14. Xander

CHAPTER 14

XANDER

“ W hat part of lay low confused you, exactly?” Rick, my agent, growls down the line at me early Monday morning. His frustration’s palpable, even all these miles away.

“I am laying low, man. What are you talking about?”

“Check your phone once in a while. I texted you last night.”

I jam the speaker button, then click into my texts. Sure enough, I have a slew of missed text messages from him. Clicking on the first message, my gut clenches.

Not good. Not good at all.

A photo of me and Rachel pops up. The image is grainy, but I recognize my car. We’re kissing in the dark parking lot at the lighthouse. Those bastards must have had a mega-zoom lens to get that close of a shot because I know for a fact that lot was completely empty while we were there.

“Shit.” I huff out a long, deep breath before clicking on the next three photos. Rachel and me jogging out of the restaurant, the two of us holding hands, another of me leaning in close and caging her up against my car.

“Remember what I said about no drugs, no girls, no trouble?”

“Vaguely. One out of three ain’t bad, right?”

“Wrong, Kovac. The press is out to get you. Now they have something to sink their teeth into. They’re digging around, trying to find dirt on this woman. Who is she, anyway? And did you warn her?”

Fuck. Rachel.

If her ex sees these photos, he’s gonna lose his shit.

“I mean, yeah, sort of. Listen, Ricky, I have to go. Get on the horn and defend me, okay? I did nothing wrong. She’s single, I’m single. It’s all good.”

“Oh, I saw the single part alright. A single mom, Kovac? You know what that’s going to do to your reputation? The tabloids are having a field day with the puns already. Suspended superstar Kovac scores off the ice with the MILF! ”

I groan, dropping my head in my hands. I need to check on Rachel, make sure she’s okay.

“Call Coach and reassure him I’m fine, laying low and being a good citizen.” I disconnect and grab my keys, shoving my cell into the pocket of my sweats and jogging to the Porsche.

Pushing the upper limits of the allowable speed, I double-time it over to Rachel’s apartment. It’s early, so luckily there’s not much traffic. Her car’s still in the lot and cool relief rushes through me. At least I caught her before she left for work.

I park and take the stairs two at a time, rapping hard on her door. After a long second, the door cracks open.

“Xander? What are you doing here?”

“Hey—I had to see you. Can I come in?” I peer around the hallway, searching for hidden cameras.

“Sure.” She steps aside and I duck into the quiet apartment. “Jett’s already at school. What’s up? I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon.” Flipping her hair over her shoulders, her cheeks tint pink.

“Rachel, I’m so sorry.”

“About what?”

Shoving my cell at her, I click on one of the articles Rick sent me. “I didn’t mean for you to get dragged into my drama.” I scrub the back of my neck, ashamed.

“Oh.” Her mouth forms a pink ‘O’ as she flips through the articles, her frown deepening with each passing second.

I slam my hand into my pocket, anger rolling through my veins. I want to punch something, every muscle tight and ready for action. Instead, I take a deep breath and clench my jaw, waiting for her to say something.

“I already saw this one.” Her voice is quiet.

“What?” My head pops up. “What do you mean? When?”

“Last night. Charles showed me the article in the local paper.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me. We made the local paper? Shit.” I run my hand through my hair, trying to figure out what to do next. I doubt Jackson’s going to be real thrilled about this turn of events, either. He may even ask me to step down from the coaching position.

So much for staying out of trouble.

“Yeah. Not great. Charles sang his same old tired song, threatening to take me back to court.”

“Why?”

Color creeps up her neck, and she looks away, not meeting my eyes.

“He accused me of whoring around.”

“That bastard.” I bite out the words, my fists balled. Now I really am jumpy and itching to fight. One asshole in particular. “He didn’t touch you, did he?”

She gnaws at her lip, and I know instantly that he hurt her.

That skinny little asshole hurt my woman.

And now he’s going to have to answer to me.

I grab her hands. “Tell me, Rachel. Please. What did he do?”

Her lower lip quivers and tears shimmer in her hazel eyes.

“It’s nothing, Xander. Forget it.”

“Rachel.” I gently tip her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. “It’s not nothing. He shouldn’t be physical with you. Ever. Now tell me—what did he do?”

She sighs, rolling up her sleeve to reveal dark bruises spotting her forearm. Rage surges through me, the type of fiery anger that sends me to the penalty box when I’m out on the ice.

“That fucker.” I brush my thumb over the purple skin and she flinches. He really hurt her. “Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, Xander. He has a bad temper. Always has. But this isn’t your fight. It’s mine.”

“Bullshit. We talked about this already. I will do whatever it takes to protect you. Do you want to file a police report?”

“For what? A few bruises on my arm? Charles will lie and say he had nothing to do with it.”

Resolve settles deep in my chest. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Xander, no.” Rachel’s small hand flutters to my pecs, hovering over my pounding heart. “Please don’t get involved. I don’t want this to ruin your chances of getting back on the team.”

“It won’t. But that asshole’s never going to touch you again. Not if he knows what’s good for him.”

Circling my arms around her tiny frame, I pull her to me and hold her tight against my body.

I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect this woman and her son. Now and forever.