Chapter 30
THIRTY
By the time the game ended, I practically vibrated with the need to get to Jace.
The Hawks had won the game—mostly thanks to his play in the seventh inning—and the excitement in our section had been contagious.
All the Hawks had to do was keep up their momentum in the third game, and they’d head home the victors.
But I couldn’t focus on that. Not right now.
Not when I had only minutes to prepare myself for Jace’s arrival.
I fidgeted with the lanyard around my neck as we waited in the friends and family area while the team showered and dealt with the media.
Jace tried to get out earlier, but Melanie, the team’s PR guru according to Hadley, pulled him into an interview in the press box, wanting to capitalize on his earlier play.
“Maybe I should head back to the hotel,” I mumbled when the door swung open, and the players trickled out of the room. “Jace will text me when he’s done.”
“If that’s what you want,” Hadley said, though her smile held no warmth. But before I could gather my stuff, she nudged me, motioning over her shoulder with a devious glint in her eyes. “Come on, I’ve got a better plan.”
She tugged me down the hall, checking each of the rooms as if she was waiting to get caught.
But while security was tight to get onto the floor, there weren’t many past the locker rooms. At least, not until we turned the corner, running straight into a guard.
He arched a brow at our lanyards, already opening his mouth to tell us to turn around, when Hadley gave him a dazzling smile.
“Just one peek? No one will even know we’re in there.”
If possible, his frown only hardened. “Press only.”
Hadley frowned and turned back to the waiting area when I grabbed her elbow. “Wait!” Both the guard and my friend turned to stare at me. Okay, I just needed to come up with something. One little lie. “My fiancé is in there.”
Okay, one big lie. But once the words came out of my mouth, the guard’s eyes narrowed on me. Too late to take it back now. “And he’s…nervous when he has to talk to the press. Please, just give me five minutes. I’m worried about him.”
His scrutinizing glare turned to me, and my knees buckled a little at the intensity. “You’re marrying Jace Lyons?”
“Yep,” I said, far too chipper to be truthful. “He’s my fiancé. Love of my life.” His eyes darted down to my bare finger, and I tucked it behind my back. “The ring was a little too big, so we needed it resized.”
“Right,” he drawled. Hadley kept her wide eyes on him as I tried not to pass out, sweat pouring out of all the worst places.
Just as I was about to beg his forgiveness, his face broke out into a wide grin.
“Don’t tell the bosses, but I’m rooting for the guy.
Love a redemption story.” I nodded, unsure how to answer.
He continued, lowering his voice so only we could hear.
“Five minutes, not a second more. And if anyone catches you, you slipped past me.”
Hadley grabbed my hand, dragging me through the side door before I could mutter my thanks.
As soon as we entered the press room, my heart rate skyrocketed.
So many people in such a tight spot. At least fifty reporters filled the room, some seated up front while others stood along the back wall, all with their phones out, recording every second of the conversation happening in front of us.
Jace sat behind a table, his smirk a mask as he stared out toward the crowd. Benny, the team manager, sat on one side while Cam took the other, looking much more approachable than the other two.
“How are you feeling about your chances this year?” one woman’s voice broke out through the group.
“Good,” Cam said, leaning forward into the microphone. “Our team’s working hard, and we’re ready to make a go of it this season. But there are a lot of games left to play, so we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”
“And what about you, Jace?” another voice drawled. “How is it being back with the Hawks?”
“Good.”
One word. That was all he said, just giving the crowd the same cocky smirk as when we walked in.
Reporters mumbled under their breaths, probably familiar with his noncommittal responses.
But they were undeterred, continuing to hurl questions at him, despite his face contorting with more annoyance with each one.
Our time was ticking by, and by the time our five minutes were up, Jace was downright glaring.
“Let’s go,” I whispered to Hadley, moving toward the exit.
“Jace—who was the woman in the stands tonight? Are you two dating?”
My feet stilled, and, although we needed to leave, my body refused to budge until I heard his answer.
“No comment.”
The words sliced through me. As much as I tried, it felt a lot like rejection, and my cheeks heated with shame. But before I could spiral too much, the reporter lodged another question, once again aimed at me. “Everyone saw you two on the cameras. Are you settling down?”
Jace moved closer to the microphone, and his eyes darkened as he glared at the reporter. His smirk had shifted into a lethal frown. He was so far from the man I usually spent my time with, the one who laughed with our daughter on his lap and loved to make me smile.
“Listen,” he seethed. “You can ask about the game, ask about my performance all you want. I’ll sit here, answer the same questions you always throw at me.
But my relationship? You’re not touching that.
It’s private, and I’m not about to let anything get in the middle of it, especially not a bunch of vultures who are just looking for a sound bite.
