Page 189 of The Play Maker

“You say that every time,” she teases, smoothing her dress as she steps into the room.

“Because you take my breath away every time,” I say, already standing, closing the distance between us in three quick strides.

I stand there for a minute. Just… looking. Like it’s the first time and the hundredth time all at once.

She lifts her gaze to meet mine. “Why are you looking at me like that? Should I be worried?”

Fuck. Play it cool, Austin. I let out a laugh, shaking my head. “Nah. Just admiring my girl.”

I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her in, kissing the side of her neck.

“We’re gonna miss your reservation,” she says, her voice a little raspy.

“I’ll rebook. Priorities.” I lean down and press my mouth to hers. “You’re my priority.”

She melts into my arms the second my lips meet hers, and my hands slide down to her hips. How long will it take to take this dress off her?

“Mmm,” she murmurs against my lips. “Is this part of the plan?”

“Every plan involves kissing you,” I say, my lips brushing her cheek. “Even the retirement one.”

She loops her arms around my neck, pulling me close. I swear she knows something. She might not know about the hole that’s burning in my pocket, but she’s aware ofsomething.Especially since I practically demanded Aurora and Isabella take Maisie out to get her nails done for tonight. I wanted my girl to be prepared.

“How was practice?” she asks, a little skeptical.

“Good,” I reply with a shrug. “Coach yelled at me for trying to chirp the new guy, but… come on. It’s tradition.”

I still can’t believe I get to play for The New York Storm with Ryan. Being on the same team as him felt like a pipe dream when we graduated, and yet here we are.

I’m on a nationally ranked team, and I live in a beautiful house with the love of my goddamn life, who owns her own bookstore café.

She’s still looking at me and I can’t breathe. My eyes lock onto hers, remembering the first time I ever saw them and how they took my breath away.

“I’m so fucking happy I knocked you in the head all those years ago,” I say, blowing out a breath.

She laughs, her eyes crinkling and her cheeks going pink, and I swear, if I wasn’t already planning to propose tonight, I’d drop to one kneeright now.

But not yet.

Not until I’ve said something halfway coherent. Not until I’ve told her that I want to be her person forever—through trainingseasons and off seasons, good days and hell days, and every single day until I’m old and grumpy.

I can’t wait to see wrinkles around those blue eyes, to come home to her every single night and kiss those pretty pink lips. To have kids with her, to argue with her, to have make up sex with her. I want it all. Every single part of it. With her.

Maisie grabs her clutch and turns toward the door. “You ready to go?”

I check my pocket one last time.

Ring’s still there.

God, I hope I don’t mess this up.

I exhale. “Yeah,” I say, slipping my fingers through hers. “Let’s go.”

She thinks we’re heading to some fancy dinner with white tablecloths and overpriced crab cakes.

Instead, I’m taking her back to the rink. The same one where I met her, where I skated with her, where everything between us really started.

Ryan set up the champagne and Isabella made me rehearse what I was gonna say so I didn’t sound like an idiot.