Read Online Bonds of Courage by Lynda Aicher - Free Book Online Page B

haven’t slept with a girl in almost two months.”
    “A man then?”
    “A what...” He scowled, his brows drawing hard over his eyes. “No,” he said, the disgust clear.
    “You’re not a homophobe, are you?”
    “What?” His flustered scrambling almost put the smile back on her face. “No.” He shook his head. “What does that have to do with us?”
    “Nothing,” she said, zipping her briefcase closed. “And everything.” She stuffed her phones in the front pocket, swung the strap over her shoulder and flashed him a cool smile as she walked past him. “Good luck today. Let me know if you have any problems.” She was in the outer office passing Angie’s desk when Holden finally responded.
    “I don’t have your number.” His deep voice got louder as he followed her into the reception area.
    Vanessa checked her watch. “Angie can give it to you.” She looked to her assistant. “The white one.”
    Angie tilted her head but didn’t question Vanessa’s request. Giving out her personal number wasn’t something Vanessa did very often. But she wasn’t stupid. This discussion wasn’t done and it didn’t fall under business. She could’ve given him the number for the red phone, but this wasn’t club-related either. Not anymore.
    She turned back to Holden. “Leave your cell number with Angie.” Then she was out the door and down the short hallway to the elevator. The wait was thankfully short, and she breathed a small sigh of relief when the elevator doors swooshed closed.
    His persistence was flattering, but he was far from the first submissive to beg for her attention. He’d get bored and move on before long. Athletes didn’t like the word no . If he was serious about playing with her, he’d prove it to her.
    And then they’d just have to see what happened.

Chapter Six
    “Can you come back, Mr. Hauke?”
    Holden grinned at the chirpy-voiced boy who looked up at him with a mix of hope and adoration in his eyes. How am I supposed to say no to that?
    A chorus of pleas had Holden laughing and ruffling the damp hair of the instigator. They were all a bit sweaty after playing floor hockey in the hot gym for the last hour. “We’ll see, Squirt.”
    “It’s Jimmy. But Squirt’s cool.” He grinned at the boy next to him. Neither of them could’ve been more than eight or nine years old.
    The youth center director clapped her hands in a rhythmic beat that had the magical effect of getting the twenty or so kids to go quiet. Their easy obedience was just one of the many instances of respect he’d seen the kids give Vivian, or Liv, as she’d corrected him.
    “Let’s thank Mr. Hauke for coming today.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Hauke,” rang out in off-key harmony.
    Holden grinned, giving a salute to the kids.
    “And for donating the sticks and pucks to the youth center,” Liv added. Another round of “thank yous” followed before Liv added, “Does anyone have any last questions for Mr. Hauke before he leaves?”
    “Can we come to a game sometime?” The question came from Jimmy. The spunky kid had a fearless streak that’d made him a terror during the floor-hockey game but could just as easily lead him astray. Maybe this youth center would keep the kid from getting into too much trouble.
    “Mr. Hauke is a very busy man,” Liv answered for him. “Let’s be thankful for the time he’s shared with us.”
    “I’ll see what I can do,” Holden answered Jimmy, meaning it. Getting game tickets for the kids wouldn’t be a hardship. “The season doesn’t start until October though.”
    A tall girl with freckles across her nose and a messy ponytail spoke up. “What are you doing this summer?” She’d been an avid listener and a quick learner when it’d come time to play the game.
    Holden wiped the moisture from his brow and smiled at her. “I took about a month off once the season was done, but now it’s back to practicing both on and off the ice. I have workouts scheduled every morning