Chapter Two

The sound of the game in the background kept stress from crushing his brain. Each time he heard Lennox’s name or number, he glanced up to watch. Pierre kept his phone propped against a plant on his desk so he could quickly close out the recording if he was needed. Unfortunately, he had been forced to record Lennox’s last match. He had a meeting last night with a Cattaneo accountant, forcing Pierre to avoid seeing anything online all day and ruining the outcome. His life was rarely nine to five. He jumped when told to do so. That meant recording a lot of the shows he loved.

“Tremmmm-blay!”

Pierre’s head shot up. His gaze locked on the phone. Lennox skated with his arms and stick in the air. Damn. Pierre had missed seeing him score. He didn’t actually care about the team, but he liked the idea of Lennox winning. One day, he would have to let go of this fantasy. For now, it blew his mind this amazing man had kissed him. It equally made his stomach hurt. Lennox Tremblay was a pointless dream and Pierre was an old fool.

A knock landed on his office door. Pierre quickly paused the video. “ Entrer .”

The door opened. His assistant stuck her head in the door. “You have a visitor. I’ve been firm about his need for an appointment. He’s insistent he’s a friend. Not a client.”

“Did he give a name?”

She checked a Post-it she held. “Lennox Tremblay.”

Pierre blinked. “Um.” He was never speechless.

“Should I send him away?”

“No.” Pierre hated how fast and desperately he answered. “He is… send him in.”

He didn’t have time to panic about how to greet him. Lennox strolled into his office like he owned the place. The room immediately felt smaller. But Pierre couldn’t see anything except his bright smile and gorgeous eyes.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” Pierre didn’t know what else to say. He cleared his throat. “To what do I owe this unexpected visit? How did you know how to find me?” It seemed he had more words than he thought.

Lennox’s smile never wavered. “They have this thing called the internet.”

Pierre leveled an annoyed look his way.

Lennox laughed. “I’m joking. Tavey told me where to find you.” Since Tavey was one of his bosses, he couldn’t scoff. Not that he would. “And I’ve come to steal you away for dinner.”

“Dinner?” Pierre’s gaze shot to the clock. It was nearly seven p.m. “I have no idea where the day has gone.”

Lennox circled the desk and sat on it like he was at home. “You know what they say. All work and no play.”

“Pays the bills,” Pierre said drolly.

Lennox laughed. He eyed the phone on Pierre’s desk. “Hey. Are you watching last night’s game?”

Horror raced through Pierre. Logically, he realized it was perfectly reasonable for him to be a fan of his home team. His humiliation cared not at all about logic. He snatched up the phone and closed the game. “I missed it last night due to some meetings.”

“I guess that’s a good thing, since we ended up getting taken out in overtime.”

Pierre huffed. “Did you just ruin a game I’ve yet to finish?”

“Oops.” Lennox slid from the desk. “I guess I’ve freed you for our dinner date.”

“Date.” Pierre stumbled over the word. He winced. Everything about Lennox made him feel like a stuttering, uncultured child.

“Yes. Date. You broke my heart by not inviting me back to your place on New Year’s. The least you can do is have dinner with me.”

“Fine.” Pierre answered as fast as possible, hoping to avoid any more talk of going to his place. That wasn’t happening with this entirely too-young-for-him man.

The smile that exploded across Lennox’s face should have been illegal. He looked entirely too pleased with himself. “Where would you like to go?”

Pierre snorted. “You came to take me to dinner with no plan?”

Lennox shrugged. “I had a strong suspicion you’d say no.”

“Why?”

For the first time, Lennox looked a bit unsure of himself. “I get the feeling you don’t like me as much as I like you.” He looked so much like a child rejected by his friends; Pierre couldn’t take it.

“Come.” He took Lennox’s arm. “I know an amazing place.”

The way Lennox stared down at him had Pierre trying his best not to meet his gaze. He had no clue what Lennox truly wanted from this, but Pierre wouldn’t let the man eat alone.

Lennox followed Pierre’s directions to a restaurant inside a downtown high rise. It had taken him more convincing than he liked to get Pierre to ride with him. The guy fought him every step of the way for every inch and Lennox couldn’t figure out why. Pierre did a lot of sighing and huffing in his presence, but Lennox hadn’t forgotten Pierre’s expression moments before their kiss. Just the memory singed his skin. Lennox wanted more.

The view from the restaurant was gorgeous. It struck him as a romantic spot. Most tables were for two. White tablecloths and soft candles lit on each table set a certain mood. Lennox hated that Pierre sat across from him where he couldn’t touch him. Then again, he kept chasing Pierre’s feet beneath the table. He also got to inspect every nuance of Pierre’s face.

“You’re beautiful.”

“Ah. I get it in English this time.” Pierre sipped his wine, looking unaffected by the compliment.

“It’s true. I’d say it in every language, but I only know the two.”

“How is that, by the way? You speak French flawlessly. I didn’t think that was a requirement in the states.”

