Page 23 of Rookie Season

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“Mhmm. Kodiaks. Better look out.” I growl and drop the basket so I can scoop her up.

She squeals. “You promised you’d protect me,” she gasps between laughing, out of breath when I set her down.

“Today. Tomorrow. Every day I get.”

She bends to collect her basket. When she straightens, her lips curve. I tip her chin up toward me.

The knocking sound comes again, and we both jump.

“But just in case, let’s go inside,” she says.

Nova

“You were gone a long time,” Chloe calls when we head back inside with my basket of decorations. “Get any pine needles in your back from banging in the trees?”

She’s sitting at the kitchen table opposite Brooke.

“The only pine needles are for wrapping,” I offer.

“Did you see Miles while you were out there?” Brooke asks me. “I seem to have misplaced my fiancé.”

I frown, shaking my head.

“Maybe Trista kidnapped him,” Jay suggests, looking up from his phone.

“Maybe Ryan’s with him and Trista kidnapped both of them,” Chloe finishes.

Jay scoffs. “You could sound more concerned as the head of PR for the team.”

“Long as they’re back home in time to get ready for the game, I’m happy.”

“So, you wouldn’t care if she kidnapped me? What if I disappeared? Would you come rescue me?”

Chloe flicks her gaze up and down Jay. “Possibly. You’re our point guard, and we don’t have a good backup.” She turns to her phone. “The storm is getting closer.”

Jay whistles. “Maybe we’ll get stuck here tomorrow.”

“Don’t even joke about that. We have to be back in time for the Christmas game.”

Clay shifts next to me, and suddenly I’m more aware of him than anyone else in the room.

I feel my hair move and glance over to see him flicking my ponytail. “You had snow there.”

Once in a while, it still hits me that I’m married to one of the most famous players in the entire league. He’s a legend.

And he’s all mine.

“You cold?” he asks.

Clay’s looking down at me, and suddenly I’m warm everywhere.

“No. I mean, yes.”

His eyes spark too, and he takes the basket from me. “C’mon.”

“Where are you guys going?”

“Wrapping presents!” I call.

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