Page 22 of Power Play (Titans Hockey #2)

Chapter nineteen

Scott

" I think we need to talk."

Fuck, does any man every like hearing those six words?

I nod. I had been toying with an idea since we found out she was pregnant, and now would be a good time to address it.

"Let's go back to my place. We can talk in private."

Lacey nods, still stunned. Lacey and Ben go to walk back to Ben's truck. Jonesy goes to stumble to his car, but I snatch my hand out and grab him by the sleeve.

"Not you, Jonesy, you're with me."

He blinks up at me and nods. I live about twenty-five minutes away from downtown in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Charlotte.

Which means I have twenty-five minutes to give Jonesy whatever pep talk he needs to be present for Lacey.

What I'm about to propose might make him balk even harder. But I'm hoping not.

We climb into my SUV and I pull out of the parking lot. I weigh my options. Do I do an encouraging pep talk? A "it's almost the end of third period and we're down by two and we've been playing like shit" or man-to-man?

"Look, Jonesy, I get you're scared. We all are to some extent, but I need you to bury that shit deep down, got it?"

He turns to look at me, finally out of his stupor.

I can't get the way Lacey's shoulders relaxed when Jonesy finally came into the room out of my mind. The way her hand reached for him for comfort. For whatever reason, she likes this guy. She needs him to be there for her.

"Lacey needs you, okay? If you care for or respect that woman at all, you shove whatever fear you have deep down inside and fake it for her benefit.

We'll help you unpack all your fears later, but right now, she's scared and vulnerable.

She just started her career. Do you remember when you first signed with the NHL?

How scared you were? How anxious you were to do well to prove yourself?

That's what she's going through right now.

Then she gets knocked up by three dumb assholes and has to face this alone.

So I sympathize with whatever you're going through, and you know Ben and I will help, but today, right now, for the next hour, I just need you to suck it up. Got it?"

He nods, his eyes looking a lot clearer and less in shock. "Twins," he whispers with a sigh.

"Yes. Twins. Which means..." I say, giving him a look to finish.

"What?"

"Which means twice as many babies to love, got it?"

He swallows, but nods his head. I really do feel for the guy, but right now, Lacey's my priority.

Ben follows me and parks next to my SUV after we pull into the driveway.

"Holy shit, boss," Jonesy says with a sigh as he takes in my mansion. Yes, it's obnoxiously large for only one person, but my financial advisor recommended keeping some of my wealth in property, and considering I've been coaching in the NHL for nearly twenty years, I have a lot of it to go around .

I smile. I don't know where Jonesy lives, but I'm pretty sure Lacey and Ben live in the team apartments. It's time we have that chat.

I let my voice get deep and serious. "Look, Garrett, I don’t know what you're going through.

But I won't let you hurt that woman in there.

She's gone through enough, and I'm actually really fond of her.

So if I get a hint that you might hurt her, I will remove you.

That woman is my family now, and I will protect her with my life. Do you understand?"

He nods, still kind of shocked, but if there's any chance he is the father of Lacey's children, at the very least I need Lacey to be okay.

I don't give a shit about DNA. Lacey is probably the only woman in the world who accepts me and wants me for who I am.

She insisted on one night. She didn't ask for more.

She knows my position, and she easily could have tried to strong-arm me for money, or marriage, or.

.. really whatever the hell she wanted. But she stood tall yesterday, looked me in the eye, and told me she could do it alone. She knows my story and gave me an out.

I offer my hand to Lacey, and she takes it gratefully, stepping down on the running board before hitting her feet. I want to wrap my arms around her, spin her around and celebrate her pregnancy, but I'm not sure I've earned the right.

"This is your home?" she asks, looking up at the mansion. And yours I want to say, but I bite my tongue. She's on a hairpin trigger and I'm afraid if I look at her the wrong way, she'll run.

I punch the code and enter my house, kicking off my shoes like I've done a thousand times before.

Only today, I'm bringing home a woman, and asking her to move in with me.

I smile to myself. I want some alone time with her.

I want to kiss her and make my intentions clear.

Ben's shown his cards and what his intentions are.

I know Jonesy is on the fence, but I need to tell her how I feel.

"Boys," I say, pointing at a door in the hall just off the living room. "Head down those stairs. I have a surprise for you and need a word with Lacey... alone."

Ben gives her a worried glance but does as I told him.

After Ben and Jonesy disappear, I pull her into my arms and stare down into her beautiful green eyes.

"Hi," I smile at her.

"Hi," she whispers back. She's leaning against me, but she's still stiff, still wary.

It's time I lay it all on the line. I cup her cheek in my hand and tilt her face up a little more so I can look her in the eyes when I say this, so she can see my honesty.

