The Penalty Box (Vancouver Wolves Hockey #3)(46)

Charlie had offered to come and pick me up, but my flight was coming in after 1:00 a.m., so I told her I’d take a cab.

When my cab pulled up to the house, my heart nearly stopped. The red and blue lights of two cop cars silently flashed in the driveway.

I threw money at the driver. “Put my bags on the driveway.” I sprinted up the driveway.

The front door was open. A police officer tried to hold me back but let me go when I snarled, “This is my house.”

Only when I saw Charlie sitting on the couch did my heart start beating again.

I looked around. Two cops studied the front door. Another cop sat across from Charlie. And fucking Andrew sat beside her with his arm around her shoulders.

She lifted her face to mine, and I saw tears had streaked down her cheeks.

In three strides, I was across the room. She stood up, and I captured her face in my hands, looking her over.

“Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “I’m okay.”

“What happened?”

Andrew spoke from his seat on my couch, his voice slightly accusatory. “Someone broke in.”

I looked back at Charlie. “What happened?”

She wiped tears from one cheek. “I was getting ready for bed when the alarm went off. I locked myself in the bathroom. The alarm company called the police.”

I looked at Andrew. “What are you doing here?”

He stood up to his full height, which was, to my immense satisfaction, a few inches shorter than me. “I saw the flashing police lights and came over.”

“I’ve got it from here.”

He looked like he wanted to protest, but my fuck off expression stopped him. He placed an overly familiar hand on Charlie’s shoulder and said in a soothing voice, “I’m always here for you.”

My jaw clenched.

“Thanks, Andrew, for everything.” Her eyes went soft when she looked at him. It took all my energy to not grab him by the shirt collar and shove him out the door.

He took his time walking out, and I flanked him. We didn’t speak.

When we got to the end of the driveway where the driver had deposited my bags, he turned on me. “She was scared to death while you were gone.”

I ground my teeth. This guy was more than getting on my nerves. “My wife and I will deal with this.”

He crossed his arms. “I know you and Charlie aren’t sharing a bedroom, so you can drop the act.”

The audacity of this dude was almost unbelievable. My voice cut like a whip. “Not sure how that is any of your fucking business.”

He shrugged, completely unfazed by my tone. “Charlie needs—”

I cut him off. “What my wife needs is none of your concern.”

He gave me a cocky look that made me want to flatten him into the sidewalk. Then without another word, he turned to walk back towards his house.

I took my time picking up my bags, needing a moment to get my emotions under control. The idea that someone had broken into our place filled me with rage. The fact that I wasn’t here when it happened, and that Charlie turned to Andrew’s arms for comfort, made it that much worse. I needed a game plan.

The police gave me a report number and left. I called a 24-hour locksmith to come and fix the door. And then, only then, did I go and sit beside Charlie, who huddled on the couch. She had stopped crying, but she looked pale and shaky.

I wanted more than anything, to pull her into my arms, but I restrained myself, settling on grabbing her hand. “Are you okay?”

She gave me a tired smile. “Glad you’re home.”

“I will make this right, okay?”

She swallowed. “Do you think this is Yazimoto?”

“I’m not sure who is doing this.”

She unfolded herself from the couch. I hung onto her hand, loving how she gave a little smile as she tugged her small hand out of mine. “I should go to bed. I have to work tomorrow.”

“You still sleeping in my bed?” I half teased. Ever since I had found out she had been taking over my bed, I realized I didn’t mind that idea at all.

She arched an eyebrow at me. “I’m back in the guest room.”

“Maybe you’d feel safer sleeping in my room?”

Her lips twitched. “I am not sure if that is the safest place for me.”

“You’d be safe, but I can’t guarantee you’d get any sleep.”

I watched as her cheeks flamed a sweet pink. “Goodnight.”

I waited until that delectable ass disappeared from my view before I picked up my phone. I needed to sort some things out.





*



Three days later, I picked up Charlie from work. I watched her walk across the parking lot, and I used that time to admire her legs in that skirt. Her hair was tied back in a messy ponytail and she gave me a quick smile when she caught me watching her.

She got in beside me and said sweetly, “Hello.”

I tried and failed to keep the smile off my face when I imagined her getting her surprise.

She caught sight of my expression. “What are you up to?”

“I have a surprise.”

She frowned and smiled at the same time. “What is it?”

“You’ll see.”

“Are you cooking something Russian for dinner?” She sounded hopeful.