So this is the last time I’m going to speak about it. Keep her out of your mouths.”
The crowd went quiet, and Benny had to cover his amusement with his large palm. Cam just shook his head, but the corners of his mouth turned up as well. My heart pounded in my chest, loving how fiercely protective he was. This wasn’t shame; it wasn’t him hiding me from the rest of the world.
This was him claiming our lives together for himself.
“Okay,” Hadley sighed as she tugged me back through the door. “Now I’m starting to get the appeal.”
“Cam going all possessive does it for you?”
Her cheeks blushed. “Does it make me a bad feminist if I say yes? Not like irrational jealousy or anything like that, but when Cam gets all growly and protective over his family?” She fanned her face. “Gets me going every time.”
We snuck back into the friends and family area, no one the wiser about our absence.
The group had shrunk since we left, and now, there was only a handful of us waiting for our players on the other side of the door.
Minutes later, Cam and Jace walked through, their faces all too casual as Melanie glared at them from the doorway.
She tried to stop Jace, but when he found me waiting, he shook her off.
Dropping his bag onto the floor, he rushed to me, scooping me up into his arms.
My arms tightened around his neck as his hands gripped my thighs, holding me up and close to his chest. “Fuck,” he mumbled against my skin. “I missed you so damn much, Kins.”
His heart pounded beneath his shirt, beating a song that echoed my own. His summer scent filled my senses, and, for the first time in days, I relaxed. Leaning back, I pushed back some of his damp hair, smiling down at the man holding me in the air. “That was a hell of a game, hotshot.”
“It was all for you, mama. Had to show off a little for my girl.”
I tried to bite back my grin, but it was useless. “Now I’m your girl? I don’t remember agreeing to that.”
“Damn straight,” Jace chuckled. “From the moment you walked back into my life, I’m not taking anything less.”
I stared into his eyes, finding nothing but the truth in those oceanic irises.
Fuck it. I leaned down and captured his lips with mine, ignoring the surrounding crowd.
The moment his lips met mine, a fire ignited in my core.
Consuming. Powerful. There was nothing like being kissed by Jace Lyons.
He took and took, parting my lips with his tongue to get even more of a taste.
Someone cleared their throat at our side, and it took far too long for me to remember we were in public. Separating from Jace was almost impossible, but I forced my head back, unable to hide the color on my cheeks. Jace dropped his forehead to mine. “Some days, I really hate my job.”
“You’re not going to have one if you keep talking to the press like that.”
My eyes widened as Jace put me back on my feet, tucking me behind his larger frame.
I peeked over his shoulder, and Melanie stood in front of him, her arms crossed and a pissed-off look on her stunning face.
Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed on him, and not a hint of humor traced her pale features. Jace shook his head. “Listen, Mel—”
“No, you listen. Learn to play nice, Jace. At least before, you’d act like a dick, but you were a likeable dick.
I’ve spent too much time and effort to repair your image to let you burn it to the ground now.
We have enough of the grumpy factor coming from Weber.
We don’t need anyone else emulating his insufferable brand of asshole.
So next time I tell you to play nice—you do it, no matter how inane the questions are. ”
“No.”
Melanie sucked in a breath through her nose, and it took everything in me not to cower in her presence. But Jace continued to stare her down, not caring that he was in her line of fire.
Jace reached out and took my hand, dragging me to his side. “I mean it, Mel. They want me to talk about the game, fine, but they don’t get to ask about this. Us. My family is off-limits, and the next time they come up, I’m walking out.”
“You can’t blame them for being curious—”
“Yeah, I can.” Jace shook his head. “I’ve had enough headlines about my personal life, and, back then, I didn’t care. Because it didn’t matter what they said, what they thought. But this…” He held up our joined hands. “Matters to me. And I’m not letting the public pick it apart for entertainment.”
Melanie’s brow softened as she stared at our joined hands, pausing long enough to make me start to sweat. “Fine,” she relented. “I’ll smooth things over, but you owe me a better interview when we’re back in New York. And throw in a couple charity appearances for good measure.”
“Deal.”
Jace didn’t say another word as he tugged me toward the exit and into the fresh night air. I peeked over my shoulder to wave goodbye to Cam and Hadley, but Jace’s feet didn’t slow down. “What’s your hurry, hotshot?”
He paused, twisting so he could claim my lips once again.
When he pulled back, so much adoration filled his eyes, it felt like I’d walked into my own personal fairytale—an adoration I’d always dreamed about but never dreamed I’d get to experience.
He pulled back and pressed one more kiss to my brow.
“Need you out of these clothes, Kins. Going out of my mind right now.”