Page 107 of Hot Puck
“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” My words are a whisper. Barely audible over the water pounding the floor beneath our feet. But he hears them.
“For now. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,for now.” He waits for my nod of acceptance before asking, “So when do the girls come back?”
“This afternoon. After lunch.”
The grin he gives me is all mischievous cocky man, and I know, whatever is running through his head right now is going to mark me. He’s already marked me. And I’m not referring to last night.
Chase Hawkins has had me behaving in ways I never have before. Had me wishing for things I thought had passed me by. I thought him allowing me to adopt the girls was the best part of our partnership.
But maybe we haven’t reached the best part yet.
Maybe, maybe, the best part is just around the corner.
“You know what my favorite thing about you is?” he asks.
I shake my head, water flicking around us. “No.”
“You’re a strong leader, determined, focused, but it’s this, you taking a step back and letting me lead that’s my favorite thing about you.”
I don’t know what to say, what to think or feel. And then he goes and blows my mind further. Except this time, he takes my heart too.
“Because you, Natalie Redding, don’t let many people in. Your inner circle is tight, and for whatever reason, you’ve let me inside it. I will never make you regret that choice. I will cherish your trust for the rest of my life.”
“I...”
“I’ll guard it with my life.”
“Chase.”
“Because you deserve to have that. A person who will do anything to protect you and this soft heart you keep hidden from all but a few.”
He places his hand on my chest, over my heart, and in that moment, he owns it. Owns me.
“Now.” He grins. “Let’s get to making more things to talk about after we win the Cup.”
Chase
My wife is a gem. She’s my Gem. And right now, with the prospect of winning the damn Cup closer than it’s ever been, I want to show her my appreciation.
I want to kiss the ever-loving hell out of her too.
But I can’t.
We agreed.
What happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas.
And it has. For two weeks, one day.
For fifteen days I’ve trained and trained and trained and she’s taken care of every other aspect of my life. The girls, the house, everything. She’s even filled my car with gas. All I’ve had to think about is me. Hockey.
I get that it’s for her benefit too. I mean, she stands to make the history books. Entering the NHL with a brand new franchise and getting to the Cup final the first year in already has her in the history books.
I’m proud of her. Of what she and Oakley and Blake and Cami have done.
I’m proud of the team too. We’ve pulled together in a way no one expected. The whole league paid for their lack of confidence.
Five games into the last series of the season and we’re up. Three to one. And if we win tonight? On home ice? The Cup is ours.
