Trade Off (9 page)

“He was the only person who understood what I was going through when you left. He knew how much I missed you because he did too.”

“You sure as hell had a funny way of showin’ it. How long before you two jumped into bed together?” The shock that registered on her face told him he was seconds away from losing her all over again, but he knew if he didn’t say all the things he’d been dying to say for years, it would continue to eat away at him.

“Is that why you asked me out tonight? Is that why you wanted me to work with you… so you can chastise me for what I did to you?”

He pushed his chair back and raked a hand through his hair. He often had to keep his emotions in check on the ice, but this was different; there had never been this much at stake in a game. “No, I’m sorry. Damn it,” he said, clenching his jaw. “I don’t mean to attack you, but I’m just tryin’ to figure out why the hell you did this. Every time we talked about gettin’ married, you said you wanted to wait until you graduated college, but with Neil…”

“In hindsight, I should have waited to get married. I was too young and much too naïve to make a decision like that.”

Knowing that he wasn’t the only one living with regrets gave him some peace of mind. “Do you wish it hadn’t been him?” He stared at her, trying to decide if he was brave enough to ask the question he’d harbored for almost a decade. “Do you ever wish you’d married me instead?”

“Only every single day,” she whispered.

He was too shocked to speak until he realized she was getting to her feet. “Wait, where are you going? You can’t drop that on me and then walk out.”

“I have to go,” she said, setting the napkin on her seat. “If I stay, I’ll say things I shouldn’t and that wouldn’t be fair to you or Neil.”

He reached for her hand. “Please tell me you’ll still work with me. I need you.”

“No, you don’t.” She smiled, a sad, wistful smile that fell short of reaching her eyes. “But I’m not too proud to admit that I need you. My business had taken a pretty hard hit lately, and the commission from your sale would help us to keep our head above water a while longer.”

“Okay, so you’ll set up some more appointments?”

“You didn’t like any of the houses we saw today?”

He refused to let her look away when he said, “None of them were the one.”

“How do you know?”

“We both know that when you find the right one, you just know.”

Aiden had an appointment to view houses with Sela later that day, but before he faced her again, he needed to talk to someone who could help him put the situation into perspective, someone who had known him his whole life.

“Is Ryan in?” he asked the young lady sitting behind the desk at Titan Records. She looked young, perhaps a college student who needed a summer job. Aiden had little doubt his friend had a hand in hiring her. She was the kind of woman Ryan usually preferred: young, beautiful, and temporary.

“He’s in a meeting, but I think they’re just wrapping it up. Can I get you a cup of coffee while you wait?”

“No, thanks.”

Luc Spencer, the founder of Titan Records and Ryan’s father, walked through the glass doors with a scowl on his face until his eyes landed on Aiden.

“There he is,” Luc said, grinning as he walked toward Aiden. “Sorry I couldn’t make it to the party at your parents’ house the other night, kid. Marisa and I were in Malibu.”

“No worries,” Aiden said, shaking his hand as he drew him into a hug. Luc had always been like an uncle to him, and he was one of the many people Aiden missed when he left Tennessee. “It’s great to see ya, Luc. How you guys been?”

“Can’t complain.” He gestured toward the elevators. “You here to see one of the boys?”

“Yeah, Ryan, but I think he’s still in a meetin’.”

“Perfect, that’ll give us a chance to catch up.” Luc looked at the woman behind the desk. “Katie, hold all my calls.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh, and when Ryan gets out of his meeting, tell him to come up to my office.”

“Yes, sir.”

Aiden smiled as he followed Luc to the elevator. Apparently, his semi-retired status hadn’t changed things at the company Luc founded. Everyone still saw him as the big boss. “How’s Marisa?”

“She’s great,” Luc said, punching the button for the elevator. “I guess you heard she finally managed to talk me into takin’ a step back and lettin’ the boys try their hand at runnin’ the show, huh?”

Aiden laughed as he stepped onto the elevator behind Luc. “Yeah, I heard somethin’ about that.” He slapped Luc on the back. “How’s that workin’ out for ya?”

Luc grimaced. “I hate it. Everyone knows I’m a control freak and a perfectionist… I love my kids. I’m proud of them, but…”

“They don’t do things the way you’d like them to, huh?”

“Not even close.” Luc made a big production of taking a deep breath. “But my wife keeps tellin’ me I can’t control everything. I have to be willin’ to let go and allow them to make their own mistakes.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “But I spent half my life buildin’ this company… The thought of lettin’ them run it into the ground ‘cause they’re not experienced enough to handle the responsibility, that’s the part I’m havin’ a hard time with.”

“Come on, you know that’s not gonna happen. They wanna make you proud. From what I hear, Evan’s already been bustin’ his ass around here.”

“Yeah, he has. It’s my other son I’m worried about.”

Aiden could understand why Luc might be concerned about giving Ryan more responsibility. From what he heard, Ryan still treated his upscale townhouse like a frat house, with his friends routinely converging there to drink and entertain women. In many ways, Aiden envied his friend’s carefree lifestyle. His life had been about hockey and heartache for so long, he’d almost forgotten how to have fun. Maybe Ryan could remind him.

“Listen to me bitchin’ and moanin’,” Luc said, chuckling. “I still haven’t congratulated you on the trade. How does it feel to be back on your home turf?”

Aiden stepped off the elevator and followed Luc to his plush corner office. “It’s been good. I’m glad to be home, but…”

“Uh-oh,” Luc said, sitting down behind his desk. “I don’t think I like the sound of that. Mixed feelings about the move?”

“Nah, it’ll just take some gettin’ used to, that’s all.”

Luc tipped his swivel chair back and laced his hands behind his head as Aiden claimed the guest chair across from him. “I know your parents couldn’t be happier about it.”

