Now, with one swing of his hockey stick, Decker might run the business into the ground. He’d spent the past nine years focused on hockey, leaving him with a string of flings and a reputation for playboy behavior.
He’d never led a woman on. They knew the score going in and were as happy with the arrangement as he was. He’d learned the hard way that most women wanted him for what monetary and celebrity value he brought to the table. Then again, it’s not like he was going to give them love, so they might as well get something out of it.
“We have millions tied up in this project. If we lose Castle, we lose our reputation and the chance at working with other builders. Not to mention the possibility of losing the company.”
“That wasn’t all on me and you know it.”
“This is our chance to take it to the next level,” Brian said, as if Decker wasn’t aware of the stakes.
“We have an agreement in place. There is no legal way he can back out of it now.”
“No, all we have is a fucking handshake, which you promised me was enough until we got the papers signed,” Brian said. “I’ve already started putting together a crew and spent money on this project because youpromised methings were golden.”
“Why would you move forward if we didn’t have a signed contract?”
“Because you promised me it was a done deal.”
“He won’t back out. It’s not his style. He’s a man of his word.”
Brian sighed. “That was before you paraded his naked daughter across town.”
“I didn’t do it.”
“Did you make the tape?” His silence was answer enough. “Then you might as well have released it, too. Honestly, Deck, who makes a sex tape anymore? As for canceling our deal, Castle said he can, and he will. We have nothing on paper. And if he thinks you acted in a way that could adversely affect his company’s image, it’s game over for us.”
“First of all, it was consensual, monogamous adults in a loving relationship, sharing a private moment. Second, it was eight years ago. It was never supposed to be breaking news on TMZ.”
“An LA heiress and a three-time Stanley Cup winner?”
Yeah, he got that part.
“What’s the plan?” Brian asked.
“There isn’t one. If we ignore it, it will go away. The second I go on the defense, it’s front-page news for a month.”
“So you’re just going to let your own nephew think that hisuncle is the kind of man who sleeps with a woman and films it?”
His heart slammed against his sternum. Regret hit hard at the idea that Miles would think this was acceptable behavior. “He knows?”
“One of his friends texted him the video.”
Decker couldn’t even imagine how that conversation went. Just like he couldn’t imagine how he was going to explain this to his step-nephew without sounding like a douche. He loved being an uncle and he didn’t want to jeopardize that.
Decker rested a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I can make this right.”
“By staying silent?”
“If it wasn’t Holly who leaked it, then I can’t jeopardize her reputation by laying blame.” Plus, he’d never blame a woman without hard proof. Knowing she was probably just as mortified and there wasn’t anything he could do to make it better tore him up inside.
Brian recoiled as if Decker had just told him he’d taken out a hit on his family.
“I’m not saying rat her out. I’m just saying, when are you going to grow up and think before you act.”
There it was. His brother’s only weapon against him—the words he knew Decker had no defense against. Decker had put his team ahead of his family once, and while he didn’t regret his time in the NHL, he regretted the distance it put between him and his brother.
“We can weather it. As long as you know the truth, I’m good taking the fall.”
“Don’t you get that none of that matters? All the media will report is that youract now, think laterreputation is alive and well,” Brian pointed out. “That’s the last thing we want potential clients to associate with Drill ’Em Hard Construction. We have to address this.”
