Epilogue
Alex blew the whistle and fourteen five-year-olds came to a stuttering stop. The majority of them managed to stay on their feet, so yay, progress. Teyonah, who was attending her first practice today, landed on her butt. Alex braced for a possible tantrum.
And then Nick was there, scooping the little girl up and putting her back on her feet.
He said something to her, too quiet for Alex to hear across the ice. The little girl smiled and nodded. Crisis averted. And it was so stinking sweet, she could barely stand it.
“Okay, Rainbows,” she said, making sure her voice carried across the ice. “It’s time to go. Follow Lexie to the dressing room.”
Chaos ensued as the girls scrambled for the players bench on their way to the dressing room.
Nick planted himself beside the door, giving everyone a high five on their way by, throwing out good jobs and way to gos, making sure everyone left on a positive note.
It made Alex want to melt into a puddle of goo, right there on the ice.
He was going to get so lucky tonight.
Goosebumps chased themselves up her spine, anticipation making her giddy. They’d been together for almost a year now, and she was still waiting for the honeymoon phase to end. Because they still couldn’t seem to keep their hands off one another.
Much to Em’s—very vocal—displeasure.
The last player left the ice. He looked up, his eyes locking onto her. She chewed on the corner of her bottom lip. No surprise his thinking seemed to be along the same lines as hers. Seeing him being such a big, sweet teddy bear always made her hot. And she’d never been subtle about it, either.
He pushed off the boards, his long legs eating up the distance between them. A small part of her wanted to run, make him chase her, because that was always fun. And she knew he enjoyed it, too—if what always happened after he caught her was any indication.
She tensed, getting ready to make a run for it, but she’d spent too many seconds admiring the way his muscles bunched and flexed as he stalked her across the ice. He grabbed her. She squealed, the sound loud in the mostly empty arena.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off her feet. She laughed, grabbing his shoulders to steady herself. The position was reminiscent of the first time she’d brought him here last year. The night they’d made out in her car on a quiet side street.
Heat rushed through her, making her cheeks and the tips of her ears prickle. And places a little farther south clench.
He brushed his nose against hers, gliding around the ice with ease. “I love it when you blush like that.” He kept his voice low so it didn’t carry around the cavernous space. “It always makes me want to check to see if you’re pink anywhere else.”
She let out a shocked gasp and swatted his shoulder. It was mostly for show, though. That band of heat low in her belly gave a long, slow throb. His hand slid lower, onto her butt, and he gave a squeeze. She was just about to protest when his mouth crashed into hers.
He took advantage of her surprise, sliding his tongue into her mouth. The spicy taste of him made her moan. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed herself fully against him. As always, he was like a furnace. She soaked in all that heat.
“Ugh, will you guys stop.”
She pulled away from the kiss and glanced over her shoulder.
Em stood in the stands, high enough so she could lean over the plexiglass. Hannah stood next her, her gaze averted, the apples of her cheeks pink. Em lifted their intertwined hands and shook them in Nick and Alex’s direction. “We’re starving here.”
He made a growly noise in the back of his throat and tossed Em and her girlfriend a fake scowl. Em just cocked her head and raised a sky-high eyebrow. It was an expression she’d perfected over the last year from watching Nick and his expressive eyebrows in action.
Alex patted his shoulder. “It is her birthday. We should probably get going.”
“You’re right,” he said, and brushed his lips against hers in another quick kiss. He put her back on her feet, but laced their fingers together. She loved the feel of his hand in hers. And she refused to let go until they were seated in the lobby and needed both hands to take their skates off.
“What time are the movers coming tomorrow?” Nick slipped his skates into his bag and grabbed his sneakers.
“Early,” she said, wiggling her toes and swallowing back a moan. The house he’d had built for them was finally ready, and although she was going to miss the townhouse, and the independence it represented, she was excited.
The house was custom designed for them and absolutely beautiful.
Located just outside the city, it was on lush acreage with a water view and the perfect floor to ceiling windows to highlight it all.
It did mean she was going to have a bit of a commute to get to the clinic every day, but it was totally worth it.
He’d finally talked her and Janelle into letting him be a silent partner in the clinic, and had even had his lawyers draw up the appropriate contracts and documents.
And yes, technically, he did own the building they were now located in, but after a couple of heated discussions—and more than a few bouts of make-up sex—she and Nick had agreed Coastal Health and Wellness would pay rent.
It was a beautiful compromise. One she was more than happy to make.
“Ready?” He pushed to his feet, slung his bag over his shoulder, and held out his hand.
“Yup.” She took it and let him help her up. Lacing their fingers again, she followed him outside. The cold, damp air felt good on her heated cheeks. At least it wasn’t raining.
“Let’s go, Sniper.” He held his free hand out toward Em, who was cuddling with Hannah just outside the door.
Em and Hannah, still holding hands, hurried over. He slipped his arm over Em’s shoulder and pulled her into his side, planting a kiss on the top of her head. “Where do you want to go for your birthday dinner?”
“The Pink Door.”
He groaned and tilted his head back to stare at the dark sky. “Isn’t that at Pike Place?”
“Yup, it sure is.” Em’s sing-songy voice indicated she was enjoying this far too much.
Alex laughed. He hated the hustle and bustle, touristy stuff—regardless of the circumstances of their first unofficial date. Em loved to torture him about it, every chance she got. And, even though he complained, he always gave in. Em had him wrapped around her little finger.
“I already made a reservation.” Alex squeezed his fingers. “It’s for seven-thirty.”
He stopped and pulled her against him. Em and Hannah continued toward the parking lot. “So, we won’t have to wait?”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“I love you, so much.” He wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Not as much as I love you.” She slid her hands around his neck and stood up on her toes to press a kiss to his lips. She couldn’t wait to start this brand-new chapter in this crazy life with him tomorrow.
“We’re starving over here.” Em shouted at them from next to his SUV.
Alex pulled away from him with a laugh, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward the girls and their beautiful, exciting future. She couldn’t wait.
Thank you for checking out the first book in my San Francisco Barons series. I really appreciate it.
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