Chapter Four

Ben's room, on the fourth level, had huge floor-to-ceiling windows and a view over the glistening bay. The water was ringed with an embankment, and to the right a medley of buildings, old and new, sprang toward the sky. Bright lights flashed on a big wheel that was spinning beside a colorful carousel.

None of it was what I'd been expecting.

"Right, give me instructions," Ben said as the door shut behind him.

I set my suitcase beside a dressing table and pulled my hair over my right shoulder. I turned my back on him. "The crystals running up my spine, on that sheer fabric, are actually buttons," I said.

"They are?" I heard the note of panic in his voice. "All of them?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

"How the heck did you get into this?"

"My dresser, Casey, did it."

"Patient woman."

"He's a guy, but yeah, he's patient."

"Oh, I see."

"And then, when you get past the waist, where the white silk band is, there's a zip, but the catch is virtually invisible."

He came up close, and his warm fingertips skimmed the nape of my neck. "These are so tiny."

"Do you usually wear glasses?"

"Fuck no." He laughed. "Wouldn't be much good at striking if my eyes didn't work."

"Striking?"

"Getting the puck in the net. You know."

"Ah, yes, of course." I felt the first tiny button loosen.

"That okay?" he asked.

"Yes, thanks. Sorry there's so many."

"No problem. I haven't got anywhere else to be right now."

The scent of his faded aftershave wafted toward me. It was different to Dylan's, not spiced but still exotic, sandalwood perhaps. It reminded me of a Calvin Klein advert I'd done for one of their unisex fragrances.

"Gina liked the dress," he said.

"Yes, she did." I paused. "Gina. She said she was in charge. Is that right?"

"Sure. Her father owns the club, but he's retired now, so it's hers to play with."

"Play with?"

"Play with, yeah, the family are so rich we are like a goddamn hobby to them, but I'm not complaining. I'm doing what I love, and she's a cool chick, especially now she's settled with Dustin. He's good for her, keeps her grounded, even when shit gets crazy on the ice and in the locker room."

"They seem like a solid couple."

"That's for sure."

I was quiet as Ben's big but tender fingers carefully continued to work, skimming against my skin when he undid each tiny crystal. "You must miss home, Ben, six weeks away is a long time."

"Home is Canada, Toronto, but I've lived in Florida for the last few years, playing and practice. So I'm used to being away from home."

"You got a wife waiting for you in Florida? Kids?"

He laughed. "No, no wife, and definitely no kids."

"Not your thing?"

"Maybe one day. Theo and I are both single."

"Two great-looking guys with fan clubs, I find that hard to believe." I watched two swans flying over the bay, their wings flapping in synchrony. I'd heard once that they mated for life and that they were loyal and faithful to each other. Soul mates. Which was what I'd thought Steven and I had been.

My throat thickened, and a wave of emotion came over me. But I refused to cry and stared at the swans without blinking, hoping to keep my eyes dry.

"We've been concentrating on form," Benjamin went on, "playing for The Vipers was a dream come true, for both of us. When we got traded at the same time, me from Chicago, Theo from New York, we didn't wanna mess it up."

I took a deep breath and concentrated on Benjamin's words. The swans went from view. "Always good to focus on what's important to you."

"Sure is. So we bought a house, near some of the other players, same gated community, you know, and we've had our heads down focusing. This tour has been fan-fucking-tastic after the years of hard work, not least 'cause we finished top of the league last season."

"I'm pleased for you. For both of you."

He shifted slightly, stooping to examine the zipper part of the dress.

I pressed my hand over the neckline; the gown was loosening and would soon be ready to fall away.

Fall away into the history books.

"Jesus, this is so delicate," he muttered.

"I know, sorry, want me to try?"

"Nah." His knuckle brushed my butt as he moved the thin flap of material that hid the zipper tug. "I think…I think…yep, I've got it. Tweezers might have been helpful but…"

The dress loosened further, finally reaching a point I knew I'd be able to slip out of it with a bit of wriggling this way and that.

"There." He stepped away. "All done."

"Thank you. I mean really…this has felt like a shroud these last few hours. I can't wait to get out of it."

"Bathroom is there unless you want me to…?" He dipped his head and half turned to the door.

"No, no, it's your room. I'll just…" With one hand holding the dress and the other on my suitcase, I made my way to the bathroom. "I'll just be a few minutes."

"Take your time." He moved to the mini bar. "I'll pour us a drink."

I didn't answer and pushed into the bathroom and closed the door. I let out a sigh.

The bathroom was huge with a walk-in shower, double sink, and a plush chair in the corner. Standing before the mirror, I stared at my reflection. I could conjure a million expressions on command, but this was one I'd never seen on myself.

Defeat. Defiance. Betrayal. Isolation. Bitterness. Humiliation. Fury.

A complex mix that made my heart beat fast and my stomach clench.

"Damn you, Steven, and go to hell, Cheryl. I wish you the very worst in life today and forevermore."

It wasn't in my nature to wish anyone ill, but as I writhed from the gown, peeling the sheer voile from my arms and tugging the silk over my hips, I just couldn't help it. They'd ruined the future I'd seen for myself. Stomped on my dreams of a home and children and perhaps a little dog, starting and ending each day with Steven at my side.

