Page 31 of Power Play (Titans Hockey #2)

Chapter twenty-eight

Scott

L acey's young. She’s fresh out of college and probably not making a lot of money as a Jr. Physical Therapist.

Which is why satisfaction barrels through me when we walk into the most expensive restaurant in Charlotte and Lacey gasps.

Beyond being young, I get the distinct feeling that she's not used to people doing things for her.

I love that I can give things like this to her - a mansion, fancy restaurants, expensive vacations. The amazing woman on my arm will want for nothing the rest of her life. And it satisfies me to no end that I'm the one to give it all to her.

She looks all around us, while I watch her, taking in the chandeliers, the candles on the white-clothed tables, the piano being played by a master in the corner.

A part of me was worried she wouldn't want to be seen out in public with me, being so much older than her.

So, I asked her last night, and she said it never even occurred to her.

I truly lucked out that a woman I accidentally got pregnant also happens to be one of the sweetest and kindest human beings on this planet.

I don't know how I got to be so lucky, but I'm grateful for it.

Her hand squeezes my arm.

The hostess bustles up to us, recognizing me. I come here sometimes with the owner when he does his check-ins on his team.

"Mr. Ward, we have your table ready. Just this way. "

Lacey grips my arm as we follow the hostess to a table in the back, providing us with a bit of privacy.

Instead of sitting across from her, I take the chair right next to her. I love touching her and want to feel that connection.

Lacey leans forward. "There are no prices on this menu," she whispers, and a broad grin spreads across my face.

"Don't worry about the prices, darling. Order whatever you want."

I rest my arm across the back of her chair, wrapping a section of her hair around my finger.

We order and eat and have the same kind of conversations we had back in the hotel bed.

Easy, open, free. We talk about her college experience and my early years playing professionally.

We talk about our tastes in music, in food, our dreams for the future.

Her passion for the body and how it moves is addictive.

Her eyes sparkle and her entire body seems to lighten.

It's clear she would do her job for free.

We talk about hockey, how she and Ben grew up in a hockey town, and how much she loved watching him play.

I'm a little jealous that they have such a history together, but though he may have her past, I have her future.

We avoid the subject of her family, because every time it's brought up, she deflates.

And we're not having that tonight. Tonight is all about showing her how good I can make her life.

How good we are together, inside and out of the bedroom.

The chemistry in that hotel room was off the charts.

And if every time with her is even remotely close to that, I want her every day for the rest of my life.

But more than that, I really like her as a person. She's funny and clever when she's relaxed. And she's looking very relaxed right now, laughing and eating with me .

After we finish eating, Lacey leans back in her chair, hand resting over the small baby bump she's developed that makes me absolutely fucking feral. I'm thinking of all the ways I want to get her off before we've even left the restaurant when a familiar, cloying perfume assaults my nose.

Jaqueline.

I look up and smile up at my ex. Life has not been kind to her.

She has frown lines and lines in her brows that she's tried to Botox away unsuccessfully.

She's a miserable human being, and she looks it.

Maybe that's why Lacey is so beautiful - at some point the outside reflects the inside of a person, and she's beautiful inside and out.

"Scott?" she says on a gasp. A gasp I know is fake. She wouldn't have approached us if she didn't know it was me. I suppress an eye roll.

"Jaqueline." I reply, unimpressed.

"What are you doing here? Are you taking out a new coworker as a 'welcome to the team' dinner?"

Fuck. Clearly, she's been keeping tabs on me and who I'm working with. I bristle at the idea of Lacey being anywhere near Jaqueline’s radar. Jaqueline’s not a mean person, per se, but she's conniving and manipulative and selfish. Everything Lacey is not.

And it's obvious I'm not. I'm sitting as closely as I can to Lace and playing with her hair.

But I don't miss how Jaqueline looks down and sees Lacey's belly. She’s started showing now, and I find myself wildly attracted to her belly.

Lacey looks terrified, though, causing the hair on the back of my neck to rise. No one fucks with my Lacey .

"No, Jaqueline." I lace her name with disgust. "I'm taking my very pregnant girlfriend out on a date.

" I turn to Jaqueline with a flat smile.

"Isn't she beautiful? I'm the luckiest man in the world.

" Alright, so I'm an asshole. But the best defense is a good offense.

I want to make it blatantly clear that I'm off the table.

Taken. Owned. And in love. Because I'm falling in love with her.

It's too early for me to tell her that. She's had a lot of changes and pressure put on her, and I don't want to add more to her.

But she makes me happier than I've been in a long time.

My life was fine before she came along, but now that she and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum have moved in? My life is fucking perfect.

And in six months, it's going to get even better.

Jaqueline blinks at me. "Pregnant," she repeats.

"With twins."

"Twins?"

And I can't help the laugh that escapes me. "And you want to know the funny part, Jaq? I'm not even sure the babies are mine."

Lacey gasps next to me, but I wrap her hand with mine and rest it on my thigh. The irony of the situation has me feeling so light and happy. Because it doesn't matter who the biological dad is. These babies are mine. Mine to protect, mine to care for, mine to love and raise and share life with.

"What? Scott!" Jaqueline shouts, causing some of the other patrons to turn our way. I couldn't care less.

Jaqueline's jaw drops open before she closes it, and opens it again.

"The difference between you and her, though, Jacki, is that not a word out of her mouth has ever been a lie." And that's the honest to God truth. Lacey couldn't be more different from Jaqueline if she tried. Honest, humble, hard working, caring, thoughtful and selfless. Everything Jaqueline wasn't.

I bring Lacey's hand to my mouth and kiss the back of it.

"Scott, can I talk to you?" Jaqueline asks, leaning down but not whispering.

"Nah, I'm good. I would say it was nice to see you, but it wasn't. Have a great life.

" I say, dismissing her. I don't owe her any more of my time, or my attention.

We were married once, yes, but I'm not sure she ever loved me, or even respected me.

So why would I waste any more of my time on her, when the woman next to me deserves all of it?

She hesitates a little before huffing and stomping off.

I couldn't give a shit.

I smile at the woman sitting next to me, who is looking down, embarrassed or upset.

I smile at her like she gave me the world. Because she did.