Page 26 of Roughing
Briggs glanced at her, then snapped his gaze back, taking a longer look. “What the fuck happened to her?”
“She’s not talking. All I know is that she went missing around the holidays. Other than a few cryptic text messages, no one has heard from her until tonight.”
“Is she running from someone?” Briggs’s eyes narrowed to menacing slits. He’d gone into protective mode again, but this time I welcomed his guard-dog behavior. He didn’t know Heidi, yet concern was etched on his handsome face, reminding me once again there was more to Briggs than he let on.
“It’s possible.”
“Hey, I can finish up here. Why don’t you get these ladies home?” Trent loitered nearby and had heard enough to know what was going on.
“Thanks.” Briggs grabbed his coat. I waited for him.
“Be gentle with her. She’s really skittish around men right now.”
He scowled as if I’d insulted him. Briggs had to know he was scary with his too-long, unruly hair and dark beard, not to mention his muscular six-foot-four frame. If I didn’t know him, I might find him intimidating. Of course, he was a defenseman, and intimidation was part of the job description.
“Hi, Heidi.” Briggs kept his voice low and soft. “I’m Briggs. I play for the Icehawks like the rest of these guys.” He pointed in the general direction of his teammates.
Heidi shrank and made herself smaller. Briggs’s half smile reflected a gentle kindness with none of his usual surliness or anger. I’d never seen this side of him. Pride toward this enigmatic man surged through me.
“Well, shall we go?” I was anxious to get Heidi settled in.
Heidi nodded.
“Is this your bag?” Briggs indicated the beat-up duffel with a jerk of his chin. When Heidi nodded, he reached down and picked it up as if it weighed nothing and slung it over his shoulder.
In an unexpected show of chivalry, he offered his arm to both of us. I laughed and linked my arm with his. Heidi backed away. Briggs didn’t push her; instead, he opened the Uni door, and we exited.
He’d parked about a block away. I was glad he was with us, as some unsavory characters stood at the street corner and watched with interest. One glare from Briggs, and they swung around, giving us their backs. Even those bad boys weren’t willing to mess with him.
Heidi climbed in the back seat, and Briggs faced me. Our eyes met briefly, and he looked away first, but not before I witnessed a brief moment when he let his infamous guard down. Despair flashed in those blue eyes, and I stepped forward, touching his arm.
He jerked away, and the mask slipped over his face.
ChapterNine
THE LONER
~~Briggs~~
Shit.
I couldn’t do this. As strong as I was, I wasn’t strong enough.
This friend thing was going to be the death of me. Despite claims to the contrary, I craved more than friendship with Michella, but I had to respect her wishes and maintain my self-control. Maybe it was a good thing she had a roommate. I’d be less inclined to step over the line she’d drawn.
If I were being honest with myself, which I rarely was, I still had hope Michella and I might make this something more, but I didn’t know what “more” actually was. We’d done just the sex part of a relationship, and now we were attempting the friendship part. We’d never put the two together. I’d watched from a distance as my teammates fell in love and how they’d changed. Their partners always had their backs, and they depended on each other. I wondered what such devotion felt like.
I’d probably never know. I was a loner. I didn’t need or want a partner in life or anything else off the ice rink.
I pulled my SUV around to the back of our building, where there were a couple spaces designated for loading and unloading. The girls got out, and I grabbed the duffel bag. Michella kept herself between us. I understood why and tried not to be insulted. Heidi was afraid of all men. Her fear was nothing personal. Yet I was bothered by it. I might be a grumpy asshole, but I’d never laid a hand on a woman. Ever.
We took the service elevator to the third floor. I stood back while Michella unlocked her door and escorted Heidi inside before following them. I set the duffel in the tiny hallway and surveyed the room. I hadn’t been in here since Michella had unpacked and decorated. She’d done an amazing job with this small space. Maybe if this job didn’t work out, she should try interior design.
“This is beautiful. Everything is so perfect.” Heidi gushed and was the most animated I’d seen her all night. “Can I use the bathroom?”
“Sure, down the hall on the left. There’s only one.”
“That’s fine.” Heidi held her purse close to her and hurried down the hall.
