Big Stick

by Kelly Jamieson

  Nick’s head was spinning, but it wasn’t because he was drunk. He was high on her being here.

  He got into a conversation with Army and Hallsy about the White Sox, and when he looked up next, Jodie was gone.

  He narrowed his eyes, but Brick was still there, talking to Chaser and Jordyn.

  Like last time, Kendra and Hallsy had set out food in the dining room. Nick separated himself from the chatting group and meandered in there. Maybe he’d find some pretzels…or…

  Jodie.

  And Molly.

  “You’re not feeding her people food, are you?”

  Her head whipped up. Her slow smile was so beautiful. “She’s cute. It’s hard not to.”

  “Do you want a dog?” He strolled closer.

  Her eyes flickered in surprise. “I’d love a dog.” She gave a wistful smile. “Someday.”

  “Me too.” He stopped in front of her. Almost close enough to touch. Close enough to smell that sexy scent. Close enough to feel her warmth. “You’re not here with Brick, are you?”

  Her eyes popped wide. “What? No!”

  “Okay.”

  She gave him a slit-eyed, head-tilted look. “What the hell?”

  “You were standing beside him.” He rubbed his face. “I just got…jealous, I guess.”

  She closed her eyes. “Nick.”

  “I know, I know. You need time.”

  She opened her eyes. They glowed behind her glasses. She let out a short breath. “No. I don’t.”

  His gut cramped. He swallowed. “Uh…”

  “I thought about what you said last night.” She moved closer still, her body brushing against his. She gazed up at him. “I thought about what you did. I know what you’ve been through. First of all…I don’t blame you for what happened when you were looking after Zyana. I never told you she was prone to ear infections. What happened wasn’t your fault. It probably would have been the same if I’d been there.”

  He set his hands on her hips. Molly whined at their feet, wanting more food. They both ignored her. “You would have taken her to the doctor sooner.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. If she didn’t seem that sick, I might have waited until morning too. She’s okay though, and that’s what matters.”

  “I hate that something bad happened to her.”

  “I know.” She smiled. “I hate it too. But bad things are going to happen in her life, and I can’t protect her from all of them.” She draped her arms over his shoulders. Their eyes met in a flash of heat and a sparkle of light. “I love you, Nick.”

  “Really?” His heart kicked into high gear.

  “Really.” She kissed his jaw. “Last night…you took me by surprise. I was scared.”

  “So was I,” he said fervently. He closed his eyes briefly, relief streaming through him that this was happening, almost afraid to believe it.

  “I know.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m not usually one who’s afraid of telling people how I feel, but…after you broke my heart—”

  “Fuck.” He gathered her up in his arms and squeezed so tightly she squeaked. “I’m sorry. Please. Forgive me.”

  “I do.” She hugged him tightly too. “I do. I get it. I know you’ve been hurt. You’ve lost people you love. I should’ve understood what was going on in your head.”

  “Jesus. How could you? I didn’t even know.”

  She choked on a laugh, muffled in his chest.

  “Seriously, I was a dick.” He held her against him, soaking in the feel of her in his arms, letting the pure joy he felt at knowing she loved him, forgave him, still wanted him, fill him up until he was brimming with it.

  “Do you really not want to have kids?” She pulled back to gaze at him. “I mean, I don’t know where this thing with us is going to end up…I’d love to have more kids, but I have one, and if you love her and you don’t want any more, I’d—”

  His heart squeezed as he set his fingers over her mouth. “I’d have ten kids if they were all like Zyana. If they were with you.”

  She let out her breath in a whoosh and buried her face against his chest again.

  “I can’t believe I just said that,” he muttered, his hand coming up to cup the back of her head. “And I’m not even terrified.”

  She gave a soft snort.

  They stood like that for a moment. Then he said, “Where’s Zyana?”

  “Asleep. In her bedroom. I mean, the room that was hers when we stayed here.”

  “Are you staying here tonight?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Ah.” He drew back, sliding his hand into her hair, fisting it, and tugging her head back. “The same room as last time?”

  “Yeah.” Her lips curved into a sexy smirk.

  “Maybe you want to reenact that striptease you did for me last time.”

  She choked. “That wasn’t a striptease! I didn’t know you were there!” She lightly smacked his chest. “You drunken perv, you.”

  “Yeah.” He smirked. “I admit to it. I fantasized about that for weeks.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “Is that a no?”

  “Hmm. Remember that drink?”

  “Vaguely. Which one?”

  “The shot I gave you.”

  “Oh yeah. Honey Dew Me.”

  “Yeah.” Her fingers stroked over the nape of his neck, sending tingles down his spine right to his balls. “I really meant that.”

  “Fuck yeah. Let’s go.”

  Epilogue

  Everyone was relaxed and mellow after the big meal, a few drinks, and a day spent on beautiful Georgian Bay, south of Parry Sound, Ontario, at Nick’s gorgeous cottage on the lake. They’d just finished an amazing dinner everyone had taken part in cooking—the guys manning the big barbecue out on the deck to cook the steaks and hotdogs, the women inside chatting and drinking wine while they’d prepared salads and veggies and snacks.

