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I keep my lips pressed to her temple as the aircraft picks up speed and we ascend into the sky.

I don’t think about the fact that it is broad daylight and anyone could see us in this intimate moment; my sole focus is ensuring Scarlett is okay right now—that she can get through this flight without breaking in front of a plane full of her employees.

Fighting past a sudden tightness in my throat, I ask, “Do you want to watch a movie together? I’ve got your favorite movie on my laptop—well, I’m not sure if it’s still your favorite, but I downloaded 10 Things I Hate About You . If we start it now, we should finish right about the time we land.”

Scar looks taken aback by my question, and my skin prickles with unease. Shit, maybe I overstepped when I asked her to sit with me. Is she pissed I kissed her temple in front of the guys?

“I’d actually really like that. I can’t believe you remembered after all this time that that’s my favorite movie.”

“I might’ve been attempting to drown my sorrows over that ridiculous fucking outfit, but I haven’t forgotten a single moment we spent together. I’m just sorry I fucked up my only shot at a chance for something real with you when I assumed the worst.”

“You know what they say about those who assume,” she muses and I’m happy to hear the snark in her tone. Hit me with your best shot, Red.

Instead, her next words are a sideswipe I didn’t see coming. “I could be convinced to give you another shot for the sake of our agreement, but it’s either the third time’s a charm or third strike and you’re out. So what’s it gonna be, Cap?”

My brows rise in surprise as her question registers and I don’t hesitate before answering. “I’ve been told I’m as charming as they come, Little Red.”

“I’m not sure who fed you that bullshit, but I suppose you’ve had your moments here and there. Tiny as they may be.”

“Nothing about me is tiny and you know it.” The smirk-wink combination I send her way lands exactly how I intended as her pale cheeks heat, and I marvel at the way the color spreads down the column of her throat to the barely-exposed skin of her chest. I decide to really test my luck when I lean in and whisper, “Stop thinking about how big your fiancé’s dick is and focus on the screen.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the full movie. ”

Scar lets out a mock gasp that I know is her way of trying to distract me from the fact that I just called her out. That’s fine, I’ll let this one slide in hopes that she doesn’t try to settle the score.

“We should probably discuss that at some point,” she surprises me by saying.

“Discuss what? My dick size?”

She chokes on a laugh. “Oh my gosh, no. I meant we should discuss boundaries, maybe even put some rules in place.”

Not sure I’m going to like where this is heading. “Rules . . .”

“Yeah, you know, like rules for our marriage of convenience. We’ve already established it’ll be a three-year timeline.”

“Right.”

“And maybe we should add some other guidelines.”

“What do you have in mind, Little Red?” I question, unease pricking my spine.

Wringing her hands together nervously, she suggests, “We should probably agree to not cross the line physically. I mean, I’m sure we’ll have to kiss at some point, and obviously on our wedding day, but we should probably draw the line there.”

Quirking a skeptical brow, I ask, “Why? You worried you’ll fall head over heels in love with me and beg me to make our arrangement permanent if I fuck you too good?”

She smacks my chest and huffs. “You’re such a cocky little shit.”

“Wow, boss. You sure look professional, but that mouth of yours . . .” I tsk but can’t stop my gaze from falling to said mouth, and I mentally smack myself for the added temptation when she flicks her tongue out, wetting her lips.

“There will definitely be no falling in love. Consider that a hard and fast rule of this arrangement,” she says, though her voice lacks finality .

I’m not sure what happens to me in her presence, but I can’t stop myself from taunting, “We’ll see about that, Scar. I’m pretty damn lovable.”

“I can see why, you’re a real ray of sunshine most days,” she deadpans.

“Okay, so no crossing the line and no falling in love. Anything else?”

“We already agreed that Gemma and Gunner will never know this was an arrangement, but I’m still trying to process the fallout they’ll experience once our agreement comes to an end. Maybe we can talk about that more on the flight home?”

“Deal,” I tell her, holding my hand out for her to shake.

She locks eyes with me and after a moment takes my hand in hers. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Mr. Wilson.”

As we settle in for the movie and the opening credits play, I move my hand to rest on my thigh but Scarlett surprises me once again when she takes it in hers. “Is this okay? I’m still pretty nervous.”

I give her hand an assuring squeeze. “Always. You can hold my hand whenever, Red.”

She gives me a shy smile before refocusing her attention on my laptop.

“This counselor is out of control,” I tell her after a few minutes in.

