Life had never been better.
After the party at my family’s ranch, we’d retreated to my mountain cabin for a few weeks, making up for lost time. Then, it was a quick trip to Minnesota to celebrate Jaxon’s day—along with Beau and Jaxon’s birthdays—and finally, we’d settled back into life in Hartford.
Things were still strained with Coach. I guess I should get used to calling him Ace, but it’s weird. Our roles had changed—not just professionally but personally. We might be peers in the hockey world now, but I was still the guy sleeping with his daughter and he was the man who’d driven us apart. Eventually, Hannah’s happiness trumped his feelings on the matter, and he accepted that I was the man she wanted to be with.
He didn’t have much of a choice. I wasn’t going anywhere.
Even though she’d decided a few weeks ago to exclusively wear my jersey—retired player or not—this season on the ice for the anthem, she still didn’t wear my name legally. Not yet, anyway.
Hannah didn’t know it yet, but there was a specific waterfall calling my name and a yacht already booked for this season’s All-Pro Break. After that, I didn’t think I could wait much longer to make her mine. The thought had already crossed my mind to fly down our immediate families and get married with the sun setting behind us on the sea.
For now, our focus was on the upcoming season. I couldn’t be more excited about being back on the road with Hannah. This time, without sneaking around.
Some might say we would get sick of each other, but I knew better. It wasn’t much different from regular couples working outside the home. They came together each night after they were done with their respective jobs. Hannah and I had different roles, requiring us to spend time apart while we fulfilled them, but every night, we would be in the same city together.
After being forced apart, I never wanted to spend another day without seeing her beautiful face full of love for me, of all people. It was almost too good to be true some days.
The kids running and screaming on the country club lawn brought me back to the present. This event would always hold a special place in my heart. It was where I met the love of my life, even if I hadn’t known it yet.
Sighing, I remarked to Hannah, “This is where it all started. Eleven years ago, a spunky brunette literally marched into my life and turned it upside down.”
Smiling up at me, she lifted on her tiptoes to kiss the side of my jaw. “You’re welcome.”
Chuckling, I pulled her tighter into my side.
Jaxon wasn’t as amused, grumbling, “Real original.”
We all knew that Jaxon first met Natalie at one of these barbeques years before I joined the team and had my run-in with Hannah. Their story was special. Ours didn’t take anything away from theirs, even if our meeting occurred at the same annual event.
“You don’t corner the market on the barbeque meet-cute,” I teased.
“That’s a girly term for such a manly man,” Jaxon retorted.
Our captain wasn’t usually so snarky, but I would cut him some slack. He had four kids at home and a pregnant wife. We might not have known about Charlie before she was born, but we all remembered how on edge Jaxon was during the months leading up to her arrival. I wouldn’t put it past him to be struggling with the idea of the season starting right as Natalie was due.
Hannah, on the other hand, was not inclined to give anyone slack. Ever. “Maybe he’s been stealing some of your wife’s word porn. There was this one scene she told me about that I wanted to try . . .”
“Hannah!” Natalie shrieked, a pink flush creeping up her neck and onto her cheeks.
Completely unphased, Hannah looked around at our group. “We’re still missing one. Where’s Benji?”
Jaxon shrugged. “Who knows? He bailed on us this summer, and we’ve barely heard from him since.” Chuckling, he added,“Maybe he’s afraid all the pregnant women and babies are contagious.”
With that, he plucked Hazel, who had been affectionately nicknamed Hazy, from Lucy’s arms and cuddled her. The raven-haired baby girl giggled when he blew raspberries on her tummy as her chubby hands gripped his shirt collar.
That man was such a softy.
“Speaking of babies . . .” Hannah began. “Is it going to be weird having Baby Braxton on the team?”
Braxton was Jaxon’s much younger brother. He’d just graduated from Hartford State, where he led their hockey team to a collegiate national championship. Last season had been a banner year for the Slate brothers—you couldn’t deny the strength of that gene pool. Now, done with college, he’d signed his entry-level contract with the Comets. The media was already buzzing about both of them playing for the same team.
Jaxon smiled. “It might be awkward during some of the rookie hazing, but I’m excited he’s getting his chance. We didn’t get to spend much time together as kids, and even with him being here in Hartford, our schedules clashed. It’ll be nice to reconnect as adults.”
“He couldn’t ask for a better captain than his big bro.” I winked at my best friend.
Amy struggled to get out of her chair, and Liam leapt out of his to help her.
The poor thing looked exhausted, and her belly was huge. Her husband appeared equally haggard. Liam was a man who thrived on being in control, and so much of having a baby was completely out of his hands. It was taking a physical toll on him.