  Calling it a cottage wasn’t entirely accurate, as Jodie had immediately seen upon arrival a few weeks ago. They’d pulled into the driveway at the back of the big house among gorgeous white pine and hemlock trees, a garage and boathouse off to the right, and outcroppings of stone on the left. Inside, she’d gazed around in awe at the cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors, and stone fireplace. Big windows looked over the deck with glass rails that didn’t obstruct the view of the lake and trees.

  Chase and Jordyn had spent last night and today there, on their way to nearby Sudbury to visit Chase’s family. Jared and Sidney; their daughter, Aubree; and Max and Kendra were spending the week there; and Cam Brickley was even here for one night, heading back to Toronto tomorrow to continue his flight home to Calgary. Zyana and Aubree had swum in the clear waters, ridden in the boat in their tiny life jackets while others water-skied or relaxed on the sunny deck at the shore, or on the upper deck coolly shaded by sugar maple and beech trees.

  This was the third week there for Nick and Jodie, and she was pretty sure this was paradise.

  She was a city girl, but long lazy days hiking and exploring nature, laying in the sun, and checking out cute little shops in nearby towns had been so relaxing and fun. Especially since she was with Nick.

  He’d taken Zyana into the woods to show her wildflowers like red and white trilliums, lady’s slippers, and wood lilies. They’d seen raccoons, beavers, and squirrels, to Zyana’s delight. And she’d taken to the water like a little mermaid. What an amazing experience for her.

  Evenings, when Zyana was in bed, Jodie and Nick cuddled on the deck and watched the sun set over the bay, listening to owls and loons and the quiet lap of the water on the shore.

  She was on vacation, but she’d also done a little work thanks to the Wi-Fi.

  Jodie moved over to where Nick leaned on the railing by himself, a beer in his hand. “Hey. Having fun?”

 
“Yeah.” He smiled at her. “This has been great, having everyone here.”

  “I know you were worried about being here, being reminded of Aleks.”

  “Yeah. The last couple of summers were hard. But it’s okay being reminded of him—in fact, it’s good. He loved it here. He was doing so well that summer, and those are good memories.”

  He’d told her that Aleks’s ashes were scattered out on the water of the bay.

  “So I kind of feel close to him here,” he said. “It’s good.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m glad.”

  “So have you decided?”

  Jodie smiled. She knew what he was talking about. “Well, we’ve managed to spend three weeks together, twenty-four/seven nearly, and haven’t killed each other. Are you sure you still want to do it?”

  “I’m sure.” His voice went low and rough. He set his beer on the railing and lifted his hands to her hair, sliding through to gather it at the nape of her neck.

  “Are you sure Zyana and I won’t drive you crazy with nonstop talking?”

  His lips quirked. “It’s a big house. I can go hide in the garage if it gets to be too much.”

  He wanted Jodie and Zyana to move into his house with him. She wanted that too. But it seemed fast. It had been only a couple of months since they’d admitted their feelings for each other. She didn’t want to rush into something that might be a mistake, especially since she had Zyana to consider, not just herself.

  But with Nick being done for the season they’d spent a lot of time together, back and forth between the big house and the coach house all the time, and it actually wouldn’t be that much different.

  It felt right. She’d seen the relationship develop between Nick and Zyana, and her heart overflowed with love for both of them. Surely this was something good and lasting. It felt that way.

  “Okay then, yes, we’ll move in with you.”

  “Thank you.” He bent his head to kiss her, long and sweet.

  “Dude, get a room,” Cam called to them from the other side of the deck.

  Nick lifted his head and smirked. “He’s just jealous,” he said into Jodie’s ear.

  She laughed and patted his chest. “No, he’s not.” Clearly, Cam was way over wanting to date her, seeming to always be with a different girl every time they saw him. She was happy there were no hard feelings about that between him and Nick.

  “You’re the only single guy here,” Nick called to Cam, turning to the group and sliding an arm around Jodie’s waist as they sauntered back toward their guests.

  “Here we go again,” Cam muttered. “Guys, if you’re really concerned for me, that’s nice, but you don’t need to be. Don’t shame me for being single—I like it.” He’d taken a bit of teasing from the others all day.

  Jodie frowned. It sounded like it was actually getting to him. He said he liked being single…but maybe that wasn’t true…

  Even Nick, the diehard loner, had admitted that love and family and belonging somewhere were important. But pushing that onto someone else wasn’t fair. So she changed the subject. “Let’s get these girls to bed, and then we can play a game. I picked up this board game that sounds really fun. It’s called Are You Normal?”

  “Huh?”

  “What?”

  “There are a bunch of questions you answer, and you compare yourself to a survey of people to see how normal you are.”

  “Are these sexual questions?” Cam asked with a grin.

  She laughed. “Actually, some of them are.”

  Zyana ran to Nick, and he bent to pick her up as she leaped into his arms. “Will you wead me a stowy, Nick?”

  “You bet I will, sweetheart.”

  Jodie followed Nick and Zyana into the cottage and down the hall to Zyana’s bedroom.

  “Nick…” Zyana leaned back in his arms to peer at him. “Jawed is Aubwee’s daddy. I want you to be my daddy.”

