Page 32

Chapter Thirty-Two

Natalie

T he Bellagio fountains are a shimmering masterpiece of light and water, dancing in perfect rhythm with the soft, gentle music playing around me.

There's a crowd gathering, all staring as the place hums with energy. Tourists stop to snap pictures, couples are holding hands and cradling into each other. Everyone is living in the kind of moment that only exists in a place like Vegas.

But I don't see them.

I don't see any of it.

I only see him.

Hunter Brody, standing at the edge of the fountains, hands tucked into his pockets, the glow of the city reflecting off his sharp suit. His expression is soft, a hint of something between amusement and intensity as he watches me.

I stop breathing.

No. No way. This isn’t happening.

My pulse hammers in my ears, my heels suddenly feeling like cement as I try to process what is very clearly unfolding before me.

The team is so bad at pretending they aren’t watching this all go down. Lucy is literally sobbing at the champagne table now as Connor moves out from behind the palm tree to rub her back.

I look to Sophia, and she gives me a gentle head nod, encouraging me to take what feels like the worlds biggest step forward.

“Oh my God,” I whisper.

My heels break through the hush as I take those final steps toward him. The world narrows to just Hunter, standing there with that devastating smile that first made me fall for him when I knew I shouldn't.

You don't fall for the Head Coach of the hockey team… but of course, that's exactly what I did.

He reaches for my hands, and I'm trembling as his fingers wrap around mine. The familiar scent of his cologne washes over me as he smiles. It's the same as always, but right now, the cedar and mint and pure masculine energy that never fails to make my knees weak, it's better than ever.

"Hi," I whisper.

His smile deepens, those gray eyes sparkling with promise. "Hi yourself, beautiful."

"I knew you were up to something."

He smirks. "What gave it away?"

"Oh, I don't know..." I tilt my head, pretending to consider it. "Maybe it was Connor trying to act casual, but somehow looking more like he was having a stroke. Or Lucy bursting into tears every time she looked at me during dinner. Or Logan practically shoving me toward the fountains while whistling the wedding march."

Hunter's laugh rumbles through his chest. "They were subtle then?"

"About as subtle as that time you pretended my apartment renovations were just a plumbing fix."

I squeeze his hands as Hunter groans and shakes his head.

"I should've known better than to trust this bunch with keeping a secret. Though in their defense, they've been sitting on this one since Boston."

"Boston?" My heart skips. "You mean when I thought-"

"When you thought I was leaving?" His eyes soften. "Sweetheart, I've never been more sure about staying exactly where I am."

"Hunter… are you—"

Hunter's finger presses against my lips. I'm surprised at how steady his hand is, because both my hands are trembling like a Jenga tower in the final round.

“Natalie,” he says, his voice rough, deep, carrying over the sound of the fountains. “From the moment you walked into my life, you wrecked me.”

His lips curve, the hint of a smirk in his expression, but his eyes… God, his eyes , they’re softer than I've ever seen.

“You walked into my office like you owned the place. You challenged me. You frustrated me. You flipped my world upside down in a heart beat.” He exhales, shaking his head slightly. “And from that very first moment where you put me in my place, I didn’t stand a chance.”

My throat tightens around a laugh that seems to echo around us.

“I spent my whole life thinking I knew exactly who I was. What I wanted. That I had it all figured out, even when shit hit the fan. And then you came along, and suddenly, none of it mattered if I didn’t have you .” His fingers flex in mine as he squeezes them tight. “You made me better, Natalie. You showed me that love isn’t about rules or timing or waiting for the right moment. It’s about knowing when something is worth fighting for.”

“Iron Ridge was just a place before you,” he continues, voice quieter now, like it’s only meant for me. “It was a town. A team. A job. But you ? You made it home.”

Tears spill down my cheeks, but Hunter plucks a tiny packet of tissues from his pocket and dabs at it for me. I whisper a thank you, but when he dives back in his pocket again, something else replaces the crunch of the packet.

Hunter shifts, taking a small step back from me.

He beams at me and drops to one knee. Automatically I gasp, along with everyone else around us.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I thought maybe, someday… maybe .

After the playoffs, after everything settled, after I had time to wrap my head around the fact that this man was mine for good. Maybe we’d sit down, figure out a plan, talk about what life would look like if he took Team USA.

If we had to make sacrifices. If I had to be the one to follow him for once.

But now? Right here, under the lights, with the entire world watching?

I never expected this.

