Page 58 of If You Claim Me

My eyes pop open to find him staring intently at me.

I swallow the bite. “You haven’t even tried it.”

He sets the spoon down and brushes his thumb along my bottom lip. “I don’t need to.” He licks the pad, eyes darkening. “You already told me it’s your favorite.”

“What about your favorite?”

“I already have it.”

CHAPTER 16

CONNOR

We’re running drills today as preseason shifts into full swing. Romero and I flank Madden as Ryker prepares for the shot on net. His confidence is growing steadily.

Stiles skates behind the net, Bright moving into position close to me. Madden passes to Stiles, but I’m ready when he tries to pass to Bright. I steal the puck, tap it to Romero, and he shoots it down the ice.

“Nice pass, Grace.” I expect a barb to follow, but Madden takes off after the puck, Stiles and Bright on his heels.

Palaniappa is at the other end of the rink, defending McEwan, the new backup goalie. I watch the easy way Stiles, Madden, and Bright play together. They’re cohesive, moving like extensions of each other.

“Man, those three are something, aren’t they?” There’s awe and envy in Romero’s tone as Madden easily slides the puck past McEwan.

“They’ve had a lot of years on the ice together,” I remind him.

“And they spend a lot of time together off the ice, too,” Ryker adds.

I feel more like part of this team lately. I expected it to be theopposite this season with my engagement to Mildred, but instead of hating me for it, Madden’s been accepting. They all have, actually. Not for me, I’m sure, but for Mildred. Regardless, it’s been good for preseason.

After practice, where Ryker only let one goal in, we hit the locker room, shower, and change back into street clothes.

“Dred seems good. She told me about the venue walk-through. Said the food was fantastic.”

I look up, surprised to find Flip making conversation with me.

Bright, Stiles, and Palaniappa glance our way, apparently just as surprised as me.

“She tell you about the steak tartare?” I ask.

“Oh yeah.” He laughs. “Dred and texture are a real thing.”

“I witnessed that firsthand. It wasn’t her favorite, but she refused to waste it.” She would have lost her mind if she knew what it would have cost per person.

“That’s my fault.” He grins, his smile fond. “I hope she didn’t suffer too much on my behalf.”

A spike of unfamiliar jealousy shoots heat down my spine. He’s important to Mildred, and she’s important to him in a way I’ve never experienced with anyone other than Meems.

“Dessert made up for it.”

“She said as much. If you want to make her smile, just bring her something with strawberries in it.”

“Yeah. I’ve noticed.” Her little moan, the way her eyes fluttered closed… I want more of that.

“Good.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I’m sure you have all the wedding stuff covered, but, uh, if you’re still looking for someone to make the cake, Rix has a lot of friends who do that kind of thing, and she’d love to help.”

“Okay. Yeah.” I’m sure my mother has some kind of plan, but her wishes aren’t mine, and anything I can do to make Mildred feel included in this process and not steamrolled by my controlling parents is a win for me.

“I’ll shoot you her number.”