BRING IT HOME

NASHVILLE ASSASSINS: NEXT

GENERATION NOVELLA

TONI ALEO

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
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and retrieval systems, without written permission from the
author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Created with Vellum

For Cameron and Katherine,

I hope this book brings joy to my readers the way

you two bring joy to my life.

I love you.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12

ALLY IS HERE!!!!
Also by Toni Aleo
Acknowledgments
About Toni Aleo

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C H A P T E R O N E

osey

MOVE

my finger along the deep valley between

the pecs of Boon’s chest. Our apartment is quiet, all
the lights are off, and our naked bodies are still
vibrating against each other. The last twelve hours
have been absolutely insane and perfectly
awesome, all wrapped into one. One thing is for
sure, I’ve never felt such a powerful love in my life.
I knew Boon Hoenes was special when I met him
on the ice. I even knew he could rock my world,
but I couldn’t truly prepare myself for how he has
become the one true partner I didn’t even know I
needed. I always wanted that partner, but I never
saw him coming. In our very short love story, so

much has happened, and so much more is to come.
Especially now that he’s asked me to marry him. In
the middle of pure mayhem, our worlds have
collided, and now they’ll become one.

I close my eyes as I nuzzle my nose into his

pec. He moves the fingers of one of his hands along
my hair, while he rests his other on my belly. My
cheek is pressed against his side, and I can feel his
heart still beating hard from the adrenaline in his
body. I don’t think his heart has slowed since the
final moments of game five. We won our
conference final; now it’s time for the last leg of the
battle.

The Cup final.
We’re taking on a team we’ve already beaten.

The Carolina IceCats. Unlike the team from last
year, though, this one didn’t rise from the bottom of
the standings. No. They are Presidents’ Trophy
winners. They smoked everyone with 124 points.
They have a power play that is lethal and a goalie
who can be in seven places at once. Their penalty
kill is a little weak, and that will be what I focus on.
I’ll need my boys to draw penalties since the only
way to score on Nico Merryweather is to take out
one of his defensemen and drive traffic to the net.

My boys can do that. We can win this. Shit—

we will win this.

But none of that matters right now. We have six

days until the series starts. We’ve got the next two

days off, and I want nothing more than to lie right
here with the man who was designed in the stars
just for me.

He presses his lips to the top of my head, and

then his voice fills the darkness. “Crazy night, eh?”

My lips curve slowly. “So damn crazy.” I move

my thumb along the finger he adorned with a ring.

“I love you, Posey.”
My heart soars. “I love you,” I say, tipping up

my head just in time to meet his lips.

He draws the kisses out of me, taking my breath

away. He pinches my jaw before kissing my top lip.
“How far along are you?”

I feel his heart rate pick up more than it already

was. He’s been wanting to ask this very question,
but maybe he needed the darkness to help him get
it out. I know he’s still a bit traumatized from the
last, ectopic pregnancy. Me too. I can still see the
blood on the floor, and the pain was unbearable. If
it weren’t for Boon, I don’t know if I would have
made it through. Not only because he is the most
amazing man on this earth, but because whenever
my mind would tell me that losing that baby was
my fault, he reassured me it wasn’t. It just wasn’t
the time for that baby, he’d tell me. But still, I
blame it all on my fucked-up thyroid.

Funny how now that I’m on good meds and I’m

feeling the best I’ve ever felt, I’ve been able to
carry this baby as long as I have without any

trouble. If I said that though, Boon would probably
announce it’s the fact that he’s taken away gluten
and sugar that’s the cure.

I refuse to think that.
“About nine weeks.”
He goes still under my touch. “How long have

you known?”

“For a month.”
“Posey?”
I kiss his chest. “I didn’t want to tell you so

soon. What if I had lost it again?”

“So, if you had lost it, you were going to handle

it yourself?”

I shrug. “With the play-offs and all, I really did

ignore it. I didn’t want to distract you or myself
with it. I wanted us to control what we could.”

“You are a distraction, Posey. All of you.” I

smile, my lips getting caught on his skin. “But that
doesn’t let you off the hook from the fact that you
hid it from me.”

“I didn’t hide it per s—”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“So, you’re mad?”
“Not mad. Annoyed. How can I keep you good

and healthy if I don’t know the facts?”

“Boon, I’m good.”
“I still want to be in the know.”
I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see me. “I

had planned on telling you today, no matter what

happened. But then you proposed and we won, so it
added to the greatness of the day.”

He moves his lips along my temple. “Don’t hide

things from me, even if you think it’s for the best.
You don’t have to be strong all the time, Posey. I
got you. I want to be there for you.”

I turn my face to prop my chin on his chest. “I

just wanted to make sure I was okay before I
opened up that can of worms again. I feel we still
aren’t really over the first one.”

He doesn’t answer me at first. “I’m not over

seeing you in pain. It still keeps me awake at night
a lot of the time, but I think, together, we’re okay.”

“We are,” I agree. “Which is why I didn’t want

to put the pressure on this one. The worry. I don’t
know. You’re still the only person who knows.”

“Really?”
“Yeah, no one but my doctor knows.”
“You didn’t tell Shelli?”
I laugh. “With the way she lost her mind when

Amelia told us she was pregnant? I refuse to be on
the other end of that. I’ll wait till after the
wedding.”

He laughs. “I’m ready for this circus to be

over.”

“You and me both, hot stuff.”
He gathers me tighter in his arms, and I hate

that I upset him. While I think it was for the best
and I was pretty sure he would be upset with me for

hiding the pregnancy, I still feel a little bad. Just a
little.

“I’m sorry, Hoenes.”
He kisses the top of my head. “You’re lucky

you’re hot.”

I laugh out loud, turning to my side so I can be

close to his face. “Hot, huh?”

He grabs a chunk of my ass. “And this…

You’re lucky I get all this.” He then clutches my
face in his hand, squeezing my jaw. “But mostly,
you’re lucky I’m completely in love with you.”

I lean in, kissing his lips. It was only supposed

to be a sweet, small kiss, but it’s Boon. Kissing him
isn’t ever just small or sweet; it’s a rock-your-
world, crazy kind of kiss. He holds me in place with
his hand as our tongues dance together. I fall deep
into the kiss, almost as if it’s the first time I’ve ever
felt his mouth against mine. He pulls back first,
kissing my top lip and then the tip of my nose
before rubbing my jaw with his thumb. “So, when
are we telling people?”

“After their wedding,” I say, leaning my face

into his hand. “I won’t be showing too much, and if
someone asks why I’m fat—”

He growls. “I wish they would,” he warns, and I

grin. I move my face into his palm, kissing it. “No
one will say anything to you, but I want to tell
people.”

I grin against his palm. “Of course you do, but

—”

“We hid us. I don’t want to hide this. Especially

after the last pregnancy, this is a miracle, Posey.”

I hear him, I do, but I want to wait. “Everything

is so great right now, though,” I insist. “With the
Assassins, Shelli’s wedding—”

“I’m sorry, but Shelli and her wedding aren’t

even on my radar,” he says matter-of-factly. “Yes,
the Assassins are making one hell of a run, and
that’s that. But this is about us, about our miracle.”

Man, he has the feels flowing through me. “I

don’t know, Boon. Maybe after the Cup final.”

“But my mom is here,” he reminds me. “We

can have a nice dinner and announce it.”

“You do remember a certain Shea Adler,

correct?”

He chuckles. “I’m not scared…of him hitting

me. It’s already happened once.”

