ASHLEY

Meeting Liam’s wary look the next morning, Ashley drew in her breath and steadied her nerves. They were putting her new husband to work right away – and by the same instance, her too.

After the get-together to meet the team, the coach stopped them both and pulled them aside.

“Liam, I need you both for an interview first thing in the morning. It’s a preemptive thing to settle a few rumblings in the hockey community. Be positive, stick with a few of these responses, and most of all – press the team image along with a family atmosphere.”

“What do you mean?” Ashley asked nervously, “We don’t have a family.”

“You two are the family,” Coach Starnes chuckled.

“And I couldn’t have picked a better couple to foster that image.

You’ve got the whole look ‘first lady’ look going,” the coach began, waving his hand in front of her.

“He’s got the ‘Good Guy’ look that we want the Wolverines to stand for – so your first job as captain, Liam, is to do this interview… with her. ”

“Both of us?”

“Yes. Get out there, smile at each other, hold hands, get all chummy and sweet with each other for the camera and talk about teamwork, family, and hockey – nothing else ,” the coach ordered sternly.

“Not your past teams, not any prior girlfriends, nothing. Your lives didn’t start until you signed with us. Got it?”

Your lives didn’t start until you signed with us…

Those words echoed in Ashley’s mind as Liam stood beside her, just out of sight of the cameras, waiting for their interview to begin.

They were both anxious, both a little on edge, which made her wonder what she’d gotten herself into by agreeing to marry him.

She didn’t sign a contract with the Wolverines, but by extension, because she married a player in exchange for her new vehicle, she was getting roped into this whole whirlwind fiasco that was Liam’s career.

As his wife.

“And now,” the morning news anchor began with a wide smile and zero creases in her forehead that screamed ‘ Botox-baby!, ’ she spoke happily to the camera while people started waving at them and and pointing .

“It’s my greatest honor to be the first person to introduce you to the captain of Quebec’s newest hockey team, the Wolverines – Liam Savage. ”

Sheesh, no intro for me?

Liam immediately clasped Ashley’s hand, starting forward. She walked out beside him, almost instinctively, before her brain had a chance to catch up. He motioned to a chair, indicating she should sit, and as she did so, the hostess acknowledged it, harping on it immediately.

“Awww,” the woman beamed. “I love seeing a gentleman that takes care of his woman,” she gushed as Liam moved to sit do wn – and gave Ashley a soft smile as he leaned forward, dropping a peck on her temple.

Good heavens, he was good at this!

“Men, treat your wife right – and she’ll support you in anything,” Liam said openly, putting a hand on Ashley’s knee, and she felt his hand trembling.

He was nervous?

“That’s right,” Ashley volunteered, taking a deep breath and putting on her calmest expression. “Liam is always watching out for me, treats me like I’m his princess…”

“Queen,” Liam interrupted, giving her an indulgent smile as Ashley nodded, continuing.

“When Liam became a Wolverine, and this was his next step in his career – how could I not support his dreams?”

She laid her hand on his, giving it a little squeeze to say, ‘It’s okay’ silently to him. He looked at her – and they shared a split second of recognition and acknowledgment silently between them, which hopefully looked like a bond on camera.

“Mrs. Savage,” the woman began, and it took Ashley a second to realize she was being addressed. “What is the one thing that you would say your husband brings to the team that makes him special?”

Craaap, I barely know this man!

“Patience and respect,” Ashley volunteered, immediately reaching for two things that would sound terrific during a job interview, much less this whole debacle on public television.

“He’s so smart, so gentle, so kind – but he isn’t afraid to speak up when he sees something.

He has a way of reaching the guys, and they listen because he’s been in their shoes.

Liam is an amazing teacher and mentor, which makes him a natural as the Wolverines’ captain. ”

“Aww, thanks,” Liam whispered, leaning toward her and droppi ng a kiss on her temple. “You’re the one who’s amazing.”

“It’s just the truth,” she replied, knowing they were both wearing microphones, but her mind was clamoring differently. She barely knew him; they had only been married a few days, and how did you talk about someone when you didn’t know them? And on television, no less!

“What’s Liam’s favorite food?” the woman pressed Ashley again – and she paused, completely unsure and racking her brain.

“His mother’s enchiladas.”

“Oh, do you make them at home?”

