Page 49 of Claiming Her Cougar (Shifting Pines #2)
Mallory - Eighteen months later
I can’t believe it’s the first game of preseason.
Everyone’s worked so hard to get us here.
The Sand Dollar Pier is affectionately known as the Nest since it’s the home ice of the Devil Birds.
The renovation is incredible. The rink is state-of-the-art and the envy of many NHL teams. We were able to get the variety of tenants we wanted on long-term leases. Everything’s perfect.
Liam’s been working so hard to assemble the best team possible and have them ready for tonight’s first game.
This preseason game against the Salem Spellbinders won’t count toward the standings, but of course we want to win our first game ever.
That it’s our first home game in front of friends and family makes it even more special.
I can’t wait to see Liam after the game to either celebrate the victory or help him forget the loss.
Either option will include the special Devil Birds jersey I had made with his last name on the back acting as lingerie.
“Go, Trev!” Ethan yells.
“There’s Uncle Trevor!” Matt cries out, pointing.
The teams have just entered the ice for warm-ups.
My family’s here in the owners’ box, all wearing our Carter #24 jerseys.
I’m so proud of my younger brother. Trevor graduated law school at the top of his class.
I swear, as soon as he received notice he passed the bar, he negotiated his contract with the Devil Birds.
He’s the first-line center. It’s great seeing him back on the ice competitively again.
“When do the coaches come out?” Daphne asks.
“I think after warm-ups,” I say.
The team looks snazzy in their blue-and-gray jerseys.
They chose the colors to reflect the Atlantic Ocean right outside our door.
Looking out over the sold-out crowd, I see a lot of the jerseys being worn by the fans, and my heart swells with pride.
They did it. They took this crazy dream and made it happen.
Kind of like our relationship. When we hooked up that night in Vegas a couple of years ago, I didn’t think we’d ever find each other again. Thank goodness fate had other plans.
I’m standing at the front of the box, looking out over the ice, when arms wrap around my waist. The fresh scent of pine reaches my nose, and I relax against Liam’s chest.
“You have a magnificent view up here,” he murmurs in my ear, pressing a kiss in that spot under my ear that always makes my tummy flip.
I turn and wrap my arms around his neck.
“My view just improved,” I say with a grin.
Liam steps back from my embrace and takes my hands in his. Aww, his hands are trembling slightly. He must be nervous about coaching his first game. That’s so cute.
“You know how you became my girlfriend on the day they announced the team?” he asks.
“Yeah…” What’s he getting at?
“I thought if I asked you another question today, with it being our first game, it would be a good balance.”
What?
Liam drops to a knee, up here in the owners’ suite, in a packed arena, in front of our family and friends.
I gasp. This can’t be happening, can it?
“Mallory Carter, I love you. Will you make tonight the best night of my life and agree to be my wife?”
In his hand is a diamond ring. I’m sure it’s gorgeous, and I’ll admire it later, but for now, all I see are Liam’s bright blue eyes looking up at me with so much love and hope, I swear my heart skips a beat.
“Yes! Of course I’ll marry you! Oh my gosh! I love you!” I’m babbling, but I can’t believe this is happening.
Liam rises to his full height and wraps me in his arms, kissing me like he has all the time in the world.
At the front of the box next to us, Jake cups his hands around his mouth and yells so loudly, the entire Nest can hear. “She said yes!”
The roar of the crowd is deafening, and it’s then I realize they featured the proposal on the Jumbotron and everyone was watching with rapt attention, even the teams warming up on the ice.
Laughing, we break our kiss and wave out to the crowd and the teams, who give us stick taps in congratulations.
Teagan comes alongside us before our families and friends mob us. She hands us each a champagne flute.
“We all want to congratulate the happy couple and we will—after the game. First, our groom-to-be needs to get his newly engaged self downstairs and coach our team to victory. Let’s make a toast. First, to Liam and Mallory.
Congratulations. I speak for everyone here wishing you all the happiness life has to offer.
Secondly, let’s toast the real reason we’re here. ” She winks. “Go, Devil Birds!”
We all raise our glasses and cheer, “Go, Devil Birds!”
Liam gulps his glass and presses a hard but too-brief kiss to my lips.
“That’s my cue to get down there. Hope we give you a good game!” Liam rushes from the box back down to the locker room to meet the team when they finish their warm-ups.
Regardless of the outcome of tonight’s game, I know we already won.
* * *
Did you enjoy Mallory and Liam’s story? Want a peek into their future? Logan and Daphne too? How about Kendall, Trevor and Miranda? Start reading the Paranormal Hockey League series with Sexy Pucking Polar Bear!
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