When he realized I wasn’t contagious, Jared visibly relaxed but still stepped toward the door. With his hand on the handle, he turned back. “Oh, and about the reporter.”
Those were the magic words that had Bristol slipping her mouth from my throbbing length mere seconds before I lost control.
“What about her?” I couldn’t keep the bite from my tone.
“Relax, Maddox. I know how it goes.”
My eyebrows raised. “You do?”
Releasing the handle, he leaned against the door, facing me. “Most people don’t know this, but Tori was working for the Heroes when we met. I sustained an upper-body injury that kept me out of the game for about six weeks, and she was the physical therapist assigned to the players who stayed back to rehab while the team traveled. We spent a lot of time together that led to a friendship, and eventually more.” He chuckled. “Thirty years later, we have four kids and three grandkids. All I ask is that you keep it professional at the rink.”
I nodded. “Got it. Thanks, Jared.”
He opened the door and left, latching it behind him.
Hands pushing on my knees forced my chair to roll back enough to allow Bristol to climb out while I tucked myself away in case any additional visitors dropped by.
Wide-eyed and flushed, she asked, “You disclosed our relationship to the team?”
I hauled her onto my lap. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t?”
Bristol dropped her gaze, chewing on a corner of her lip. “I don’t know.”
“Have I not made myself clear? I want tobewith you. I’m a grown-ass man, and I have no desire to sneak around like a teenager when it comes to our relationship. You went to your boss today, so I did the same. It’s not a big deal.”
She let out a shaky breath. “After what Nix put me through, being the booty call he never took out in public, it is ahugedeal. I’m so used to giving one hundred percent in a relationship because my partner never met me halfway that it never occurred to me that you would take the same leap I did this morning.”
I bristled. “Is that what you think of me? That I’m no better thanhim?” Venom dripped from that last word.
“Of course not,” she rushed to say. “It’s just . . . I don’t know what it’s like to have an equally invested partner.”
Cupping her face, I let out a sigh. “That breaks my heart, Bristol. You’re this beautiful, intelligent, caring young woman. And don’t get me started on those flashes of sass that peek through. They drive me wild. Any man who couldn’t see the prize sitting before him needs to have their head examined because when I look at you, I truly believe I’m the luckiest man in the world to have your attention.”
The tiniest hint of a smile tipped up on her kissable lips. “I think we both know you have more than my attention.”
“Affection, then,” I countered, hope blossoming in my chest that she might admit it went beyond that.
Bristol blushed and nodded.
My mind hadn’t found a label for my feelings for her, but I had a sneaking suspicion it would eventually land on love. I’d been witness to it with my best friends. Braxton was utterly smitten with Dakota. And Jenner . . . Well, if Jenner felt even half of what I did for Bristol about his ex-wife, then I wasn’t sure how he was still standing.
Losing Bristol at this point was unimaginable—it would wreck me. She had quickly become the air I breathed, my light in the dark, my reason for living.
Hockey had been at the forefront of my life for so long it was strange to have something steal focus from it. But my role had changed, and it was good to have a new purpose—one that still revolved around the game but kept me a hell of a lot warmer at night.
Now that I had her, I never wanted to let her go.
“Dinner tonight?” I asked.
Beautiful blue eyes peered up at me. “Sure. I’ve got to get home and write my article, but I can meet you afterward. Send me an address, and I can meet you wherever.”
As much as I would love to show her off, tonight, I wanted her all to myself. But she’d find that out later.
“Perfect. I’ll send that over when we’re done here.”
She reared back, confusion filling her face. “Done with what?”
Dark laughter fell past my lips. “Oh, sweetheart, did you think you were going to get away with that little stunt under the desk with my boss in the room?”
