JULY
I WAS COMING BACK from my run but slowed down my pace when I saw the town car parked in front of our rented house.
Breathing hard, I took out my ear buds and watched as Mark Ashford got out of the car. We stood and stared at each other.
“Hey, Mark.” I stepped forward to shake his hand.
“Congratulations to you and Buffalo for winning the cup.”
“The Wolves could have made it if your goalie hadn’t gotten hurt.”
He looked around the small front yard. “Is Krista home?”
“She’s in New York, chasing a new client.”
He studied the house for a long moment before asking, “How is she?”
“They arrested Eduard. He pleaded out, so she doesn’t have to testify, and she’s been working hard at her comeback.”
“It won’t take her long, but this contract will help a lot in clearing her name.” He handed me a thick envelope. “I wanted to deliver the contract myself and officially ask if you’d like to become part of the Wolves.”
This conversation wasn’t a surprise. My agent and I had been in talks with the Wolves for weeks about their pending offer, but Mark’s personal gesture was a surprise. “That was unnecessary, but it’s appreciated.”
“I was surprised Krista wasn’t part of your negotiations.”
“She didn’t want to be my agent.”
Mark grinned. “She had enough?”
“She said she would either be my agent or my wife, but not both.”
“That’s fair. Does she know about my offer?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t want to get her hopes up.”
He nodded. “People rarely surprise me, but you did. I underestimated you.”
My tone was serious. “I needed to grow the fuck up.”
A smile touched his lips. “You needed some guidance, but you had a remarkable year.”
“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.” I worked to find the right words. “You took a chance on my demo.”
“I would have been an idiot not to.”
I gestured with my head. “Want to come in for a drink?”
He shook his head. “No, thanks. I have some fires I need to put out.”
“What kind of fires?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
I studied the envelope. “I would have done anything to be with her. I would have even given up hockey.”
Mark gave me an amused smile. “I know. But I was never going to not sign you this fall.”
Our eyes met. “You played me?”
He turned and opened the back door of the car. “I motivated you.”
I grabbed the door. “You heading to New York?”
His eyes crinkled with his smile. “Need a lift somewhere?”
SHE SAT in the lobby of her hotel, unaware of me. I stood and watched her as she typed on her laptop with concentration.
I moved to stand in front of her, but she didn’t look up.
“Do I need to jump off the roof into the pool to get your attention?”
She lifted her head, and her eyes widened in surprise. “Don’t you dare.”
I leaned down and dropped a kiss on her mouth. “You trying to boss me around again?”
She gave me a look that went straight to my dick. “I never stopped.”
“We should talk about this in your hotel room.”
She shut her laptop. “Not before you tell me why you’re here.”
I had been waiting for this moment for a long time. “How do you feel about going home?”
She paused and then said slowly, “The Wolves?”
“They’re offering ten years.” I handed her the contract and watched as she eagerly flipped through the pages.
“This is incredible, Levi.” She lifted her face. “Your new agent did amazing.”
“You want to move back home this fall?”
She flew into my arms. “Yes.”
I wrapped my arms around her, knowing I would never get tired of this feeling. “I’m sorry it took me this long to get here.”
“I’m not.”
I pulled back to look at her.
“I mean it,” she gave me a shy look. “I’m happy.”
I captured her mouth with my own. “Can we go to your room now?”
She laughed. “Yes.”
I watched her pack up her bag. “Now we can start booking venues for the wedding.”
Krista had never quite gotten on board with the whole big wedding thing, but between myself and Bea, we were winning her over. “Our big, fat, public wedding?”
I slung her laptop bag over my shoulder and put my arm around her. “That one.”
“I’m still willing to elope.”
“Bea would kill you.”
Her arm wrapped around my waist as we walked over to the elevator. “We’re still married. Remind me again why are we having a wedding?”
I kissed her temple as we stood waiting for the elevator. “Mainly for the honeymoon sex.”
Her laugh was music to my heart. “You’re trouble.”
I reached down again and kissed her on the lips this time. “You love it.”
