Page 35

“It’ll happen sooner rather than later, I’m sure, between Walker, you, and Gemma, the women in my life are causing me a lot of stress,” he admits just as Gemma walks through the side door of the DMV holding a piece of paper in the air.

“I passed!” she squeals in excitement, and when she sees Bennett, her smile only widens further. “Benny! What are you doing here? Happy birthday, birthday twin!”

“Hey, Gems. Happy birthday,” he tells her as she gives the two of us hugs. “I came right here after our flight landed hoping I’d be able to take the two of you to lunch to celebrate you passing your test. We knew you could do it.”

She smiles at the two of us before her expression turns hesitant.

“If you don’t mind, I was hoping to maybe go to school for the last part of the day since we have early release anyway.

Eva and I were going to celebrate at lunch hour if I passed, and, well—” She shrugs, holding up the paper halfheartedly.

“Of course, it’s your birthday,” I tell her.

“Besides, that way you two can go out to lunch just the two of you as a birthday date since we’ve got the holiday party tonight,” she suggests.

Bennett pats her on the shoulder. “Hear that, Scar? We’ve got the smartest sixteen-year-old living under our roof.”

Gemma rolls her eyes, feigning annoyance. “Yeah, and said sixteen-year-old has the most embarrassing guardians on the planet.”

My throat swells with emotion hearing their back-and-forth exchange. I’d probably focus on the tiny voice in the back of my head warning me that this is too much too fast if it weren’t for the way my heart is beating overtime from the joy I feel.

Later, I’ll reflect on this and decide whether this is too much. Later, I’ll try to decipher what it is we’ve turned into.

Bennett

After a lunch consisting of cake batter pancakes—apparently a birthday tradition in this house—I’m unpacking my suitcase while Scar finishes coordinating the logistics of Gemma’s Christmas present.

“Knock, knock,” Scar says as she walks into our closet.

“You know you don’t have to knock, right? You’ve seen it all,” I tell her and send a wink her way when I turn around. It’s almost comical the way my eyes widen in surprise as my jaw drops to the floor.

“I thought I’d give you one of your birthday presents now, before the kids get home from school.”

Scarlett stands before me in an oversized wool dress jacket that’s unbuttoned, exposing her mouthwatering lingerie set that matches her light pink heels with satin ribbon that laces up her ankles and lower calves.

“Do you like it? I designed the entire outfit myself,” she informs me as she closes the distance between us and does a spin so I can take in her ensemble.

“Scarlett,” I rasp, pulling her in by the lapels of the charcoal jacket. That’s when I notice that it’s a men’s jacket. “Is this for me?”

“Yes,” she says shyly.

Shifting the jacket open, so it’s hanging just off her shoulders, I drag my hand over the oversized pink satin bow that’s containing her breasts. “And this? Is this for me?” My voice sounds like gravel.

“Only you, birthday boy.”

“When you say you designed this? ”

“The jacket, the lingerie, the shoes—all of it.”

“When? How? How did I not know you were a designer?”

“I’m not—well, not really. Sometimes I’ll get inspired and if the urge is strong enough, I’ll materialize a sketch. I noticed you didn’t have a nice dress jacket for game days, and I didn’t want you to be cold. I’d hoped it would be finished before your Canada series, but no such luck.”

I stare at her, dumbfounded by this discovery. “You’re incredible, Scar.”

She takes a step back and shrugs out of the jacket. “Here, try it on. I want to make sure it fits. I went off the measurements from a few of your suits.”

The jacket dangles between us, but I can’t take my eyes off Scarlett in her pale pink lingerie that is only a few shades darker than her creamy skin.

The bra encases her breasts with a satin pink bow that I’m dying to untie.

She’s got a matching thong that rides up over her hip bones with the center a see-through mesh fabric.

The whole look is topped off with a set of satin garters on her thighs and those damn fuck-me heels.

Her look is lethal and I’m regrettably going to die on my thirty-first birthday.

I’m snapped from my ogling when she shakes the jacket in front of me. “Benny, focus! Here, try on the jacket, and then you can unwrap the rest of your presents.”