  Nick’s feet stopped.

  As did Jodie’s heart. Her hand flew to her throat. Too soon, too soon…

  Nick turned slightly and glanced over his shoulder to meet Jodie’s eyes. The look on his face—pride and happiness and love—made her heart expand. She also knew he had no idea what to say to that. But she couldn’t speak for him.

  He looked down at Zyana’s little face. “I would love to be your dad. Maybe someday we can make that happen.”

  She nodded, accepting his response, and they continued into her room.

  My heart. Jodie pressed her hand there, feeling the fast beat, the ache of love that filled her chest. Maybe Zyana hadn’t waited for the perfect moment to ask that question…but Nick had taken the moment and made it perfect.

  To my readers with gratitude and appreciation

  Acknowledgments

  As usual, so many thanks to the team that helps me get my books out there—Emily Sylvan Kim, Stacey Price, everyone at Loveswept: Sue Grimshaw, Gina Wachtel, Madeleine Kenney, Kristin Fassler, and Matthew Schwartz. Thanks to Kate Meader for her help with random questions about Chicago and for going to a hockey game with me in Chicago in the name of research! And most of all, thanks to my readers. I love to write romance, and I love to write my hockey guys and their stories—I am honored every time you buy and read my books.

  BY KELLY JAMIESON

  Aces Hockey

  Major Misconduct

  Off Limits

  Icing

  Top Shelf

  Back Check

  Slap Shot

  Playing Hurt

  Big Stick

  Game On

  Bayard Hockey

  Shut Out

  Cross Check

  Last Shot

  Body Shot

  Hot Shot

  Long Shot

  Other Books

  Dancing in the Rain

  PHOTO: LANCE THOMSON PHOTOGRAPHIC

  USA Today bestselling author KELLY JAMIESON is the author of more than forty contemporary romance novels. She writes the kind of books she loves to read—sexy romances with heat, humor, and emotion. She likes coffee (black), wine (mostly white), and shoes (high!). She also loves watching hockey.

  kellyjamieson.com

  Twitter: @KellyJamieson

  Read on for an excerpt from

  Game On

  An Aces Hockey Novel

  Kelly Jamieson

  Available from Loveswept

  “They called me Lauren Dyson Ball Vacuum Thingy Jones in college.”

  I blinked at the chick talking to me, letting what she’d just said sink in. We’d been flirting for a few minutes at the bar while I waited for my beer. “Uh…”

  “Because I handle super smoothly, and I love sucking.” She winked.

  Okay. Wow.

  “Impressive.” I managed a smile, took my beer from the bartender, and turned. “Nice talking to you, Lauren.”

  I made a beeline back to my bros at the table near the window. “Jesus Christ.” I told them what had just happened and they all laughed, their heads turning to the bar to search out the woman. “Don’t look, don’t look.” I swiped my forehead.

  “Come on, Brick. It’s not like you to turn down a hot chick.”

  My name wasn’t Brick, just FYI—Cam Brickley, but my teammates all called me Brick. We were hockey players so we had to have nicknames.

  “That was a bit much, even for me.”

  I liked women. A lot. I also liked a lot of women.

  We were at River East Social House, enjoying the blues music and the drinks on a Friday night off—me, Chaser, Bomber, Rico, and Pilker. Seemed like we were the only single ones left on the Aces team. That wasn’t even true though. Pilker had met someone back in Sweden over the summer, and she was in the process of moving here. Rico had been seeing someone for a while no
w. Bomber had had two dates with the same woman, which didn’t necessarily mean anything, but…And Chaser, my best buddy, was living with Jordyn Banks, famous pop star. All the other guys were married off, their wives popping out babies left and right.

  It was kind of depressing.

  “You need to find a woman and settle down.” Chaser pointed at me with his beer bottle.

  “Oh no. No, no, no. Do not do that to me.” I scowled at him. “You’re all married off, and you think everyone else should be. Why do guys do that?”

  Chaser shrugged. “Just want you to be happy, man.”

  “I am happy.”

  “Huh.”

  “What the fuck does that mean? You think I’m not happy?”

  “Sure, sure, you’re happy. But you know…you could be happier. You just don’t know what it’s like. You’re too busy manwhoring around.”

  “I’m having fun.” I lifted my drink to my lips. I considered going back and talking more to Lauren but winced. “Sort of.”

  “Let’s make a bet.” Chaser leaned on the table.

  My ears perked up. The competitor in me always liked a bet. We bet on all kinds of crazy shit…who could do forty push-ups in less than a minute, who could eat a ghost pepper without puking, or whether Chaser and I would slow-dance together for an entire song at our friends’ wedding. (We did it.) Once Chaser bet me that he could win five face-offs in a row against me. I sadly lost, meaning I had to take off his skates for him every day for a week. That was painful.

  “I bet you can’t see the same woman for two months in a row without falling in love with her.”

  “What?” I scoffed. “That’s stupid. I don’t fall in love. I don’t even believe in love.”

  Chaser snorted. “Right. What do you want to bet? I’ll wash your jockstraps for the rest of the season.”