I snort. “I don’t want it to happen again,” I

urge. “Let him get through Shelli’s wedding, and
then we’ll tell him.” When the moonlight moves
across Boon’s face, my breath catches. There are
tears in his eyes. “Oh, Boon, don’t be upset.”

“I don’t want our life to be dictated by what’s

going on with everyone else. You’ve been doing
that your whole fucking life, and I think you’re
better than that.”

I swallow hard. His words are true, but I don’t

want to give them light. “It’s not—”

“I want to tell everyone,” he demands, and my

heart stops in my chest. “I want to marry you too.”

I grin. “I said yes, Boon. That means we’re

getting married.”

“I know, but I want to marry you. Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
He sits up, bringing me with him. I’m unable to

catch my breath as I meet his gaze, falling into his
lap. “Yes, marry me tomorrow.”

“Boon! We can’t get married tomorrow! What

about our parents?”

“We’ll go to the courthouse and have everyone

meet us.”

“Boon Zachariah! Are you crazy?”
“For you? Absolutely. Marry me tomorrow,

Posey.”

I just blink at him, unsure how to even process

this. “You want to marry me tomorrow?”

“Or even now. Think we can find a preacher?”
“Boon!” I squeal, and he grins. I love how

happy he is. I love how happy he makes me feel.

“Marry me tomorrow, Posey. Come on, what

are we waiting for?”

He’s right. What the hell are we waiting for?

But I have to act logically. “Be real, Boon.”

Boon takes me by my face, his smile so wide, I

feel his happiness in my soul. “I am being real. I
want to marry you now. I don’t want a long
engagement. For what? A small wedding? Right?

You don’t want a huge wedding.”

I shake my head, moving his hands with it. “I

don’t. I just want us and my family and your mom.”

“Exactly. So, what’s stopping us from doing it

tomorrow?”

I’m breathless; my body is firing off like mad as

I get lost in his eyes.

“We can have a wedding, tell everyone that

we’re pregnant, and just celebrate us before
attention goes back to the Assassins and then Shelli
and Aiden.”

“This is crazy. Who gets engaged and then

married the next day?”

“Us. We do.”
I’m unable to make sense of this. He can’t be

serious, but when I look closer, his eyes are
pleading with mine. He wants this. Shit, I want this.
I want to be married to him. I want to be with him
for the rest of my whole life. As his wife. All of a
sudden, I don’t want to wait.

“What’s holding us back?” he asks.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing,” he agrees, his hands shaking against

my face. “Marry me tomorrow, Posey. Don’t make
me wait to call you my wife.”

A tear spills down over my cheek and not

because of his request or even his words. It’s from
the simple fact that I never thought a man could
love me, Posey Rose Adler, the way Boon does.

“Will you not be mad about me hiding the baby?”

He grins. “Yes, this is the only way.”
I grin back. “Good. I’ll marry you tomorrow,

then.”

Our laughter, along with a sob—not sure from

whom, probably both of us—crashes together as we
sink into the bed.

The same bed I’ll be sharing with my husband

after tomorrow.

Oh man. My dad is gonna freak.

C H A P T E R T W O

oon

BRING

my heel up on the toilet seat as I send a

text back to the minister I’ve hired for today. I lean
on my knee while I look up, watching as Posey
showers. She’s so fucking gorgeous. So perfect.
And she’s carrying my baby. My baby. Our miracle.

“I hired a minister who comes highly

recommended. He knows nothing about us, so I
told him to Google me and know you are the best
thing that has ever happened to me. I’m sure he’ll
use that during the wedding.”

I’m marrying her today. I take in a deep breath

as her laughter floats toward me. “Google me?

Think highly of yourself, don’t you, Hoenes?”

“Sure do, future Mrs. Hoenes.”
She peeks her face out the shower door.

“Right? Like, within hours.”

“Scared?” I ask, waggling my brows at her, but

she just grins. She grins so big, her face looks as if it
hurts. Her eyes are full of such excitement and, to
be honest, a little bit of fear. I know she’s worried
about what her parents will say. Especially her dad.
I thought about wearing a mouthguard at dinner,
but I don’t want to show weakness. My new plan is
to hide behind his pregnant daughter. Surely she
can distract him.

“You’re the one who looks scared,” she teases

before stepping back to wash her hair.

The shower door is clear glass, so watching the

suds move along that hot body of hers makes it
really tight in my slacks. I would jump in there with
her, but I’m ready to go get married. I’m wearing
my burgundy slacks with a short-sleeve, light-blue
button-up shirt that I’ve left open at the neck,
showing my chest a bit. I asked if she wanted me to
wear a tie or a bow tie, but she didn’t. She wanted
me to look relaxed, as if it’s just a night of us
enjoying dinner in. I reminded her that meant she
had to be naked, but she didn’t go along with it.

So rude.
Instead, she’s going to wear this incredible

navy-blue strapless dress that flows over her body

like a picturesque wave. It hugs her breasts
perfectly before draping down to the floor. She
wore it to a benefit we had, and I promptly rid her
of it the moment we got into our place. I inhale
hard when she moves her loofah between her legs
to wash. That should be my hand. A groan leaves
my lips as I say, “I’m not scared of anything.”

She laughs freely. “Yes, you are. Me.”
“Losing you, yes, that terrifies me.”
She grins. “Smooth.”
“I know,” I agree, unable to watch her or I’ll go

in there. “So, remind me again why we aren’t
telling everyone about the baby tonight?”

“Boon, think this through. We can’t take

everyone to dinner and end it with a marriage
ceremony, and then boom! By the way, I’m
pregnant. That’s too much information.” She peeks
her head out, meeting my gaze. “Remember, my
dad has the angina?”

I give her a dry look. “That angina was

nowhere to be found when he popped me one.”

She holds back her laughter. “We’ll tell them

after the Cup run.” I snarl my lip at her, but she just
laughs as she goes back to showering. “I’ll make it
worth your while.”

That perks my brow. “Will you now?”
“Yup. Loads of blow jobs are in your future.”
“A lifetime, if you will, since you’re mine

forever.”

“Forever, ever?”
“Forever, ever,” I sing back to her, and I love

how she laughs.

Her head falls back, and her shoulders move

with the motion. I’m unsure if it’s because I now
know about our baby, but I notice how much her
body has changed. She’s put on a little bit of
weight, but I blamed that on stress-eating with Wes
since this Cup run has been no joke. He, too, has
put on weight, but he says it’s muscle. It’s not. It’s
the gluten-free Oreos and milk they consume and
don’t share. Or the Red Hots he supplies her with. I
don’t know when they became friends, but he
needs to stop feeding her bad stuff. I refuse to let
her get sick again; she is doing so well. But damn if
she doesn’t look good enough to eat with the extra
weight in her breasts and her thighs.

Mouthwatering. Just mouthwatering.
I’m not going to make it.
I try to distract myself by asking, “Have you

thought of any names?”

I watch her pull her brows together. “I wouldn’t

let myself. I wanted to wait for you.”

I swallow around the emotion in my throat.

“Well, I’m here.”

Her brows relax, and a small grin pulls at her

lips. “I love Lilly for a girl.” I nod as she puts her
leg up and starts to shave. “Boon Shea for a boy.”

I make a face. “Lovely, his initials would be

B.S. I’m not doing that to our kid.”

She snorts. “I hadn’t thought of that.” The

bathroom fills with more laughter. “Shea Boon
Hoenes sounds good.”

“I don’t know if I want to name my kid after

me.”

“Why?”
“I don’t know. Let him have his own name.”
She lifts her other leg. “We could mash our

names together, like my parents did for Shelli.”