I turn my back to her and slide my arms into the sleeves of the jacket. It’s soft and luxurious against my skin, which I wasn’t expecting with a wool coat. “This is incredible,” I tell her as I slip the fabric over my shoulders. “And it fits perfectly.”

“Yeah?” she asks in a hopeful yet hesitant tone.

“It’s amazing, Red. How didn’t I know this about you?”

“Well, I told you I was planning to be a fashion merchandiser, but ever since I was a little girl I’ve loved spending hours on end sketching and designing clothing. It’s a hidden passion of mine, sort of like playing guitar is for you.”

“But I’m not nearly as talented as you are, clearly,” I point out as I hold out my arms to gesture at not only my jacket but her entire ensemble. “You look breathtaking, baby girl. You always do, but especially so in something you used your talent to create.”

She shyly accepts my praise. “Thank you, that means a lot.”

“Is this what you want to do? Design?” I ask her.

She scoffs somewhat to herself. “Maybe when I’m in my forties. Though, I may be slightly out of touch with my key demographic at that age, considering I’d like to design lingerie and women’s sleepwear.”

“Then don’t wait.”

Her head snaps up to meet my gaze. “What?”

“Could you do a pop-up boutique type of storefront for now in the summer until you can do it full time?”

She shakes her head. “Bennett, you know better than anyone that there isn’t an off-season for me. I’ve still got so much to do. Sure, some of the chaos slows down after the season, but I’ll still be far too busy to take time off to make that a possibility.”

She’s not wrong. Owning a professional hockey team takes a lot of work, and there isn’t really a break for her.

But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t offer to help her when and where I’m able to.

Sure, I wouldn’t be able to do the bigger aspects of her job such as selecting team leadership or representing the Wolverines on the league’s Board of Governors, but I could help her be more hands-off with some of the off-season day-to-day operations.

“Let me help you with the hockey side of things after the season ends,” I suggest.

“How would you do that? ”

“I went to school and got my master’s in sports management and business. Let me help with some of the day-to-day to lessen the load on your shoulders.” Avoiding her gaze, I slip the jacket off and hang it next to the outfit I set aside for tonight.

“I-I didn’t know that about you. How didn’t I know that?”

“It hasn’t exactly come up, and I don’t really advertise it.”

“Is that what you’re interested in after you retire from playing? Management?” she questions, and if I’m not mistaken, she sounds oddly hopeful.

“Well, yes. I hope to play for as many seasons as my body allows, but when planning for my future, I got the degree I did because I’m interested in becoming either a GM or a President of Hockey for an organization,” I explain.

“You’d be incredible,” she declares, though I’m not sure why she’s looking at me the way she is. I’m met with warm, amber eyes so full of promise that they pull me in, leaving me mesmerized.

“I appreciate your vote of confidence, but it’d be many years down the road before I could gain the experience required to hold a position of that importance.”

“Yeah, maybe. But I can still think you’d be amazing at it. You’re so knowledgeable, and you’ve done such a great job with taking Nathan under your wing. You’ve worked not only with the coaching staff for years, but my grandfather speaks highly of you as well.”

“You kind of have to think highly of me as my future bride,” I point out, tossing a wink her way. “But I am pretty incredible, aren’t I?”

“I’ll let your cockiness slide, but only because it’s your birthday.”

“I’m sorry,” I cup my hand over my ear. “Did you just say you want my cock to slide inside you for my birthday?”

She pushes my chest and shakes her head. “You’re incorrigible. ”

I don’t give her a chance to back away from me as I lift her over my shoulder with her ass in the air. “I believe it’s time for me to unwrap my presents, Little Red,” I tell her as I make my way into our bedroom.

She wiggles around and lets out a shriek as I swat her ass.

“But I haven’t even given you all of your presents yet!” she protests as I toss her on the bed.

“You can give them to me later,” I suggest, unbuckling my belt.

“We don’t have much time for me to unwrap you before we’ve got to get the kids from school.

And I haven’t had my birthday treat yet,” I tell her, pulling my shirt over my head before crawling up the bed to place featherlight kisses up her legs.

“Who am I to deprive you of your birthday treat?”

“Exactly. Now, spread your legs, baby girl.”