Page 55 of Lucky Shot (Moonshot Hockey #1)

NICK

The roads are covered with fresh snow and the mountains look like something out of a postcard.

I pull into the driveway and cut the engine.

It feels good to be home. We had a three-game road trip.

Two games in California and one in Washington.

We won all three, but it still feels like the real trophy is waiting for me inside.

As I push open the front door and step inside, Aidan’s voice calls out from the living room.

“Dad!” He stands, guitar in hand.

“Hey!” I aim my smile at him, then at Ruby. She’s curled up in her favorite chair with several blankets wrapped around her and her computer situated on her lap. A fire is going, and she has a space heater next to her.

Aidan meets me halfway and stretches his arms around my waist.

“Did you grow another inch while I was gone?” Sometime over the past few months he shot up and doesn’t show any signs of stopping.

“No.” He giggles into my chest. I hug him to me, breathing deeper than I have since I left.

There’s nothing more grounding than getting to be his dad.

Any time I leave for an extended amount of time, I’m hit with that reality all over again.

Watching him grow and become his own person is such an honor.

Ruby gets up from the chair with one of the blankets draped over her shoulders.

Winter has been an adjustment for her. She never leaves the house without at least three layers, including a hat, scarf, gloves, and long underwear.

Doesn’t sound sexy, but it’s a lot of fun peeling her out of all of it.

“Welcome home.” She rises up on her toes to kiss me. I circle one arm around her waist to pull her to me.

“Ooh, you’re cold.” She shivers into my mouth.

“Speaking of the cold, the lake froze over.”

“Can we go skating?” Aidan asks almost as soon as the news is out of my mouth.

He sets his guitar on the couch and brings his hands up in front of him, begging like he did when he was younger.

I don’t know how many more years he’ll do things like plead to go skating with me, but I plan to take advantage of it for as long as he does.

“Definitely.”

He rushes out of the room, a flurry of excitement.

“You must be exhausted,” Ruby says quietly when my son is out of earshot.

“I am,” I admit. “But I was able to sleep on the flight.”

In fact, I’m sleeping a lot better in general.

That might have something to do with the woman in my bed most nights.

We’ve kept the downstairs bedroom as her room, but it acts as her office now.

I like peeking in on her, watching her fingers fly over the keyboard or sitting in deep thought.

She’s already finished her next book and started another.

I’ve continued talking with the team psychologist too. I wouldn’t say my fears and anxiety are gone, but I’m navigating it. Every day. Little by little. It’s easier with Ruby by my side.

“You’re a good dad,” she says.

I swipe my lips over hers again.

When I pull back, she has a devilish glint in her eyes. “Maybe the two of you should hang. Boys’ day.”

“Are you trying to get out of skating on the lake, Red?”

“It’s so cold out there.” Her voice is part whine and part laugh.

“I’ll keep you warm.”

She groans but then a smile tips up the corners of her mouth.

Twenty minutes later we’re out on the lake.

Aidan has his hockey stick and a few pucks.

I drag out a net for him so we can shoot around.

A few neighbors are outside, enjoying the little sunlight poking through the clouds.

One of Aidan’s friends down the street joins him and the two kids fly across the ice, mostly messing around but occasionally taking shots at the net.

I stick with Ruby, holding her mittened hand and slowly circling the lake.

“It really is beautiful here.” Her nose and cheeks are pink. “But I can’t wait to visit Arizona next month.”

“Me too.”

I met her family in November when Olivia had her baby. The three of us, me, Aidan, and Ruby, spent a long weekend there. It was great meeting them, seeing Ruby so happy. Aidan and Greer hit it off and have been playing video games together every Saturday.

Dad comes out and gets the fire pit going, then brings out hot chocolate for everyone as we tire of skating and retire to sit around the fire. Aidan goes inside to grab his guitar, and his friend runs home to get his trumpet.

Dad grimaces as the two of them make noise that might be music. He sticks it out for a bit, but eventually goes back inside.