I’d never even realized they did that. Funny.

Interesting. Huh. “Poon?”

“Shut up.”
“Bosey?”
“Are you done?”
“No, wait! Boonsey!”
“Okay, I get it. Not a good idea.”
I laugh as I lean on my legs, still unable to look

anywhere but at her naked body. “I like Liam for a
boy.”

She meets my gaze through the glass. “Aw,

that’s a good name. Liam Shea.”

“So, we’re doing Shea, no matter what?”
Posey beams at me through the glass. “I love

my daddy.”

I know she does, and he is a good dude. “Okay,

I do like Lilly.”

She pushes the door back. “Well, we have

months to plan.”

Water drips from her face, and without

thinking, I stand up, closing the distance between
us. I capture her jaw in my hand before my mouth
covers hers. She brings her hand up, holding my
wrist as our kiss deepens. She pulls back, her eyes
full of heat as I take in a deep breath.

“I don’t want to be late.”
“I don’t give a shit if we’re late.” With that, I

unbutton my shirt as her eyes widen.

“No! You’re ready!”
I throw down my shirt despite her complaints,

and when my slacks hit the floor, her complaints
are gone. She shakes her head as I gather her in my
arms under the hot stream.

“I won’t apologize for wanting you.”
Her lips tip up a bit as she wraps her arms

around my neck. “Good, because I won’t either.”

Our mouths meet, and we’re going to be late.

But there is no one else I want to be late to our
impromptu wedding with than her.

My lovely everything.

VERYONE

HERE

My mom and Wes, even though he didn’t want

to come. Posey’s whole family, along with Aiden
and Asher, who is here with Ally. I knew damn well

they had the hots for each other. I don’t know why
they tried to act like they didn’t. They even went
and got matching tattoos. Also, they haven’t
stopped touching each other since we arrived.

“I thought you two weren’t together,” Wes

says, and I choke on my beer. Leave it to my best
friend to call it as he sees it. “You’ve touched her
everywhere but her boobs since you walked in.”

Asher’s face reddens a bit as all eyes fall on

him. “Um, we are,” he says, taking Ally’s hand in
his and kissing the back of it. “We’re pretty solid,
huh?”

“I’d say so, tattoos and all…” Ally says as if

she means to say more.

“And all,” he agrees, kissing her cheek, and I

look at Posey, who is beaming.

“You called it.”
“I did,” she reminds me with a wink before

reaching for her glass of water. She leans into me
with such a satisfied look on her face. I know I put
it there from our little shower escapade. And while
I really want to marry her, I also really want to take
her back home. When she places her lips by my
ear, I feel a chill runs down my spine as she says,
“They got engaged yesterday too. They haven’t
told their parents yet.”

I pull back to look at her. “That’s cool, but

we’re better.”

“Of course,” she says, grinning at me, but then I

feel someone staring at me.

I don’t have to look far to know that Shea

Adler’s gaze is set on me.

I’m not really sure how I messed up. Did we

hide our relationship? Sure, but so did Shelli and
Aiden. I don’t know what makes me so different
from Aiden. I’m a good-looking dude, I am
talented, and I love his daughter. So why does he
have this permanent look of death on his face
whenever it concerns me? When I asked him if I
could marry Posey, I did it with a counter and a
table between us. Also, with the back door right
behind me so I could run out.

What? He’s a scary fucking dude.
I’m pretty sure the only reason he said yes was

because Elli was there. He actually didn’t even say
it, Elli did, but Shea didn’t disagree with her. I took
that and ran with it. I want him to like me, at least.
I’m a cool guy, and we both love Posey and
hockey. That alone should make us best friends.
Alas, we are not. I look down at my empty plate.

I know when we chose the Bluebird Cafe for

this dinner, our families were a bit confused. But
there is an awesome little park across the road
where we can gather for us to be married. It’s going
to be amazing. We just gotta make it there.

Without Shea Adler trying to kill me.
From beside me, my mom asks, “How’s the

wedding planning going, Shelli? Almost done?”

Shelli beams, wiggling in her seat. Aiden slides

his hand across her shoulders to the back of her
neck, rubbing her with his thumb. Pretty sure if I
did that, Shea would break my thumb, but
apparently no one else knows that. “We’re done!
Can you believe it? Now, it’s the countdown.”

“Fifty-nine days,” Aiden says on an exhale.

“Thank God.”

We all laugh as she smacks him playfully.

“We’ll need to finalize some stuff, but really, we’re
done.”

My mom smiles at Elli. “I’m sure that’s a load

off your shoulders.”

Elli nods. “Yes, especially with the Cup run.”
“But what a blessing. I am so excited to gain a

daughter, and you’re gaining two sons.”

Posey’s mom laughs. “We always wanted a

huge family!”

Owen, one of Posey’s twin brothers, chuckles.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll bring home a smoking-hot
daughter-in-law for you.”

Evan gives him a look. “That would involve

you actually taking the time to learn a girl’s name.”

“And normal people do that before getting them

naked,” the baby of the family, Quinn, says.

“Lord, help me,” Elli moans as the table

explodes with laughter. “Boon’s mom is right
there!”

My mom doesn’t care; she just laughs. Owen

snorts as he smacks his twin brother playfully. It’s
crazy how much the twins look alike, but they are
wildly different. They are both huge like Shea and
identical, with black hair and ice-blue eyes. Owen
is all about fucking and leaving them. He isn’t even
ashamed. I don’t see that guy getting married. But
knocking someone up? Yeah, he could do that for
sure. Evan, though, he’ll find a forever kind of girl
and worship her.

“Baby, focus on hockey when you get to

Carolina. Please,” Elli urges. The boys were drafted
to the IceCats, but they have been playing for their
AHL team. They could be called up, but it’s
doubtful at this point in the season. I’m sure it’s
weird since the IceCats are our opponents right
now, but the twins keep saying they’re rooting for
the Assassins because if we win, there’ll be open
spots for them on the team since a load of the
IceCats are free agents. They lose, and the players
won’t want to stay with a losing team. That way of
thinking isn’t wrong. It’s actually genius, and we
will take all the good juju.

“I know what I’ll be buying at Costco,” Shea

mutters, and I hold back my laughter.

“Get two boxes, Dad,” Owen calls down the

table, but Evan rolls his eyes.

“I don’t need a Costco-size box of condoms,

thank you.”

With a straight face, Owen replies, “I know.

They’re both for me.”

“God help us,” Elli says, covering her face, and

Shea holds out his hand over the table to my mom.

“Welcome to the family.”
Posey is snorting with laughter, as is everyone

else. When her laughter subsides, she shakes her
head. “I hope you know if you go and ruin the
Adler good name, Mom will come kill you,” she
reminds the boys. “She doesn’t play that mess.”

“Yup. Ask Aiden and Wes. They’ve all had the

‘Don’t embarrass me with your sleeping around’
talk,” Shelli says with a grin. “Aiden got it more
than once.”

Wes snorts. “Nope. I’ve gotten it six times.

Sometimes I feel like she doesn’t like me, but then
she makes me fried chicken.”

Elli ignores him before looking across the table

at my mom. “Not with Boon, though. He is a
gentleman.”

“Hey! I’m a gentleman!” Wes yells, and we all

look at him.

“There isn’t a gentle bone in your body, Wes,”

Posey says, and he waggles his brows.

“Some girls like that.”
I glare. “Do you want to die?”
Shea points at me. “What he said.”
More laughing, and I love it. Especially with

how happy it makes Posey. I know she was nervous
coming here, but now, all I see is bliss. When my

phone vibrates with a message, I glance down at
where it is sitting between my plate and Posey’s.
She does the same. It’s the minister, saying he is
ready when we are.

