Chapter 7 #2
I blush because the two men in my life are staring at me as if I’m something special. “It’s just a dress. Not a wedding dress or anything,” I say, trying to downplay it.
“Still.” He shrugs.
Lifting my shoulders, I look between them. “Everything okay? You two seemed to be in quite a discussion.”
My father plants a hand on Connor’s shoulder, causing Con to tense slightly. “Peachy. Just reminding my son-in-law what I expect. You are precious goods and deserve the best. I’m confident he won’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Warned him I’m too young to be a grandpa. The usual talk.”
I don’t believe a single word he says. Spencer Crews doesn’t say peachy unless sarcasm is the root. I smile anyway because he clearly doesn’t want to clue me in.
“Don’t worry, she’s in excellent hands.” Connor’s death glare lands on my father.
Lines crease my forehead. “Okay, you two are acting weird.”
Connor smiles at me and then playfully pinches my cheek. “All is fine. Your dad and I were debating if the batting cages or ice rink should be our next bonding session.”
My father touches my shoulder. “Had to be a hockey player that you married, huh,” he states warmly.
“Okay, kids, they want to get started with this. Ready?” Ford calls out.
My father gives me a nod before leaving to give Connor and me a moment.
It takes a few seconds for Connor to refocus, as his eyes are locked on me, and he seems to be pondering something.
“Pretend. You’re good at that,” I remind him of our day ahead.
A sincere grin spreads on his face, and it unnerves me. “We just go with it?”
“Well, we have no other choice. We sure as hell didn’t rehearse this for weeks on end, considering two days ago neither one of us had marriage on the mind.”
He leans in to kiss my forehead, and it catches me off guard until he mumbles against my skin, making it clear that it’s all part of the act. “Showtime.”
Ford, Connor’s uncle, and a journalist arrive before us.
“Hi, Hadley, I’m Julia, the reporter and old friend of Declan’s.
He called, giving me the first chance to jump on this wonderful news.
Sam, over there, is my photographer, and Rupert is his assistant.
Congratulations on the marriage.” Julia seems sweet, but growing up with a famous dad, I’m wary of reporters.
Julia looks to be a few years older than me.
I’m sure if my husband wasn’t tied down to me, she would be his type.
I smile politely. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
“Why don’t we sit down, chat for the article, and then we’ll have a photo session after. Pretend the camera isn’t there.” Her overdone smile doesn’t do it for me, but I play along.
“Of course,” I reply.
We begin to follow her to the seating area on the other side of the deck, but Ford and Declan gently touch Connor’s arm to stop us.
“Marriage equals better focus for you, which equates to a better team, and the Spinners are going to be a winning team next season,” his uncle Declan mutters, a reminder to Connor.
It seems they have an agenda. But then Declan relaxes and gently slaps Connor’s shoulder.
“Hot damn, you two kids look great together.”
“We’ll be by the refreshment table reining in your mothers.
Just holler if you need anything. A balloon, a cute Labrador, a rose, maybe champagne.
It will be a great hour that makes up for the lack of wedding festivities that you denied your mother who labored for hours to bring you into the world, only to have her son elope. ” Ford smiles tightly.
“This right here is exhibit A of why we did.” Connor throws a smirk to his father.
I have to laugh. Apparently, our marriage has made our parents a little crazy, but a good warm-hug kind of crazy.
Connor and I take a seat in front of Julia, and Connor instantly interlinks our hands. He’s going all in.
“Thank you both for meeting with me. I love that we are doing this at your childhood home, Connor. Considering you both grew up together as neighbors and your parents are close friends. Did you two ever feel like your relationship was a sort of arrangement or pushed from them?” Julia begins in the deep end.
Connor laughs. “Oh yeah, every BBQ was a discussion about our future.” He is completely joking.
I unlink our hands and place my palm on his thigh. “Isn’t he a funny one? No, I don’t think they did. Of course, it might be a dream come true for them slightly, but we are the product of our own feelings and attraction.”
“Considering Connor was living quite a big bachelor life last season and now he has a wife, many might say this is sudden.”
Connor reconnects our hands, almost to counter my every move. “Everyone loves a second chance, right?”
“Oh, so you two are a second-chance story? You dated before?” Julia asks.
I laugh nervously. “You can say something like that. How could I live next to this hockey god growing up and not have had a thing for him? And since he has a thing for dancers, preferably the kind who keep their clothes on, then I think we can let the cat out of the bag and admit that we acted on it before. It’s not like we went to Vegas and acted careless.
” My smile is far too easy for these half-lies.
Connor seems to enjoy my explanation. “She keeps me focused, this one. We were celebrating my good season and talking about how next season will be even better, then I realized that I can’t do this whole ‘will she or won’t she finally commit to my charm’ thing.
I told her how I felt, and she said that I was right like always, and she wanted all in.
We’ve known one another since she was in elementary school, we don’t need to go slow. ”
“That really sounds like a whirlwind, but we also can’t deny the obvious.
Connor, you come from a family of hockey professionals, a star player yourself, and Hadley is the daughter of a baseball legend.
Surely, a grand wedding would have been in order.
This is sports royalty at its best,” Julia comments, and I’m sure Connor’s uncle fed her that line.
I retreat my hand from Connor’s and return to his thigh that I clench, and he nearly yelps but keeps his smile.
“Sometimes romance is better when it’s between two people,” I tell the reporter.
“Besides, we’re here today at the spot where we grew up.
Where Connor here would throw his teenage parties and walk me home. Always the perfect gentleman.”
“I would always be in the pool, and she would stop by with cupcakes decorated with sprinkles, throwing in indecent proposals that I just couldn’t deny,” he adds with that grin that could make a woman faint. Instantly, I squeeze his thigh with a bit of aggression.
“This is so cute. You’re both young; what plans do you have for newlywed life?” Julia asks as she adjusts her sunglasses on top of her head.
Connor nuzzles his nose into my cheek for show. “Practice for family expansion, of course.”
I nearly choke, and I’m positive my father over by the iced-tea pitcher just stretched his neck in agitation.
I nuzzle Connor back with my nose. “Con, I’m sure that’s a given. But I think what she meant was honeymoon or not.” I turn to Julia. “Probably down to the Florida Keys for some beach time. Nothing like a string bikini and a hockey player on your arm, right?”
“I think most women will be jealous of you, Hadley. Considering the Spinners are stars on and off the ice with those fun videos on social media. Connor is somewhat of a sex symbol, especially amongst romance readers who peg him for hockey boyfriend material in a book.”
Connor smirks proudly and relaxes his shoulders. “Am I? Nice.” I gently elbow him. “I mean, they better get in line. My wife is my one and only. Connor Spears is committed and tied down.”
“He loves being tied down,” I deadpan.
Julia’s eyes have curiosity in them, as if she is investigating the dynamic between Connor and me. Good for her, she might actually be good at her job.
Or we may just have calmed her skepticism when the photo session goes into full swing, and I find myself sitting at the end of the dock with Connor next to me and a request that we kiss for the camera…