“She’s an amazing cook, and I wouldn’t begin to know how to make them,” Ashley dodged, glancing at Liam – who nodded and shrugged. It was true. She had no idea how to make them because she had not tasted them yet, and he’d mentioned it once in an attempt to distract her during a conversation.

“Ashley, all the women want to know, what is your favorite thing about Liam?”

Oh my gosh, so many questions for me – about him? What in the world?

“My smile,” Liam volunteered, and Ashley seized it.

“His smile,” she preened immediately. “It lights up a room.”

“Another question for Ashley,” the interviewer winked at her like they were two friends talking about their shared favorite thing. “Does he wear his jersey all the time at home – or do you wear it?”

Just the suggestive tone was alarming and offsetting. She and Liam exchanged a look. This was not about hockey or the Wolverines. It felt like a gossip piece.

“When we are relaxing, we both wear Wolverines T-shirts around the house,” she fibbed, knowing that was the answer the coach would want to hear.

“I mean, I have a work uniform, and my husband has his jersey that he wears on the ice, just like the rest of the team. If you had a work uniform and went home for the day – to relax - most people wouldn’t wear it at home.

We fully support our team and love the logo, so yes. ”

“Good answer,” the woman preened and leaned forward once more. “Ashley, is Liam a boxers or briefs man?”

“I do not believe that it is appropriate for you to ask me about my husband’s underwear preferences – nor does this have anything to do with hockey,” Ashley said cooly, giving her a stern and protective look. “All I can tell you is that you will never see them.”

And Liam’s bark of laughter, followed by his proud smile, was everything.

“My queen has spoken,” he said pointedly in a hushed voice, giving Ashley a nod of approval – to which she lifted her chin slightly almost as if to say, ‘I dare you to ask me something else dirty because I’ll shut you down again…’

“Liam, tell me about Ashley…” the woman began, taking the pressure of the interview off of Ashley and focusing it on him – and Ashley gave Liam’s hand a little squeeze and tossed him a smirk as if to say, ‘ You’re up, Buddy!’ … and he gave a little knowing laugh.

“What can I say?” Liam began, blushing slightly. “I saw her and couldn’t resist asking what her name was. I mean, it was instant chemistry. I saw her and knew I was going to marry this woman…” and he pulled her hand up to his lips, kissing the back of it.

“Isn’t he a gentleman?” Ashley replied politely, fighting back laughter because everything Liam said was ultimately factua l, almost step by step. “We met, were suddenly talking marriage, and neither of us looked back.”

“It’s true,” Liam grinned at Ashley… and then he broke. He started chuckling and giving her a sideways look, unable to help himself. She started laughing softly, realizing he was cracking under the pressure because it was funny – and true.

Everything was true – and not one person there or watching the interview had any inkling of it.

They could have said anything, made up any story, and this woman, who had obviously not done her homework about them, was nodding and gobbling up the stuff as factual.

Anyone else would have asked them specific, pointed, factual questions.

“You all make an adorable couple,” the woman gushed happily, loving their image of a couple as Liam bent his head toward Ashley, trying to stop laughing, pulling himself together. “Ashley, what is your favorite thing about Liam?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” Ashley began, grinning and exchanging a look. Maybe they could have a little fun with this interview between them? “Liam is so unpredictable that he keeps me on my toes - constantly. I just never know what he’s going to say or do next.”

“And she goes along with me,” Liam volunteered, matching her smile and sharing a look as he winked. “It’s gotta be my good looks – or the hockey uniform.”

“Maybe a little of both?” Ashley said slyly, not wanting to insult the man because she did think he was gorgeous, but admitting you have a crush on television wasn’t something she really wanted to do.

“We’ll go with the uniform,” Liam volunteered, resting his hand on her knee again and giving it a little squeeze. “Let’s get back to hockey, eh? You keep asking my wife all the questi ons, and frankly, I’m a little jealous. You can’t like my wife more than I do – trust me – that’s not possible.”

Ashley gave him a sideways look, to which Liam immediately smiled indulgently, playing it off like it was nothing.

“Sorry honey – I want to talk about our new team,” Liam apologized publicly, bringing her hand to his lips once more.

Ashley smiled, nodded, and remained silent— grateful for Liam’s reprieve.

The interviewer had been asking Ashley very leading questions – and he effectively steered the interview back to him, taking all the pressure from her.

Whew!