Oh shit. This just got really real.
I look up just as she does, our eyes meeting.
My heart is pounding, and I feel like I gotta fart,

but still, I grin. “Ready?”

“Always.”
I lean over to her, kissing her hard on the lips

before we look out at our families. “We have an
announcement.”

I stand just as Posey does, fixing her dress

before holding my hand. She looks up at me, and I
thought she was going to let me announce it, but
then Posey’s speaking. “The dinner is already paid
for.”

“Score!” Owen yells. “That Carolina salary

hasn’t kicked in yet.”

“And it’ll go straight to your future baby

mommas if you don’t wrap it up,” Quinn reminds
him.

“Please Lord, talk to your son!” Elli insists, and

Shea gives her a blank look.

“Why is it when they’re doing something dumb,

they’re mine?”

Yup. I’m marrying into this mayhem.
“Can y’all shut up?” Posey demands, and the

boys hold back their laughter as they cover their

mouths. Those two are trouble. Shit, everyone at
this table is trouble. Posey looks back at me, and
I’m on edge, waiting for her to say it.

That she wants to marry me right now.
“We’d love it if you’d join us over at the park

across the road. Where we will meet a minister, and
he will marry Boon and me.”

We tear our gazes from each other to find our

families with their mouths hanging open and
complete shock on their faces.

And then I see the true mayhem that is the

Adler family.

C H A P T E R T H R E E

osey

“ W

AIT

WHAT

?”

“But I’m supposed to get married first!”
“Why does it matter who gets married first?”
“Dude, seriously? You’re springing this on us

like this?”

“Excuse me, wait! What?”
“You aren’t even wearing white!”
“Are you trying to steal my thunder, Posey?

You don’t even want a wedding!”

“Our whole family isn’t here!”
“Aunt Harper and Aunt Grace are going to kill

you for not having them here.”

“For real, my mom and dad are going to be

pissed.”

“But you just got engaged yesterday.”
“I’m still trying to figure this out, so again…

wait! What?”

“Oh, Boon. Dad is going to murder you.”
Boon looks at me, and I hold up my hands.

“Now, I know this is sudden—”

“Posey, no one is here—” my mom tries, but I

hold my hand up to her.

“Everyone who is here is enough for me. I want

a small, intimate wedding—”

“Which should include your aunts, by the way,”

Ally throws at me. “I mean, I’m all for a small
wedding and celebrating y’all, but my mom’s
feelings will be hurt.”

My stomach sinks. I knew this, but I wanted to

keep it as small as possible for as quickly as Boon
and I wanted to make it happen.

“Aunt Grace will legit take you over her knee,”

Quinn says, but then he sits back. “But I’m totally
excited to see you wed.”

Liar.
“You’re not even wearing white, Posey,” my

mom stresses. “And in a park. I know you said
small, but don’t you remember Grace’s gazebo?
That would be gorgeous and small.”

“But I imagine, since you didn’t invite her, she

probably wouldn’t let you use it,” Quinn interjects,
and I glare over at him.

“This is really sudden,” Ally says, gawking at

me. She moves her hands up and down her body.
She’s wearing jeans and a soft tee. “I’m not dressed
for your wedding. I should be wearing that dress!”

“And you should be wearing mine since Shelli

doesn’t want to,” Mom says, and her tears get me.

“Great, so you’re going to get married before

me and wear Mom’s dress. I feel this is an attack.”

Boon groans behind me, and I squeeze my fists

together.

Meanwhile, my dad asks once more, “Wait,

what?”

“Dad, follow. We want to get married. Now. We

don’t want to wait. Shelli, news flash, I don’t give a
flying poo about your wedding or beating you or
anything like that. I just want to marry the man I
love. Tina, I promise I have my life together, and
I’m really sorry my family is crazy. It’s mostly my
siblings—my parents are wonderful. I knew this
would be how everyone handled this, and I’m sorry,
but we just thought it would be a fun surprise and
exciting since we wanted to wait to tell everyone
about the baby—”

What is wrong with me?
More hysteria.
“You’re pregnant!”
“This is not fair! First to get married and have a

baby!”

“Dude, you knocked her up before you married

her…again.”

“Our dad is going to murder you.”
“Because the first time our dad tried to kill you

wasn’t enough?”

“This is a shitshow,” Aiden says, and I can’t

help but agree.

“What the hell. And then you’ll be pregnant at

my wedding. Did you and Amelia plan this?”

“Is this why you didn’t wear white?”
“Wait, what?”
“Wow,” is all Boon says as he falls into his

chair. I feel the same way and want to do the same.
But instead, I throw my hands up, tears running
down my face.

But before either of us can say anything, my

dad yells, “You were just pregnant four months
ago!”

I let my shoulders fall. “I know, and we waited

the time they said. But I guess I’m supposed to be
pregnant, because here I am!” I say, giving
everyone jazz hands to lighten the mood, but no
one is smiling. “We feel it’s a miracle.”

“Well, of course, all babies are miracles,” Mom

says, trying to calm everyone down. But it’s my
family. They’re fucking crazy.

Dad whips a glare at my future husband. “And

you can’t wrap it up? Can’t afford condoms?”

Boon holds up his hands in defense. “We do. I

can.”

“They’re only like 98% effective. He could

have seriously strong sperm,” Quinn supplies.

Of course, Boon flicks up his collar, grinning at

me. “Hear that? I have strong sperm.”

“Oh, shut up!”
“How do you know you have strong sperm?

Dad, do we have strong sperm?” Owen asks.
Meanwhile, my mom is beet red, and I wish…I
wish we could have a wedding without all this
crazy.

“I knocked up your mom with two babies, one

shot,” he says proudly. Boon grins over at him, but
Dad glares. “We aren’t bonding over strong sperm,
buddy.”

I throw up my hands again. “For the love of

God. Stop! All of you!”

I look down at Boon for some help, and he just

smiles. “Wow.”

“Help?”
He nods. “Of course.”
He stands, taking my hand in his and kissing the

back before looking at my family. “Yes, we want to
get married. And yes, we are pregnant. She’s nine
weeks. She didn’t tell me until last night when I
proposed, and yeah, I was surprised too. I don’t
want to marry her because of the baby, I want to
marry her because I love her more than life itself.
We would really love some support here. If not,
you don’t have to cross the road with us.”

Oh. Oh my. I have never been so turned on in

my life. I take a deep breath as I wipe my face.
“We wanted to do it now, because why not? Why
wait? Before remembering Mom’s dress and my
aunts and my grandparents—shit, I forgot my
grandparents. But really, there was no real reason
holding us back—”

“Wait? That’s holding you back?”
Boon’s question runs up my spine. I bite my lip

and look over at him. “No, not at all,” I say quickly,
pressing my hand to his chest. “See, I knew if I
asked my aunt Grace, then Ryan and Amelia would
be pissed they weren’t there. I knew inviting
Harper would have pissed Grace off more, so I left
her out. And I totally ignored calling my
grandparents because they’re in Boston. And then I
forgot about my mom’s dress. I love her dress,” I
say, and when the tears start to gather again, I feel
like an idiot. I knew this was a crazy idea, and I
made it worse by letting the baby news slip. Well,
not slip—I threw that out there like a ref dropping a
puck.

Damn it, I want a redo.
“Why didn’t you tell me this?”
I can’t look at him. “I got caught up in it all. I

was so excited.”

