Icing (Aces Hockey #1)(87)

He pulled it out and turned to face her. She was watching him, her cheeks flushed, her eyes snapping. She lifted her chin. “What?”

“Here.” He tossed the key fob to her.

Startled, she almost didn’t catch it. “What’s this?”

“Something I picked up for you yesterday. It’s parked out front. Plate number’s on the tag. Enjoy.”

And he walked out.

He leaned against the elevator wall and stared at the stone floor all the way down to the lobby, trying not to think. When the elevator doors opened, he pushed away from the wall and walked through the lobby. Out on the street, he pulled his cellphone out of his pocket to call a cab to come pick him up. He started walking to the nearest cross street, not wanting to hang out in the lobby. Wind yowled down the street between the buildings, and once he’d made his call, he pulled his knit hat out, gave it a shake, and tugged it down over his ears.

What the fucking fuck. Did he not pride himself on learning from his mistakes? Sign him up for the redneck dumbass of the year award. What girl would really want anything to do with him? He shook his head, hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched against the wind. He stopped at the corner and waited for the cab he’d called.

Women. Fuck, he was such a loser. He’d sworn off women before and hadn’t even lasted hours before he’d asked one out, earning Rupper a hefty payout in their bet. Betting on what a loser he was. This time he was done. Dunnnnnnnnn.

He especially didn’t need this bullshit when the team was desperately trying to make the playoffs.

Hopefully she liked the fucking car.

—

Amber stared at the key fob in her hand. Car keys? Parked out front? What the hell?

“What does he mean?” Mom crossed over to peer at the keys. “Oh my God! Did he buy you a car?”

“No.”

“Then what are the keys for? I think he did! He said it’s parked out front—let’s go see! Oh my God, I wonder if it’s a Mercedes or something…” She grabbed Amber’s hand and started pulling her toward the door.

Amber planted her feet on the floor, not budging. “I’m not going to look at the car, Mom. If he bought a car, I’m not taking it.”

“What? Why?” A perplexed crease appeared between Mom’s perfect eyebrows.

“I don’t want a car from him! Mom, what you said…I’m not going out with him because of his money. That is not what this is about.”

“But, honey…”

“Mom, you’ve been looking for a rich husband to support you. I haven’t. I’ve been busting my butt to get an education and a job and do it on my own. I don’t need a man to support me. I don’t want a man to support me.”

Mom just blinked.

“I keep telling you that! And I can’t support you for the rest of my life either. I’m exhausted.”

“I don’t expect you to support me.” Mom sank down into an armchair.

“You know I’ve been paying your bills! How did you get here, anyway?”

“I used my credit card. But there was only enough credit left for a one-way trip.”

Amber’s eyes flew wide. For a moment the pressure inside her head was so great she thought it might explode. “Seriously?” she managed to say. “A one-way ticket? Oh my God.”

She collapsed onto the couch, covering her face with her hands. They were both silent. “How did you hear about Duncan and me?” Before the words even left her mouth she knew the answer.

“It was on the Internet. Someone at work saw it and asked if that was you. And it was! Then we Googled him. He’s very good-looking. I don’t know much about hockey, but apparently he gets paid a lot of money.”

Amber didn’t even know what to say. She was so angry at her mother for assuming that’s why she was with Duncan, and she was even more furious at Duncan for believing that. And not only furious…she was hurt.

She’d been so hesitant to get involved with someone like him, but stupidly she’d done it. She’d been falling in love with him. Okay, okay, she was in love with him, and that was what made it hurt all the more. She’d been afraid to care, because if he walked away it was going to kill her, and now…he’d done it.

She swallowed, her throat aching, that feeling of pressure rising in her face, her eyes burning.

He’d bought her a stupid car. She’d told him not to. Why had he done that? She did not want stuff like that from him, but obviously he thought she did. At first he’d judged her based on what had happened with Melissa and others before her. Evidently, he was continuing to judge her like that.

That really burned.