Page 9 of The Winning Hat Trick (The Steel City Knights #1)

"Hmm, maybe it's just that one." He nods towards Layla.

"Maybe. You're not gonna hear me complain either way. She's a doll, and I've loved every minute of my time with her today." I lean down and brush the curls off her sweaty head before kissing it.

A gasp startles me, pulling my attention from my conversation with Reid and Landon to the most stunning woman I have ever seen in my life standing just over my shoulder. She has to be Celeste, Ezra's sister, since she's the only woman here I don't know.

Ezra wasn't kidding when he said Layla looks like her mama. She's got Celeste's piercing blue eyes and the same luscious brown hair. Celeste's body is fucking perfection in a black two-piece showing off legs that go on for days, thick hips, and tits that are just a little more than a handful.

When our eyes meet, so many emotions race through hers that it’s hard for me to pin them down—longing, curiosity, but most of all, sadness that has moisture pooling in them and making me wonder what the hell I did to cause this kind of reaction.

Moving to sit up and properly introduce myself, I forget for a minute about the sleeping angel on my chest. Layla stirs in my arms as I readjust her so I can stand up and meet her mother.

Celeste's eyes brighten, and a dazzling smile fills her face as her daughter wakes in my arms. "Hey, Layla Bug.

Did you have a good sleep?" Celeste reaches her arms out to take Layla, who burrows into my warm chest, making my heart melt and Celeste's eyes widen in surprise.

"Is that how it is, baby girl?" She tickles Layla.

"I mean, do you really blame a girl?" Wren fans herself as she steps up by Celeste. "I think my ovaries exploded just from watching those two." Her hand waves in our direction as a blush fills my cheeks.

"Really, little minx?" Brooks growls from behind her.

"Hell, if I had ovaries, they would've been caput hours ago," Landon chimes in from his spot on the chaise lounger.

"Ignore him," Reid grumbles as he distracts his husband with a kiss.

"Umm, anyway… Hi, I'm Celeste. Thanks for loving on my girl today." She smiles hesitantly at me as she runs her hand down Layla's back. Layla's head is still buried in my neck, her chubby little arms wrapped around me.

"Hi, I'm Maclan, but you can call me Mac if you want. And believe me, it was my pleasure. She might be the best baby I've ever met."

"I agree, but don't tell my other two that," she whispers as she leans in, and my head follows suit as if she has some weird magnetic pull on me. "Speaking of, where the hell are my other heathens?" Celeste searches the backyard for Talon and Calla.

"I'm pretty sure Calla went inside to help your mom cook, and Talon and Ezra challenged my brothers to air hockey in the pool house."

"Of course they did." Celeste rolls her eyes on a sigh. "Talon would have Ez out there for hours, playing air hockey with him every time we were here if I let him."

"Hey, I don't blame him. I'll take hockey any way I can get it."

"That's right. The girls said you played professionally. That must be exciting."

"It is. It's also pretty f— Fudging grueling at times, but I love it. Not many people can say that about their jobs."

"I know what you mean. I loved modeling and doing high couture runway shows." Her voice is full of longing as her smile fades.

"Couture? Damn, I don't know much about modeling or fashion, but I know couture is, like, top of the top. You must've been a badass," I tease, trying to bring some light back to her features.

"Thanks. I liked to think I was." Celeste's confidence shines through, and it's sexy as fuck.

"Do you miss it?"

Her eyes dim, and I kick myself for asking something so personal when her brightness just came back.

Of course she fucking misses it, you idiot, just like you'll miss hockey whenever you retire.

"Yes and no. I miss the beautiful clothes, working with amazing designers, and seeing some of the most amazing places in the world.

But there's also a lot I don't miss about the industry.

There's so much shadiness. Everyone is out for themselves, and if you think you can trust someone, chances are you can't."

"Damn, that sounds brutal."

"It can be. It can also be extremely fulfilling. It provided the life I have now. I am able to stay home with my babies and never have to work another day if I don't want to—"

"But you do want to?" I can't help but ask, even though I've just met her and it's not really my place.

"I do. I think I'm going to try and be an agent. I don't want a huge client list. Just maybe two or three to work closely and build a genuine relationship with, where they know I have their best interests at heart and will protect them from the not-so-pretty sides of the modeling world."

"That sounds amazing. A good agent is a godsend. At least, that's the case for me with my hockey career, and I know it's the same for Cars and Cam with their football careers. We actually have the same agent because she's a badass and our values all line up so well."

"That's amazing and exactly what I want to build with my clients."

"I'm sure you w—"

"Hey, Mom! Uncle Ez and I kicked Carson and Cameron's butts in air hockey." A sweaty Talon comes barreling into Celeste's legs, talking a mile a minute about how they dominated my brothers at air hockey.

When they come join us, I can't help but tease them. "Just like when we were kids and I'd dominate you both on the ice, I hear Talon here dominated you at air hockey."

"It wasn't our fault that you were bigger than us," Carson defends.

"Sure, we'll go with that." I pat his arm as condescendingly as I can. "I tried teaching you how to skate several times. It's not my fault you couldn't figure it out."

"Can you teach me how to skate?" Talon looks up at me with the same big blue eyes as his mama and sister.

"Talon, I'm sure Maclan is really busy. I don't know if he—"

"I'd love to teach you how to skate, little man. That is, if it's okay with your mom."

Celeste's arms are crossed, and her brows furrow in my direction. I know I may have just shot myself in the foot, but little man gave me the in I need to see more of Celeste and these kids.

I don't know what it is about them, but something in me is dying to pull them all close and never let them go. Ezra let me know that Celeste is divorced and her ex isn't in the picture, but I can't imagine what man would be dumb enough to step away from her and these kids.

Worrying my lip, I send Celeste my best puppy-dog eyes along with her son as he begs her to say yes.

"Please, Mama. Please? I will be so good. I promise. I won't fight with Cal, and I'll help forever. Please?"

"I promise it's not an imposition. I'd love to spend more time with you guys, and what better way to do that than by sharing something I love."

"Fine!" Celeste throws her hands up in the air in defeat.

Talon and I cheer in triumph. I grab one of Layla's little chubby hands and raise it in the air, making her giggle.

Damn, is there anything better than a baby's laugh?

"Why do I feel like I just opened myself up to a whole world a trouble?" Celeste grumbles as Talon talks a mile a minute about ice skating.

"I don't know about trouble. I'd say 'fun' is the word you're looking for." I send her a wink.

"Dinner!" Celeste's mom calls from the door, breaking our stare-down.

"I'll take her." Celeste leans in to grab Layla, but I take a step back.

"I've got her. You go eat." Then I walk away as I talk and tease Layla, leaving Celeste shocked in my wake.

I have a feeling it's been a long fucking time since someone put Celeste first. Starting something right when my life is about to get chaotic probably isn't the smartest move, but there's no denying the pull Celeste has over me.

I've spent all of ten minutes with her, and I already know she's different than all of the other women from my past.

I owe my little wing man big for giving me a reason to stick around. Tonight, I'll show her what it can be like having me near, then build on it every time I see her, until she realizes what I did the moment my eyes met hers.