Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
"You're still going to come visit, right?"
"Uh, duh!" I look at her like she's lost her mind. "My dad will still be here. We'll be back every chance we get. If we aren't, he may kidnap the kids," I say, laughing quietly. He retired from coaching last year. He spends most of his time fishing now. It's been good for him. Actually, I think having grandkids has been good for him. He's a lot more laidback these days.
He and Nash get along surprisingly well. Once they realized they could team up against me, it was all over with. They've become quite the team. It's annoying as hell. I can't get away with anything. My dad tattles on me to my husband. My husband tattles to my dad.
I think Nash is going to miss him as much as I will. But he's spent years away from his sister. After losing their parents the way they did, they only had each other for a long time. It's beyond time for them to live closer to one another again.
"You and River will have to bring the kids out." Out of all the couples that have sprung up around us on this team over the last five years…that's the one that still surprises everyone.
River fell hard for Alice. And Alice made him work his ass off for her. I wasn't convinced he could be redeemed, but…I guess for the right woman, even a man like River St. James can put in the work. And he definitely put in the work. He was in my office three days a week for months, working through his shit. He's good for Alice. She's good for him, too.
"Um, obviously," she says and then glances at her watch before pulling me into a hug. "Crap. I need to run. I have a meeting. Love you!"
"Love you too!"
I climb to my feet, waddling out of the box onto the ice.
"Hey!" Nash whips his head in my direction, climbing to his feet. "What'd I tell you about coming out on the ice, princess?"
"Something, something, you're a madman?"
He chuckle, striding toward me as Evie runs off after the puck, cracking her stick against the ice. "That's definitely not what I said, Emilia." He tugs me into his arms, pressing his lips to my forehead in a kiss. "I said my baby girl is baking in there and you're clumsy. Stay off the ice."
"Yeah, something like that," I agree.
He swats me on the ass, nipping my bottom lip. "What am I going to do with you, hmm? You never listen."
"Oh, I can think of a few things you can do with me, Whatley."
"Yeah? Will any of them make you behave?"
"Mm, maybe for about five minutes."
He smirks, glancing toward the penalty box and then down at me. "Our daughter is right there, princess."
"Yes, but she's busy chasing her fuck, Nash. I'd really like to chase a few of my own. And not the kind she's chasing around over there. I want the real deal."
He buries his face in my hair, his body shaking with laughter. "Goddamn, I love you."
"I love you too. Penalty box, Whatley. Now."
"Yes, ma'am," he says, pulling back to grin at me. "Hey, Evie. Why don't you go ask Uncle Archer to get you a snack? He's in his office."
"Can I hab nacho cheese?"
"She's definitely your kid, Emilia," he mutters to me before raising his voice so she can hear him. "You can have whatever you want, baby doll. Tell Uncle Archer that your daddy said so."
"Yay!" she shouts, abandoning her stick as she scurries across the ice toward the tunnel. As soon as she's out of sight, Nash is leading me toward the box.
"Now…what was it you said about chasing a few fucks of your own?" he growls, slamming the door behind us.
"Don't remember," I lie, leaning up against the wall. "Why don't you come and refresh my memory?"
"Gladly," he growls, stalking toward me with fire in his eyes. "But you're paying off security to erase the tape this time."
"Yeah, yeah. Get over here already, Whatley. The clock is ticking."
He presses his body to mine, his lips coming down on mine in a hard kiss as he pins me against the wall, being careful of my belly. I moan into his mouth, so damn glad this man is mine.