“I am too, but that’s a lot you held back.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m ready. Let’s go,” I say,

trying to pull him up, but he doesn’t move.

“I want this to be right. I want it to be

everything you want.”

“Can I suggest something?” my mom asks. I

tear my gaze from Boon’s, and we both look at my
mom. She is rubbing my dad’s back. He looks as
white as a sheet, but she is smiling. It calms me, her
eyes and her smile. “First, congratulations,” she
says softly, her eyes filling with tears. “I still don’t
think I’m old enough to be a grandma, but here we
go.”

My lip wobbles as Boon cuddles me into his

side.

“Neither one of us does,” Tina adds, and when

they share a loving look, I don’t hate her as much.

“I am over-the-top excited for you, but please,

give me until Monday.”

“Monday?” Boon and I ask together.
“Yes. I can give you a wedding with all the

people we love, and it will be perfect.”

I look at Boon as he says, “But we have

practice Monday.”

“Yes. So we will have an evening wedding since

I assume you two didn’t plan on having a
honeymoon.”

I shake my head. “We were going to go after

the Cup run.”

“Exactly. So, you two go to practice, which is

now eight a.m.—”

“Thanks, guys,” Wes complains. “I like my

sleep.”

“Shut it, you,” Mom demands, and Wes smacks

his lips together audibly. “That will give you guys
time for practice, a quick nap, and then we’ll get
ready. I can make this happen, and it’ll be
everything you ever dreamed of.”

“Her standards are low. She was going to get

married, while pregnant, in a park across the
street,” Quinn quips.

“I think there is a dude sleeping on the bench,

too. Would we ask him to leave?” Owen asks.

“Wait, that’s the minister,” Evan says, pointing

to him.

“Why do you guys make me crazy?” Mom

laments before looking back to me with pleading
eyes. “Let me do this for you. Please. I don’t want
you to look back on this and think, man, I wish we
had waited forty-eight hours for my mom to put on
one hell of a shindig.”

Boon chuckles as he looks over at me. “I’m

good with whatever you want, as long as you still
want to marry me.”

“I do. I absolutely do,” I say immediately, and

he cups my face. “But I want my mom’s dress and
my whole family.” His eyes are full of such
compassion. “Don’t hate me, please.”

“Never,” he says before kissing my nose. “You

know this won’t be intimate anymore.”

“It was already well past intimate with just the

people at this table.”

He grins. “True. Man, it will be hard, but I can

wait forty-eight hours to call you Mrs. Hoenes.”

I cup his jaw before leaning in close so no one

hears me. “All the blow jobs.”

“Did she just say she’s giving him all the blow

jobs?” Evan asks, disgust in his voice.

“Do you get that with wives? I’m about to find

me one of those!” Owen announces, and I want to
die. But then, I don’t.

If I did, then I wouldn’t be trapped in Boon’s

beautiful gaze.

“I think I’m having a heart attack.”
“Shea, you’re not. Relax!”
“We aren’t very good at spontaneous,” Boon

jokes, and suddenly my eyes are watery. I love him
so much.

“I don’t know. I remember a certain plane ride

that still hits the spot.”

He beams, his nose moving with mine. “I’m

going to give you one hell of a life, Posey.”

“Damn right, you are,” I say against his lips,

and as we kiss, my dad proclaims he’s having a
heart attack, for which my mom yells at him.

It’s all insane.
It’s all crazy.
But it’s how my family does things.
“Hope you’re ready,” I say against his lips.

“This is mild.”

He scoffs. “Nope. This is just about right. You

Adlers are crazy, but hell if I’m not completely in
love with the best one.”

I press my nose to his. “I can’t wait to marry

you.”

“Agreed.”

C H A P T E R F O U R

oon

“ S

, will you be able to stay?”

My mom looks back from where Posey is still

trying to calm the insanity of her family. I wasn’t
expecting all that. I thought they would be
surprised but would still be excited and happy for
us. That’s not what we got. They were surprised,
for sure, but I don’t feel as if they’re happy for us.
Or even excited. Maybe Elli, but everyone else
seems to think we are crazy.

I don’t care, though; I want to marry Posey as

soon as possible. I want to go into the Cup final a
married man. I don’t know why, but I don’t want to

wait. I wish she had told me about her aunts,
though. I know they mean a lot to her, and I guess I
should have remembered about her mom’s dress.
She always talks about it when they go to fittings
for Shelli’s dresses.

What a beautiful disaster this has become.
Mom looks a little unsure of herself as she leans

against Wes’s car. He was a bud and picked her up
from the hotel where she is staying. She is supposed
to be leaving tomorrow, but I’m hoping she can stay
for the wedding. Maybe even the Cup final.

“It’ll be cool if you can stay for the Cup final

too.”

She makes a face. “I don’t know. I’ve already

been away from Wilbur for a while. He wants me
home. I’m going to have to see how he feels about
me staying for the wedding.”

“Can he come?” I ask, not that I want him

there, but I do want her.

“I don’t know. Let me see if I can extend my

stay at the hotel, though Elli says I can stay with
them. Not that I think that’s a good idea.”

I bring in my brows. “What does that mean?”
She hesitates for a second, looking back at

Posey and her family before returning her gaze to
me. “They’re crazy, Boon. I mean, did you hear the
older one, the sister? All she cares about is herself.
It’s—”

“Whoa, no. Shelli isn’t like that in real, normal

life. Seriously, this wedding is making her crazy.
Even Aiden says the same. She’s actually a pretty
awesome woman with a huge heart.”

She doesn’t seem convinced. “The little

brothers are so loud and immature.”

I give her a dry look. “They’re nineteen-year-

old bros. I was just like them. Quinn is actually a
genius.”

“Very sarcastic.”
“I think he’s hilarious.”
She rolls her eyes, exhaling heavily. “I don’t

know. Her dad was rude to you—”

“I’m working on Shea. He’s super protective of

his kids, and with Shelli, they’ve all known Aiden
since he was a kid. I’m new. It’s normal. I’m
handling it.” Wow, I sounded really confident there.
Maybe I know the truth, but I’m still self-
conscious. I really want her dad to love me.

“It doesn’t matter. You are good to their

daughter,” she insists, shaking her head, and man,
that pisses me off. “I really didn’t like how Elli was
with her whole, ‘Give me forty-eight hours to put
on a wedding for you.’ It’s very, ‘Oh, look at all my
money. I can make anything happen.’ You know
she has a plane? A plane, Boon.”

Keep your cool; she’s the only family you have.

Especially since you don’t care for Wilbur.

I scratch the top of my head, trying to take in a

breath and not get upset. “Yeah, they do have

money, Mom. I do too, and you sure don’t
complain when I pay your bills.”

Low blow. I know. I’m an asshole.
“You offered!”
“You’re right. Because you took damn good

care of me growing up. The thing is, none of that
matters. Their money is none of our business. Elli
wants to give her kids the world, and you can’t
fault her for that. You did the same.”

She scoffs. “I didn’t come close to that.” She

points behind us, shaking her head, and I bite the
inside of my cheek to keep from yelling at her. I
don’t understand what her obsession is with
Posey’s family’s money, but it’s getting on my last
nerve. She then looks at me, her eyes burning into
mine. “Are you sure about this? I mean, you’re
already stuck for eighteen years—”

“Whoa,” I say, holding up my hands. “Stuck?

I’m not stuck.”

