Page 207 of Pucking Strong

He hums a laugh, holding me close. “Once more will be enough, I think.”

Nat peeks around me, tapping us each on the shoulder. Then she pulls a scowl that could rival my mother. “Word to the wise? If Mama doesn’t get to walk Teddy down the aisle this time, she’ll probably burn this whole arena down.”

Henrik nods. “Noted.”

Leaning up on her toes, she kisses his cheek. “Welcome to the family.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about all that stuff with the donations?” I say, my fingers woven with Henrik’s atop the gearshift.

We’re cruising home in the SUV. After our celebratory ice cream party, we dropped my sisters off at their hotel for the night. Camila and Evie begged us to let Karolina stay too. I’ve already denied them all so much time to bond as cousins. One look at my face, and Henrik quickly agreed. We’ve all made plans to have a big breakfast together tomorrow before I take them to the airport.

For tonight, I finally get Henrik to myself again.

“Poppy asked me not to,” Henrik replies. “Not until everything was settled. And I didn’t want to get your hopes up if it came to nothing.”

“Well, so how did it happen?”

He keeps his eyes on the road. “Apparently, Poppy has been looking for an exit from public relations for a while now. She’s been helping Mark Talbot build the scaffold of a new philanthropy foundation.”

“Ray of Hope?”

He nods. “They had plans to announce it in the summer. She came to me with this idea, and they had to scramble to move up their timeline. But Talbot seems pleased. And Poppy is thrilled.She’ll be announcing her departure from Rays PR just as soon as they hire her replacement.”

I lean my head back against the headrest. “Rays PR without Poppy St. James … it’s like the end of an era.”

He hums his agreement, taking a turn one-handed as he pulls us onto the street of our apartment building.

I turn my head to take in his profile, illuminated by the passing streetlights. “Announcing a major donation was an amazing idea. It’s such an important cause. And you stated the case so well.”

“You think so?”

“Totally. In the end, it’s all about preserving human dignity. In their rush to print stories, the press seems to forget about the people behind them. These are very human lives they hold in their hands, and they have the power to crush us into dust with a few pointed words. Maria deserves more. Karolina definitely does.”

Henrik just nods again.

“And Gunnar and Maria are really okay with it? Being in the press like this?”

He sighs, pulling us into the parking garage and coasting into our reserved spot. “Dad and I are both protective of Mom. And we Swedes are notoriously private people. But you’re right—it’s a matter of human dignity. That reporter knew my mother was unwell.” He glares at the steering wheel, squeezing it tight. “He knew, and he pressed her anyway. It’s unconscionable.”

“It should be criminal,” I mutter, mirroring his anger.

He glances at me. “It may not do enough to stem the flow of bad press.” Lifting our joined hands off the shifter, he kisses my knuckles. “I will do whatever else is required to keep you and Karolina safe. I’ll retire from hockey, or I’ll get myself traded to a European team. The spotlight dims rather dramatically beyond the glare of the League.”

Heart in my throat, I sit forward. “Henrik, no. All this bullshit aside, you’re having an amazing season. Have you heard any rumblings from the team about trading you?”

“No.”

“And this announcement tonight speaks of Talbot’s willingnessto support you on and off the ice. He’s rolled you out as his first major partner for his flagship philanthropy foundation. I mean, that’s no small thing.”

He nods, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand.

“And the case worker came back,” I add, trying to reassure myself now as much as him. “We have to trust she’ll see through all the media drama and cut to the facts. And the fact is that Karolina is happy, healthy, and loved. None of this has touched her. We won’t let it touch her. We can protect her, Henrik. You and me. Together. We can be everything she needs and more. We’ll love her the way Petra would want her to be loved.”

Reaching across the car, Henrik pulls me in for a kiss. “I love you,” he says against my lips. “I know I don’t deserve you—”

“Shut up,” I growl. The stupid center console is blocking me from climbing into his lap, which is all I want to do in this moment. “Take me upstairs.”

We kiss our way up the elevator and into the apartment. I kick off my shoes and am taking off my WAG jacket when Henrik reels me in by the wrists. “No, wait. Keep it on a moment longer.”

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