Page 20 of Rookie’s Redemption (Iron Ridge Icehawks #5)

His lady. Heat floods my cheeks as the three women across from me suddenly develop an intense interest in their phones, clearly trying not to laugh.

"I'm not his... we're not..." I stammer, but Marcus has already disappeared to fetch our drinks, leaving me to face the firing squad masquerading as my friends.

"Iron Ridge royalty," Lucy repeats with barely contained glee. "I like the sound of that."

"You're all terrible people," I mutter, sinking lower into the plush booth.

"We're terrible people who are about to make you look incredible tonight," Sophia corrects. "Which brings us to the matter at hand. What are you planning to wear?"

"I have a dress."

Three pairs of eyes narrow simultaneously.

"Define dress ," Natalie says carefully.

"It's... black. And clean. And it fits."

The silence that follows is deafening.

"Oh, honey," Lucy breathes, looking at me like I've just announced my intention to attend the event in a potato sack. "No. Just... no."

Marcus returns with our drinks—sparkling champagne cocktails garnished with actual lavender sprigs that are apparently edible.

He sets them down and wow. The first sip is pure magic, bubbles dancing on my tongue while honey and floral notes create a symphony of flavor that makes me understand why people pay ridiculous amounts for fancy drinks like this.

"Okay," I admit after a second sip that goes straight to my head. "This is really good."

"Everything here is really good," Sophia says, pulling out her phone. "Which is why we're going to fuel up on gorgeous food and perfect cocktails, then we're going shopping."

My mind drifts to the shelter. It's one o'clock. The puppies are due for their medication. Bandit's probably plotting his next escape with Zoe in charge, then there's that fucking goat… and there's a mountain of paperwork piling up.

I've got so much work waiting. Shopping feels like an impossible luxury right now.

"I don't need to go shopping. I told you, I have a dress."

"You have a dress," Lucy emphasizes. "But tonight calls for the dress. The dress that makes Ryder forget his own name. The dress that makes every woman in that arena wish she were you and every man wish he were Ryder."

"That's... a lot of pressure for one piece of fabric."

"Good fabric can handle pressure," Sophia says simply. "Trust us."

Marcus reappears with a tray of appetizers. And they look like they were designed by artists rather than chefs.

Seared scallops arranged like tiny sculptures, flatbread topped with ingredients I can't pronounce but smell like heaven, and something involving salmon that makes my mouth water just looking at it.

"Compliments of the chef," he says with another one of those deadly smiles. "He insisted that Iron Ridge's newest celebrity deserves the full treatment."

I'm starting to think the champagne was a mistake, because the whole celebrity thing is becoming less funny and more terrifying with every mention.

"Marcus," Natalie says sweetly, leaning forward in a way that shows off her impressive… well, cleavage. "Any chance you could recommend a good place to find a show-stopping dress? Last minute shopping emergency."

"Actually," Marcus glances around like he's about to share state secrets. "My sister owns Bella's Boutique on Main Street. Tell her I sent you, and she'll take care of everything."

"Perfect," Sophia says, already typing notes into her phone. "We'll head there after we fortify ourselves with more of these incredible scallops. Another round please, Marcus."

"On the way," he smiles.

Two hours and three champagne cocktails later, I'm standing in front of a three-way mirror in the most luxurious boutique I've ever set foot in.

"Oh my God," Lucy breathes from somewhere behind me. "Mia. Holy shit."

The dress is midnight blue, so dark it's almost black, with a neckline that's sophisticated rather than scandalous and a silhouette that makes me look like I actually have curves.

I stare at my reflection, hardly recognizing the woman looking back at me.

The dress fits like it was made for my body, emphasizing everything good and somehow minimizing every insecurity I've ever had about my… lumpy figure.

Ryder would love this dress.

"It's too much," I say weakly. "I can't wear this to a hockey game."

But the thought of Ryder seeing me in this dress sends heat spiraling through my body. I imagine his reaction, the way his eyes would darken, how his hands might span my waist through the silky fabric...

I can't stop thinking about yesterday evening. How he showed up at the shelter right after practice, still slightly sweaty from what I hear was a brutal practice from Coach Brody.

Still, Ryder showed up, clearly tired but carrying takeout from my favorite Thai place. He was still wearing that boyish grin that makes my heart do stupid things, and when he kissed me the moment he saw me, I just melted like a teenager all over again.

Like I haven't been hurt by him before. Like everything I've stood strongly for has just melted away and disappeared from the face of the earth.

We ate in his truck, parked in the shelter's lot, sharing pad thai and spring rolls while he told me about Coach's latest motivational speech. I filled him in on the puppies' progress.

Such simple things, but somehow it felt more intimate than fancy dinner dates I'd been on in the past.

And then he kissed me goodbye.

Soft and sweet at first, then deeper when I responded, his hands tangling in my hair while I forgot every reason why this was supposed to be complicated.

"Look. She loves it. We'll take the dress," Sophia announces, pulling out a credit card before I can protest. "And the earrings. And whatever shoes you think will complete the look."

"Sophia, no! I can't let you buy this for me."

"You're not letting me do anything. I'm investing in tonight's success." Sophia's smile is soft but determined. "Besides, someone should buy you beautiful things, Mia. You deserve beautiful things."

I stare at my reflection again, at the woman in the mirror who looks confident and elegant and like she might actually belong at a charity gala instead of hiding in an animal shelter for her entire life.

And for the first time in years, maybe ever, I'm actually excited about attending a hockey game.

Not because of the hockey. Because of him. Because of the way he looks at me, because of the careful way he organized this entire evening around something that matters to me.

"Okay," I say. "Let's do this."

"Now you're talking," Lucy grins, raising her champagne flute in a toast. "To beautiful dresses and grand gestures and the kind of love stories that make the whole town jealous."

"To Mia," Natalie adds, "who's about to have the most perfect night of her life."

I lift my own glass, the bubbles making me feel light and reckless.

"To taking chances," I say, meeting each of their eyes in turn. "And to not running away when good things happen."

We clink glasses, and for the first time since Ryder walked back into my life, I'm not thinking about all the ways this could go wrong.

I'm thinking about all the ways it could go right.