Page 134 of The Wildest One

“It’s been almost three years in the making, and she’s finally mine.” When each of the guys nodded, my arms dropped. “I’m glad you all understand.”

THIRTY-FOUR

Jolie

As I was walking toward the entrance of the locker room, taking the back way to the ice, Landon was on his way out, smiling as soon as he saw me, releasing the door from his fingertips. I gave him a wave, stopping mid-hallway to speak to him.

“Hi.” I studied his face, which was still flushed from practice, drips from his wet hair running down it. “You look tired. Are you feeling okay?”

“Hey, Jolene.” He adjusted the strap of his bag as it dangled on his shoulder. “I’m good. Just exhausted. Sore. And really looking forward to our day off tomorrow before we hit the road.”

Kirk, along with two of our wings, came out of the locker room, each one greeting me cordially as they passed. Their smiles not too big, their tones even, their eyes staying above my neck.

“My, how things have changed.” My lips were pulled into a toothless smile as I shook my head at Beck’s best friend.

“Their lives were threatened.”

I laughed. “I’m not even a little surprised.”

He pointed toward the door behind him. “Beck is almost done. I know he wants to talk to you, so don’t go anywhere.”

“You got it.”

“See you on the plane in two days.” He patted me on the shoulder.

As he was walking away, I took my phone out to shoot my team a text. Just as I was hitting Send, I smelled Beck, the spiciness filling my nose, causing my eyes to slowly gaze up from my screen. He was dressed in a pair of gray sweats, his T-shirt tight enough to show the outline of his pecs, with his sweatshirt unzipped and hanging open, a backward hat on his head. His beard was now a heavy shadow across his cheeks, whiskers long enough that I could just clasp it between my fingers.

Butterflies instantly exploded in my stomach.

It had only been a few hours since I’d seen him … would I ever stop feeling this way?

“Hey, you.” He stopped in front of me, keeping a professional distance, but he held the base of my neck, his thumb stroking my skin.

“Hey, you.” I knew my smile was obnoxiously big, and I didn’t care. Even if I tried to hide it from anyone walking by—although there was no reason to because everyone knew we were in a relationship—I couldn’t.

“I was going to go to your office to find you. What are you doing down here?”

I checked my watch. “My team shot some footage of your practice while I was in a meeting. I came this way to find them. I was thinking I’d edit some of it so I can add it to the campaign we’re starting tomorrow to promote the Colorado and Nashville away games you have coming up in a few days.”

His hand rose to my jaw. “Do you have to edit the footage or can someone else do it?”

My hands went to my hips. “Why?”

“Because I have tomorrow off.”

“And?”

He pulled his hand back and stroked his lips with the pad of his finger. “I planned something.”

I laughed. “So, because you have this afternoon and all day tomorrow off, you think I can just ditch work and hang with you?”

He nodded, grinning. “That’s exactly what I think.”

“Beck …”

“Run away with me, Jolie.”

He made everything enticing. A five-word sentence felt like the most exhilarating one I’d ever heard.