“You asshole,” my friend Emmett tells me over the phone.

I chuckle to myself. “Next game, I promise it will be you and Ted.”

“Promises, promises,” he says. “Does Ted know you’re taking his daughter and grandchild instead of me and him?”

“He bailed weeks ago,” I tell him.

“That doesn’t answer my question. Does he know you’re taking his daughter instead?”

I anxiously rub at the scruff on my chin. “Well, no. I don’t think he’d care much though. Why would he?”

“Because, man, it’s . . . well, it’s an overly generous thing for a boss to do for his employee.”

“It’s like a bonus, Emmett. Shit like this happens all the time, especially for employees who deserve it. And Jackie, well, she’s been through a lot. She deserves it. In LA I often took the receptionist, Luciana, to dinner.”

“I’m sure Sasha was with you though.”

“She was . . . so what?”

“I just think a hockey game is above and beyond. Especially ringside seats during the playoffs which you were supposed to give to your buddy Emmett!”

“Next game, I promise.”

He grumbles. “Next game. It’s the Canucks. They’ll lose. There won’t be a next game. They’ll be out of the playoffs in no time.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll take you to a Lions game.”

“Canadian football? Give me a break. I’d rather go watch Disney on Ice.”

“That can be arranged.”

“Right. You’d probably bring her kid along too.”

“I’m going to hang up now.”

“Call me when you have good news, okay?”

I hang up the phone and lean back in my chair. Emmett is actually taking it pretty well, considering I said I would take him to the first game of the playoffs. Tickets are expensive and rare and I lucked out. Money talks, but so does knowing the right people.

Unfortunately for him, I had a last minute change of heart. Ted bailed on the game last week, saying he had a function to go to instead, so I immediately thought of Jackie and Tyson. I know going to a game with your boss isn’t exactly normal, but neither is going to Science World. Luckily, Jackie wanted to go.

And luckily Emmett is an understanding guy, if not a bit nosy. He’s one of the very few people I didn’t lose touch with when I moved to LA. Of course I kept in touch with the office here, but other than that, everyone I had known, either through school or the film industry, those ties fizzled.

And even though I’m not one to talk about my problems, Emmett was more than supportive during the divorce, sometimes more so than Ted. I consider Ted to be one of my best friends, but what happened with Sasha and I was a little complicated. As much as Ted took my side throughout everything, Sasha still worked for him so he had to be as fair to the both of us as possible. Talk about being put in the middle.

That all said, I haven’t mentioned to Ted that I’m taking Jackie. I suppose I should. I pick up my cell and eye the time. Right about now.

I get up and gather my leather briefcase and grab my trench coat. Though May is just around the corner, the April weather has been merciless this year. Even the city’s famed cherry blossoms didn’t last very long before the downpours washed the petals away.

Jackie is at her desk, furiously clicking away at what I assume is my expense report for the month.

“Almost ready?” I ask her.

She looks up at me in surprise, her big blue eyes reaching straight into me.

“Oh my god, is it already four?”

I nod. “I need to talk to your father for a moment but I’ll meet you at reception.”

She nods. “Okay.” And goes back to work, though I can feel her eyes on me as I knock on Ted’s door.

“Come in,” he says.

I open the door and step inside. His assistant Patty is sitting across from him with a notepad and pen, tapping it. She gives me a discerning look. I’m not sure the woman likes me.

“Sorry, am I interrupting something?” I ask.

“Not really. What is it?” he asks, barely looking up from the folder he’s flipping through.

“I’m heading out. The Canucks game.”

“The one you’re taking my daughter to.”

“You know?”

Now he gives me a wry stare over his glasses. “Come on, Will. Diane might be my wife but she still talks to me. Sometimes I even listen. Said she that you’re taking Jackie and Ty to the game tonight.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not at all,” he says, then eyes Patty. “You’re just putting me to shame here. What if Patty starts expecting hockey games and Science World too?”

Patty doesn’t say anything but I can tell that’s the last thing that she wants.

“Well, we’re off now,” I tell him. “Have a good weekend, Ted.”

“Take care of my daughter, Will,” he says, flashing me a smile. But I don’t miss the hint of warning in his tone. That he might not trust my intentions.

Honestly, I don’t trust my intentions either.

I try not to think about it.

I leave his office, noting that Jackie’s desk is already empty, and head to reception.

There I find Diane and Ty and Jackie. And Tiffany, watching us all with tepid amusement.

“Ready to go?” I ask.

Jackie nods. Ty sinks into her side, back to being his shy self.

