Chapter 41
SAGE
“Wait, I need to take a picture,” Fiona cries as Brady and I are about to put on our coats.
“Fi, we’re going to be late,” I say, even as we turn back around.
“I know, but come on, we have to get at least one. You look stunning.”
“She’s right, Hurricane, you do.” Brady’s warm hand grazes over my back, or at least the part that is bared, thanks to the cutout on the gorgeous cocktail dress Fiona loaned me for tonight.
I shiver at his touch and lean in. “Fine. One photo.” I reach up to touch his tie. “Because you also look really, really good.”
His lips quirk up as he dips down to kiss me.
“Okay, keep it PG, please,” Fiona interrupts, breaking us apart with a laugh.
We pose for a few shots, then I can’t help myself as I dart over to where Ivy lies, napping in her little swing. I press a light kiss to her forehead. “See you soon, baby girl,” I whisper before straightening.
Then I let Brady help me into my coat, and we’re off to the Cedar Creek Thunder’s second annual holiday party.
It’s also a bit of an unofficial goodbye party for Brady, even though he’s tried to say he doesn’t want that.
But we’re moving right after Christmas, so his apartment is mostly packed up and this might very well be the last time we see some of his teammates.
The hotel in nearby Westport that Luca and Dom rented for the event is beautiful, with Christmas lights and wreaths adorning the exterior and even more elegant decor inside.
Soft instrumental holiday music is playing in the background of the lobby, and I gasp when Brady nudges me and points out the live five-piece band responsible for it.
“This is fancy,” I murmur as he places his hand on the small of my back and escorts me toward the ballroom where the Thunder party is happening.
“Sure is,” Brady agrees. We walk into the large, open space, and immediately run into Luca and Isla. I’ve only met the former owner of the Thunder a couple of times, but after what he did to get Brady home in time for Ivy’s birth, I feel nothing but gratitude toward him.
“Hey, you two, welcome. Glad you could make it,” Luca says warmly, shaking Brady’s hand and then mine. “How’s your little one?”
“Hopefully driving her aunt crazy while we’re gone so she’ll sleep all night when we get back,” Brady replies with a grin.
Isla shakes her head and laughs. “Oh, to be a new parent. So naive. And you, Sage? How are you settling into motherhood? I have to admit, sometimes those early days are a blur. An exhausted and sore blur.”
“Sounds about right.” I nod. “Ivy’s a wonderful baby, but still. I can’t believe she’s almost three months old already, time is flying.”
“And you’ll be moving to the mainland soon, right? We’re sad to see you go, but when Dom told me about the offer, I was really happy for you.”
Brady ducks his head, and I know he’s blushing. “Thanks, Luca. It’s a bit surreal, but yes, we’re moving over on the twenty-seventh.”
“Let me know if you need anything.”
Brady nods and gives the former owner of the Thunder a smile. “I will. Thank you.”
Luca and Isla are called away by someone from the hotel staff, and we move farther into the room.
“Do you want a glass of wine?”
I nod and let Brady lead me to the bar. He orders our drinks, hands me mine, and lifts his in a toast. “Cheers, Hurricane. Thank you for making me feel like the luckiest guy in the world.”
“Cheers,” I reply softly, clinking our glasses together. We take a sip, and then Brady cups my chin, tipping it up so he can kiss my lips.
“Break it up, break it up.” Foxxy’s voice intrudes on our moment. We pull apart to find several players from the team, all with drinks in hand.
“Sage, I’m sorry, but we need to steal your man for something.” Cal grips Brady’s shoulder and steers him away.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.” Foxxy gives me a wink before he, Griff, and a couple of the other guys follow Cal and Brady.
Curious, I drift after them, only to find Brady shaking his head as Cal tries to force him to hold a microphone.
Suddenly, Foxxy has another microphone is his hand.
“Let’s give it up for the one, the only, the future Vancouver Trident, Bradyyyyyyy Dixon!”
“I’m not doing this, no, no I’m not—” Music starts up, a familiar tune.
