Page 21

Carlie ends up spending every night with me, and I even manage to convince her to move most of her things over to my house. The next week is crazy between my problems with the team and her work schedule, and I finally decide to hash everything out one night after we eat dinner.

“We can clean the kitchen a little later. I think we need to get a few things straight,” I tell her and take her hand in mine to lead her to the sofa. I notice worry shining from her golden eyes before she’s able to hide it. “I don’t want to have any misunderstandings between us,” I explain, hoping to dispel some of her unease.

“Oh.” She relaxes against me. “That’s a good idea.”

“First of all, I want you to know I almost lost my mind when you disappeared from the hotel room. I wanted to kick my own ass for not getting your name.”

“It was my fault. I shouldn’t have run out on you, but I woke up thinking you’d only wanted a one-night stand.” She shrugs. “I didn’t know how to handle the morning after, so I decided to get out before you came out of the bathroom.”

Her explanation eases something deep inside of me. “I almost turned Houston upside down looking for you.” That’s an understatement. “I’m pretty sure the hotel permanently banned me after I made a scene in the lobby.” I couldn’t believe I was stupid enough to let my soulmate slip through my fingers. “I came back to Silver Spoon Falls and took my unhappiness out on my players.”

“What a waste of time.” Carlie sighs and leans against my side. “I was terrified when I found out about the baby, but I was also so happy to have a little piece of you.”

“Don’t worry, Tigress. I plan to give you several more pieces of me in the future. In fact, I plan to keep you barefoot and pregnant for the foreseeable future.”

“Now, wait a minute, Mr. Neanderthal.” She sits up straight and gives me a glare, but the smile teasing the edge of her luscious lips gives away her real thoughts. “Do I have any say in your plans?”

“You have all the say in the world.” I pull her curvy body back against me and lean over to place a kiss on the tip of her nose. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. And I’ll even put a little effort into making sure you agree with my plan for lots and lots of kids.”

“Why don’t we wait until this baby comes, and then we can decide how many kids we can handle.”

“That sounds like a great plan to me.” A thought suddenly occurs to me. We haven’t discussed her job. “Would you consider quitting your job? I have plenty of money and there’s no need for you to work.”

“I need to think about it.” She stands up and turns to stare down at me. “I worked my rear end off to earn my degree, and I’m not sure I want to give up my career before it even gets started.”

“Take all the time you need, Tigress. I’ll support whatever decision you make.” It won’t be easy for us to both have stressful, time-consuming jobs, but I refuse to force Carlie to do something she might regret later. If my woman wants to continue working at the hospital, we’ll find a way to make it work.

This has been the goddamn day from hell. I ended up working late to deal with more player drama and finally make it home much later than usual. I rush through a shower and eat a quick dinner, then I quickly load the dishwasher. I finish up with about ten minutes to spare before I have to leave for the hospital.

I’m about to walk out the door when my phone rings. I see Dillon’s name flash across the screen and dread answering.

“I don’t care if the town is burning down. I’m busy.”

“I’m betting you aren’t too busy for this.”

“You’d lose that goddamn bet.”

“Jensen is drunk off his ass at the Park Avenue Bar, making an ass out of himself.” Fucking hell. I’m tempted to say to hell with it and let him go, but I can’t bring myself to leave my friend hanging out to dry.

“What the fuck is going on? Is it a goddamn full moon or something?” My best winger had an off day today and I knew something was going on, but I had no idea it was this serious. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen him take a drink before.

“I have no idea, but you need to get down there before he pisses someone off or some puck bunny takes it upon herself to help cheer him up.”

“Can you pick Carlie up from the hospital at eleven-thirty and drop her off at my house?” I know it’s asking a lot, but I don’t have a choice.

“When did I become the Silver Spoon Falls taxi service?” Dillon grumbles.

“Around the time I became the hockey team therapist.” It’s all part of the job.

“Touché,” he grits out. “But you owe me big time.”

Before I leave, I send my girl a quick text.

Me

One of my players is drunk and needs me to come rescue him. Dillon is going to bring you home from work. I won’t be long.

Tigress

He doesn’t have to do that. I can get a ride home with a coworker.

Me

Hell no. Dillon will drive you.

Tigress

It really isn’t a problem.

Me

Stop fucking arguing with me or I’ll have to spank your ass red when I get home.

Tigress

You keep promising to do that, but you never actually do it.

