Page 49 of Rule 3: Never Fake Marry the Coach's Son

Then he steps away, and only when I hear the sound of shutters do I realize that paparazzi have captured the moment.

Heat floods my cheeks, but he ruffles my hair. His gaze is fond, then he turns to the group of cameramen.

“That’s my adorable husband.”

“You’re gay, Dmitri?” one shouts.

“Bisexual,” he shouts.

“You’ve never dated a man before.”

“Other men aren’t Oskar,” he says lightly.

The paparazzi nod, but I note how some of their eyes narrow. God, they’re not buying this. This isn’t going to work. Maybe Finn and Noah got together, and everyone believed them, well, everyone except Vinnie, but Finn and Noah were both handsome and athletic. If Dmitri wanted to be with a man, he could be with anyone. Why would he pick a skinny non-athlete?

“Wave to the cameras,” Dmitri prompts.

I wave, and he kisses my cheek.

“We want a real kiss!” one of the cameramen demands.

“Yeah, a real kiss.”

I don’t want to look at Dmitri. I don’t want to see him stiffen, and I don’t want to see panic in his eyes.

But instead, I feel him pull me closer to him. He lowers his head, then his words are in my ears. “Do you mind?”

“You want to kiss me?”

His smile curves against my skin. “I have before.”

I nod, remembering Vegas, and the taste of champagne and possibility.

Maybe I smiled or something when I nodded, because in the next moment, his hands are cupping my face, and in the moment after that, his lips are on mine.

And then we’re kissing.

I’m sailing on the same fabulous cloud I was in Vegas, and my heart is pounding in just that same manner.

When he finally steps away, I probably look like a disaster. Hair mussed, cheeks flushed, lips swollen.

He grins, then turns to the cameras. “Did you catch that?”

“Do it again!” one person shouts.

I roll my eyes and pull Dmitri away toward the entrance.

“Sorry guys,” Dmitri says. “Apparently we can’t just make out in front of the hockey arena. My husband is in hockey management.”

“You’re also the son of the coach!” one paparazzo shouts. “What does your dad think about the marriage?”

“Coach was very excited once he found out,” Dmitri says.

“I’d never seen him so excited,” I agree.

People scribble on their phones, and we hurry into the building before someone can think to ask if it was good or bad excitement.

CHAPTER NINETEEN