She presses her lips together. “Boon, I’m

looking out for you—”

“You don’t need to,” I insist, my gaze full of

fire. “That woman is everything to me. She
completes me, Mom. I love her. I love her more
than I can ever describe, and I thought you
accepted that. I thought you let go of the money
thing and were accepting her as part of me. That
family is a part of her, and yes, they are fucking
nuts, but I love them because they love her.”

“I am, but it’s hard when they’re flashing their

money in my face left and right. I could never put
on a wedding the way she’s—”

“They are not!”
“They are! It’s annoying as all get-out. I was

fine with a wedding in the park, but no, that’s not
good enough for the Adlers.”

“It wasn’t about the park. It was about her

family and the dress.”

“No. Elli said I don’t want you to look back on

this and regret it.”

“Because her extended family isn’t here.”
“No. Because they want to put on a lavish

show!”

“Wow, this is about jealousy,” I interject, and

her eyes turn to stone.

“Boon Zachariah, tread lightly,” she warns, but

I shake my head.

“No, I won’t. Never once since being around

them or knowing them have they made me feel
inadequate or not good enough for their daughter
—”

“Boon! He was asking if you could afford

condoms.”

I laugh. “It wasn’t because he thinks I don’t

have money. He said that because he doesn’t
understand how I keep knocking his daughter up.
He may be a little wary of me, but he respects me.”

Her eyes are dark as she shakes her head. “I

don’t think you should marry her.”

I scoff. “I am. Nothing will stop me from

marrying that woman.”

“Boon, I’m telling you, she reminds me so

much of Julia. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

“Let me stop you real fast and correct you. She

is nothing like Julia, and she won’t hurt me because
she loves me like I love her. She is a good woman.
A strong, smart, and gorgeous woman. I respect
your feelings, but honestly, I don’t give a shit what
you think of her. She is perfect, and I will marry
her.”

She’s dead set on her opinion. I can see it all

over her face. “I’ll say it again—I don’t think it’s a
good idea.”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s happening,” I say simply.

“And it’s real shitty you’re saying that when Posey
is carrying your grandchild.”

“If it sticks.”
The strength of the rage filling my body is

something I’ve never felt before in my life.
“Excuse me?”

She meets my gaze, tears in her eyes. “I am

trying here, but I don’t agree with what you are
doing with your life.”

I set my jaw. “Then get out of my life.”
She widens her eyes. “What?”
“Mom, you just said ‘If it sticks’ about my

child. You know how broken I was about the loss of

the first one. You want me to go through that
again?”

“Not at all, but maybe that was a warning to get

out.”

“No, it brought Posey and me closer.”
“But she didn’t even tell you for nine weeks!”
“Because, unlike you, she didn’t want to hurt

me if something went sideways. She wanted to
protect me because she loves me, Mom. Get that
through your head and accept it. She is going to be
my wife, the mother of my children, and that family
is now mine.” I point to them and realize they are
watching us. Man, I hope Posey didn’t hear any of
this. “I’d rather take all that crazy and deal with it,
knowing they love and support me, than stay in
your negative, hateful, jealous presence a second
longer.”

“Boon—”
“No. There is nothing left to say,” I sneer

before walking off in the direction of my car. I look
toward where Posey was standing to find her
rushing to meet me at the car. “Let’s go.”

“Are you okay?”
“Not now.”
She gets in as I do, and I speed off, making my

tires skid. Once we’re on the road, my phone rings,
but I pull it out of my pocket and turn it off. I can
feel the anxiety coming off Posey in waves, and I
reach for her hand. “It’s okay.”

“Things not go well with her?”
“That’s putting it nicely.”
She moves our fingers together so they lock.

“I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault. It’s her.”
“Do you want to talk about it?’
“Not at all.”
She doesn’t say a word as we make our way

back to the apartment. When we arrive, she goes to
the bathroom as I throw off my clothes and get into
the bed. It’s not even close to my bedtime, but after
dealing with everything the Adler family and my
mom threw at me, I’m exhausted. I plug in my
phone, but I don’t turn it on. When Posey comes
out of the bathroom in only a bra and panties, I’m
disgusted with myself for not wanting to attack her.

She’s so stunning. So beautiful with her hair

along her shoulders and her face red from where
she’s scrubbed off her makeup. She starts to hang
up her dress as she says, “I paid the minister for his
time, and my mom hired him for the wedding.”

I cover my face with my hands, running them

slowly along my skin. “Shit, I forgot. I’m sorry.”

“No worries. I ApplePayed him,” she says

reassuringly. “I love when older folks can use an
iPhone.”

I know she says it to make me laugh, but I

can’t. Not right now. She reaches into her drawer
for a T-shirt as I say, “Yeah, he’s pretty tech-

savvy.”

“Do you want something from the fridge? I was

going to grab some strawberries.”

“Yeah, a beer.”
She hesitates but then says, “Okay.”
I watch as she walks out of the room, and

finally, I reach for my phone. There are a lot of
voice mails from my mom, Aiden, and Wes, but it’s
only Shea Adler’s message that I listen to. He
probably heard my mom. Fantastic.

Hey, Boon. Wild night, eh? I wanted to invite

you to play golf with me tomorrow. Just the two of
us. I have a tee time for eight in the morning. I’ll
be there. Hope you will too.

When the message ends, I make a face. “Like I

have a choice.”

“A choice?” Posey hands me my beer. “What

do you mean?”

I throw my phone back in the drawer. “Your

dad invited me to play golf.”

She grins as she sits down, setting a bowl of

strawberries between us. “Did you say yes?”

“He left a voice mail and a tee time.”
She nods. “No choice, I see. Want me to

cancel?”

“No, I want to go.” I guess I do. I want him to

like me. Especially since the only family I may
have now is Posey’s. Oh, and my brothers, who are
my teammates. I won’t let this shit with my mom

ruin anything. I’m so upset with her. I’ve always
made sure to support her through her shitty
relationships, yet I don’t deserve the same
treatment. Posey is nothing like Julia. Not even in
the same category. Julia didn’t love me. She was
comfortable and was waiting for someone better. At
every second and every turn, I know I am Posey’s
someone better. I’m her everything. Why can’t my
mom see that I have it all? I do.

I reach over, wrapping my arm around Posey’s

waist and pulling her to me. “I’ll have to make sure
he doesn’t use my head for a ball.”

She snorts before feeding me a strawberry.

“The fact that he invited you means he wants to get
to know you better. It shows he cares.”

“Ha. Only took me knocking you up again and

surprising them with a wedding to make that
happen.”

She leans into me. “He’s a great man. I

promise.”

“I know he is.”
“Almost as good as you,” she whispers before

looking up at me. I kiss her chin.

“Don’t lie to me.”
“No, really. I love my dad. You know I do. He’s

been my hero my whole life, but then you came
along. I’ll never love anyone the way I love you.”

How my mom could ever question this beautiful

angel is beyond me. “Right back atcha.”

She beams as our lips meet, and I gather her

hair in my hand. When we part, her eyes search
mine. “Want to tell me what happened with your
mom?”

I can’t. “No, lovely. Not tonight.” Not ever.
I look away, but she turns my head back, her

hand holding my jaw. “Is everything okay?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. She said some things I

didn’t agree with, and I told her she didn’t need to
be in my life.”

She swallows hard, and it’s so difficult to look

her in the eye, knowing the woman who raised me
doesn’t think Posey is perfect like I do. “She
doesn’t want you to marry me, does she?”

I close my eyes, leaning against her hand. I feel

her gaze, and I know she wants to know what was
said, but I can’t give my mom the power over
Posey that her words have over me. I’m not saying
I agree with my mom or that I have doubts about
marrying Posey—that’s all a done deal for me—but
I hate that my mom doubts us. Elli and Shea may
have been upset we sprung a wedding on them, but
they never doubted us.

