Page 172 of Cold As Ice

A beat passed and I could hardly stand it.

But then he said, “I’m going to tell Coach Tucker I’m not interested in playing for the Canucks.”

“What, why?” I frowned.

“Because I don’t want to leave. Not when I’ve just found you.”

“Austin, that’s… That’s a big decision.”

Maybe even bigger than saying the three little words I yearned to hear.

“I know. But honestly, even if you hadn’t agreed to give me another chance, I think my answer still would have been the same.

“Hockey will always be part of who I am, but I’ve come to realize it isn’t my dream, it’s my crutch. It’s the thing I use to switch off from everything else. I don’t need that anymore because I have you. I have my sister and Noah and the rest of the guys.”

“What are you saying?”

Because I needed to be sure.

I needed him to say the words.

Austin lowered his head and inhaled a ragged breath. “I’m saying, I don’t need to run anymore.”

I lifted my hands to his face and palmed his cheeks. “You’re really staying?”

He nodded, one of his rare but no less beautiful smiles breaking over his rugged face. “I’m staying.”

It was better than any declaration of I love you and more than enough to soothe the frantic beat of my heart.

“Now I really want to fuck you,” I said huskily.

“Madison Reynolds, you kiss your mother with that mouth?”

“Oh God, you know what this means?” His eyes clouded and I grumbled, “I have to introduce you to my mom.”

“At least she can’t be worse than mine. And no, I never plan on letting you anywhere near that woman.” His quiet laughter reverberated through me.

When he stopped, he fixed his icy gaze on me and smiled. “You make me happy, Madison.”

“You make me happy too.” I leaned up and kissed him, hoping he wouldn’t see the emotion in my eyes.

Today had been a lot, in a good way.

But no matter the high I was currently riding, that little voice of doubt reminding me how quickly things could change, refused to quiet.

* * *

“The hockey player looks good on you,” Kingsley said with a knowing glint in his eye.

He and Hannah had been teasing me all week, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle. I was too damn happy to let their jokes ruin my good mood.

“Will he be in tonight?”

“No,” I said. “He’s got a game then he’s going to his friend’s engagement party.”

Connor was proposing tonight. On Valentine’s Day no less. I was going to head over there once my shift was done.

My first official introduction as Austin’s girlfriend. Hopefully, it would go a damn sight better than introducing Austin to my mother.

---