Because deep down, I always thought I’d have to prepare myself for the inevitable. That something this good, this perfect , wasn’t meant for me.

My hand flies to my mouth as he flips the small box open. Inside, nestled in black velvet, is the most stunning, vintage diamond ring I’ve ever seen.

My Grandmother’s ring.

A choked sob escapes my throat and Hunter's eyes glaze over.

“I love you,” he says, firmly but cracks start to form in his voice. “More than I ever thought I could love someone. And I promise, Natalie Hayes, for the rest of my life, I will never stop finding ways to prove that to you.”

The fountains explode behind him, water arching high into the sky, casting rainbows through the night air.

“Natalie Hayes,” he murmurs, smiling now. “Will you marry me?”

I nod before my brain can catch up.

Then I’m laughing. Crying. Dropping to my knees in front of him, throwing my arms around his neck as the crowd behind us erupts.

“Yes,” I whisper, my fingers tangling into his hair. “Yes. Of course. Yes. ”

Hunter makes a sound in his throat—something raw, relieved, completely and utterly wrecked—before he cups my face and crashes his mouth against mine.

The team loses it.

Lucy full-on screams.

Connor fist-pumps so hard he nearly falls over.

Blake and Sophia are hugging like they just got engaged all over again.

The world blurs as my heart pounds inside my chest. My lips are on Hunter’s, my hands fisting his shirt, the sound of champagne popping and cheers and music swirling around us.

But all I can focus on is him.

Hunter grins. “Did I surprise you?”

I laugh, overwhelmed, ridiculously happy. “Hunter, you’re my surprise.”

Then suddenly, I’m not in Hunter’s arms anymore. Sophia and Lucy physically drag me away, both of them making noises so high-pitched I’m pretty sure only dogs can hear them.

“Oh. My. God,” Lucy gasps, her eyes bugging out. “That ring. That ring! ”

“Let me see, let me see, let me—” Sophia all but yanks my hand toward her, and the second they both get a good look, they swoon in unison like they’re in some damn regency drama .

“It’s vintage , ” Lucy practically moans. “I swear to God, I just saw a TikTok saying vintage rings are the most romantic.”

Sophia gasps. “Where did he get it?”

I blink and look at Hunter who's standing there, proud as punch as the boys drill him for being 'a big softie after all'.

“I don't know."

Hunter’s voice, so deep and proud carries over my shoulder. “I got it from your mom.”

I whip around. “You what?! ”

Hunter’s eyes sparkle, his hands back in his pockets to fetch Lucy a tissue from the packet. He hands it to her and smiles back at me.

“Yeah. I paid them a little visit before we left Iron Ridge,” he says with a grin. “Had a little chat. Got her blessing.”

I frown. "And dad's?"

He chuckles. "Yep. Won him over too."

I gape at him, complete shock on my face.

This man. This fucking man.

“Nope. I’m dead. Fully dead." Lucy fans herself dramatically. "Connor! Where are you?!"

Connor looks up from his drink. "What?"

She turns to him, eyes flashing. “Take me back to the hotel. Now. ”

Connor’s eyes widen. Like Christmas-morning, power-play-breakaway wide. “Wait, I thought you said we’re not doing that anymore? You know, because of your brother—”

Lucy’s face blazes red. “ SHHH! ”

She smacks his arm so fast he barely has time to flinch as they walk away, Lucy clinging to his arm.

I can't help but laugh as I turn back to Hunter and slip beneath his arm.

“Tomorrow’s the biggest game of your career, Coach. Shouldn’t you be, I don’t know… resting?”

He tugs me closer, his hands settling low on my hips.

“Oh, sweetheart. I’ll rest when the Cup’s in my hands.” His lips brush my ear, his voice dropping to that deep, rough tone that always turns my knees to jelly. “Tonight, though? I’ve got something much, much better to hold onto.”

A shiver rolls down my spine. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

Hunter steps back just enough to run a slow, deliberate finger down my spine, stopping right at the dip of my lower back. His eyes flick over me, heated and dark, before his smirk deepens.

“Well, I did say I liked that dress. On the floor. In about five minutes.”

I open my mouth to say something but Hunter’s already lacing his fingers through mine, pulling me toward the exit.

My heart pounds. My cheeks hurt from smiling. My entire body hums with love, with everything this man has given me.

And as he pulls me into the night, one thought stays locked in my mind.

The ring feels impossibly light on my finger.

Like it belongs there.

Like it’s always belonged there.