Page 24 of The Hockey Contract

So why couldn't I shake the image of her hand wearing my ring?

Chapter 9: Sienna

On my wedding day, I woke at four a.m., the same as any other morning. For a moment, I lay perfectly still, eyes fixed on the ceiling, trying to convince myself this was just another day. In seven hours, I would be married to a man I barely knew—a man who'd purchased me like one would purchase a comfortable piece of furniture.

"Purchased is harsh," I whispered to myself. "It's a mutually beneficial arrangement."

I hauled myself out of bed, dressed in my usual jeans and t-shirt, and headed to the bakery. If today was going to be bizarre, I at least needed these few hours of normalcy.

The bakery was silent and dark when I arrived, exactly as it had been every morning for the past three years. I flipped on the lights, turned on the ovens, and pulled out the dough that had been proofing overnight. The familiar routine settled my nerves: weighing, mixing, kneading. The physical work of baking had always been my anchor.

By six, the first batch of pastries was cooling, their buttery scent filling the air. I'd told my part-time morning staff that I was moving in with a new boyfriend today, but hadn't mentioned the marriage. That conversation could wait—preferably until after I'd processed it myself.

"Something smells amazing," called a voice from the front. Chloe appeared in the kitchen doorway, holding two coffees. Her keen eyes assessed me immediately. "You look like hell."

"Thanks. Just what every bride wants to hear." I accepted the coffee gratefully.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"Does staring at the ceiling for six hours count?" I pulled another tray from the oven. "I kept thinking about Grandma Rose. What would she say if she knew I was essentially selling myself to save her bakery?"

Chloe hopped onto a stool, blowing on her coffee. "She'd say you're resourceful as hell. And that men have been getting the better end of marriage deals for centuries, so it's about time the tables turned."

That surprised a laugh out of me. "She would say exactly that."

We worked side by side for the next hour, preparing for the morning rush. I'd made more pastries than usual, unsure when I'd be back. As I boxed up my favorite aprons and essential baking tools, reality started sinking in.

"What if this is a huge mistake?" I whispered, staring at my grandmother's rolling pin in my hands.

Chloe stopped what she was doing and faced me directly. "It probably is. But you know what? Sometimes huge mistakes are exactly what we need."

"That's terrible advice."

"True," she grinned, "but it's authentic. Look, you're saving the bakery. That's what matters. And it's only for three months. Just... be careful."

"Careful?"

"With your heart." Her expression turned serious. "I saw how you looked at him yesterday. The ice man is hot, I get it. Just remember this is business for him. Don't fall for someone who's literally paying you to pretend."

"I'm not going to fall for him," I scoffed. "He's arrogant and cold and—"

The bell above the front door jangled, cutting me off. Chloe peeked through the kitchen door window and grimaced. "Speaking of complications... your aunt is here."

My stomach dropped. "Aunt Carol? Now?"

Before I could hide my half-packed box, my aunt's cheerful voice echoed through the bakery. "Sienna Rose! Where's my favorite niece?"

I plastered on a smile as Aunt Carol bustled into the kitchen. After my parents moved to Italy, Aunt Carol had stepped in as my surrogate mother, helping with the bakery renovation and checking in regularly. She was the last person I wanted to lie to.

"There you are!" She enveloped me in a hug that smelled of her signature lavender perfume. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd surprise you with—" She froze, her eyes locked on my left hand where the engagement ring glinted traitorously. "Sienna Rose Williams. What is that on your finger?"

My mind went blank. I looked desperately at Chloe, who raised her eyebrows in a "you're on your own" expression.

"It's, um... I'm..." I took a deep breath. "I'm getting married. Today, actually."

Aunt Carol's eyes widened to comical proportions. "Married? To whom? Since when are you even dating someone?"

"His name is Jax Harrison." The words tumbled out. "He plays hockey for the Kraken. We've been seeing each other... quietly. It's been a whirlwind romance."

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