Page 40

February

“ S car, baby, we’re going to be late!” I call up the stairs. “I’ve got Gemma and Gunner and the luggage in the car. I’ll lock up the front door, come out through the garage.”

When I shut the driver door, Gemma leans forward from the back seat. “Does she realize she’s going to make us miss our flight?”

I look at her in the rearview mirror. “Gems, you know she gets nervous flying. And this is her first time flying with the two of you. Besides, private jets don’t exactly take off without the people paying for the flight.” I spin in my seat to watch Gunner. “You ready for a plane ride, Champ?”

“Yep! Gems said I’m gonna get my wings today,” he says proudly, and my eyes widen for a second before I realize what he’s saying.

“She’s right. I’ll make sure to request they give you your first time flyer pin when we get on the plane,” I assure him.

“Hey, Bennett, do you ever get scared?” Gunner asks me.

“Sure do,” I answer him. “Are you nervous for the plane ride?”

“A little bit. What are you scared of?” he presses.

“Snakes. I really really don’t like snakes.”

“Kinda like how Scar doesn’t like clowns?”

“Exactly,” I tell him .

Scarlett opens the car door and huffs out a breath which makes her bangs fly up for a second. “I swear, I’m making it my mission to be on time for at least one flight this year.”

“Lofty goal,” Gemma mumbles not so quietly under her breath.

Leaning over the center counsel, I place a quick kiss on Scar’s cheek before taking her hand in mine. “It’s only February, so you’ve got plenty of time to make it happen,” I point out, tossing her a quick wink.

“I can’t believe you’re going to leave me with Grandma and Grandpa while you have your bachelorette party,” Gemma complains for about the tenth time this week as I pull out of the driveway.

“We’ve been over this, Gems. A bachelorette party in Vegas is not a vibe for a sixteen-year-old.”

“It’s actually very much the vibe, Scar. Besides, Walker isn’t twenty-one yet and she gets to go!”

I chuckle before pointing out, “Walker is going as the sober companion.”

That makes Scarlett bend over in laughter. “You’re hysterical thinking that Walker isn’t going to try to drink while she’s in Vegas. Her twenty-first birthday is only a week away.”

“Scarlett, you’ve got to look out for my little sister. Especially because there will be a whole city full of the NHL’s biggest All-Stars. The last thing I need is Walker having a run in with a player.”

“Why would you care if she dated a hockey player?” Gemma asks.

I scoff. “Because none of them are good enough for her. Or you, Gems,” I tell her, giving her a stern look in the rearview mirror. She sticks her tongue out at me and I just roll my eyes.

Gemma lifts a brow. “But you’re a hockey player, so does that mean you’re not good enough for my sister?”

“That’s exactly what that means. I’m what’s called the reacher and Scar is the settler in this relationship,” I explain .

Scar lets out an adorable snort. “You did not just make a How I Met Your Mother reference.”

“Yeah, I did. Because it’s the truth. I outshot my coverage and managed to snag the most stunning woman. And to my surprise, she even fell in love with me.” Smirking, I send a wink her way before bringing our joined hands to my lips and placing a kiss on each of her knuckles.

An exaggerated gagging noise comes from the backseat. “You two are disgusting. Also, Colton is a good guy and he’s a hockey player,” Gemma points out, and it takes everything in me not to curse his name in front of Gunner.

“He’s yet to prove himself worthy of you in my eyes, Gems. Besides, he’s too old for you, don’t you think?” I ask her, and Scar gives me the side eye right as Gemma points out my hypocrisy.

“You’re four years older than Scar and Colton isn’t even two years older than me. And we’re only friends, I was just pointing out that he’s a good guy who also happens to play hockey.” She sighs and mutters, “But what’s the harm in crushing on someone older than you?”

I shift in my seat feeling slightly squeamish and as we stop at a light, I look over at Scar and send her a help me look.

Scar turns over her shoulder and tells Gemma, “There’s nothing wrong with having a crush on an older boy.

I had plenty of crushes on senior and junior boys when I was a freshman or sophomore.

” I give Scar’s hand a light squeeze and she playfully elbows my arm.

“Anyways, you’ve just got to vet them out to see what their intentions are.

If you think Colt is a good guy then trust your gut. ”

I give her another look that I hope says, What the actual fuck, I thought we didn’t like him ?

“Enough boy talk. We can save that for a few years down the road, yeah?” I ask gingerly, hoping like hell we can change the topic. “Are you excited to watch me kick butt in the All-Star skills competition?”

“Which one are you gonna win, Cap?” Gunner asks me, causing me to smile.

“I’m hoping to win the hardest shot competition.”

“You’re gonna win for sure!”

“Appreciate your vote of confidence, Champ.”

Scar and Gemma both let out a squeal when a song comes on the radio so I turn up the volume. The female singer’s voice is one I’m familiar with. “Is this—”

“Taevin Gray’s new song!” they shout in unison.

“Oh my god, Scar, can you imagine how great this is going to sound when she sings it live?!” Gems asks her.

“I cannot wait!” Scar tells her.

And I drive the rest of the way to the airport with a dumb grin on my face, completely content listening to our little family scream sing the words to a song they have no idea is likely written about my brother. Something to share with them at a later date.

“I just think it’s the luckiest coincidence that you, Griffin, and Carson are all playing in the All-Star game,” Scar says once we’ve settled into our hotel suite. Gemma and Gunner are staying in their grandparents’ suite for the night because of our bachelor and bachelorette parties.

“We’re having the best season we’ve had in years, but it’s still crazy how it worked out,” I agree, hanging up my suit and grabbing my toiletries bag from my suitcase to set it in the bathroom .

