Destiny on Ice (Boys of Winter #1)(6)

“I hope you’re right,” I murmur. “I need a jolt of…something.”

“Hey, I’m just happy I get to spend some time with you, even if it is just for one night.” Softly, she adds, “I really missed not seeing you at Mom and Dad’s this summer.”

“Oh, Lainey, I know.”

Regret gnaws at my gut. See, this is why I need a change. My lonely existence not only lacks a man, but my relationship with my family has been suffering, as well.

“I wanted to visit,” I continue. “Really, I did. But I got so damn tied up with my last client that the next thing I knew summer was over. And then there you were, back at school.”

“Yeah, here I am,” she murmurs. “And you’re about to start a new assignment.”

“Yep,” I reply.

“The busy and exciting life of a life coach continues,” she says with a smile in her tone.

“Hardly,” I scoff. “It’s busy, yes. But I don’t know about the exciting part.”

“Hey, I know you claim it can be grueling sometimes—and you miss out on things, true—but really, Aubrey, what a gig.”

“It’s not all sunshine and roses,” I assure her.

Undeterred, she goes on. “So this latest client, the one you just finished with, was he another rich dude who turned out to be a handful?”

“Aren’t they all?” I say on a sigh.

I like my job, but truthfully it wears on me. Being a “life coach” to troubled celebrities requires a ton of commitment. Not to mention you have to jump at a moment’s notice. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the past twelve hours, scrambling like a chicken with its head cut off.

After I received a call from my boss, Mr. Delahunty, late last night, the scrambling began. I have a new client. A client I have no real info on that I need to meet with tomorrow afternoon. It’s usually like this with my kind of work. I go in blind to assure the client’s anonymity until all the contracts are signed.

Lainey sighs longingly into the phone. Even after assuring her that it’s not all fun and games, she insists on clinging to the false illusion that my job is great.

Dreamily, she murmurs, “Difficult clients or not, you still have the coolest job on the planet.”

“I guess,” I grudgingly reply.

My job is pretty cool, when viewed as an outsider. I mean, come on, working with celebrities, most of who end up being hot male clients. That can’t be all that bad, right?

Wrong.

It’s a huge time and energy commitment. And though it pays well, I sacrifice a lot. I guess I should throw in here that I’m employed by a very discreet firm, one that specializes in helping not only troubled celebrities, but also messed-up musicians and professional athletes with issues. My job is to help the client get their life straightened out, so they can shine like the star they are.

Sometimes booze is the problem, and other times it’s drugs. One time we had a client who was addicted to hookers. I got that one, lucky me. But no matter what the issue is, I’m there, playing counselor, psychologist, and friend.

Our firm is based in Chicago, so that’s where I live at the moment. I could live anywhere really, seeing as I’m always traveling and spending months at a time in various locations around the country. I go where I’m needed…and stay as long as required.

“Where are you crashing tonight?” Lainey asks out of the blue. Before I can answer, she adds, “You can stay with me if you want. I’m sure my roomies wouldn’t mind.”

What? No.

Lainey lives in a house with three other girls, all of whom are in school. Their place is located only two blocks from campus, making it party central most nights. I might never make it to Vegas if I crash there.

“No, that’s okay,” I reply. “I already have a room booked at a hotel out by the airport.”

“Oh, okay.”

I remind my disappointed-sounding sister, “This is still part of a business trip, Lainey.”

“Okay, okay, I get it.” I imagine her rolling her eyes at her not-quite-wild-yet big sister. “But we’re still having fun tonight, no matter what. I’m making sure of it.”

The sensible side of me takes over for a minute and I remind her, “A good time is fine, but I need to be back at the hotel at a sensible hour. I can’t miss my flight. I need to be sharp and clear-headed when I get to Vegas tomorrow. The client will be at the meeting, and I’d like to make a good impression.”

“The new client is out west, that’s cool.” Lainey says.

“Yeah, I suppose so.”

“So who is it this time around?”

“I don’t know,” I honestly reply, not that I could tell her even if I did. Confidentiality is paramount in my line of work. Still, it’s safe to say, “My boss didn’t inform me of much. Only thing I know for certain is I’m attending a meeting with the client and their management team in the afternoon. Everything about the client—what he does for a living, what his name is—will remain a secret till then.”

“Sounds intriguing,” Lainey muses. “It must be someone good.”

“Hmm, maybe,” I reply, wondering myself who I’ll be matched up with.

“It’s a guy, for sure, that you’re helping?”