I don’t know how to respond. The thought of smacking her perfect curvy ass until it turns light red turns me the fuck on, but I can’t imagine raising a hand to my pregnant woman.

Me

We’ll discuss this later. Love you.

I send the text before I realize what I’ve typed out. Fuck. I fell hard for her the first night, but I’ve kept the words sealed tight behind my lips, waiting for the right moment to tell her. I guess my subconscious mind decided the time was right.

I die a thousand deaths watching the three little dots blink across the screen while she types out her reply.

Tigress

I love you, too. Hurry up and deal with your player so I can show you how much.

I almost fist bump the air when I read the words. Happiness flows through my soul and nearly brings me to my knees.

The only available parking spot I can find is two streets over from the bar. When I come to the brick building with its large tinted front window and neon yellow sign above the door, the bouncer tips his chin at me. “Are you here to deal with your dickhead player?” I still have a hard time dealing with the small town everyone knows everyone thing happening in Silver Spoon Falls.

I nod my head yes and walk past him into the dimly lit bar. This is the last place I want to be tonight, but I can’t let one of my star players end up in jail or worse right now.

I take two steps past the large modern bar and see my friend making an ass of himself. I wave at a few familiar people and walk over to Jensen as he sits on the last bar stool, angrily gesturing to the bartender. When I walk up and place my hand on his shoulder, my friend turns around and swings for me. Fucker. Since I’m sober and he isn’t, I manage to duck before his fist connects with my face.

“What the fuck is up with you?” I growl, staring into his bloodshot eyes. Fuck. From his wrinkled white dress shirt down to his jeans, my usually impeccably dressed friend looks like shit.

“That’s none of your goddamn business. Go home and worry about your woman and leave me the fuck alone.”

The muscle-bound bouncer from the front door walks up behind me. “Told you he was being a fucking menace.”

“Can you help me get him out of here?” Jensen and I are both around six-foot-five, but he has at least fifty pounds on me.

“It’s a good thing Razor pays me so well.” The burly asshole walks over to the other side of Jensen. He glares at my drunk friend and growls, “If you swing at me again, I’ll knock you on your fucking ass.”

I groan to myself when Jensen flips him off and attempts to stand up, only to sway on his feet. “Come on.” I take one of his arms while the bouncer grabs the other one. “It’s time to get you home before you get into trouble.”

“Whatever.” The fight drains out of my friend right before my eyes, and he allows us to help him out the front door. We’re both sweating by the time we drag the heavy motherfucker up two blocks to my car.

“You could’ve parked closer,” the bouncer complains as we turn the corner.

“There are no parks any closer.” I juggle my friend’s arm with one hand and reach in my pocket for my car keys with the other.

“You fucking owe me,” I tell Jensen as I open the passenger door and step back for the bouncer to give him a shove.

“Good riddance,” the bouncer tells Jensen before slamming the door in his face.

Jensen bangs on the window and yells through the glass, “Fuck off, you ugly motherfucker.” My friend just won’t give up. It’s like the dumbass wants to get his ass kicked. “The bar sucks.”

“Then don’t come back, asshole,” the bouncer yells back through the window before turning to me. “Make sure he doesn’t show his face around here for a few nights.”

“I’ll try.”

My friend passes out halfway to his house, and I appreciate the silence filling the SUV after listening to him bitch for fifteen minutes straight. Of course, the asshole lives in the middle of fucking nowhere, and I end up driving five miles out of my way when I pass up his road the first time by. I pull in front of the two-story log cabin and wonder how the fuck I’m going to get the big asshole inside. Goddamn it. I should’ve let Dillon lock his drunk ass up overnight.

I open the passenger door and give Jensen a shake. “Wake up, dickhead.”

He grumbles something unintelligible and goes right back to snoring.

I rub the back of my neck, attempting to ease the headache crawling up my spine, and hop out of my truck, hoping the asshole has a key hidden somewhere so I don’t have to go digging through the drunk bastard’s pockets.

Fortune finally smiles down on me, and I find a spare key under the front mat. Hopefully, my good luck holds out until I get the asshole into his house.

It takes three tries, but I manage to drag his dead-weight ass up the front steps and into the living room. I shove him back on the sofa and pull a cover over him. Before I head out, I write the asshole a quick note, reminding him that a hangover isn’t a reason to miss practice.