Diane smiles broadly. “This is so nice of you Will.”

“Think nothing of it,” I tell her. “Next time I’d be happy to take you and Ted, if you can ever tear him away from his desk.”

“That will be the day,” she says then gives everyone a wave. “I’m going to go shopping since I’m already here. Holt Renfrew has been teasing me for weeks with their spring sale. See you all after the game.”

With Diane gone, I look to Tiffany. “If anyone calls—”

“Tell them you’re at a hockey game?”

“No, smarty pants,” I say to her. “Just patch it through to voicemail. I’ll deal with it on Monday.”

She nods and looks at Jackie. “You know when I did one month here, all I got was a coupon to Subway.”

“You make it sound like prison,” I tell her, opening the door for Jackie and Ty.

“I call it as I see it,” she says, and then goes back to reading the giant hardback fantasy novel on her desk.

“Hopefully the rain holds off,” I say glancing up at the sky. “Do you both mind coming over to the apartment? I’d like to change if possible.”

“Sure,” Jackie says as I start leading the way down the street.

“Oh wait, is Ty good with dogs?” I ask.

“What? Dogs!” Ty pipes up. I guess that answers that.

Jackie grins at me. “As long as you don’t promise to get him one, I think we’ll be okay.”

“I am stepping on your toes a bit, aren’t I?”

She stares up at me, sweetness in her beautiful eyes. “You’ve been nothing but wonderful, Will.” Then she smiles, looking away, almost embarrassed. “You’re definitely in the running for the best boss of the year award, that’s for sure.”

“Oooh. And what do I get if I win?”

Fuck. Please say it’s you.

“I’ll think of something.”

I wish I could have heard something flirty or sexual in her tone but I don’t. Wishful thinking. As always.

My apartment isn’t far from the office, about a ten-minute walk. A bit of rain has started to pick up just as we round the entrance. Normally I go in another way—the complex takes up an entire block of Richards Street—but the main entrance is impressive.

“Oh my god,” Jackie says as we stare at the tall iron gates between the Mediterranean style buildings, gargoyles overhead. “You live at The Grace?”

“You’ve heard of it?”

“I just remember this building when I was young. I thought it was the prettiest one in the whole city.”

“That’s what Sasha and I thought too,” I tell her. “This here was the original building—townhouses—and they added on the residential tower in 2007. We had the good sense to snap it up then. Rented it out until a few months ago. I have to say, I’m glad we didn’t sell it. I’d be homeless.”

“I’m sure you would have figured something out,” she says to me. “Jeez, look at the tile work.” Her eyes wander all over the terracotta tiles, the elaborate chandeliers that hang above us in the outdoor archway, the plethora of plants in giant glazed pots, the fountains. Ty has taken a fascination with the gargoyles and statues. It’s a little slice of Italy in this rainy Canadian city.

I lead them both through the courtyard and past the townhouses, toward the high-rise section of the property, getting them in the elevator and pressing the button for the twenty-fifth floor.

“We’re going way up,” Ty says excitedly.

“I can’t imagine what it would cost to live here,” Jackie says. “Even a simple one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver costs at least half a million dollars.”

“At least.”

My apartment takes up half of the twenty-fifth floor, and my only complaint is that it faces east instead of west. That said, I still get stunning sunsets from the terrace if I lean over the railing.

I place my finger on the print reading scanner at the door, which I knew would make Ty whisper, “So cool!” and then lead them inside.

I have to admit, the condo is a bit much for just me, and it took a few weeks for it to really feel like home, but I’m slowly getting used to it. I haven’t taken for granted how extravagant it is.

It also reminds me that aside from my dog-walker, I haven’t had a woman up here since I’ve moved in.

“Holy shit,” Jackie exclaims as we step inside.

“Mom, don’t swear,” Ty chides her just as Joan of Bark and Sprocket come running out from the guest bedroom where they usually sleep.

Both of them are overjoyed to see me, which is one of the best parts of owning a dog. Unconditional love and enthusiasm, even when you don’t deserve it.

Ty squeals playfully as Joanie comes over to lick his hands, then his arms, then tries to slurp up his face.

“Joanie, have some respect,” I tell her, pulling back on her collar just as Sprocket shoves his nose in, showering Ty with an equal amount of love and slobber.

“Joanie,” Ty says, giggling.

“Joan of Bark is her full name,” I explain. “And this is Sprocket.”

Both of the dogs want to love up all over Ty, but eventually they move onto Jackie, who crouches down to get the most of their attention.

I grin as Joanie licks up the side of her face, Jackie’s nose scrunching adorably at the ambush.