“Grandma got runover by a reindeer…”
I burst out in laughter as the other guys all produce microphones and start singing a karaoke version of the cringiest Christmas song ever.
Pretty soon, everyone is watching and laughing. Brady has reluctantly joined in, and eventually is arm in arm with his friends and teammates as they finish out the song.
The room erupts in cheers and clapping as the boys all take an impromptu bow before Griff and Foxxy take over and start singing Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas.”
Brady makes his way over to me and drops his head on my shoulder. “That was terrible,” he groans.
“Poor baby.” I giggle, patting his back. “I will say, singing is not one of your many talents.”
Several songs later, the music ends and Dom’s amused voice comes through the microphone. “That concludes the entirely unplanned entertainment for the evening. Now, if everyone could find their seats, let’s have some dinner.”
One delicious meal later, everyone is back to mingling and laughing, and some are even dancing, to actual music, thankfully, not karaoke.
Our table is empty, except for the two of us, and Brady’s fingers are toying with the hairs at the nape of my neck, making me want to arch into his touch.
My hand finds its way to his thigh, and his covers mine as he leans in closer.
“Think anyone would notice if we ducked out now? We could say Ivy needs us.”
I dip my chin to hide my smile, turning slightly toward Brady. “Are you seriously trying to use our daughter as an excuse to get out of this very lovely party?”
“No, I’m trying to use our daughter as an excuse to get you out of that very lovely dress. It would look even more lovely on the floor of our bedroom, don’t you think?”
“You just don’t want to get pulled back up for anymore karaoke,” I tease.
“That’s the truth. C’mon, Hurricane. Let’s get out of here.”
But as we get up and move to the door, trying to be subtle with our exit, we’re cut off by Griff and Foxxy, wearing matching grim expressions.
“Hey, we were hoping to find you two. We just got paged by our chief at search and rescue. That winter storm they thought would hold off until overnight seems to be coming in early. The roads are getting messy, and they need all hands on deck, but we wanted to say goodbye before we left,” Foxxy explains.
Brady hugs them both, and then I do, too.
“Don’t be a stranger around here, okay?” Griff says gruffly, slapping Brady’s back.
“Yeah, you better be at a game or two. Both of you,” Foxxy adds.
Brady nods. “You bet. And you guys have open invitations to come to Vancouver whenever you want.”
After exchanging final farewells, we watch the two men leave swiftly.
“I hope they’re okay,” I say quietly, leaning into Brady’s side.
“I’m sure they will be. C’mon, let’s head out now, too.”
We say a quick goodbye to Cal, Dom, Rafe and his wife Imogen, and then duck out into the lobby of the hotel.
Outside, just as Foxxy said, a winter storm has hit. The snow isn’t falling too hard yet, but it’s enough to make me glad we’re going home now and not later.
We make it back to the apartment and send Fiona home with her promising to text us as soon as she reaches her place. Then, we’re alone.
Brady bends down in front of me and unbuckles the straps on the shoes I was wearing at the party, slowly easing them off my feet before running his hands leisurely up my legs.
“So, about this dress…”
I put one finger on his lips as they dip down toward mine. “Can we check on Ivy first?”
His face softens into the gentle, loving expression he often gets when he sees his daughter. “Yeah.”
Hand in hand, we pad down the hall and peek into her room. Sprawled on her back, with her arms above her head, our little girl sleeps soundly.
“I love her so much,” I whisper.
“And I love both of you just as much,” Brady replies.
We close her door gently, then move into our bedroom. I drop his hand and step closer to the bed.
“Now, I believe you had plans for my dress?” I say, turning to look over my shoulder. I gather up my hair and move it aside.
Brady doesn’t waste a second, moving in behind me, his body so close to mine, I can feel the warmth radiating off him. Lips land on my shoulder as his fingers carefully lower the zipper.
“So many plans.”
“Good thing we have a lot of time,” I say breathily as he presses another open-mouthed kiss to my upper back.
“Mmm,” he rumbles in agreement. “Hopefully, the rest of our lives.”
“That sounds perfect.”