. And now, someone bought it and probably wanted to knock it down and build something new. She walked along the sidewalk. Her dream was over. There were no other houses of that caliber in Cottage Grove that would fit her ideal of a historical bed and breakfast.

“Diana.” Her dad’s baritone voice broke through her thoughts. She raised her gaze off the sidewalk, spotted Jerry Spenner, and ran into his arms. “Oh, Dad, someone bought the house.”

“Shh.” He patted her back. “Your mom told me what you were doing.”

She sniffed. “I know you don’t approve, but I wanted that house. It’s all I’ve thought about for the last three years.”

“I know,” he said.

She pulled back. His freshly shaved face, his gleaming glasses, and gray hair didn’t distract her from the understanding smile he aimed at her. “How?”

“Cottage Grove is a small town, honey.” He swiped her cheek with his finger. “I own the main bank, and I also know you weren’t putting your wages in my bank. It wasn’t hard to figure out you had other plans. Besides, I saw the list you’d made on your table last time I visited you. It wasn’t hard to put all the information together and guess what you were up to.”

“You’re not disappointed?”

He chuckled. “No, I’m proud, so very proud of you. You’re young, single, and the most headstrong person in our family. If anyone could make a success of a bed and breakfast in Cottage Grove, you could’ve with no problems.”

“But you and Mom … ”

“We were young once too. We struggled and fought, and you’ve only seen the benefits of what took years and years to accomplish. You might not believe it, but there was a time we were wild and lived on our last dollar, because we thought traveling to Portland, Oregon to a concert or driving cross country with a group of our friends to go skiing was more important than whether we had macaroni for dinner or steak.”