“She likes you as much as I do,” I tell her.

Jackie opens her eyes, looks right at me, and something I can’t read passes over her. I was joking, obviously, (right?) but for a moment I swear that maybe she likes the idea of me licking her all over.

Fucking hell. Get a hold of yourself.

I clear my throat.

“I’m going to give you guys a quick tour and then I’ll have to take them down to the courtyard for a walk before they piss all over the place.”

She straightens up and walks over to me with Ty, the dogs sniffing at the backs of their legs.

“This really is . . . stunning,” she says softly, eyes wide and taking it all in.

“Two bedroom, two baths, and an office,” I tell her proudly. “Limestone flooring, geothermal heating. And the best views in the city.” I gesture to an open kitchen of rich cherry cabinetry and marble, an immaculate living room with gas fireplace that separates it and the dining area, floor to ceiling windows that lead to a large terrace.

Ty immediately makes a beeline for the doors, but Jackie instinctively holds him back. The balcony has high enough railings, but if she thinks he’s the type to climb over them, then he’d probably best avoid the area.

I take the two of them down the hall, dogs in tow, showing off the rest of the place, the views of the North Shore mountains, shrouded in cloud, to the north, False Creek to the south. Jackie doesn’t let go of Ty. “This place is too white and pristine,” she explains. “No way I’m letting his sticky fingers get everywhere.”

“Don’t let this place fool you. Sometimes I prefer it when things are a little dirty.”

Did I mean that as innuendo?

Yeah. I did.

And from the raise of her expressive brows, she knows it.

I probably should cover it up and mention something about how you can’t really have a pristine place when you’ve got two smelly dogs but I let the comment sit.

When the tour is over I tell them to help themselves to whatever they want in the kitchen while I quickly take the dogs down to the courtyard and back. Then I head to my bedroom to shuck off the suit and slip on something hockey appropriate. I don’t have a Canucks jersey, but I do have a vintage ringer t-shirt of theirs with the old logo. It’s a bit on the small size but it will do. I then slip on a Canucks baseball cap, worn jeans that can handle beer being spilled on them, and grey skate shoes.

I step out of the bedroom to see the two of them sitting at the bar at the kitchen island, a glass of water in Ty’s hands.

“Please tell me this doesn’t look ridiculous,” I say. “I feel like I’m eighteen.”

But from the way Jackie’s eyes are roaming all over me, I know she likes what she sees.

I raise my arms out to the side, my shirt riding up my stomach. “Too small, right?” I ask, and now I’m deliberately teasing her. Because fuck it, I’ve been hitting the gym in my building extra hard most mornings, coupling that with hour-long bike rides around Stanley Park. I know my abs look good. Maybe not eighteen-year old good, but fucking fantastic nonetheless.

“You look fine,” she says after a moment, biting her lip and looking away.

I’m pretty sure that expression says I look better than fine.

God, I want to see that expression more.

A lot more.

“I like your hat,” Ty says, pointing at it.

I tug down at the brim. “Do you? Well I’ll tell you what, Ty-Rex, how about we get you your own at the game.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

“Will,” Jackie says.

“What?” I glance at the clock on the stove. “We should get going if we want to get something to eat. What do you guys think, eat something at the game? Nachos, hot dogs, whatever you like.”

Now Ty is really excited. The poor kid is probably forced to eat healthy meals at home, courtesy of Diane.

We get in the elevator and on the ride down I catch Jackie eyeing me.

I glance down at her and grin. “What is it?”

“Just never seen you so dressed down before. I thought maybe you slept in a suit.”

Actually, I sleep completely naked. The words are on the tip of my tongue but I manage to hold them back. Once again, it’s getting difficult to remember that I’m her boss, and even though this is outside of the office, I have to be really careful with how I act and what I say. She may like my abs but that doesn’t mean much.

And it shouldn’t mean much, I remind myself. For fuck’s sake, she’s Ted’s daughter. She’s got a kid. She’s got enough on her plate. She doesn’t need some old man like you lusting over her.

And yet I am lusting after her. Even standing next to her, catching a whiff of her coconut shampoo, seems unbearable half the time. If I was being really honest with myself, I’d know that I’m doing all these things for her because I like her. I like Ty a lot too. But when it comes to Jackie . . . at this point I want any excuse to spend time around her.

I’m not sure where I think this could even go.

You’re on thin ice, Will.

At least my inner warnings are hockey-themed.

