by Kat Mizera
“When I started getting attention from scouts, she’d take a bus to wherever I was playing and take notes so I knew what to work on. Maddie would get out on the ice and show me what I was doing wrong to help me become the player I was—am.” He coughed slightly at the correction; the doctors still didn’t know if he would play again. “But I never thought to ask what I could help her with…and I’m sorry, Mad.” He met his sister’s gaze. “That was wrong. I love you and think you’re amazing. Even though you’re married now, I’m still buying you that triathlon bike and I will run, swim and bike with you every moment I possibly can either until the race or when I’m back on the ice. Deal?”
She nodded tearfully, holding up her glass.
“And then she called me again.” He paused to look at Hawk this time. “To tell me this crazy story about gangbangers shooting at her and some guy with a mohawk saving her life…and I thought, who the hell is this guy and what the hell is going on down there in Mimosa Key?!”
Everyone laughed.
“You were my teammate, Hawk, and my friend. Now you’re my brother. I’m not even going to tell you to take care of her because you will. And in return, I have a wedding present for you.” He nodded at someone off to the side and one wall of the tent turned into a projector screen. A video came on showing a room full of reporters and an empty podium. Suddenly Roger Culkin entered the room with what looked like his lawyer. He walked to the podium and cleared his throat before he began to speak.
“My name is Roger Culkin and I’m here to set the record straight about what happened on Thursday, the 17th of October, in Tampa Bay. I was hit from behind, pushed face first into the boards by Evgeni Barkonov. Whether it was done intentionally I don’t know, but at the time I was mad. I lost my temper and said something I never should have said—something homophobic and mean-spirited. The words came out in a fit of rage. I didn’t even realize I’d done it until the linesman sent my teammate Garrett Hawkins off the ice. At the time, I was only thinking about the game and myself. It didn’t occur to me that Hawk was taking the fall for me, that he would be fined by the league, suspended five games and have his reputation and that of his girlfriend slung through the mud. I didn’t think about any of that until I saw some stuff online the other day. I wasn’t sure what to do, who to tell, so I didn’t say anything. Then I heard through the grapevine that his girlfriend was being hounded by the press and she was also the sister of one of our former teammates… I knew I couldn’t stay quiet anymore.
“I’m here tonight to clear the air. I’m responsible for what was said—not Hawk. He didn’t even skate into the fray until I was done running my mouth. I’m asking the league to find other tapes, other angles, so they can see that it wasn’t him. I’m taking full responsibility for what happened and I want to apologize to Hawk, his girlfriend, Madison, and to her brother, Jamie Teller. I don’t know what came over me, but it’s not what’s in my heart or what I meant…”
Jamie made a motion and the video disappeared. He turned to Hawk and smiled. “Welcome to the family, bro.”
Maddie was crying again, running to throw her arms around her brother and Hawk got up to join her. He waited until she’d stopped crying and then wrapped his arms around both her and his new brother-in-law.
“How the hell did you manage that?” he whispered in his ear.
Jamie just winked.
Much later, as Garrett and Maddie walked to their new suite on the top floor of the hotel, she squeezed his hand. A breeze was blowing, bathing them in salty air and the scent of the gulf. Waves crashed lightly on the shore in the background, a romantic backdrop to one of the best nights of her life.
“I have a bone to pick with you, Mr. Hawkins.” She glanced up at him.
He looked down. “Already?! Have we even been married a day yet?”
“Yup. It’s been 33 hours, 41 minutes and…” She glanced at her phone. “Aw, crap, this doesn’t tell me how many seconds.”
He laughed. “What’s up, baby?”
She held out her left hand. “I still do not have a wedding ring. What’s the deal?”
“We haven’t had a lot of time, you know?”
“Am I gonna get one?”
“Absolutely. As soon as we get you out of Toronto, move you to Ottawa, the team isn’t on a road trip and I have a day off.”
She wrinkled her nose. “So…next summer?”
He chuckled. “Sooner than that. Promise.”
“Garrett?”
“Yeah?”
She stopped walking and turned to face him. “Are we crazy?”
“Absolutely. Crazy in love… Crazy about each other… What else do we need?”
“Nothing,” she replied after a moment, looking deep into his eyes. “It’s kind of funny, but I can’t think of a single thing I need other than you.”
“Still scared?”
She shook her head. “No. You?”
“Nope. I got my girl, my career and a wonderful new family—that’s more than I deserve.”
“I’m really glad you saved me a week ago.”
“I’m really glad you married me yesterday.” He brought his fingers to her cheeks. “Are you ready for forever?”
“With you? I’m ready for anything.”
*THE END*
Want to read about more sexy over-protective hockey players? Discover Kat’s Las Vegas Sidewinders series and the spinoff Inferno series! Visit www.KatMizera.com for information about both of these.
More Books by Kat Mizera
Sports Romance: I have six full-length and one holiday novella in the Las Vegas Sidewinders hockey series. I’d love for you to give them a try, so the series starter is free.
Dark, Erotic Romance: Inferno is a spinoff focusing on the less traditional characters in my Sidewinders world, with darker subject matter and more erotic sexual situations… these aren’t your typical romances, though they all have HEA’s!
Romancing Europe: In the mood for something a little sexy but a lot sweet? Jaunt off to Europe with light-hearted romances set in different European cities! Adonis In Athens is available now.
Ready to one-click some new books?
www.KatMizera.com