They'd treated me like an idiot. Taken me for a fool.

And it was only because of an anonymous text message I wasn't staring down the barrel of a doomed marriage right now.

I kicked the dress to one side, a sad white heap of broken dreams, and opened my suitcase.

Quickly, I found skinny blue jeans and a pink t-shirt with the YSL logo under an image of a small flamingo. I dragged a brush through my stiff sprayed hair and pulled it up into a high ponytail, enjoying the air on my neck.

Next I grabbed a face wipe and took off the heavy eye shadow. I left the lashes on, they could stay, as could the Ballerina Shoes pink lipstick.

"Right, I'm back." I rammed my hands on my hips and looked in the mirror. "Pippa the bride has gone and will never appear again."

Did I mean that? Yes. At this moment, I absolutely did. There was nothing I wanted less in the world than to be a bride. Except toe fungus or ingrowing nails, stuff like that, I didn't want those either.

I zipped up my suitcase and went to the door.

Voices.

Someone else was in the room.

A man.

I opened the door a fraction, then stooped to retrieve the gown from the floor. As I straightened, I heard my name uttered in a low voice.

I stilled. Through the gap I could see both Ben and his brother, Theo, standing by the window. They were tall and wearing matching red jerseys, both with the name EVANS in black writing on the back. Each had a bottle of beer in their hand.

"She really all right?" Theo asked.

"She seems to be holding it together; quite impressive. Most chicks would be a heap on the floor after what she's been through today. Wailing and shit."

Heap on the floor? That wasn't my style. I was made of tougher stuff.

"Yeah, you're right. Remember Carrie?" Theo pointed his beer at his brother. "Huh?"

"How could I forget? She was a mess. I mean, it was her who'd done the dirty on me, right, but still, she was a wreck, and I felt awful for finishing it despite doing nothing wrong."

So Ben knew what I was going through. How being cheated on screwed with your heart and your mind until you felt like you'd been chewed up and spat out like a piece of old gum.

"I just can't see Pippa being the wailing sort." Theo nodded thoughtfully. "She's got a maturity about her, don't you think?"

"I guess, yeah. She's sharp, too, can see it in her eyes. Cool and considered when under pressure. Intelligent."

"I like that on the ice and I like it off the ice." Theo glanced over at the bathroom.

Flustered, I stood, cleared my throat, and stepped out, trying my best to act as though I hadn't been listening. It was flattering they thought me sharp and considered, but what surprised me the most was they hadn't once mentioned that I was hot, or fit, or sexy, which was usually how I was described before anyone judged another thing about me.

"Hey." Theo grinned, giving me a dazzling white smile. "Feel better now you're in normal clothes?"

"Much better, thank you." I dumped the dress on the bed. "I'll be glad to get this thing out of my sight."

"I poured you white wine, hope that's cool with you." Ben handed me a glass.

"Anything with alcohol in it will do, turps if necessary."

"Turps?" Ben frowned. "What's that?"

"Don't worry about it." I flapped my hand, took a big gulp of Pinot, then closed my eyes and sighed.

"You sure you're okay?" Ben asked.

I opened my eyes to see both brothers peering at me with a mixture of trepidation and curiosity.

"I really am…but…"

"But?" Theo kind of grimaced.

Perhaps he was waiting for my hysteria to set in. "But I'm not going to look at my phone today. I haven't got it in me to do that."

"You're not?"

"Nope." I nodded to where it sat on the dressing table. "I've told the most important person in my world, my aunt, what's happened and told her not to worry about me, and everyone else can wait." I swallowed, knowing that Trevor, William, and Casey and all my other friends would be worried and confused. But there was nothing I could do to ease their concern, not right now. It was taking everything that I was to hold it together, and so far, according to these two hunky hockey players, I was doing okay.

"So when you going to deal with it?" Ben asked as it buzzed again.

"Tomorrow, when I'm at the airport and about to get on a flight to somewhere sunny and a long way from Steven."

"Sounds like a plan." Theo nodded slowly. "And where you gonna stay tonight? Before you get on that flight?"

"The receptionist is organizing me a room." I took another big mouthful of wine. "Apparently there's been a cancellation."

"Ah, good." He nodded, glanced at his Rolex and then Ben. "We gotta get going soon, buddy. It's nearly start time."

"What's going on?" I asked. I was sure I did know but I couldn't remember. "What's starting?"

"Meet and Greet. Gina's idea. The hotel is putting on a buffet dinner and a bunch of fans have been invited along, probably be some Devils hanging about, too."

"Devils?"

"Yeah, Cardiff Devils, we're up against them tomorrow." Theo gestured out of the window at Cardiff. "Last game. They're good, it'll be close."

"Not if you score like you did in London." Ben slapped Theo on the back. "He got three goals in the last period. Awesome play."

"You gave me some great assists." Theo shrugged. "We're a team." He set down his finished bottle of beer. "You should come downstairs with us, Pippa, see if that room is ready."

"Er, yes, you're right." I quickly finished my wine and set it on the dressing table. "And I'll get rid of this thing." I scooped up the delicate gown, crushing it in the folds of my arms. "To the first person who will take it."