“I know. And bratwurst? Who would want to read that?”

“You should ask Dakota if she’ll add that in her next book,” I suggest. When Scarlett stares back in confusion, I clarify, “Carson’s wife, Dakota, is a romance author. She’s got a few books out now, I believe her pen name is Kota Lynn. Do you like to read?”

“Are you kidding me? How did I not know that? I’ve read all of her books and love them! She wrote a football series that I devoured. I honestly considered purchasing season tickets for the Voyagers after I read her first book. ”

“Wait a minute. Your family owns a professional hockey team and you considered purchasing season tickets to Minnesota’s NFL team for what reason?”

“In hopes that one of the players would see me in the crowd and fall madly in love with me, obviously,” she explains in a tone that hints it should’ve been obvious to me.

“Sorry, not sorry. You’re stuck with hockey now,” I grumble.

“Aw, no need to get your panties in a twist, Benny Boy. I just liked the way their butts looked in their uniforms.”

I let out a grunt of acknowledgment before focusing back on the movie.

“Is it the pleather pants? Is that what does it for you, Little Red?” I question her a few moments later when Heath Ledger appears on the screen in what I’d call the most hideous outfit I’ve ever seen.

“You know, it just might be. If I got you a pair would you wear them for me?” The smirk she shoots my way is devious.

“Absolutely not.”

“Your tree trunk thighs probably wouldn’t fit in them anyways,” she sighs in defeat.

A few scenes later, I don’t take my eyes off the screen when I ask her, “Has Gemma pulled any of this on you yet?”

“What?”

“Lying about going to a party by saying she’s studying? Or the boys?”

“No, thank god. I think homeschooling helped on the party and boy front. But I feel like she’s been texting someone nonstop lately and I can’t help but feel like she has a crush. Of course, she won’t tell me anything, but I’ve got a feeling.”

“Are you ready for that next phase?”

“The phase where she starts dating? No, I’m absolutely not ready. Is anyone ever ready for that? ”

“The pregnant belly . . . oh shit, I forgot about this scene.” I try to muffle my chuckle into my fist to avoid unwanted attention.

“I could see you doing this. The overprotective, embarrassing asshole act. What’s the worst thing you did to scare off one of Walker’s dates?” she asks me.

“Not much aside from threatening our teammates the few times she’s come around.

Thankfully I didn’t have to do much since our father is a senator.

Walker and I have a ten-year gap between us, so by the time she started dating, I was pretty busy with hockey and traveling too much to be as protective as I would’ve liked.

Honestly, I think she scares off more guys than Jax or I would. ”

“A girl after my own heart,” Scarlett hums.

The rest of the movie goes by in comfortable silence occasionally interrupted by a fit of laughter from Scarlett, and I commit to memory each reaction she has to various scenes.

Just as the end credits roll, the pilot announces we’ve made it to Chicago and requests the flight attendants prepare us for landing. Scarlett stiffens beside me so I take her hand in mine again and offer her a reassuring squeeze.

With her left hand in mine, I attempt to distract her. “Don’t tell me you’ve lost your ring already,” I tease, though I’m also curious to hear why she kept it off.

“No, I just thought since we hadn’t shared our big news with our families yet that I probably shouldn’t be flaunting my massive rock in front of your brother and my grandfather.”

“Good call. Are you worried what they’ll think of us sitting together?” I ask her, gesturing toward the front of the plane where her grandfather sits.

“Not at all. I think it’s good for us to be seen together before we announce our engagement. We’re already going to look like we rushed into things, but it’d be even more unbelievable, not to mention suspicious, if we went from not speaking for six years to engaged overnight.”

“Valid point. So does that mean we’re courting ?”

Scarlett throws back her head and lets out a genuine laugh that nearly steals the breath from my lungs—the sound of it is mesmerizing. “I suppose so. How in the hell do you know that term?”

“My mom was a huge fan of Downton Abbey when I was growing up, and from time to time I’d be guilted into watching it with her.”

“Ah, I love period dramas. I just started watching Outlander and I’m hooked.”

“Haven’t heard of it,” I admit.

“I read the books first and just started the first season last week.”

“Should we watch it together?” I ask and she just stares back at me in confusion.

“And why would you want to do that?”

“I don’t know. Carson said he and Dakota watch Bridgerton together. Isn’t that what couples do? Find a show and watch it together?”

“Sure, but shouldn’t we find a show that you’d be interested in watching?”

