Page 102 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“Do you remember when I was trying to suggest we fake date and you thought I was propositioning you for sex?” She laughs out loud.

“That’s because undressing you was all I was thinking about that night at Fair Shot,” I confess. “I know everyone was worriedabout me being hurt by Scarlett, but she didn’t have that power over me. You do though.”

“Oh, Cade.” She leans forward and caresses my cheek. Her gaze is on my lips and I know she wants us to make out on the couch, but I am on a mission. I have to stay focused.

“Annie.” I blink. “I want to ask my dad to give me a loan to help your dad with the farm. Please, let me finish. It would be a short-term loan. I’d pay him back quick. I just couldn’t live with myself if you lost this farm. After spending time working here, I’ve come to really love this place. Maybe because I see it through your eyes now. I know you want to raise a family here one day. . .”

“Cade, what are you saying?”

“This isn’t a proposal, Annie. When I do ask you to marry me, I’m going to try my best to make it super romantic but, right now, I need to know we are on the same page. That you see what I see in our future.” I wait with bated breath and watch her eyes tear up.

“I love you so much, Cade. More than I knew could be real. But what happens if you end up in Colorado next year? What happens if we see each other twice a month? I’ve committed to veterinary school. That’s four years. It’s a serious amount of time. You’re going to be on the road traveling. There will be women throwing themselves at you.”

“Baby, I only want you,” I assure. “My heart belongs to you.”

“What happens if you help with the farm and then you realize next year this isn’t the life you want? I would never want you to feel stuck,” she insists. I understand where these fears come from. Her mom felt stuck and voiced it every chance she got.

“I’m not your mom and you aren’t your dad. I know what I want. I’m loyal to my core, Annie. You’d never need to worry about other women because I only want you.”

“But you can’t know that, Cade. I love you. I don’t want this to end, but I think it’s best if we don’t make anything final until you get through your first year in the NHL.”

“You’re playing hardball with me,” I accuse, shaking my head, but I know better than to argue because Annie is stubborn and it is that fire in her I love so much.

“For now, we are selling half our cows. Daddy has a buyer. It will cover the cost of the penalty to the state. With less cows there will be less waste management. We’ve been speaking with some local contractors about some waste management methods that won’t be as costly, and Daddy has been brainstorming some new branding for cheese.”

“So you have everything worked out?”

“Not everything, Cade. I love you so much. Please believe in that. Please understand why I need you to land and figure your life out before we make that kind of commitment.”

“I understand, baby. I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

“Thank you, Cade.”

She curls into my side. We watch our movie. My mind is reeling because this conversation has not gone as planned. But I haven’t gotten this far in my life by giving up. Annie wants me to prove I am in this for the long haul and that is exactly what I plan to do.

EPILOGUE

Annie

Cade came in at fifty-five in the draft. He landed in North Carolina. It was only a couple hours flight from Michigan. The preseason games started in September, so he was gone when I went back to school. After spending so much time together over the spring and summer, it was hard to say goodbye to him, but somehow that time together solidified how good we are together. Cade came to love the farm as much as I did. When Daddy sold the cows and I spent a few days straight crying, Cade held me in his arms. But with less cows came less stress. Daddy focused on manufacturing a cheese and he found some backers who were willing to put money up front. It was an organic goat cheese and Daddy was marketing to the fancier restaurants across mainland USA, where there was a burgeoning market for the product. It had been an idea Daddy and I came up with together. Daddy was excited about the new possibilities. I didn’t feel so bad heading back to Riverside.

This year I’d be living in an apartment building off campus where a lot of graduate students lived. I’d also be living by myself. Ruby was living with Macklin in the hockey house.

Cade called me every day, but our conversations were short and he was always busy. He was bonding with a new team. As a rookie, he had to prove he was worth the offer they made him, which was very handsome. I was feeling lonely at school, but at least I had the time to bury myself in schoolwork. I loved veterinary school, so at least I knew I made the right decision. There were also fears and anxieties that kept creeping up on me. Like maybe this was the end of the road for Cade and me. He was a famous NHL player. I had been speaking with Charlie, who was in a similar boat as me. She was training for the Olympics and Finn was in Pennsylvania, but they seemed to make it work.

I am at my desk in my apartment, reviewing material when Cade calls. “Hi, baby.”

“Hi,” I reply.

“Oh oh, I know that tone. What’s wrong?” he asks. I think I’m getting my period and feeling hormonal.

“Nothing, I’m getting my period soon,” I tell him.

“I’ll send you a box of chocolates.”

“That isn’t necessary.”

“It is if I think it is,” he insists. There is noise in the background.

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