Love Faces Off

Chapter 4

The next morning at 7:30am there was a knock at Raegan’s door. Carla and Riley both jumped a foot in the air. It was in that moment that Raegan realized just how bad her friend’s life had been.

“It’s ok.” She assured them, “It is either the door man coming to get my bags or someone on the approved list. Anyone not on that list does not get access to the building. You are safe.”

Raegan went to the door and saw it was Pete. She opened the door

“What are you doing here?”, she asked.

“Solving problems. As always.” He said with a grin.He stepped into the apartment

“I called a friend that works at Verizon, he owed me a favor. He opened the store early this morning so I could get this phone. All you need to do is activate it and it will be on your plan.”

“Pete, thank you so much!”Raegan gave him a huge hug. Pete inhaled her scent and the feel of her body on his.

Carla cleared her throat. Pete reluctantly released Raegan.

“I guess I should introduce you. Carla and Riley Johnson I would like you to meet a real life hero Pete LeBlanc also know as the Captain of the Tampa Thunder.”

Carla and Pete just stared at each other for a moment. Then Riley began to cough on her cereal and broke the spell between them.

“Are you ok, honey? Take smaller bites.” Carla turned her attention back to Pete. “Thank you for your help. I don’t know how I can ever repay you or Raegan.”

Reagan put her arm around Carla’s shoulder, “I told you not to worry about it. That’s what family does. And Pete is basically family.”

“Anything you and your daughter need just let me know. If I don’t know where it’s at or how to get it I’m sure I know someone who does. Family of Reagan’s are family of mine.”

“Again, thank you. Come on, Riley. Let’s get you dressed so we can drive Aunt Rae to the airport.”

Pete interrupted, “That won’t be necessary.”

They both turned to him, “It won’t?”

Pete got sheepish, “As a player I have a car service that comes to get me to the airport. I called it early today to get the phone. So it is here and can take us both to the airport.”

“That’s a great offer,” Reagan said, “but I still need to get some cash to leave Carla.”

Pete reached into his his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.

“Another problem solved. I am on a roll today!” Pete proclaimed very proud of himself.

“No.”Carla said as she placed a hand on his arm. As soon as she touched him was a jolt that ran through her. She immediately recoiled her touch. Pete felt it she was sure of it.

“That is to much. It was one thing to be indebted to Reagan but I can’t take your money. We just met and you’ve already done too much for us. As it is, I owe you for a phone.”

“The phone is going on Raegan’s bill like you guys had worked out. I figured you would be uncomfortable owing me. Raegan can repay me the cash when we land and then you would owe her if it makes you feel better.” Pete suggested looking back and forth between the two ladies. “I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. I just want to help.”

Reluctantly, Carla agreed. Assuring them that she would pay them both back when she got on her feet. In no time they had the phone activated and important numbers entered. Raegan stopped by security in her building to let them know that Carla and Riley would be staying there and to stress anyone not on the list should not be allowed up.

Raegan and Pete were now in the town car heading toward the team plane.

“What would I do without you?”, she asked as she gave Pete’s hand a squeeze. He couldn’t fight the urge and so he laced his fingers with hers.

“You will never know because I will always be here.”

“Thank you.”

Pete went to say more, but the driver announced they had arrived. As they got out of the car Pete was shocked to see Nick Bell already waiting outside the plane. The two mens’ gaze met. For a brief moment Pete caught a hint of jealously when Nick saw that Raegan was in the car with him. Let him think what he wanted. If it kept him away from Raegan, let him draw the wrong conclusions.

Nick had made a point to arrive early to the flight, 45 minutes early to be exact. He wanted to make a better second impression after all the mishaps yesterday. He also had a feeling the lovely Raegan Moore was always early for these things. He had hoped to have a few minutes alone to get to know her but when he arrived she was no where in sight. Then he saw the town car pull in something told him she was in that car. He started walking toward the car when he saw her climb out. She was dressed casually in jeans and a blue Thunder shirt. He groaned a little bit as he thought of the curves hiding below. His fantasies were quickly replaced with anger when he saw LeBlanc get out of the same car. What was the deal there?

“Hey, you’re Nick Bell, right? I’m Andre Cluck, like the chicken get it out of your system now.”

Bell reluctantly turned away from the angel to shake the the offered hand of a new team mate.

“Nice to meet you, Andre.”

“We are glad to have you on the team. A little friendly advice?”

Nick nodded for him to continue.

“Don’t even try it.” Andre was looking at Raegan. “It won’t go anywhere and you will only get yourself traded.”

Nick looked at him “You sound like you’re speaking from experience?”

Andre nodded, “I am. I joined the team a little over two years ago. I got the same lecture I’m sure you did at intake. Medical staff, especially Ms. Moore, are off limits. Well of course that just made me want to try for her more. I asked her out three times, respectfully. I was turned down all three times. But on the third, I made some smart ass comment that I wasn’t going to stop until she said yes. The next thing I know I’m in the Big Guy’s office with Coach and LeBlanc. I was told that if I ever approached Ms. Moore again, I would be traded or sent back down to the lower leagues. I laughed. I was the leading scorer on the team and #3 in the league. Then Mr. Kwatski passed a paper over showing all the offers they had pending for my trade. They are serious on the no fraternization. And very protective of her.”

Nick looked back over at where Raegan and LeBlanc stood talking with Coach Collson.

“Do you think its because the Cap and her are a thing?”, Nick wondered aloud.

“I thought that at first. And if you only look at Cap’s face you would think they are. But once you look at how she looks at him you will see it is one sided. She firmly has him in the friend’s zone, actually worse, the big brother zone.” They both groaned in understanding.

“Which is a step up from where she has the rest of us. I have no doubt the Cap wishes they were more, but in reality they aren’t. I heard rumors when I first came that there was a situation between her and a player that caused the hard line in the sand. But no one ever knew the details, just rumors, ya know.”

Nick shook his head, “Thanks for the heads up. I’m going to steer clear of what ever that is.”

He lied. He knew he wouldn’t be able to. He was a moth to a flame. Even as they were boarding the plane he knew where she was. He fought the urge to make his way to the back of the plane where she was seated with the rest of the traveling medical staff. If he wanted to get to know her better he was going to have to be patient and earn her trust. Something told Nick that someone had hurt her. That it had been bad and turned his angel into the Ice Queen.