Game On Box Set: Time Out\Her Man Advantage\Face-Off\Body Check Read online

  Both explanations were logical, but deep down he knew there was only one reason for the turmoil afflicting his body—Hayden.

  He hadn’t thought it was possible to miss someone this much. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her from the second she’d left his house two days ago. Which was probably why his performance during that final game against the Vipers had been less than stellar. But even though the team was out of the play-offs, Brody’s disappointment wasn’t as great as it should have been. His season had officially ended, and yet he hardly cared. How could he, when his entire body ached for Hayden? Although his brain insisted he’d done the right thing by distancing himself from her, his heart refused to accept the decision. In fact, his heart had been screaming such vile things at him for two days now that he was beginning to feel like the biggest cad on the planet.

  Had he made a mistake? He hadn’t wanted a permanent break, hadn’t intended to end the relationship; he’d just wanted the investigation to be done with, the scandal an unpleasant blip on his memory radar. But Hayden, well, she’d gone and made it permanent. Reverted to her belief that a relationship between them could never have lasted anyway.

  Yet he couldn’t bring himself to agree. She was wrong about them. If she’d only let down her guard and open her heart she’d see that the two of them could be dynamite together. Not just in bed, but in life. So he traveled for work. He’d have to retire sooner or later, and when he did, he planned on settling down in one place and opening a skating arena that didn’t require a membership fee, so that kids from poorer families would have access to the same facilities as those who were better off. He might even coach a kids’ team. It was an idea he’d been tossing around for years now.

  But instead of planning a future with Hayden, he’d lost her. Maybe he’d never really had her to begin with….

  “Croft.”

  He raised his head, frowning when he spotted Craig Wyatt walking toward him.

  Wyatt’s massive frame was squeezed into a tailored black suit, his shiny dress shoes squeaking against the tiled floor. The captain’s blond hair was gelled back from his forehead.

  “What’s up?” Brody couldn’t stop the twinge of bitterness in his voice.

  A muscle twitched in Wyatt’s square jaw. “I saw the article about you and Presley’s daughter, Brody. You have no reason to be nervous. We both know you didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “You’re right, I didn’t.” He couldn’t help adding, “But how did you know?”

  Wyatt jerked his finger to the left and said, “Follow me. We need to have a chat.”

  Brody glanced at his watch, noting he had another twenty minutes before they called him in for his scheduled interview.

  They walked silently toward the lobby, then exited the front doors and stepped into the cool morning air. Cars whizzed by in front of the arena. Pedestrians ambled down the sidewalk without giving the two men a second look. Everyone was going about their day, cheerfully heading to work, while Brody was here, waiting to be questioned about something he wanted no part in.

  With a strangled groan, Wyatt ran one hand through his hair, messing up the style he’d obviously taken great care with. “Look, I’m not going to lie. I’ve been seeing Sheila, okay?” His voice cracked. “I know it’s wrong. I know I have no business sleeping with a married woman, but, goddammit, I was a goner from the moment I met her. I love her, man.”

  “Sheila told you who took bribes, didn’t she?”

  Wyatt averted his eyes. “Yes.”

  “Then who, damn it? Who the fuck put us in this position, Craig?”

  There was a beat of silence. “I don’t think you want to know, man.”

  Another pause. Longer this time. Brody could tell that the last thing Craig Wyatt wanted to do was name names.

  But he did. “Nicklaus did. And—” Wyatt took a breath. “I’m sorry, Brody, but…so did Sam Becker.”

  13

  THE GROUND BENEATH Brody’s feet swiftly disintegrated. He sagged forward, planting both hands on his thighs to steady himself. Sucked in a series of long breaths. Waited for his pulse to steady.

  “Those are the only two Sheila knows about,” Wyatt was saying. “There could be more.”

  Brody glanced up at Wyatt with anger. “You’re lying. Nicklaus maybe, but not Becker. He wouldn’t do that.”

  “He did.”

  No. Not Becker. Brody pictured Becker’s face, thinking back to the first day they’d met, how Sam Becker had taken Brody’s rookie self under his wing and helped him become the player he was today. Becker was his best friend on the team. He was a stand-up guy, a champion, a legend. Why would he throw his career away for some extra pocket money?

  “He’s retiring at the end of the season,” Wyatt said, as if reading Brody’s mind. He shrugged. “Maybe he needed a bigger nest egg.”

  Brody closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, he saw the sympathy on Wyatt’s face. “I know you two are close,” Craig said quietly.

  “You could be wrong about this. Sheila could have lied.” Brody knew he was grasping at straws, but anything was better than accepting that Becker had done this.

  “It’s the truth,” Wyatt answered.

  They stood there for a moment, neither one speaking, until Wyatt finally cleared his throat and said, “We should go back inside.”

  “You go. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  After Wyatt left, Brody adjusted his tie, wondering if he’d ever be able to breathe again. His head still spun from Craig’s words. And yet he couldn’t bring himself to believe it. Damn it, he needed to talk to Becker. Look his friend in the eye and demand the truth. Prove Wyatt wrong.

  Then he looked up and realized he was going to be granted his wish sooner than he’d expected. Samuel T. Becker had just exited the arena.

  Becker spotted him instantly, and made his way over. “You done already?”

  “Haven’t even gone in yet.” He tried to mask his emotions as he studied his old friend. “Are you scheduled to be interviewed today?”

  “Yep,” Becker said. “And as a reward, I get to take Mary shopping afterward. What fun for me.”

  Brody smiled weakly.

  “What the hell’s up with you?” Sam demanded, rolling his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re still gaga over Presley’s daughter. I told you, man, you shouldn’t be seeing her.”

  Yeah, he had told him, hadn’t he? And Brody now had to wonder exactly where the advice had stemmed from. Had Becker really been looking out for him, or had he wanted to keep him away from Hayden in case Presley decided to confide in his daughter? In case Brody learned the truth about Becker’s criminal actions. The thought made his blood run cold.

  “Let’s not talk about Hayden,” he said stiffly.

  “Okay. Whatcha want to talk about then?”

  He released a slow breath. “How about you tell me why you let Presley bribe you?”

  Becker’s jaw hardened. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.”

  After a beat, Becker scowled. “I already told you, I wasn’t involved in that crap.”

  “Someone else says otherwise.”

  “Yeah, who?” Becker challenged.

  Brody decided to take a gamble. He felt like a total ass, but still he said, “Presley.”

  The lie stretched between them, and the myriad of emotions Brody saw on his friend’s face was disconcerting as hell. Becker’s expression went from shocked to angry. To guilty. And finally, betrayed.

  And it was all Brody needed to know.

  With a stiff nod, he brushed past his former mentor. “I’m needed inside.”

  “Brody, come on.” Becker trailed after him, his voice laced with misery. “Come on, it wasn’t like that.”

  Brody spun around. “Then you didn’t sell out the team?”

  Becker hesitated a little too long.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “I did it for Mary, okay?” Becker burst out, looking so anguished