“And I’m glad Jax joined us even though he could’ve done anything on his break,” she points out, kicking her legs up on the bed and crossing them at her ankles.

“Jax was practically foaming at the mouth when he realized he had the opportunity to throw me a Vegas bachelor party; I’m sure there’s nowhere else he’d rather be.”

We flew in a day early to have our parties tonight. I don’t plan to get too crazy, but I’m thankful that tomorrow is only a media day.

“I’m not sure what the ladies have in store for us, but perhaps our paths will cross tonight.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Now, will you be a good boy and shower with me? I’m in desperate need to wash that flight off me.”

She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I scoop her off the bed and toss her over my shoulder. “How about I do you one better? I’ll be your good boy and allow you to come multiple times before we need to head out. Does that sound good, baby girl?”

“ So fucking good,” she giggles as she swats at my back and ass. “Now make me come. Happy wife, happy life and all that.”

“Ask and you shall receive, my love.”

After we take our time showering and thoroughly washing each other, I leave Scar to get ready in the bathroom while I take a quick call with my agent Jared to finalize the media day schedule for tomorrow.

The call took longer than I anticipated so I’ve got to hurry and get dressed before we’re supposed to meet up with the rest of the group.

Jax is a slut for throwing a themed party, and a bachelor party for his only brother was no exception.

Tonight’s theme is 007 High Rollers for the guys.

He’s got all of us guys dressed to the nines for a night of gambling and in return for me placating him, I’ll have all the whiskey my heart could desire, according to J .

The ladies stuck with Jax’s theme and are calling Scar the Bond Bride. We’re supposed to meet everyone in Jax’s penthouse suite any minute now. I’m just tying my dress shoes when I look up and see Scar step out of the bathroom.

“Scarlett,” I say in amazement. She looks stunning in a strapless white mini dress that’s covered in crystals and flares at the waist. And don’t even get me started on the way I want to worship at her feet in those white sky-high heels with a sexy satin bow that ties at the back of her ankles.

“You like?” she asks as she does a cute little spin-shimmy combination, causing her skirt to flare just enough for me to get a peek of her cheeky lace panties.

“No, baby girl, I love it. So much so that I don’t think I can let you leave this room.

I want to strip you out of that dress and keep you all to myself,” I rasp, my voice laced with desire.

She must like that idea, because she strides toward me and practically melts into me when I wrap my arms around her.

“Later.”

“Careful, Scar, I just might have to wife you up looking like that.”

She raises a brow at me and bites her plush bottom lip as if she likes the sound of that.

“If you didn’t want the big wedding, we’d already be married. But I’ll be a patient man if it means you get everything you’ve dreamed of.”

“Just because I dreamed of a big wedding when I was little doesn’t mean I need it now. The real dream was marrying someone I love and can’t live the rest of my life without. I’m already living out my dream, Benny Boy.” She gives me a playful shove. “In fact, I’d marry you right here, right now.”

Her words have me spreading my legs and tugging her closer. “You mean you’d elope? ”

“You bet your sweet hockey ass I’d elope if it were with you. But only you,” she clarifies.

I pull my head back in shock. “Scar, baby, don’t fuck with me right now.”

“I’m not—I’m being completely serious.”

“Where?”

She does that adorable nose-scrunch thing that she does when she’s thinking. “The Little White Wedding Chapel is pretty iconic.”

“Paris is iconic, and your dream,” I remind her, pulling her down into my lap.

“Like I said, you’re my dream, Cap. Besides, they have an Eiffel Tower here. It’s meant to be.”

“But we’ve already booked everything for July in Paris.”

“So we have an intimate wedding here and then celebrate with a big party in Paris. Where’s the harm in that?” she asks, and I have to admit she has a point.

“I mean, it’s kind of perfect. Both of our siblings are here and your grandparents. Our closest friends.”

“We’d just be missing your parents,” she points out.

“And they’ll be in Paris,” I remind her, shrugging because I don’t mind one bit that my dad won’t be here for this, especially not after how he talked to Scar at the Winter Classic.

“You’re sure?” she questions.

I place a kiss on the tip of her nose and tell her, “I’ve never been more sure.”

“You’ve got to admit, your wife is kind of a genius,” she singsongs, standing before grabbing her license from her wallet. “Think I should just need this. Can you please put it in your wallet?”

“Gladly, what else is new?” I smirk as I put her license in my wallet before she takes my hand and leading me out of our suite to the elevators .

“Are you going to tell the group that instead of a bachelor and bachelorette party, they’re about to be our witnesses for our elopement?” I ask her as we wait for the elevator.

“We could still spend the night celebrating with them. We’ll just be doing it as husband and wife. That way their party planning efforts won’t go completely to waste.”

As we step into the elevator and I use Jax’s spare keycard for the penthouse suite access I admit, “Fuck, Red. I love the sound of that.”

“Of what?” she asks as the doors close and I wrap my arms around her waist once more.

Leaning down, my lips brush the shell of her ear as I whisper, “Of you being my wife. I can’t wait to have the privilege of calling you mine for the rest of our lives, Little Red.”

Scar grabs the lapels of my suit jacket and pulls me closer so our lips are breath away from touching. “I love you, Mr. Wilson,” she purrs, and before I can tell her how much I love her right back, she presses her lips on mine and I forget the words, how to talk, fuck, how to breathe.

I know it’s cheesy as fuck—because that’s what she’s turned me into, a sappy motherfucker—but I’ve hit the mother of all jackpots getting to marry this woman.