Page 38 of The Cupcake Cottage

“I wasn’t scared,” Leo said, cautiously shuffling back to his seat again, trying not to smile.

“Sure, sure,” Dylan said, taking his spot across from him while keeping a steady gaze on him.

“Socks?” Violet giggled. “Is that your team nickname? I had a cat named Socks.”

“I had a mare with that name,” Carol said calmly, obviously used to meal-time shenanigans—even at Thanksgiving.

“Can I have another?” Maverick asked Daisy-Mae, gesturing to the cupcake plate.

“Oops,” Dak said, grabbing the last one as Daisy-Mae passed the plate. He took a giant bite.

“I used to call you a friend,” Maverick said with a fake glower.

“You had one earlier, Maverick. Don’t think we didn’t notice,” his mom said.

“Uh, how is your foot?” Leo asked Dylan as the man continued to glare at him from across the table.

“I’ll hire the best when it’s time to rehab. I’ll pour my life into it.”

“What I wouldn’t do for a good deal and a pile of money in the bank,” Leo said wistfully. “I’ve been chasing after Family Zone. I always envisioned representing them.”

“They don’t work with hockey players,” Dak said.

“They should,” Daisy-Mae said supportively. “They practically have their own team.”

“Right?” Leo said. “And they’re loaded. Theme parks, stores, teams, movies and TV. All kinds of crazy licensing and merch. I wish they wanted me.”

Daisy-Mae met Maverick’s eyes and he nodded slightly as though he, too, was wondering if they could somehow help Leo. She turned back to him, casually asking, “What do you need in order to get a deal with a company like that?”

“They want a family man. Squeaky clean. And I am!”

“You have a family?” Violet asked, her eyes dropping to his ring finger. Daisy-Mae noted the disappointment, even though his ring finger was bare.

“No, but he does a lot of squeaking,” Maverick said with a smirk. Dak gave a snort of amused approval at the dig and held out his fist for a bump from his friend.

Daisy-Mae was learning quickly that the NHL was like its own family. With players often working far from home, theyseemed to take each other in like brothers, looking out for each other, teasing each other, and sharing moments. As an only child, she loved it and wanted to be a part of it forever.

“I go to church, I volunteer,” Leo said, ignoring the ribbing. “I’m helping with the team’s charity for sick kids. I don’t swear. I’m always polite and always helpful.”

“You’re a rookie,” Maverick said gently.

“But I’m twenty-seven! I’m not even that young. I had deals on the bull riding circuit. Why not here, too?”

“You’re young and unproven to these sponsors. They’re waiting for you to go wild and crazy. You have time to earn your chops and get a big deal like Family Zone. Keep your eye on it and keep working them.”

“I want this,” Leo said, clenching his fork tightly.

“What’s the rush?” Daisy-Mae asked.

“I want to make my money, and I want to get out. I want to raise a family, and actually be around for my kids.” Leo’s eyes met hers, bright and determined. He knew what his dream was, and he would get there. She knew that just by looking at him. “I want to be there when my kids take their first steps, when they say their first words. I don’t want to be across the continent playing in a game and getting smashed into the boards, worried that I’m going to shatter my spine and not be able to do everything I want to with my family. There’s a reason I left bull riding five years ago. Now I’m here, but I feel less in control of my future than when I was on top of bulls.”

Daisy-Mae sighed. This man knew what he wanted. No conflicting reservations like she sometimes saw in Maverick. Then again, he was new to the team and didn’t have the weight of the entire team resting on his shoulders. He could afford to be self-centered when it came to his career.

“Well,” Daisy-Mae said after clearing her throat, noting that Violet was looking at Leo, slightly doe-eyed, “if there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”

Maverick took her hand on top of the table and gave it a squeeze. Dak gave them a look of surprise.

His best pal. Maverick hadn’t even told his best pal about them? They were supposed to be shouting it to the world through a megaphone.

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