Dax

by Sawyer Bennett

  I grin at him, blinking back the rest of my tears and sadness so I can tease him in return. “Yeah… not a hardship to be held by a totally hot and muscular man with what I’m guessing is a good eight to eight and a half inches of a pure pleasure machine.”

  Dax blinks, sucks in air, and coughs as he starts laughing. His arms go tightly around me, and I’m being squeezed hard as he laughs his ass off. “God, you’re fucking funny, and that also turns me on just a bit. And I’m totally weirded out by the fact we’re standing on your parents’ graves while having this conversation.”

  Laughing, I snuggle deeper into his hold, trying not to let this good feeling slip away as I wonder how much longer this is going to last.

  CHAPTER 22

  Dax

  Our win over the Detroit Cardinals was pretty fucking awesome. But it’s not going to be the highlight of my night. That goes to the fact I am in my home state, near my hometown, and with my entire family all together. I had snagged tickets for everyone, including my niece and nephew, to attend the game along with Regan. My brother-in-law is a Cardinal fan, but I still got him a ticket.

  The last two days have been both surreal and just like old times. Surreal because I brought home a surprise wife, and everyone was amazingly accepting and supportive. Just like old times, because we were all back together again with the exception of Lance. There was comfort in the fact my family banded together in support of Regan and everything she’s going through with the PNH.

  We had chosen to gather after the game at restaurant near the Cardinals’ arena. I’d even invited all of my teammates as well. Unfortunately, we had to take the team bus back to the hotel following the game, but then Bishop, Erik, Legend, and I grabbed an Uber to the restaurant.

  It’s late and most of the diners have left, but the bar area is hopping as we walk in. I scan the crowd, immediately locking on Regan. I head straight for her as she winds her way through the crowd with a particular destination in mind. I step in front of her, halting her progress as I grin down at her. She blinks in surprise before delight floods her face and she throws her arms around my neck. “Oh my God… you played amazingly tonight, Dax. What a victory.”

  I give her a return hug before we break apart, and I’m not going to lie… it feels good to know she is now my personal fan and cheerleader.

  “Where is everyone else?” I ask.

  “I was just coming back from the bathroom. They’re on the other side of the bar.” She points in that direction before taking me by the hand and pulling me through the crowd. I glance over my shoulder to see Erik, Legend, and Bishop following behind us with knowing grins on their faces. I guess there was no hiding how much I like being around Regan, and they are clearly liking my enjoyment.

  As I follow along behind her, I call above the noise of a bunch of rowdy patrons, “How were the seats I got for you?”

  “They were really good,” she says as she glances at me briefly. “But we got invited up to the visiting owner’s box, so they got even better.”

  My body goes tight. I start searching the crowd with a sneaking suspicion gnawing at my gut.

  “Why were you invited up to the owner’s box?” I ask as I tug her to a halt, and she turns to me in question.

  “Dominik Carlson came to the game, then sent an usher down for all of us. Invited the whole family up to the box to watch the game. There was all kinds of food and alcohol, although I only had one glass of wine because I wanted to concentrate on the game. It was amazing, and you could see everything so good. Plus, they had TVs so we could watch the replays and—”

  “Carlson is here? And he invited everyone up?” I ask, confused as to why he singled out my family.

  But deep down, I know it’s not the entire gang that has caught his fancy.

  It’s only my sister, Willow.

  “Come on. Everyone’s just over here.” Regan starts pulling me again, and I follow.

  The crowd breaks apart to show my family standing in a tight circle. Drinks in hand and laughing. My mom and dad. My sister, Meredith, without her husband Tim who took the kids home since it was so late, and besides… he’s a Cardinal fan. Willow is there with a glass of bourbon on the rocks in her hand, and yes, Dominik Carlson.

  Regan pulls me into the group, and everyone breaks into smiles and congratulations as hugs are given. Everyone knows Bishop since he played with me and Lance for a time on the Vipers. I introduce Erik and Legend around before finally giving my attention to the team’s owner, Dominik Carlson.

  He stands there in his fancy designer suit with what looks to be a bourbon on the rocks in his hand as well, although I bet it’s the most expensive brand. There’s a slight smirk on his face and a challenge in his eyes as if he realizes I know what he’s doing and he’s completely unapologetic about it.

  He holds a hand out to me, and I shake it. “Great game, Dax.”

  Dominik releases my hand and turns to congratulate my teammates, then everyone starts conversing again.

  Erik claps me on the shoulder with a, “What are you drinking, buddy?”

  “Sam Adams,” I reply, watching as Legend and Bishop follow him up to the bar.

  By the time I turn around, Dominik has launched into a story about some foreign business deal that is apparently funny by the way everyone seems to be laughing.

  Everyone except Willow.

  She stands opposite of him in the circle, watching Dominik with a certain detachment that surprises me. There’s definitely interest in her eyes, but there is a healthy layer of skepticism as she listens.

  Now that is interesting. Dominik Carlson would be on the front page of the catalog entitled “Dream Man”. He’s the poster child for everything a woman could want.