No one has…but my mom.
And that hurts.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I think it does. You’re upset.”
“I am,” I admit, cupping her neck. “But I am

marrying you, and you’re having my baby. We will

bring home the Cup, and really, nothing else
matters.”

Her eyes search mine. “Are you sure?”
I lean my forehead to hers, and I force myself

to smile. “Absolutely. I love you, Posey Adler, and
only you.”

“Don’t forget our little bit,” she says, cupping

her belly. “Whenever things get rough, that’s what I
do. Think of it.”

I meet her gaze, and the warmest smile fills my

face. “That’s a fantastic idea. Our little bit.”

“Or peanut.”
“Or puck.”
She brings in her brows. “Puck?”
“Why not? We both love hockey, and isn’t it

the size of a puck?”

She shakes her head. “According to my app, it’s

the size of a cherry.”

“Wow, that’s small.”
“Really small.”
“Now, I want cherries.”
Her eyes light up. “Yes, cherries.”
“Where can we get those?”
“No clue,” she says as her shoulders fall.

“Maybe you can find some after golf tomorrow.”

“I can.” I love how she can distract me from

anything. “Damn, I love you.”

She kisses my nose. “I love you too. And don’t

worry. It’ll work out with your mom.”

“Maybe.”
“Is there something I can do to make it better?”
Don’t be rich? I won’t say that, though. I shake

my head. “Absolutely not. You’re perfect just the
way you are.”

She kisses me again. “I could say the same

about you. Thank you for being so awesome about
pushing the wedding back till Monday. It really
means a lot to me and my mom. She’s gonna go get
my grandparents and Amelia and Chandler with the
kids. It’s gonna be awesome.”

“Whatever makes you happy, lovely.”
She rests her face on mine, lacing our fingers

together. “I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m more than sure.”
I am. I really am.
I wish my mom could see and support that. I’ve

never had a life without her. She’s always been
there for me. My constant supporter. I hate the
thought of pushing her away because of the person
I am in love with and making a life with, but what
choice do I have? I either choose to live life
without my mom or without Posey. Only one of
those scenarios is impossible to me, which I’m
pretty sure makes me a fucked-up son. But why
should I have to choose? I get that she doesn’t
think the world of Posey and her family, but can’t

she support the love I have for them? Can’t she see
I am beyond happy? Doesn’t she want that for me?

I want that for me.
Which is why it’s so easy for me to choose my

future.

C H A P T E R F I V E

oon

THINK

it’s a myth that hockey players are good

golf players.

Or maybe I just suck big donkey dick.
When I shank the ball to the left toward the cart

path for the second time this morning, I try not to
slam this stupid club into the ground. Instead, I turn
to my future father-in-law with a bashful look on
my face and confess, “I may suck at this.”

Shea laughs from where he is lounging in the

golf cart. He’s entirely too big for it, but he
somehow fits with one leg on the front and his
coffee cup in his hand. “I wouldn’t say suck… You

are super tense. Nervous. Am I making you
nervous?”

I scoff. “No.” Fuck yes. The last time I was this

close to him, he popped me one. “I’m fine.”

Great, now I sound like Ross Geller from

Friends. I’m fine. Fine!

“Yeah, you’re totally fine.” He laughs as I start

toward him. “Get in. We’ll drive a bit and drink
some coffee. Maybe make them Irish, calm you a
bit.”

“You are a great man, Shea Adler.” I get in,

taking a thermos cup from him. He then fills mine
before I add, “As your daughter tells me often.”

Shea beams. “Posey. Man, that’s my baby girl,”

he says proudly before handing me a bottle of
Jameson. I open the bottle with my teeth as he
continues. “She’s always had a special place in my
heart. I think it’s because she reminds me most of
Elli. Both my girls are like their mother, but
especially Posey. Headstrong, stubborn, gorgeous,
and frustrating as all hell.”

“Yeah, Posey is all that,” I say, laughing before

taking a sip of my now very strong coffee. “She is
the most unconfident confident woman I have ever
met.”

Shea grins. “At least she’s unconfidently

confident. Elli was unconfident, and man, it drove
me crazy.”

“Really? I would never imagine that from her.”

“Not now that she is loved right. But she went

through some real issues with weight gain and then
weight loss, her family was awful to her, and then
she had this shit dude she almost married. She
didn’t know how to love herself, and it took me
loving her really hard for her to learn how to do the
same. Since then, I’ve never looked back. Made it
my mission to love her enough that she could do it
for herself.”

“Wow,” I say, studying his profile. The love of

Elli and Shea Adler is one for the movies, but
listening to him speak of her, just him and me, it’s
amazing. Do I look like this when I talk about
Posey? I want to love Posey enough that she loves
herself even more than I do. She deserves it. She’s
stunning!

“With Shelli, it was different. She knew what

she wanted and went for it. Aiden Brooks. Did I
want them together? Nope. As you know, Aiden
didn’t have a very good reputation before Shelli,
and it worried me. But to my surprise, he is perfect
for her. Shit, anyone who can handle her and her
bridezilla ways is worthy of marrying her.”

I laugh loudly. “Man, that wedding is a

shitshow.”

“And expensive. So fucking expensive,” he

says, laughing with me. “I’m ready for it to be
over.”

“I think we all are,” I say before sipping on my

coffee. The air is warm against my face, but if
Shea’s drinking coffee, I’ll drink coffee. “They’re
really good together, though. I watched that
happen. They’re solid.”

“I know,” he agrees. “He loves her more than I

ever thought he could, and it’s nice to see her in
love and happy with the man she always wanted.”

“Yeah. They say it takes the right man to help a

woman grow.”

He nods. “I like that.”
“My mom used to say that.” I swallow hard

around the lump in my throat.

My mom taught me so much about love. How

to love a woman, how to treat them and make them
feel worthy. She raised me to be a man who could
be a good husband, which is why I don’t
understand why she is having issues with Posey and
me. I ignored all my mom’s texts and her voice
mails. Wes told me she was pretty upset, but even
he told her she couldn’t be acting like that. He told
her Posey was it for me, and I appreciate that.
That’s what I need, support, but Mom doesn’t
know how to do that. The thing is, if she had a good
reason—Posey was cheating, or she stole my
money or something—it would be different. That’s
not even close to the issue. She doesn’t like Posey
because she has money.

What the ever-loving fuck?
“Speaking of your mom—”

I hold my breath, the cup at my lips as I wait for

him to ask me the question I really don’t want him
to ask.

“What happened with her yesterday? You

seemed pretty upset.”

I blow out a breath as I lower my cup. I stare at

the black liquid as it sloshes a bit from the bumps
on the cart path. “Can I ask you something?”

I feel him look at me, though I don’t look back

at him. After a second, he says, “Sure…”

“How do you feel about me?”
“Feel about you?”
“Yes. What do you think of me?”
He sucks in air through his teeth. “So, we’re

jumping right in?”

“Yup,” I sigh. “Figure it’s the point of this.”
“I underestimated you.”
I grin. “I don’t want any unopened doors. I love

Posey. I want to be wanted.”

His laser-like blue eyes meet mine, and he nods

slowly. “Okay… Well, your golf game is shit.” My
face breaks as he laughs. “I kid, I kid. Not really—
it does suck—but that’s not what I think of you.”

I find I’m sweating as I wait for him to answer.
“You actually terrify me.”
“Excuse me?” I ask, because surely I heard him

wrong.