Roger Arena is closer to the office than it is to my place, but it’s an exciting walk on game day regardless. The streets are absolutely packed with drunk fans in Canucks attire, the lucky ones heading to the stadium, the rest of them heading to the bars. Being in LA, and having no desire to cheer on the Kings, I have to say I missed the crazy enthusiasm of this hockey town, especially during the playoffs, even if most fans are of the fair-weather variety.

“This your first hockey game, Ty?” I ask him as we wait in line to be scanned by security.

He nods, big eyes, overwhelmed with it all as he grabs his mother’s hand tighter.

“Actually,” Jackie says to me, “he’s played hockey a few times. Until he outgrew his skates. It snows a hell of a lot up north, and sometimes there’s nothing but ice for miles.”

“Is that so? I know it doesn’t snow in Vancouver most winters, but have you thought about putting him on a team? Might be good for his confidence.”

“We’ll see,” she says. “Depends what Ty wants.”

Inside the arena it’s even more chaotic, but we manage to get to the merchandise store to get Ty a hat before making our way to our seats, all the way down at the glass beside the Shark’s penalty box. With a bit of time to spare before the game, I tell them to stay put as I go and get their food from the vendors. I know I could have afforded the club seats or boxes at the very top, but there’s almost no point in coming to a game unless you’re right there in the action. Even the nosebleed seats here have more authenticity and enthusiasm than the boxes full of execs and suits.

Not knowing what they want, I get a tray of two beers, orange juice, pizza, nachos, and hot dogs. With Ty sitting between us, he ends up holding the tray as we feast. It’s messy as hell but it’s fun. I just wish when Jackie ended up getting mustard on the tip of her nose I could have reached over and kissed it off. It’s probably a good thing her son is between us.

The game gets off to the usual dismal start for the Canucks, but it doesn’t make the game any less exciting. Ty seems enthralled by it all, face pressed against the glass as the puck shoots back and forth down the ring, the players whizzing past.

“I want to be a hockey player when I grow up,” he says as Jackie yanks him back to his seat moments before a Shark’s player gets slammed into the boards.

Jackie gives me a dry look as if to say, thanks for putting the hockey idea into his head.

I shrug, delighting in it.

When the first period is over, Jackie heads up to the use the washroom while Ty and I stay put. “You’re crazy,” I tell her as she passes in front of me, and it takes all my strength not to grab her ass. “The woman’s restroom will have lines out the door.”

“I’ll get a beer for the wait,” she says happily, heading up the stairs between the rows.

“Counterproductive,” I call after her.

I look back to the rink and the Zamboni machine doing a quick sweep. Ty’s eyes are focused on the big screens at the top showing replays of the first period, including when two of the players got into the usual hockey brawl. Gloves came off, helmets came off, and the Canucks player who started the fight ended up bloodied up with a broken nose and who knows what else, though it always looks far worse than it is.

“Is he going to be okay?” Ty asks in a quiet voice.

“The player?”

He nods, giving me a wary look, brows draw together. It takes me a moment to realize I probably should have checked on him during the game. I forget that the fights can look pretty scary to someone who isn’t used to them.

“He’s going to be fine,” I tell him. “It always looks worse than it is. He’ll be out later skating, you’ll see.”

“But he was bleeding all over his face.”

“The blood washes away Ty-Rex. It’s part of his job.”

He wriggles his lips, thinking that over, and I glance up at the screen making sure the fight scene is over.

Then Ty says, “Mom’s face used to look like that.”

And everything inside me runs cold.

I turn to look at him. “What did you say?”

“My mom,” he says, looking at his drink. “Her face was all bloody like that. But she was crying. She wasn’t like this guy.”

I can barely find the words. I can only pray that Ty is talking about something else, something I can understand.

“Your mom got in a fight? With another lady?”

He shakes his head. “No. With Dad.”

My chest squeezes together, like there’s a vice around my heart. “Your father hit her?”

He nods.

Holy fuck.

“When? When did he do this?”

“Before we moved.”

“Jesus,” I whisper. “Did he hit you too?”

He shakes his head. “No,” he says in a small voice. “He yelled at me but he never hurt me. Just mom.”

“When . . .” I lick my lips, my mouth feeling full of sawdust. Raw anger is building from within. “I mean . . . god, I’m sorry Ty. You should have never seen that. He should have never done that.”

“He did it before,” he says, looking at me with big eyes. “It wasn’t as much blood but I saw that too. He pushed her down, kicked her. But then he left. He always left.”

“How long ago was that?” I whisper.

“I don’t know. Last year.”

God. I don’t know what to say. There’s too much to say. Fuck.

