Chapter 8
JAKE
There’s a kind of rush that comes with playing on the ice that can’t be explained.
Like every ounce of my blood, my focus narrows to skates and sticks, the puck, and the sound of shouts and cheers from the stands.
I live for it, and I’d never found anything that gives me the same rush. .. until I met Cara.
Now, I get both those at the same time, and I’ve never felt more alive.
My skates cut across the ice as the Lions’ defense slams into me, trying to block me from the puck. I spin away, minimizing the impact, and make my play for the puck, snapping it into the net.
Their goalie moves to stop it, but it’s too late.
The puck slides across the line, and I watch as though it’s in slow motion as the winning goal is scored.
Cheering erupts all around me, and in seconds, I’m surrounded by my team, jostling and celebrating.
We’ve won.
We’ve won our first playoff game.
Holy shit.
This is the best day of my life, and if I have any luck, it’s only going to get better.
Off the ice, celebrations continue, with a short interview from the press before Coach debriefs us with all the things we could’ve done better, before he tells us how well we did, and lets us go.
The second I get out of the changing rooms, Cara barrels into me, jumping so she can wrap her arms and legs around me. I catch her with a laugh, holding her tight and spinning her around.
“You were incredible!” she squeals, snapping me with a kiss.
“I’m just relieved we’ve kicked the season off on the right foot,” I say, grinning. “The guys are all going out to celebrate.”
“Let’s go with them!” she says as I set her down and take her hand, walking out of the arena to where I’ve already got a car waiting for us.
Cameras flash as I bundle her in, and the driver takes off immediately.
The guys already know my plan, so they won’t be upset that we’re skipping out on drinks.
“We’ve got other plans, princess,” I tell her, smirking when she pins me with a curious stare. “Oh no... nope, not telling you anything,” I say before she can start to push me for details.
She pretends to be in a huff for a second before she flops across the seat and leans into me. “Seriously, Jake, that game was amazing. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. You were insane out there.”
I tilt her chin up to kiss her, savoring the feel of her lips on mine. “Want to know my secret?” I ask.
She nods.
“I pictured you the whole time,” I say in a low voice. “You were my motivation, princess. You kept me going.”
Emotion wells in her eyes, but before she can answer, we pull up outside our hotel. This is part one of my surprise, and I relish the confusion on her face as she looks at the five-star hotel that’s definitely not the moderately priced one she booked for this trip.
“This isn’t my hotel,” she says.
“Yes, it is,” I correct her with a wink. “Don’t worry, I arranged for all your luggage to be brought over.”
“You just won your first-ever playoff game, and yet I’m the one getting spoiled?” she says with an air of disbelief, like I’m being ridiculous.
I only grin at her. “You being with me makes me the most spoiled man in the universe,” I remind her honestly. “Now come on, your surprises await.”
We head up to the large, luxurious room where the presents I picked out for her are laid out on the bed. God bless Hugh’s wife, who was over the moon when I asked her to help me set everything up.
The black lace dress goes perfectly with the shoes I bought her, and Cara gasps when she sees it.
“Jake…what’s all this for?” she asks, but I just shoot her a wink and tell her to get dressed. It takes all my self-control not to jump on her as she strips down to her underwear before pulling the dress on, but I force myself to turn away and get myself ready before we’re late.
Cara needles me for answers, but I manage to maintain control, telling her nothing as I lead her to the private event room I’ve booked.
“Oh, it’s beautiful,” she breathes as we walk in.
“Not as beautiful as you,” I murmur. And I mean it from the depths of my heart.
The hotel has outdone itself, absolutely nailing the decor brief I gave them. Fairy lights are strung from the ceiling, and candles are lit along the sides, giving the room a soft glow, and flowers—lilies and daisies, of course—adorn every surface, making the whole space look like a magical garden.
“But…what’s all this for?” she asks, frowning at me.
The nerves I’m feeling right now might actually be worse than the nerves I felt before I stepped onto the rink earlier today. This is the biggest day of my life, in so many senses of the word, and God, I hope this goes as well as the game did.
I take Cara’s hand and lead her to the center of the room, where there’s a circle of petals. Over her shoulder, I see the loved ones I invited to share this moment, but I know she hasn’t noticed them yet. Right now, it’s only us two, and that’s all that matters.
I inhale, squeeze her hand, and then sink to one knee. Cara’s hand flies to her mouth as her eyes go wide. The lights, her excitement, and her love reflect off her beautiful green eyes.
“Cara,” I begin, willing myself to get through the speech as I rehearsed in my head. “From the moment I met you, I knew you were the one. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, and you know the whole team agrees.”
That pulls a nervous, wide-eyed giggle from her, which eases my nerves. I reach into my pocket with my free hand, pull out a velvet box, and pop it open.
“I can’t think of anything else in this world that would make me happier than to call you mine forever,” I tell her with total honesty. “I want to call you my wife, to be your husband, to celebrate what we’ve found together. Cara, will you marry me?”
“As if there’s any question,” she teases, thrusting her left hand out for me to slip the ring onto. “Of course I’ll marry you, Playboy.”
Then she throws herself at me just like she did after my game, and I thank God my balance is excellent from all my training on the ice because I manage to stay upright on my knee and wrap my arms around her.
I pull us both upright and kiss her deeply, wanting to take it further, but I'm so aware of her parents, who are right there looking on. So, no, not in public, not right now.
“Oh, and one more surprise,” I whisper against her lips.
“How could it get any better?” she asks, but my answer is cut off by our family and friends rushing in and shouting,
“CONGRATULATIONS!”
Cara catches my eye as everyone crowds us, happiness beaming from her.
“You really are perfect, you know that? I love you so much,” she tells me, laughing as my teammates lift her up above their heads and cheer.
I steal my fiancée back from them, and everyone is laughing. “I love you too, princess. Forever.”
“Forever,” she agrees, her ring sparkles in the fairy lights.
When she kisses me, I know the rest of our days will be just as happy as this one.