Aiden smirked. “Ya think?”

“So, what are your plans now that you’re back?”

“The first order of business is to find a house. Sela’s helpin’ me look for one later today as a matter of fact.”

Luc frowned. “Sela… as in your ex-girlfriend? The one who married your best friend?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

“How the hell did that happen?”

“I asked her to help me with the search. It’s been okay…” After last night, he didn’t know what to think or how to feel, which was the reason he came to see his old friend, Ryan. “It was a little awkward at first, but we’re figurin’ things out. I’d like for us to be friends again.”

“Where do things stand with you and Michaels? You tryin’ to resurrect that friendship, too?”

“Ah, no.”

“Probably a good idea.” Luc laughed. “Sometimes you just need to leave well enough alone, right?”

“You got it.”

“So listen, I wanted to talk to you about your sister. I hear she’s pullin’ some pretty impressive grades in law school.”

“Yeah, we’re real proud of her.”

“She’s studyin’ entertainment law, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I was thinkin’ she’d be a great addition to the Titan team. I think I’m gonna have Ryan give her a call to see if she might be interested in internin’ with us.”

“Yeah, you should definitely call her, Luc. It sounds like a great opportunity.”

“What’s a great opportunity?” Ryan asked, pushing the door open. He grinned when he saw Aiden. “Hey, man, this is a nice surprise. What brings you by?”

“I came to see you, actually.”

“Cool.” Ryan made his way to the mini-bar in the corner of his father’s office. “Anyone else want one?”

Luc rolled his eyes. “It’s barely noon, and do I need to remind you that you’re on the clock?”

Ryan chuckled as he sat down in the guest chair beside Aiden. “You know what they say about the dog that bit you, Dad.”

Luc scraped his hands over his face. “When are you gonna grow up and realize life’s not just one big party?”

“Do we really need to have this conversation again?” He nudged Aiden as he tried to hide his smile. “We have company, remember?”

“Aiden’s not company, he’s family, so don’t think that’ll get you off the hook.” He watched his son down the shot of scotch. “That’s your only one, kid. I mean it. I can’t tell you what to do on your own time, but I own you from eight to six, just remember that.”

“How could I forget? You remind me every day.”

“And I’m gonna keep remindin’ you until you get it through your thick head.”

Ignoring his father, Ryan turned to his friend. “So, you got time for lunch?”

“Hey, before you two get into that…” Luc said, holding his hand up. “I was just tellin’ Aiden that I thought Brianna would be a great addition to the Titan team, Ryan. What do you think?”

Aiden watched the color drain from Ryan’s face as he set the glass down on the desk and smoothed his hand down the front of his tailored shirt. “I… uh… don’t know. You think she’d be interested?”

“Why wouldn’t she be?” When Ryan didn’t respond, he said, “I’ve got my eye on a classmate of hers too, Jared Ross. His old man was a judge, and from what I hear, he’s a chip off the old block.”

“Jared Ross?” Ryan asked. He turned to Aiden. “Isn’t that the guy Bri was with at your parents’ place the other night?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Aiden said, trying to remember specific details about his sister’s friend. He and Brianna were close, but she didn’t mention the guys she dated unless they’d been out more than a few times.

“No way,” Ryan said, taking his glass back to the bar to pour another drink.

“Don’t you speak English?” Luc asked, glaring at the decanter in his son’s hand. “I told you, no more of that shit during business hours.”

Ryan seemed to consider his options before he set the glass aside and began pacing the room.

“What the hell’s your problem with this Ross guy?” Luc asked.

“I met him the other night at Josh’s place. I didn’t like him.”

Aiden hadn’t seen his friend exchange two words with Brianna’s friend, but he didn’t think now was the time to point it out, when things were already so tense between father and son.

“I’m gonna get Mike to do a little more diggin’ on him,” Luc said. “See what he can come up with. I’ll talk to your brother about him too, get his take on it.”

Ryan threw his hands up in the air. “Why the hell did you ask my opinion if you’re just gonna ignore it?”

“I’ll consider your opinion, but yours is one of many, son. Not the only one.” Luc stood up and offered Aiden his hand. “Good to see you again. It sure is nice to have you home.”

“Thanks, it’s good to be home.”

Luc gestured between himself and his son. “This is the joy of a family business; just be grateful you and your old man don’t have these problems.”

Ryan smiled at his father. “We wouldn’t have these problems either if you’d just retire already and let me and Evan run the show.”

Luc threw his head back and laughed. “I’ll retire when I’m goddamned good and ready, kid, and not a minute before.” He slapped his son on the back as he walked past him. “You drive me crazy sometimes, but you know I love ya, Ry.”

“Right back atcha, old man.”

Aiden smiled at their antics. It reminded him of his relationship with his father.

“Feel free to use my office, guys,” Luc said, pausing at the door. “I have to get to a meetin’.” He pointed at Aiden. “And tell Bri I’ll be callin’ her soon.”

“Will do, Luc. Take care,” Aiden said.

Ryan closed the door behind his father before claiming the big chair behind his desk.

Aiden grinned. “You look right at home there, buddy.”

He shook his head. “I’ll have to blast his ass out of it, if I want to take over this chair.”

Aiden laughed. “It can’t be easy for Luc to let go. He’s put his whole life into this company.”

“I know.” Ryan sighed. “But as long as he’s here, we’re gonna be livin’ in his shadow. Evan and I just wanna make our own mark on the company, ya know?”

“Sure, but your time’ll come. You just gotta be patient.”

“I know.” He kicked his polished Italian shoes up on the desk and tilted the chair back. “You really think Bri would be interested in workin’ here?”

“I don’t know, man. She’s just tryin’ to get through school, then she’ll decide what’s next.” Aiden sensed his friend wasn’t telling him something. “Would you want her to work here?”