  I stand quietly and observe. My teammates return and hand me my beer, which I sip casually. Dominik carries most of the conversation, but after his funny business deal story, he turns the focus on my family, asking questions of everyone in an attempt to get to know them better. He’s gregarious, charming, and I can tell everyone is taken in by him.

  Everyone except Willow, who smiles only faintly at him when the attention is turned her way.

  There comes a moment when Dominik’s drink runs dry and he asks if anyone would like a refill. He turns to the bar after getting everyone’s order, and I step up beside him.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” I ask as I sidle in beside him at the bar.

  He twists to see me with a bland smile on his face.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” he replies dryly.

  “Yes. You clearly have a thing for my sister. Everyone can tell you’re trying to impress her.”

  “It’s not working,” he mutters.

  “I’m glad you’re smart enough to see that.”

  Dominik nods, glances to the bartender who is still busy serving someone else, then regards me pensively. “Any words of advice?”

  “Yeah, stay away from her.”

  This does not offend the man. If anything, I see a measure of respect on his face. Still, he is not put off in the slightest. “Willow doesn’t seem to be the type who needs protecting from her older brother.”

  “She’s not. But that doesn’t make me any less protective as her brother. But I’m telling you… you might as well give it up. She’s not into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Money won’t impress her.”

  Dominik straightens up and leans an elbow on the bar. He smiles in what I would term to be triumph. “Interesting. Tell me more. What will impress her?”

  I stare at him incredulously. “I’m not giving you advice to help you out.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you’re my boss,” I growl. “That’s my sister. It’s weird and creepy and just… leave her alone, okay?”

  Dominik snorts. I have clearly amused him. But then his eyes turn hard as he leans towards me. “I could just trade you.”

  That gets my attention. “You wouldn’t.”

  Dominik stares at me for a long, tho
ughtful moment, and I wonder just how far this immensely powerful man would go to get my sister. But then he shrugs and turns to the bartender. “No, I wouldn’t trade you. But I also don’t take orders from you. Until your sister tells me to stop, I’m going to keep on trying. My apologies if it bothers you.”

  Well, fuck.

  He is effectively putting me in my place and telling me not to whine about stuff I cannot control. But I think he’s also smart enough not to really piss me off as I can make things more difficult for him.

  He needs to keep me on his good side.

  I decide to use it as an advantage, changing the subject in an effort to catch him off-guard. “What is the team going to do about Tacker?”

  Dominik’s head snaps my way, his eyes narrowing. “That’s private.”

  I just stare at him, not willing to accept that.

  Dominik glances at the bartender, then leans into me slightly. “Without giving details, we’ve offered him a means to stay on the team and we’re hoping he takes it. We think he’s necessary to help us win the Cup this year. The deadline for him to give us an answer is Monday.”

  I think that’s terrific news, but I don’t show my jubilation. Instead, I say, “I’m going to see him on Sunday. He’s coming to Blue’s brother’s birthday party. We’ll all encourage him as best we can.”

  The bartender walks up, interrupting our conversation. “What can I get you?”

  Dominik starts rattling off the order, including another Sam Adams for me. I had not told him that’s what I was drinking, but he must’ve been observant when I had asked Erik to get me one earlier. I try not to be impressed by his level of attentiveness.

  I step away from the bar, rejoining the group. Taking Regan’s hand, I give it a tug, pulling her a few feet away.

  Bending so only she can hear me, I point out the obvious. “I was just thinking this is sort of the first time you and I are together as a couple in front of the team.”

  She cocks a perfect eyebrow at me. “I hadn’t realized we were acting as a couple here tonight.”

  I hate to tell her, but I really like that smart mouth on her. I grin before giving her a kiss. When I pull back, I say, “If anyone was watching right now, they would know.”

  “So we’re going to be open about this?” she asks cautiously.

  “Not about your illness. Of course, we’ll still keep the marriage a secret since that sort of goes hand-in-hand with that. But I don’t see why we can’t be open about us being together.”

  “If that’s what you want to do,” she replies hesitantly.

  Putting my arm around her, I pull her into my side before I usher her to our group. “Yeah, that’s what I want to do.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Regan

  Erik and Blue’s house is pretty magnificent. It’s huge, of course, which means despite the fact the entire team is here for Billy’s party, it doesn’t feel overcrowded.

  This is good because despite the fact our time together following the game in Detroit was our first official “outing” as a couple, it feels as if I’m more in the spotlight here. Probably because it was late and in a dark bar in Detroit, so not everyone saw Dax and me together. Plus, we didn’t really engage in overt affections being as his family was there and it was still a little awkward with us being “together” in front of them.

  But here in Blue and Erik’s house, where it’s broad daylight and not overly crowded, it feels like there’s a spotlight on us. That might be because since we arrived, Dax hasn’t left my side. Hasn’t stopped touching me for that matter.

  It might be an arm around my waist, or maybe he’ll pull me down onto his lap. Several times, he’s leaned over and kissed me right in front of people. No one has said a word.

  Well, no one except Blue herself. After we arrived and Dax introduced us, she immediately pulled me away from him, asking if I’d give her a hand in the kitchen with a few things.

