Amazing Grace (Hearts At War Book 3)
Page 15
“Could it be that you’re throwing yourself into your work to deal with your loss?” Dr. Kahn asked. “It wouldn’t be uncommon.”
“Maybe.” Mason let her conclude what she wanted.
“Perhaps you should seek grief counseling to better deal with your loss.”
“I appreciate the concern, but I’ve dealt with it.”
In fact, he had found peace with his father’s passing a while ago. Losing him had hurt, but with his declining health, it had been expected. Throwing himself into his work had nothing to do with hiding behind his pain, and everything to do with winning the Cup for his dad. As a player, he had come close twice but never made it. This time, he had grabbed at the chance for the championship, and threw his all behind his players. Against the odds, they had won. Mason imagined his father had been beaming down at him with pride that night.
These were all things he had learned to come to terms with. He didn’t need therapy, or Dr. Kahn, to tell him what he had since accepted.
“Dr. Kahn, I only brought up his father because that’s when I noticed the shift in his priorities where our family was concerned,” Jules said. “But hockey isn’t the only problem.”
“Then what is the real issue?” Dr. Kahn asked.
She shifted in her seat, her hands clasped tightly together. “I feel alone in this marriage.”
Mason glanced away from her rigid profile, bothered at her admission. Though part of him was relieved that she didn’t want him to quit hockey, another part was disturbed by the fact that she felt lonely with him. Whether or not he understood how, that was how she felt in their marriage.
“We’re out of time for today,” Dr. Kahn said, placing her pen down. “But what I’d like you two to do before our next session is to go out on a date. Alone. It can be anywhere, but I want you to plan it together. When I see you again, I want to hear all about it.”
“Where do you think we should go?”
Mason shrugged. “You decide.”
Jules turned to him. His attention was focused on the road ahead. Their first marriage counseling session hadn’t been as uncomfortable as she had believed it would be. If anything, it had made her feel closer to him than she had in a long time. But while she was eager to begin planning their first obligatory date, he was uninterested.
“Mason, please don’t make me plan this on my own.”
“Sorry.” He reached over and gave her knee a squeeze. “How about we try that new seafood restaurant in the French Quarter?”
“La Bouff’s? I’ve heard good things about them.”
“Good. I’ll make a reservation for us.”
“Maybe we could go dancing after?”
He shot her a quick glance. “I’m not good at dancing.”
“Yes, you are. Dancing is like making love, and we have two kids, remember? Trust me, you’re good.”
The corner of his lips kicked up. “Well, if you’re talking about that kind of dancing, then yeah. I’m great at it.”
She rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t hold back her own smile. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Even a pro needs practice.”
“When can we start practicing again?”
Her heart thudded in her chest from the low, suggestive question. From the husky desire in his tone, it was clear they were no longer talking about dancing, and her thighs quivered at the thought of being with him again. With last season’s playoffs keeping him away, and the rising tension between them because of it, there had been no room for romance or intimacy.
Yet, based on their session today, he wanted more of that between them. A revelation that surprised her. He had stopped making an effort to touch her, and didn’t appear bothered by their lack of lovemaking. She had assumed he had stopped caring about that part in their marriage. She was relieved to learn she had been wrong. Then again, would it be wise of them to jump back into bed so soon when they still had so much to work through?
Before she could approach that delicate subject, his cell phone rang. Mason answered it, and a familiar voice spoke clearly through the car speakers.
“Mason, I think that cocksucker—”
“Watch it, Doug. My wife’s in the car.”
“Oh… Sorry, Jules.”
“Don’t sweat it, Doug,” Jules said, finding her husband’s reproach amusing, since he rarely ever bothered to watch his language around her. “I’ve heard it all before. Now, you were saying…”
There was a brief hesitation before Doug spoke again. “It’s Harrison Stacey. I think he’s trying to make trouble for you, Mason.”
“Who’s that?” she asked quietly.
“I’ll tell you later.” Mason’s tone was low and guarded. He returned his attention to Doug. “What happened? Did he publish something?”