"I know you said only one night, and I was willing to respect that, even if that was the best night of my life.

You set your boundary, and I want to respect that, but now.

.." I move my big hand from her back, sliding it around her waist to lay it over her still flat belly.

"But now, you're potentially giving me the family I've always wanted but had given up hope of ever having. "

She frowns. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I'd like to make a go of this.

I'd like the chance to romance you, take you out, see where this can go because I like you, Lacey, a lot.

That night with you," I shake my head, trailing off.

"It was so unexpected. You're so unexpected.

But I loved every minute of it. Even if a relationship never takes off, I'd still like to be friends and raise our babies together. "

It's the first and only lie I'll ever tell her. I don't want to be friends. I can't imagine something worse than living with this sexy, insatiable, firecracker of a woman and never touching her. But if that's the only way I can keep her, then I will.

She looks down at an invisible point on my chest, clearly processing my words.

I know it's hard for her to be vulnerable.

Her demons are big, and if I had to guess, are in control most of the time.

But when I look at this beautiful, strong woman, all I can think about is how much I want to hold her, kiss her, protect her, provide for her.

I had given up on my dreams, but this pint-sized woman in my arms has caused hope to sprout in my heart again after decades of loneliness.

In an instance I see her, snuggled up on my couch, Christmas morning.

With two beautiful toddlers opening presents with Ben and Jonesy helping them and fuck, I wasn't expecting my heart to ache so fiercely at how badly I want that.

Sure, there are two more men in the equation than I expected, but I kind of even like that.

Having more men here to protect and provide for her and our babies.

Because whether I'm the biological father or not, if she lets me, I will parent those babies right alongside her.

I track her eye movement and it's rapid. Her eyes are darting between two points on my chest, clearly spiraling.

I need to turn her mind off and let her process things slowly.

My hand finds her ponytail, tugging just enough to tilt her head back.

Her lips part in a soft gasp, and for a heartbeat, I hesitate, searching her eyes for permission.

What I find there—surprise, heat, trust—makes my resolve snap.

The corner of my mouth kicks up in a smile. She still wants me.

I back her against the wall by my front door and press my lips to hers. Her breath fans my cheek as she exhales and relaxes in my arms.

Yeah, baby, I've got you .

I thrust my tongue into her mouth, caressing her tongue with mine, tangling in a seductive dance.

I don't want to have sex with her right now.

.. okay, lies; I want to have sex with her all the time.

.. but right now I want to get her out of her own head, shut off the nervous, anxious, spiraling thoughts. I want to bring her peace.

She surprises me when she lifts a leg and wraps it around my hips, pulling me hard against her.

I pull back before this goes further than I intended. She blinks up at me, her gorgeous chest heaving. I'm hard, but this isn't the right time. We have logistics to figure out first.

"Let's go catch up with the boys," I say, grabbing her hand and yanking her towards the basement.

The change of gears keeps her off kilter and not thinking about her problems. This is the conversation we need to have, all four of us, and I'm hoping Ben and Garrett will back me up.

I open the basement door and chuckle when I hear Ben and Garrett's excited chatter. Their voices are deep, but they sound as excited as kids at Christmas.

I push through the doors at the bottom of the stairwell and usher Lacey inside with my hand on the small of her back.

Ben and Garrett are sliding around on the synthetic ice in my underground ice rink. I love skating and running drills from when I played in the comfort of my own home.

Ben slips, arms flailing, as he looks up at us with his eyes aglow. Garrett manages to shuffle and gain some speed before sliding.

"You have a rink!?" Ben asks, his grin wide and adorable.

I nod. "And a pool, and a theater room." I want them onboard and I'm not above straight bribery .

"This is amazing!"

I gently guide Lacey back into my arms. I can't get enough of this woman.

"I think you should move in." Her eyes widen, so I clarify.

"I think you, Ben, and Garrett should move in here.

The house is more than big enough, and logistically, it would make everything easier.

You have a craving at two AM; one of us will run out and get it.

You need your feet rubbed? Your laundry washed?

" I look at Ben and Garrett, who are listening intently.

"You've got three of us to take care of you. "

Her lips part in surprise, and I can almost see her weighing the offer. She glances at Ben, then Garrett, her fingers worrying the hem of her shirt. I know what she’s thinking—what would this mean for her independence? For her already fragile sense of control?

Ben shuffles towards us. "It's not a bad idea, L. It would get you away from..."

"It honestly makes everything simpler, if Coach has room." Jonesy adds. I give him a nod. Good man.

"You've got time to think about it, but I promise you, if you let us, we want nothing more than to take care of you."

She looks up at me and nods. "I'll think about it."