Page 115 of Penalty Kiss
The anxiety melts away, replaced by that familiar cocky grin that made me fall in love with him in the first place. "Damn right I was."
He strides out of the office with Levi beside him, their voices fading as they head toward the main entrance. I can hear the murmur of new voices, the professional politeness that comes with first meetings and big decisions.
I finish cleaning up our lunch, taking my time to give Cam space to work his magic. Through the office window, I can see him gesturing animatedly as he leads a small group of suited officials through the facility. Even from this distance, I can tell he's in his element—confident, knowledgeable, passionate about what he's building.
My phone buzzes with a text from Lily:How's the hockey empire coming along?
I snap a photo of Cam mid-explanation, his face bright with enthusiasm, and send it back with the caption:He's in heaven.
Her response is immediate:You both are. It's disgusting how happy you two are.
Says the woman who literally glows when her husband walks into a room.
Fair point. Coffee later? I have news.
Good news or 'Levi did something ridiculous again' news?
The best kind of news. Meet me at Candy Jar in an hour?
I agree and slip my phone back into my pocket, curious but not worried. Lily's definition of "the best kind of news" usually involves either new business ventures or embarrassing stories about our respective men doing something charmingly stupid.
I'm gathering my things when Cam reappears, practically vibrating with excitement. The inspection team is nowhere to be seen, which could be either very good or very bad.
"Well?" I ask.
"They loved it." He scoops me up and spins me around the small office, both of us laughing like children. "They said it's exactly the kind of community-focused facility the league office wants to see from expansion teams."
"Cam, that's wonderful!"
"The final inspection is just a formality now. We're really doing this, Taralyn. We're really building a team."
The joy in his voice is infectious, and I find myself grinning so wide my cheeks hurt. This is what happiness looks like—my man chasing his dreams in the town we both love, surrounded by people who've become family.
"I'm so proud of you," I whisper against his ear.
He sets me down gently, his hands lingering on my waist. "We make a good team, you and I."
"The best."
"Speaking of teams," he says, his voice taking on that particular tone that means he's about to say something that will either make me laugh or make me want to strangle him, "I may have mentioned to the inspection team that my fiancée has an eidetic memory and would be perfect for handling the administrative side of things."
I blink. "You what?"
"Now, before you get that look—"
"What look?"
"The look that says you're calculating exactly how long it would take to hide my body somewhere in this facility."
I cannot help but laugh. "I wasn't thinking about hiding your body. I was thinking about displaying it prominently as a warning to others."
"See? This is why I love you. You're creative with your threats." He tugs me closer, turning on the charm full force. "But seriously, think about it. You know every person in this town, you remember every conversation, every detail. You'd be amazing at community outreach, at making sure this team becomes part of Cedar Falls' heart instead of just another business."
The suggestion settles into something that feels suspiciously like excitement. I've been wondering what comes next for me, professionally speaking. Working at Mane Street Bistro has been perfect for healing and hiding, but I'm ready for something more challenging, something that uses all of who I am instead of just the parts I've chosen to show.
"You really think I'd be good at it?"
I laugh, shaking my head. "Better decide before I order merch.”