Ah. The subject change. He would let it stand for now. “My mom is from Québec. She’s always spoken both French and English. I guess, thankfully, it taught us kids both languages over the span of our childhoods, getting screamed at in French.”

“Our? You have siblings.” It wasn’t a question, but Pierre looked genuinely interested.

“Yeah. Two. An older sister and a younger brother.”

Pierre chuckled. “The middle child.”

“What about you? Any Fortin siblings running around?”

A sad smile passed over Pierre’s lips. “I had a younger brother. He drowned when I was sixteen and he was ten.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Pierre made a dismissive gesture. “It was a long time ago, but it still creeps up on me from time to time, reminding me I have no one any longer.”

That hurt Lennox. “No one?”

Pierre shook his head and took another sip of wine before answering. “My mom passed five years ago. My dad didn’t last six months without her. So, it’s just me now. I have the Cattaneos, of course. They are like my family, but still not. Does that make sense?”

Lennox nodded. “You love them, but it’s not the same. I’ve been with my team for so many years, they feel like my family. They’re not, but they’re all I have.”

Pierre’s eyebrows rose. “That’s a statement.”

Lennox chuckled. “I know. Dramatic.”

Pierre didn’t laugh. “No. You’ve made me curious, though.”

Thankfully, their food arrived, saving Lennox for a moment. But the instant they were alone again, Pierre still openly waited for Lennox’s explanation. Lennox took a deep breath. “It’s a story.”

“We have time.” Pierre took a bite, but his focus never wavered.

Since he wanted to know Pierre, he supposed that meant letting Pierre get to know him too. “It didn’t happen overnight, really. My sister is ten years older than me, so we were never close. She moved out the minute she turned eighteen and never looked back. I was only eight, so I didn’t really understand why. Then, my life became all about junior league and feeding this natural talent everyone claimed I had. I didn’t have time to focus on anything else. My brother is five years younger than me. I mostly just found him annoying, so we never got close, especially since I was gone by sixteen. My career had already become my life.”

Lennox took a bite and a drink before continuing. He hated this part. “I didn’t make a hell of a lot in lower leagues, but my parents demanded every cent, saying I was a minor and it was therefore their money. My price for everything they’d done for me over the years. They were the reason I even had a career. Obviously, I became increasingly bitter about this.”

“Naturally.”

Lennox nodded. “Then, one night, my sister showed up at one of my away games. It seemed she had been living in Mississippi since she moved out. We had dinner and caught up a little. It was awkward. We weren’t really family anymore. Just strangers, but it still gave me the chance to ask why she had left. It turns out it wasn’t her choice. She didn’t have a talent our parents could exploit. They put her out on her eighteenth birthday. No party or presents. Just gave her the boot with absolutely nothing to her name.”

Lennox took another drink to rinse the bitterness from his mouth before continuing. “It was the middle of winter. She had nothing. She said she spent hours banging on the door, begging for them to at least let her pack her clothes. I don’t remember it, but it’s equally possible I wasn’t home that night. It was a long time ago.”

Pierre nodded. “Memories fade.”

“They do.” He flashed Pierre a grateful smile for not judging. Lennox still felt guilty for not helping, even though he had only been eight. “Anyhow, after hearing what happened and adding that to my bitterness, I started planning my out. I landed an excellent agent behind their backs. He helped me protect my assets and gain my freedom. In record time, I was a resident Canadian, completely out of their reach. You know, they actually tried to sue me.”

Pierre shook his head. “I’d say I’m surprised, but I’m a solicitor. Nothing surprises me when it comes to lawsuits. What came of yours?”

“I counter-sued for all the money they’d stolen from me over the years. When they realized they would very likely have to pay back what they took, they offered to drop the suit if I dropped mine. I did it just to be rid of them. We haven’t spoken since. They cared more about the money than me.”

A sympathetic look passed over Pierre’s features. “If you have two cents, someone will claim it’s theirs. You have no idea how busy I stay, fighting off people for my employers’ money. That’s a full-time job in itself.”

“No. I completely believe it.” Lennox had seen it firsthand. “I’m by no means the richest man in Canada, but I swear I have to question the intentions of everyone I meet. It’s exhausting. Of course, it’s equally possible I’m just scarred by my parents. Anytime I meet someone new, I’m wondering if it’s me they like or if they’re just being nice to get what they want.” He shrugged, feeling exposed. “In a lot of ways, it’s changed me.”

For the first time, Pierre didn’t look as if he held a piece of himself back from Lennox. He wasn’t stiff and obviously ready to bolt. Pierre looked relaxed. “If, at any time, you wonder why I’m with you, just remember you had to make me come.”

A loud bark of laughter burst from Lennox, turning heads their way. Lennox covered his mouth, trying to stifle the sound. Pierre’s dark eyes danced with laughter. It hit Lennox. He genuinely liked Pierre. This wasn’t about trying to fuck him. He wanted to do that too, but he enjoyed Pierre’s company. Lennox had to find a way to convince Pierre to keep seeing him. That sounded so much easier said than done.