Epilogue
She spied Mia being embraced by her brother, Dante. Although she couldn’t hear what was being said, Aspen felt herself becoming teary at the moment of reconciliation between the two siblings.
“Hey, sweet.”
Aspen barely contained her shriek of surprise as Connor’s thick arms wrapped around her and pressed her against his body.
“You scared me to death,” Aspen whispered, but couldn’t resist snuggling deeper into his embrace, and tracing the anchor tattoo on his forearm. Artwork that he’d etched into his skin in sadness that now represented being grounded. Being home.
“Looks like ‘Operation Mend Mia’s Heart’ is well underway,” Connor whispered in Aspen’s ear, pulling her even tighter against his rigid body.
“This is such beautiful moment. I hope it goes just as well with Matt.”
“Your inspiration for a grand gesture is off the charts,” Connor nuzzled her neck as they remained hidden behind the curtain. “I’m sure Matt’s work to put his Hahvahd brain to use will pay off.”
“I hope so,” Aspen worried her lip, knowing everything hinged on the event Matt planned at the rink in just a little bit.
“C’mon, I want to show you my office.”
“You get to keep offices at the rink? Is that where you get ready for your games?”
Aspen still didn’t know a lot about the game of hockey but looked forward to learning as much as she could before the season started in a few short months. She also couldn’t wait to plunk her backside in a seat at the rink to watch her man play.
“Something like that.”
Connor led her through the tunnels to an area where two, large wooden doors painted with the Colorado Crush logo stood tall at the end of the hallway.
Connor swung open the doors and led Aspen to an area with lockers in a half circle and benches in front.
“Ah, your office is a locker room.”
“See, you’re smarter than the average baker,” Connor teased and plunked her down on the wooden bench in front of his stall where the name Wolfe was engraved in big, block letters.
“This is really posh,” Aspen looked around the space filled with white boards, empty bins for what she assumed was for stinky uniforms, carpeting with the Crush logo embedded in the threads. “I wish this was my office.”
Aspen turned back to Connor, who continued to smile at her.
“Have something to show you, BB.”
Aspen’s mind twisted and turned in a million different directions, but when he removed his Colorado Crush t-shirt, her mind went blank.
Her only thought focused on running her hands across his washboard abs and trace the tattoos that lived on the expanse of skin, from the angel on his side to the navy and silver shark on his shoulder to the chains and waves of water in other places that marked his journey filled with so much grief.
And...
“Is that a cupcake?” she asked incredulously, her eyes widening at the cupcake covered in pink icing right over his heart. Her name, Aspen, along with Boss Baker, and My Forever in script woven through the cupcake liner.
“I never inked over my heart because for a long time I didn’t think anything resided there,” Wolfe started, his voice thick with emotion. “But then you, Aspen, my sassy boss baker came along and changed me. Changed me for good.”
Connor gathered Aspen up so she straddled his lap, then captured her lips in a deep kiss.
“You’re my good, Connor Wolfe. My forever,” she wound her hands through his hair. “I love you with all of my heart.”
“Love you too, Aspen. Forever.”