Ruby and I sit side by side in lawn chairs. Her head rests on my shoulder, and she has two blankets wrapped around her.

I don’t remember ever feeling this happy. It’s a thousand little dreams all wrapped up into one incredible life.

When Aidan’s friend says he needs to get home, we say goodbye to him and then it’s just the three of us.

Aidan strums lightly, not seeming as interested now that he’s alone.

“Did you learn that new song we talked about?” I ask him, breaking the silence. My breath is visible in the air.

He grins and nods his head rapidly.

“Another one?” Ruby asks, looking amazed and impressed by my son. “Can I hear it?”

Aidan looks to me for permission.

I had a slightly different plan, but this feels right. Just the three of us out by the lake, stars shining above us—and don’t tell Ruby I said this—but even the bite of cold in the air is perfect. It guarantees she’ll snuggle closer.

I give him the nod of approval and Aidan gets settled with his guitar in his lap. Ruby sits forward, giving him all her attention. I love how much she supports him and cheers him on. She’s been good for all of us.

Even Dad seems happier. During the day, she takes a break from writing and the two of them have lunch and go for a walk.

In no time at all she’s become so essential to our lives that I can’t picture it without her.

Next month her book releases and she goes on tour.

It’s going to be torture around here without her, but I can’t wait to watch millions of people fall in love with her words.

As Aidan gets to the chorus, Ruby’s eyes light up.

“Oh my gosh. I know this one!” She hums along to “Is this Love.”

That night in the truck is burned into my brain forever. Just like a million other nights. I don’t want to forget any of them. And I want to make a million more memories just like it.

He gets to the end and Ruby claps so enthusiastically that Aidan looks bashful. He flicks his hair out of his eyes and then looks to me.

Ruby elbows me and shoots an outraged glare in my direction. “Why aren’t you clapping? That was so good.”

Then her gaze drops to my hand. I have the ring between my thumb and pointer finger. Her eyes go wide, and she gasps.

“Oh my god. Nicholas Galaxy, are you proposing to me while I’m wearing long underwear and mittens?!”

I chuckle. “I had planned to do it at Christmas, but I can’t wait.”

Her eyes well with tears. “You want to marry me?”

“Yeah. I want to marry you, Red.”

She shucks off the heavy gloves and sets them in her lap. I hold out the ring to her. “I love you. I can’t picture any life better than this one with you. And if you’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life keeping you warm.”

“Eww.” Aidan scrunches up his face.

I flash him a wry smile. Ruby looks over to him.

“You’re good with this too?”

“Yeah. You make my dad really happy, and you make the best cookies.” He grins.

“You both make me really happy too.” She turns back to me.

“That a yes, Red?”

She nods and I slip the ring onto her finger. She’s silent, staring at it for so long I’m not sure what to make of her subdued reaction. Then all at once, she jumps up from her chair and throws her hands into the air.

“We’re getting married!” Her voice echoes into the night. She yells it again and again.

Laughing, I stand and circle one arm around her waist. “I think they heard you.”

“I get to marry you,” she says quietly.

Aidan starts playing the wedding march and I hug her to me. “And I get to marry you.”

How lucky am I?

Before you go, I want to say thank you! From the bottom of my heart, I am so grateful that you took a chance on my book. If you enjoyed it, then I hope you’ll tell a friend who loves fun, swoony, spicy romance!

As a little thank-you, I’ve written a bonus scene of Nick and Ruby at Aidan’s graduation. It’s such a sweet scene—and you can read it for free here!

Next up in the Moonshot Hockey series is Keeping Score — an enemies-to-lovers, Vegas marriage romance between a fiery gymnast and a cocky hockey player she can’t stand. It’s releasing December 11 2025.

But before then…

Jack and Everly—who you met in Lucky Shot —have their own fiery, banter filled story in Forever Wild. The first three chapters are waiting for you right now… just turn the page and keep reading. You might even catch a glimpse of Nick Galaxy.