“No, but I think he may have filed a complaint with the league. I heard Steven got a call from the commissioner’s office, and now he wants us to meet with him today.”
“Today’s no good, which is why I blocked my schedule.”
“I told them that, but then they started talking about suspensions and fines if we don’t get this straightened out, so I called you.”
Mason’s grip tightened around the steering wheel as they sat at a traffic light. He turned to her, his expression strained and apologetic. She realized then he was waiting for her permission. With his free schedule, she had hoped they could have lunch together at home and maybe finish planning their date night. Apparently that would have to wait.
“Go,” she whispered. “This sounds important.”
“All right, Doug. I’ll be there in a few.” Mason ended the call and glanced toward her. “Sorry, babe. I was not expecting that. We’re nearly home, so I’ll drop you off first.”
She nodded. “What’s going on, though? Who’s Harrison Stacey?”
Mason sighed. “He’s some damn sports journalist I took a swing at yesterday after the press conference.”
Her mouth fell open as she processed his words. “What? Why?”
Mason clenched his jaw and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I should have known better than to let him get under my skin. That was stupid on my part.”
She studied him as they neared their home. It was true her husband had a temper, but his fighting days had come to an end after his last season as a defenseman. His reputation may have advanced with him into his coaching career, but he wasn’t the type of guy that would go around punching people or things.
Yet he had done both yesterday.
“Did he deserve it?”
Mason glanced at her, his brows lifting. “Yeah, he did. And I sure as shit don’t regret hitting him.”
“Then this will all work itself out. Don’t worry.”
“Who says I’m worried?”
“Your white knuckles.”
He looked down at his hands, and they both chuckled. He eased his hold as he began to turn the wheel. It took her a second to realize they were pulling into their driveway.
“When I get back tonight, maybe we can order in and put on that panda movie Jeremy loves.”
“The kids would love that.”
Jules started to exit the car then stopped. Turning back, she leaned over and pressed her lips against his cheek. She caught the stunned look on his face and smiled big. Pleased with herself, she started out of the car again.
To her surprise, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him. Looping his hand around the back of her neck, he brought his lips lightly down over hers. His lips moved over hers gently before he deepened the kiss. Something warm unfurled inside her, and she instinctively rested her hand on his arm. No matter how much they fought or how angry he made her at times, he was the only man that could make her feel this way.
With a tremulous sigh, her lips fell open, and he slowly slipped his tongue into her mouth. The taste and texture of him was familiar, but there was something new in the way he moved his tongue along hers. He took his time, as if savoring the very essence of her. The sensation lef
t her tingling with warmth all over. She released a soft moan and returned his kiss with all the passion and fire she still held for him.
Eventually, he pulled away and cupped her cheek. She held his penetrating gaze as he stroked the pads of his thumb along her jaw.
“Thank you.”
Jules tilted her head slightly. There were several ways she could interpret that, but she decided to just let it be, and gave him another quick kiss on the lips.
“Hurry back.”
Will Mason and Jules be able to save their marriage? Continue A GAME OF COURAGE to find out!
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More Books by Lena Hart
CONTEMPORARY
Brides of Cedar Bend series
Something Old
Something New
Something Borrowed
Something Blue
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To Be Loved series
First Love
Because You Love Me
Because You Are Mine
Because This Is Forever
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Standalones
My Silent New York Night
Her Seductive Dare
It’s a Dare, Baby
* * *
SUSPENSE
The Queen Quartette series
His Flower Queen
His Bedpost Queen
Queen of His Heart
His Diamond Queen
* * *
City of Sin spin-off series
B is for Bedpost
The Devil’s Bedpost
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HISTORICALS
Hearts at War collection
A Sweet Surrender
Amazing Grace
In the Morning Sun
About the Author
Lena Hart is a Florida native currently living in the Harlem edge of New York City. Though she enjoys reading a variety of romance genres, she mainly writes sensual to steamy contemporary, suspense, and historical romances. When Lena is not busy writing, she’s reading, researching, or conferring with her muse. To learn more about her upcoming works, join her Reader Group.
Connect with her on…
www.LenaHartWrites.com
lena@lenahartwrites.com