“I like historical fiction. I’d be willing to give it a shot.”

“It’d be quite the commitment, there’s eight seasons. And you’d have to promise not to show-cheat on me.”

“Show-cheat?” I question her with a quirked brow.

“Yeah, you know, like watch an episode without me there. That’s a surefire way to break off our engagement.”

“I didn’t realize you were scared off so easily.”

“I’m not.” She chuckles and bumps her shoulder into mine. “Thank you, by the way.”

“For what? ”

“This,” she says, gesturing at our joined hands. “For being just the distraction I needed to get through this flight without a mental breakdown. It took all the courage in me to put one foot in front of the other and board the plane. I’m not sure I could’ve gotten through the flight without you.”

“You could’ve, but I guarantee you wouldn’t have had as much fun.

Besides, you not only got to fawn over Heath Ledger, but you also got to ogle your fiancé in a suit.

” I wink at her, and it’s only then I notice the plane has landed and Jax has decided to turn from his seat in front of us with a shit-eating grin.

Fuck, this can’t be good.

“Did I just hear you correctly or have my ears yet to pop?” he whisper-hisses, looking over his shoulder to ensure no one else is listening.

“That depends, what do you think you heard?” Scarlett asks with narrowed eyes.

“I thought I just heard my brother refer to himself as your fiancé, Little Red Riding Hood.”

“Well, then you heard correctly. And you’re going to keep that to yourself for the time being,” I warn.

Clearly Jax didn’t pick up on the warning. I shake my head as I read through the group chat with the guys once I’ve settled into my hotel room.

Pucking Legends:

Jackson:

Did you hear? Our Benny Boy is getting hitched.

Griffin:

Wait, what? I’ve got so many questions. To who? When? Where? Why? How?

Jackson:

Scarlett Carlisle. They’ve been having secret meetings at the office and he even goes to her house to give her sister guitar lessons.

Carson:

Congrats, Benny! When’s the big day? I’d also just like to point out that she likely fell for you all those years ago because I agreed to sing karaoke with you.

Me:

WTF, J? I only told your nosy ass because we’re family and you inserted yourself into our conversation.

Jackson:

I know. But you probably would’ve kept it a secret for weeks, and you’re going to need our support so you don’t fuck it up.

Me:

Shouldn’t that have been my decision? And what makes you think I’m gonna fuck it up?

Jackson:

Oh, idk . . . probably the fact that you already messed things up with LRRH once.

Griffin:

LRRH??

Jackson:

FFS Little Red Riding Hood.

Carson:

FFS?

Jackson:

For fuck’s sake.

Me:

You guys are exhausting.

*Bennett has left the group chat.*

*Griffin has added Bennett to the group chat.*

Griffin:

Are you going to answer my questions, Benny? When did this happen and how?

Me:

Last week. I asked and she said yes.

Carson:

Did you get down on one knee?

Me:

Obviously.

Griffin:

How is that obvious? None of us were there. And you conveniently haven’t mentioned this all week. Also, why didn’t you tell us the two of you were dating? When did that start?

Me:

The night of the family skate.

Jackson:

And then you went from perpetual bachelor to an engaged man in a month’s time?

Carson:

What Jaxy means to say is we’re happy for you, B. Sometimes your once in a lifetime love comes crashing into your life and knocks the wind outta your sails. From what I’ve seen, Scarlett can hold her own against you.

Jackson:

Yeah, and that’s a hell of a lot more than most people can say when it comes to dealing with your stubborn ass.

Griffin:

Rally in Jax and Carse’s room for some Call of Duty in a half hour. I’ll bring the batch of chocolate chip cookies Kenna and Dakota made us. Bennett, get mentally prepared to indulge us with all the details.

Me:

Maybe I’ll opt to stay in tonight.

Carson:

Not a chance. Take your post-flight shower and get your ass in here.

I sigh in defeat knowing I’m not getting out of this discussion. As I start the shower I can’t help but wonder what Scarlett’s up to right now. Should I go to her room to make sure she’s settled in alright? I should probably check on her to see how she’s feeling after the flight.

See how she’s feeling? Chill the fuck out; she set up rules for this exact reason .

I take a deep breath as I lean into the spray and revel in the way the water pelts against my sore muscles. Instead of relaxing like I usually do in the shower, my mind is whirling with all the ways I can try to convince Scarlett over time that those rules were made to be broken.

She’s allowed me back into her life with this arrangement, and I’m determined to make her mine—for real.