Page 86 of Offside and Off-Limits
“I think we would all like to hear what you have to say to that romantic declaration,” Mrs. McCluskey calls out and there's a murmur of agreement among the crowd.
“Really? Because it's kinda just between him and me,” Clara replies.
“Come on, Clara. Say your piece,” Mrs. McCluskey instructs.
She shoots me a brief look before she lowers the microphoneto her height, and says, “I just wanted to say that what Cade said is amazing, and I love him all the more for it.” She smiles at me and my heart sings. “But the thing is, I get to keep my job.”
“You do?” I ask, dumbfounded.
She nods, her big blue eyes pooling with tears. Happy tears. Tears of joy. “Paul just told me.”
I reach for her hand. “I love you,” I say, and she says it right back, her eyes like fire as she gazes at me.
“What about the no fraternities policy?” Mrs. McCluskey asks.
“It’s not about fraternities, Mary-Ellen,” her friend corrects, another older lady, dressed to the nines in a black velvet dress and a huge, sparkling necklace. “It’s a non-flirtation policy. Isn’t that right, Clara?”
Clara bites back a laugh. “It’s called a non-fraternization clause, and my bosses, Veronica Reynolds, and Paul Vaughn, have agreed that they can make an exception for me.” She squeezes my hand, smiling up at me. “For us.”
“Seriously?” I ask, and I feel as giddy as a tween meeting his hockey idol.
“Seriously,” she confirms.
And then I do the most natural thing in the world. I reach out and collect the woman I love in my arms, pressing a blistering kiss against her soft lips. I get lost in her, the woman I’m lucky enough to call mine, until the sound of whoops and whistles puncture our little bubble, and together, we turn to look out at the crowd.
“Show’s over,” I tell them with a grin. I wrap my arm around Clara’s shoulders and together we climb down from the stage, and out the exit, into the empty corridor.
“So, you keep your job? You’re sure?” I ask again, just to be safe.
“I do.”
“And I don’t have to quit?”
“Of course you don’t. Honey, I had no idea you were going to do that.”
I grin at her as I scoop her up in my arms once more, feeling her soft curves melding against me, right where they belong. “You’re worth it,” I murmur against her lips before I claim them once more, wrapped up in the most emotional kiss of my life, right here in the town I call home, with the woman I love.
CHAPTER 19
CLARA
The atmospherein the arena is electric as I lead Benny and Hannah, with hotdogs in hand, to find our seats for the very first game of the season. All three of us are wearing a very special name and number on our hockey jerseys, a gift from the man himself, and I could not be prouder.
I spot familiar face after familiar face as we make our way through the crowd, saying hello to friends and neighbors. By now, I know it would take a small miracle for them not to know about Cade and me. With Mary-Ellen McCluskey and Suzette Donnelly directing traffic on the Maple Falls gossip superhighway, there’s next to nohope they don’t.
“Hello, Clara. Hi, kids,” my friend and fellow Chronic Warriors battler, Marianne says as she gives me a quick hug. “You’re all looking so good in your matching jerseys.”
“It’s Cade’s jersey. He gave them to us all,” Hannah replies.
“We’re team Lennox,” I say with a shrug.
Marianne’s eyes brighten. “I heard about that. Good for you.”
“Mrs. McCluskey?” I ask.
Her eyes dance. “How did you know?”
“Call it a wild guess.”
