Page 12 of Hat Trick (Titans Hockey #1)

Chapter ten

Luca

M y body works on muscle memory and I'm grateful for it.

We've boarded this plane hundreds of times.

So, I let my mind wander as I find my seat, put my bag in the overhead compartment and slide into my lucky seat.

We all have our favorite seats on the plane, so no one ever really argues about who is sitting where.

I unbutton my suit coat and loosen my tie slightly while Carter slides in across the aisle from me and Gabe takes up the seat in front of me.

The entire time, though, I let my mind wander to the siren that just moved in with us. To the thought of her wearing my jersey under her jacket last night. To the kiss we shared outside of the locker room.

It was impulsive. I shouldn't have sprung it on her like that. But fuck, knowing she was wearing my jersey, my game-winning goal, and seeing her waiting for me outside of the locker room like she was my woman went straight to my head.

I need to make that fantasy a reality.

I need to get some alone time with her to really romance her, but she's always with Annie, or helping Carter with Annie. Not that I mind, the kid is adorable, but I'm not sure I can lay my best moves down when Emily's distracted by her job.

A smack to the back of my head gets my attention. Gabe had reached over the chair while I was leaning forward and getting my switch out of my backpack.

"Fucking knock it off." He growls.

"What?" I ask, rubbing the back of my head .

"I can hear your gears turning from here. You're thinking about Emily, aren't you? And how you can get down her pants?"

I bristle at the insinuation. "It's not like that, man. I like her."

"You barely know her."

I shrug. "She's beautiful, and kind, and isn't after me for my money or fame. What's not to like?"

"You think she's not after your money or fame. We haven't known her long enough to really get a feel for her. She could just be playing the long game."

Carter pipes up in Emily's defense. "Nah, man.

I really don't think that's it. She's worked for the Titans for years.

If she was after a hockey player, she had a ton of opportunity to snag one.

And plenty of boys on the team who would snatch her up in an instant.

Plus, she's gone above and beyond for Annie and me.

That's not the actions of someone playing a long game. "

Now it's Gabe's turn to shrug. "You never know. She could just be a really good actress."

Carter turns to me, now. "Regardless of if she's got an endgame here or not, she's off limits, dude. She's my nanny. She lives with us. If you start shit with her and chase her away, I'm going to be pissed."

I nod like I'm listening, but I'm already planning. If I explore this attraction between Emily and I and it goes south, I can move out. Or she can move out and just take Annie while Carter's working.

But if it goes right...if we start seeing each other, romancing each other, and things go right, she could be the future Mrs. Tavares. I rub my hand over my mouth, trying to stifle my smile.

"Fuck, he's already too far gone." Gabe says, eyeing me carefully .

"I'm serious man, don't fuck this up for me.

" Carter pleads. I don't want to mess up a good thing for Carter.

Emily came in clutch for him during the worst few days of his life - without judgement, without ulterior motive.

Annie's happy and healthy, and Carter trusts Emily enough to take care of her when he's out of town.

That trust would be hard to build with someone else.

"I won't." I'll play the long game. I'll become Emily's friend first, someone she can trust and feel comfortable with.

If it's meant to be, feelings will grow naturally out of friendship.

We'll get to a point where if things don't work out, we can handle it like adults, without disturbing the peace Annie, Carter and Ems have.

But I'm not giving up on her completely.

If she is the next Mrs. Tavares, I'm not going to let something as silly as her job get in the way.

She won't have to work if she's with me.

She can watch Annie because she wants to, not because she has to.

An image of Emily, kissing me at the door when I get home, watching our games from the family's area, her stomach swollen with my child, makes my heart ache.

To have a friend, a confidant, someone in my corner to love and support me.

Someone to share the highs and the lows, someone to grow old with.

I knew months ago I was ready to settle down, but to think that it's so close. To actually have a face and a name to add to the fantasy makes the ache all the more real. I knew I wanted to settle down, but I had no idea how badly until Emily.