  I was delighted to help as I’d heard wonderful things about her from Dax. She’s a flight attendant on the team plane, and Erik fell hard for her. Blue didn’t really want much to do with him, but he was persistently charming according to Dax and finally won her over. It sounds like such a romantic love story, especially with how Erik has become like a brother to Billy.

  Once I was away from Dax, Blue proceeded to grill me—in an incredibly nice and overly friendly way—about how Dax and I came to be together. She knew from Erik that he and Lance were best friends and we’re longtime family friends. I guess a friends-to-lovers story was just too intriguing for her to ignore.

  I stuck to the truth as much as I could. That Dax offered for me to come to Phoenix to be around a longtime family friend during my grief. That we’d gotten drunk one night and one thing sort of led to the other. That we had doubts and then regrets, but then ultimately decided to “go for it” so to speak.

  Blue listened with a dreamy smile on her face as we sipped wine in the kitchen. I’d found out the party was catered, and she didn’t have a damn thing to do to get ready, but just wanted to get to know me.

  Dax showed up not long after, and he whisked me away to meet some of the other players and their significant others. I’d met Brooke, who is engaged to Bishop. Sadly, I didn’t get to meet Pepper who was still recuperating from her injuries, although Legend came to wish Billy a happy birthday.

  And, oh my gosh… Billy. The sweetest man ever. I loved seeing how at ease the players were with him and vice versa.

  Best of all was watching the mysterious, reclusive Tacker interact with Billy. Dax had told me they bonded months ago at Dave & Buster’s while playing video games, and that Tacker often visited him at his group home. I observed him carefully for a while. He smiled easily and talked without restraint to the young man who looked to be about my age, and he did all this without Billy being able to actually talk back. But he did respond with smiles and nods, communicating with hand signals and grunts. They sat in front of Erik’s big-screen TV in the basement and played Mario Kart together.

  The party is a smashing success. And after the cake and opening of presents in the large great room upstairs, which was more than enough to accommodate everyone, I finally have a moment to take a long overdue bathroom break. The two upstairs restrooms are occupied, so I make my way down into the basement.

  That restroom is thankfully open, and I go in to do my business. After washing my hands and drying them, then checking my makeup and popping in a breath mint, I exit the restroom and make my way to the staircase that leads up. Just as I raise my foot to take the first step, I see something from the corner of my eye. Pivoting to the large sectional sofa in front of the TV, I see Tacker sitting by himself, staring blankly at the darkened screen.

  My first instinct is to ignore him and head upstairs, only because I’ve been told how much he doesn’t like interacting with people. I don’t want to make things awkward for him or cause him distress.

  But there’s something about the slump to his shoulders and the slightly haunted expression on his face that has me reconsidering. It’s like looking at myself four weeks ago, and I recognize something of myself within him.

  I make my way around the long side of the sectional sofa until I come into his view. He blinks at me in surprise, then just stares.

  We had not actually been introduced yet, so I take the moment to step up to him and hold my hand out with a bright smile. “We haven’t met yet. I’m Regan.”

  Tacker raises his hand to give mine a brief shake. “Dax’s girlfriend.”

  I can tell by the flat tone of his voice that this conversation is not welcome.

  I’m not welcome.

  For the life of me, I can’t think of one interesting thing to say that could engage this taciturn, withdrawn man.

  Except…

  “I’m not his girlfriend. I’m his wife.”

  Tacker’s large body physically jerks at my proclamation, his eyebrows flying upward. He doesn’t say a word, but he can’t hide the interest I
find within his eyes.

  “Actually, I’m quite ill,” I say in another surprising burst of honesty. “I have paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. It’s a deadly blood disease. Dax married me so I could be put on his health insurance because there’s a lifesaving treatment, but it’s over four-hundred-thousand dollars a year to get it.”

  I cock my head at him expectantly, hoping what I have said is enough to make a connection. Why I feel the need to do this I have no clue, other than I guess I just feel sorry for somebody who seems so lost. Perhaps forming a bond with someone—no matter how tenuous—will give him some sense of belonging.

  Tacker remains silent so I say, “No one knows what I just told you. It’s a secret. Well, some people know. Dax. His family. Bishop. I think Erik and Legend know we’re married. And now you. But that’s it.”

  “Why tell me?” Tacker mutters, and I’m overjoyed upon hearing those three words.

  I take it as an invitation to keep talking, moving next to him on the couch. Shrugging my shoulders, I explain, “You just kind of look like a guy who doesn’t go around telling secrets.”

  Tacker snorts. “Unlike you, who clearly has no problem with dropping all kinds of secrets.”

  I grin. “It’s my secret to tell so I get to choose who knows it.”

  Tacker regards me unblinkingly. Not a flicker of emotion on his face.

  “Want to tell me a secret in return?” I ask. “As a means of returning trust?”

  I don’t expect a response. My energy for engaging this man is starting to fizzle as he has proved to be perhaps too reluctant to overcome.

  The silence gets a little awkward, and I consider standing up to leave when sweet words come out of his mouth. “I’ve been ordered to do therapy by the team. If I don’t do it, they’re going to cut me loose permanently. I need to give them an answer by tomorrow.”