“I wasn’t -“
She held her hand up to cut me off, but I knew she wasn’t trying to be rude about it on purpose.
Rose played with Simba for a good half hour. Simba was pleased to see her. As if I were already living with Drew, I offered Rose a drink, and then I felt like the biggest asshole on the planet. She had been living here only a few days ago. This was her role, to offer guests drinks and snacks and stuff, and I had just come in and snagged it. Obviously it wasn’t intentional and I knew Rose knew that, but it didn’t make me feel any better.
“Thanks for that,” she said, stepping up and looking across the room. “I packed up a bunch of boxes when Drew was gone and I put them in the garage. Do you mind if I go pack my car?”
“Please.” I waved a dismissive hand. “Do you need any help with that?”
She smiled. “Sure.”
It didn’t take us long to move the boxes to her car. There was a comfortable silence between us, and I realized that I liked her. I didn’t care that she had a history with Drew that I never would. I would have a beginning with him she never would. She seemed to genuinely care about him though and about Simba. I respected her. As crazy as it sounded, I hoped that when all was said and done, we could all be friends... or, at least, friendly acquaintances.
“Kira,” Rose murmured. She had just loaded the last box and she stood next to the driver’s side door, giving me a long look. “Do me a favor.”
I turned to look at her, nodding my head.
“I know I’m in no position to tell you what to do,” she said. “I’m part of the past, and you’re his present and hopefully his future. Just take care of Drew, ok? He needs someone who can put hockey first and I just couldn’t seem to do that. I wanted to. He’s worth it, but I just couldn’t do it.”
I nodded. “I get that,” I told her. “And I will.”
She smiled and offered me her hand. I returned the smile and shook it.
It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
A few minutes after Rose had left, Drew pulled up. He was smiling and I felt my heart skip a beat. When he got out, I ran towards him like he had been gone for a long time rather than a few hours. He caught me in his arms, laughing.
“What?” he asked. “What is it?”
I shook my head. “I just...” I might as well say it, but I had no idea if it was the right time, or the right place. Oh well. “I love you, Drew Stefano.”
He grinned back. “Well, that’s good news,” he replied. He kissed my cheek, my jawline, my neck. I felt my desire for him start to grow. “I love you too.”
It wasn’t long before we were back upstairs, tangled up in each other, expressing that love.
Life was good.
Want to know when Book 7 comes out?
Brutal Love & Stanley Cups, the last book in The Slapshot Series will be released Spring, 2018.
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Acknowledgments
The Anaheim Ducks because they’re my team no matter what - especially the team from 2011. My inaugural season. ;)
My family
My friends
Jammie & Summer for your AMAZING betas!
Susanna Lynn, for your beautiful cover. It’s amazing and stunning and perfect!
Thank you to my readers who have fallen in love with this series, with hockey, and with the amazing players. I write for YOU!
Frank, Kylee & Madisyn, Josh & Jacob, for your continued love, support, and understanding
Also by Heather C. Myers
The Slapshot Series: A Sports Romance
Blood on the Rocks, Snapshot Prequel, Book 1 Her grandfather’s murdered and she’s suddenly thrust with the responsibility of owning and managing a national hockey team. That, and she decides to solve the murder herself.
Grace on the Rocks, Slapshot Prequel, Book 2 A chance encounter at the beach causes sparks to fly...
Charm on the Rocks, Slapshot Prequel Book 3 When you know it's wrong but it feels so right
The Slapshot Prequel Box Set
Exes & Goals, Book 1 of the Slapshot Series Most people have no regrets. She has one.
Black Eyes & Blue Lines, Book 2 of the Slapshot Series He drives her crazy - and not in a good way. But she can't get him out of her head.
Lip Locks & Blocked Shots, Book 3 of the Slapshot Series He's the last person she should fall in love with and the only one that ever stood a chance.
Positives & Penalties, Book 4 of The Slapshot Series One gorgeous hockey player plus one night of passion equals two pink lines...
Rumors & Roughing, Book 5 of The Slapshot Series Rumor has it NHL bad boy Alec Schumacher is a criminal...
Trainwrecks & Backchecks, Book 6 of The Slapshot Series It's not pretend when feelings get involved...
Also by Heather C. Myers
Modern Jane Austen Retellings
Denial Matchmaking is supposed to be easy. But Madeline is going to learn that love can't be planned when she starts to fall for the last person she ever thought she would, who also happens to be the man her best friend claims to love as well.
Stubborn Marion is a die-hard USC fan. Aiden goes to UCLA Law School. If only college rivalries were the worst of their problems. They say opposites attract. Well, some crash into each other.
Also by Heather C. Myers
New Adult Contemporary Romance
Save the Date As daughter of a man in charge of the CIA, Gemma knew her father was overprotective. She just never thought he would assign a man she couldn't stand to be her bodyguard under the rouse of a fake marriage.
On Tour with the Rockstar Holly Dunn didn’t know that when she began studying at a rock concert, the lead singer would call her out on it. Tommy Stark didn’t know he’d be intrigued by her odd sort of ways, which was why hew invited her to go on tour with him.
Foolish Games She was everything he didn't want in a woman and everything he couldn't resist. She thought he was arrogant on top of other things.
Falling Over You She wasn't supposed to see him, hear him, or feel him because he was dead - a ghost. She wasn't supposed to fall in love with him because she was engaged.
Hollywood Snowfall It's getting cold in Hollywood, so cold, there's a good chance the City of Angels will finally get snow.
Also by Heather C. Myers
Dark Romance
A Beauty Dark & Deadly He’s the most beautiful monster she’s even seen
A Reputation Dark & Deadly Logan Jeffrey has a reputation
Also by Heather C. Myers
Young Adult Novels
Trainwreck Detention is not the place where you're supposed to meet your next boyfriend, especially when he's Asher Boyd, known pothead and occasional criminal. But he makes good girl Sadie Brown feel something she hasn't really felt before - extraordinary.
Also by Heather C. Myers
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Battlefield Just because they were, quite literally, made for each other didn't mean they had to actually get along.
Seductive Suspensions A Slapshot Novella Page 7