“I had no idea. She never said anything to me,” I say stupidly, because I’m an idiot. Why would Jackie tell me that? I’m just her boss, I’m barely even her friend. “Does your grandfather know?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. She doesn’t talk about it.”

“But you do.”

“Only to you,” he says, now looking worried. “Please don’t tell her I told. She might get mad.”

“I promise,” I tell him, my heart shattering inside. “Just promise me that you’ll talk to me about it, whenever you feel like it. Don’t hold it inside, okay? Talk to your mom about it too.”

“She doesn’t like when I mention Dad. She says it’s her fault he’s in jail now.”

Fucking hell. “Ty, listen to me,” I say, putting my hand on his shoulder. “It’s not your mother’s fault, no matter what she says.”

“I know,” he says. “Dad hurt her and she didn’t want him to hurt her anymore. I still miss having a dad. I hope when he gets out of jail he’ll move back down here and be nice to her.”

Hell no. If her ex dared to show up in this city I would personally remove his head with my bare hands.

I sigh and lean back into the seat, trying to come to grips with everything Ty just told me. It explains so much. The look I’ve seen in Jackie’s eyes, this haunted quality that comes over them when she thinks I’m not looking at her. And let’s face it, I am always looking at her.

God. The worst part is, I know exactly what they’ve both gone through. When I was younger, before my father died in a drinking and driving accident (his fault), he used to beat the absolute shit out of me. He did it to my mother too, I was sure of it, but I seemed to be his number one target.

I used to hate feeling this way, but when he died, even though I was so young, I remember being glad. Glad that the terror and fear were removed from my house.

I’ve had thirty-six years to deal with it. I started acting out in high school because of some of the shit I repressed, and my mother and I ended up going to counseling together. It did wonders, even though I still have the occasional nightmare. You never really recover, you just learn to live with it.

But Jackie . . . this just happened to her. She was all alone up north, cut off from her family by an abuser. Shit. No wonder Ted and Diane were so concerned, especially when now I realize her ex was probably cutting them out on purpose. Typical bastard, making sure that he was the only one around for Jackie. Even if he only beat her up twice, twice is two times too many and I am sure he would have been emotionally abusive to her as well.

Thank god she had the sense to get out when she did.

“Are you mad?” Ty asks me quietly.

“Mad?” I say, leaning close to him and looking him in the eyes. “Hey, no. I’m not mad. Not at all. I just feel sorry for you and your mother, for having to go through all that. I know it couldn’t have been easy to see that. But you must know that you’re both safe here, you got that?”

“Because you’re here? And you’re big and strong like the hockey players and you’ll protect us?”

Another crack forms along my heart. Shit, this kid is getting to me.

“I’m a friend. Of your grandpa, of Jackie, of you. I will do whatever I can to protect you, to make sure you’ll all safe and happy. You got that? And I know your mother and grandparents will do the same. Okay? Nothing like that will ever happen to either of you again.”

“Or you’ll turn into Batman?”

I give him a sad smile. “Yes. I’ll turn into Batman. Believe me, it sounds cool, but you don’t want to see it.”

He eyes go up over my shoulder and I know Jackie is approaching. I briefly press my finger against my lips and he nods in agreement.

“You were right,” Jackie says as she squeezes past me. “That line was a nightmare and I’m going to have to go again after I finish this. I got you one because I want you to feel my pain.”

She hands me a beer as she sits down, flashing me a smile.

I grasp the cup, feeling myself break for her all over again. Just her smile disarms me. She’s so incredible, beautiful and strong. Stronger than I could have imagined.

I know I’m gaping at her. She doesn’t say anything, just meets my eyes.

I know, I think to myself, wishing she could read me. I know and it’s okay.

I’ve got you.

I want to protect her.

I want her under my arm, under my wing.

And I don’t ever want to let her go.

“Did you get me anything?” Ty asks.

It takes her a moment to break our gaze.

“Of course,” she says, reaching into her back pocket and pulling out a packet of pretzels, handing it to him.

He tears into it eagerly, munching away as the second period starts and players take to the ice.

Luckily there aren’t any other fights on the ice, because if there were I’d be tempted to take Ty and Jackie out of there, and eventually, as the game goes into overtime, the Canucks end up winning.

But as we stand outside among the cheering crowds, waiting for Diane to pick Jackie and Ty up and take them back home, I feel a strange sense of bereavement that I won’t see Jackie until Monday, and when I do we’ll be back to work, back to being boss and employee.

This is starting to become a problem.

And what a beautiful problem to have.