Page 41 of The Publicity Stunt

"Oh my God!" Bri shouts and jumps up and down in the box.

Victor stands next to her and shouts, "That's my boy!"

Kace happens to glance up to the box as he sits on the bench, and he stares at them slack jawed. Bri can't help it. She beams. They surprised him. She pulled it off.

Kace plays his heart out the rest of the game, and for the first time this season, he scores a hat trick. The third goal comes at the end of the third period, and he has four assists. Bri hugs Victor as they cheer for the man they're so immensely proud of.

"He's been trying all season to get one after having multiple last year," Victor says. "I've never seen it in person, though."

She smiles. "You know, he did it because you were here to impress."

"He did it because we're both here."

"You have a very special son, Mr. Lyons. I hope you know I genuinely care about him."

His smile warms her heart. "I know you do, sweetheart. And based on his performance out there tonight, he cares about you, too. He's never put so much effort in, especially for a girl."

"I hope so," she says. "The way I feel about him scares me a little, but it's impossible to keep him out. Something about being around him feels so safe. It's been such a long time since anyone outside of my security team made me feel that way."

She flushes, realizing just how much she's admitted to the father of the man she spent three days completely naked with.

"Do you know about his ex-girlfriend?"

"Sasha?"

He nods and scrunches his face. "Yes, her."

"I know about her. I met her once. It was weird. And that says something, considering the caliber of people I encounter on a regular basis."

Laughing, he pats her shoulder. "She would have never thought to do something this generous for Kace. In fact, the most she's ever said to me was 'nice to meet you.' There would have been no conversation in this box because her nose was always pointed down at her phone."

"You're kidding."

"Nope. I've met her exactly three times, and I never liked her. Never thought she was good for Kace. But I think he found someone who suits him much better."

She smiles. "Don't tell him what I told you, okay? I didn't mean to blurt it all out. You Lyons men will be the death of me. Probably the first in the world to have embarrassment listed as her cause of death."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetheart. I'm happy you two are happy."

"I think they'll be coming out of the locker room soon. Should we head down?"

"Lead the way."

They make their way down the hallway outside the locker room, and Bri leans against the wall. A slew of reporters waits on the other side of the doors to interview the players after their ridiculous seven to one win against the DC Eagles.

"Dad?" Kace's voice calls from down the hallway.

Victor steps away from the wall and smiles as Kace barrels towards him and envelops him into a huge hug. "Hi, son. Great game. And a hat trick?"

"What are you doing here? And why didn't you tell me? I would've made arrangements at the airport."

He points over his shoulder to Bri. "She was my accommodations. Do you know she has her own damn plane?"

Kace's eyes widen as he looks at her, and she hopes he hasn't been able to get her and their weekend together off his mind like she hasn't been able to. There's something to be said for spending so much time naked with another individual to really bond them together and burn memories into their minds. "You flew him out here?"

"I had some time before my next show, and I wanted to surprise you. I got your dad's information from Neo. Well, Nia, who got it from Neo, and we arranged the surprise."

"I tried to reimburse her for some of the expense," Victor says.

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