Page 105 of Love Me Boldly

“Perfect.” I grinned up at him. “Hi, guys.”

“Hi, guys,” Tanner mumbled and then lunged for me. “You can hi guys like you saw me yesterday when youdidsee me yesterday.”

His arms wrapped around me, yanked me from Graham’s hold, and then I shrieked as he lifted me high in the air. “How are things going, Spitfire?”

He used the nickname for me Graham had always used, but that was usually in private. I had no idea he’d even known it. Or remembered it.

“They’re going well. Can you put me down?” He was so much taller than me that my feet were dangling in the air.

“And can you get your greasy hands off her?” Graham grumbled.

Tanner laughed because that was what he always did. Everything but hockey to him was one large joke and game. My feet hit the floor, and then Eli was there.

“You doing okay?” he asked, and this time I didn’t hesitate or freeze to hug him back at his side when he opened his arms for me.

“Doing okay, I think.”

“Sure seems like it. Heard you have a boy.”

“Jonah. He’s fantastic.”

“Hopefully we’ll get to meet him?”

I stepped back, right into Graham’s side, and looked at the two guys I definitely hadn’t expected to see. “How long are you here?”

“This guy”—Tanner pointed his thumb at Graham—“told me not to come, but I decided, screw that. Guys from my team are meeting up in Florida, so I’m heading there next week. Thought I’d stop here on the way.”

“Tampa on the visit?”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “Trace said she’s busy with a project. Another time maybe.”

I was hearing from her less and less over the last few months, but she was a woman in a highly male-dominated engineering field. She was getting promoted and working hard, but her life had definitely shrunk to work, then home, and then more work. Granted, if I needed her, she’d be here as fast as possible, but the daily calls and interactions were much less.

“Bummer,” I said and turned to Graham. “Did you guys come to eat?”

“Absolutely,” Eli said.

I grabbed menus and set them at a table near the windows where I could sit and have a view of most of the tables and the front door in case other customers came in and needed help. After their waters and drinks were filled, I brought them back and took the open booth seat next to Graham.

“Let me know when you’re ready to order, and I’ll get that for you.”

“I’ll do it,” Annie said, walking back with a stack of menus and a washrag in her hands. “You stay there, boss.”

“Boss.” Tanner snickered. “She calls you boss.”

I glared at the fool. “Iamher boss.”

Annie returned and took our orders, and soon we were eating dinner and laughing. Once Graham was done eating, he draped his arm over the back of the booth like it was natural. Like he’d been doing it every day for years. It didn’t take me long to melt into him, resting my shoulder against his.

“I might have something coming up soon,” Tanner said, and his thumb started rapidly tapping on the table.

“What is it? A trade?” Eli asked.

“Maybe.”

“Really?” Graham asked. “Where? I thought you had two more years left.”

“I do, but the team is making changes, and Iowa’s NHL team doesn’t have room for me. It’s kind of now or never, you know? I could stay for a couple more years, but I really want my shot.”

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