He still laughs. “Seriously,” he says simply,

turning along the path. “I’m glad I didn’t know

about you and Posey from the start. I would have
tried to break you up.”

That doesn’t surprise me, but I ask, “You would

have? Why?”

“Oh yeah, because you are the kind of guy

Posey would fall for and would never recover
from.”

Talk about being kicked in the chest. I exhale

sharply as I nod. “Well, it’s the same for me. If I
ever lost her, I know I wouldn’t come back from
that.”

“Exactly, and while I want her to have that

person, I wanted her to wait awhile. Live a bit,
figure out life. But then, you can’t control when the
right person comes into your life.”

“So, you think I’m the right person for her?”
“I do,” he admits. “Which is really hard for me

because Shelli found hers early, and I was
convinced I’d have some time with Posey, but no
such luck.”

I smirk. “I would apologize, but I can’t.”
“Don’t want you to,” he says, looking over at

me. “Elli and I discussed how I felt after you two
lost the first pregnancy. Elli has and always will be
pro-Boon, and while it’s taken me a while, I’m
there now. Point is, she asked me if I’d have rather
Posey’s heart be broken over and over again before
she found you or she found you now. It took me
back to all the years I didn’t have Elli. All the

women and heartache I went through, and I
realized I wanted Posey to be unbelievably happy.
With you, she is.”

I meet his gaze. “Then why do you constantly

look at me like you want to kill me?”

He laughs, his blue eyes blazing. “Because

you’re taking my sunshine away. My baby girl. As
great as you are for her, it doesn’t stop that pain of
knowing I won’t be the number one man in her life
anymore. That you are now.”

Now, I’ve been kicked in the balls. I let out a

slow exhale as I look away.

“Don’t worry. You’ll see how it is when your

kids grow up and meet the person they’re meant to
be with.”

I beam. “I can’t wait to be a dad.”
“It’s pretty damn awesome. Hard but

rewarding.”

“Yeah,” I say slowly. “Not sure how this will

work with the team and all.”

He waves me off. “That can be decided later.

Right now, enjoy the fact that you’re having a baby,
you’re getting married, and we’re about to win the
Cup for the second year in a row.”

We knock knuckles before he turns back

around to the hole we’re at. There is now a line to
tee off, but that’s probably for the best since we
aren’t done talking. “My mom doesn’t want me to
marry Posey.”

I can feel the anger radiating off Shea, and I

feel the same. “Wow, I never saw that coming.”

“I want to say I didn’t, but I don’t believe she

ever truly liked Posey.”

“Why?”
I don’t know what to do. Do I lie? I don’t want

to cause bad blood between our parents, but in all
reality, will my mom even be in my life after
Monday? In my head, I keep going over and over
what I’ll say or do if she comes. I want her there—
but only if she can accept Posey. If she can’t, then
she doesn’t need to show up. It’s that simple. But
am I doing the right thing? I don’t have a dad to
talk to, so I guess Shea was put here for this
problem I am having.

“Can this stay between us? I don’t want bad

blood between Elli and my mom, and I don’t want
Posey’s feelings to be hurt.”

He nods. “Of course.”
“Okay. I guess I need to explain how we’ve

gotten to where we are. My ex-fiancée came from
really old money, and when she left me, she said it
was because I wasn’t from the right class—I guess
since I don’t come from money. I come from
nothing. And because of how Julia treated me, my
mom has this thing about me being around people
who are better than me.”

I look over to see him bringing in his brows.

“We’re not better than you,” he insists. “If

anything, some could say you’re better than us. I
earned my money from hockey, but Elli comes
from money, Posey comes from money, and well,
you don’t. But look at you now. You are self-made.
We all work hard, but in the end, we have
something to fall back on. You’ve worked your ass
off for everything you have, Boon, and I respect
that. You should be proud of that. I know your
story. I know how you clawed your way into the
NHL. No one is better than anyone else. We are
equals.”

My heart stops in my chest. “Thank you.”
“Absolutely. I’m sorry your mom feels that

way, and if we’ve made you feel—”

“Never. I’ve always felt wanted and worthy of

being with Posey.”

“Because you are.” His eyes burn into mine.

“So, what did you say?”

I shrug. “Well, I’m marrying Posey on

Monday.”

He nods. “How did she handle that?”
“Not good. I don’t think she’s coming to our

wedding, and I’m honestly okay with it.”

“Are you?”
“I am,” I say, meeting his gaze once more and

leaning back in the cart. I put my feet up on the
side, resting my arm against my knee. “I keep
playing it over and over in my head. If living
without my mom is for the best. And every time, it

is, because nothing will ruin what I have with
Posey. I love her. She is my future, and I know
that.”

“I hear you.”
“And I’m not saying this because you’re her

dad, but she’s it for me. I can’t ignore that. The
way she makes me feel, how she makes me laugh,
how much she trusts and cares for me, I can’t let
that go. Every time she walks into a room, I feel
like I’ve won the Cup. Over and over again, that
fluttery feeling hits me, and it’s all her. She’s just
everything for me.”

Shea reaches out and squeezes my shoulder.

“I’m really sorry I hit you back in the hospital.”

I laugh, and he smiles. “Emotions were high.”
“And I was an overprotective dick.”
“That too,” I say with a wink, and he laughs

harder. As our laughter subsides, we sit quietly
watching as the players go by.

When it’s almost time for us to get a club and

for me to try this golf shit again, Shea says, “Can I
give you some advice?”

I nod. “Sure.”
“I am very lucky to have a family who loves me

and supports me. I swear, I shit glitter to my family,
but Elli isn’t that lucky. Her family has been awful
to her for as long as I’ve known them. In no way,
shape, or form am I suggesting you cut your mom
out, but Elli did when her family fucked with her

happiness, and I swear, the woman I love now is
not the woman I loved then. She is way better off. I
don’t know you two’s relationship, but I don’t
understand how your mom can watch you and
Posey together and not accept how great you two
are.”

I swallow as I nod in agreement. “That’s what I

said.”

He squeezes my shoulder once more. “Well, no

matter what, you’ve got us, and we’re a hoot.”

I snort as we get out. “I feel ‘hoot’ is putting it

mildly.”

Shea grins. “We sure as hell aren’t boring.”
“That’s the damn truth.”
And I wouldn’t want my future family any

other way.

One thing is for sure—there will be nonstop

laughs and endless love.

Something I never experienced before I met

Posey.

C H A P T E R S I X

osey

“ E

VEN

BEING

NINE

WEEKS

, you’re still smaller than I

was when I got married.”

I give my mom a sweet smile as she and my

aunts, Harper and Grace, help me into my mom’s
wedding dress. Of course, when they get to my
hips, my mom has to rub my belly. It’s her new
thing. She’s known about the baby for less than
twenty-four hours, and I’m pretty sure she’s rubbed
my belly about a thousand times. I love how
excited she is, and in return, it excites me.

“Are you sick?” Harper asks, and I shake my

head.

“Not now. I was at the beginning of the month,

but it was just nausea, not vomiting.”

“That’s good,” Grace says as they help me put

my arms in. “I was god-awful sick with Ryan and
not the least bit with Amelia.”

“The boys, I was good, but the girls drained me,

and I was puking at every turn,” my mom says as
she turns me so they can zip me up. It’s a little big
in the front, but I’m not wearing a good bra. No
bra, that is.

“With Ally, I was sick as a dog, and I don’t

think Sadie, our surrogate, was sick with Journey,
but I wasn’t sick with Jamie.”

I see the pain on Harper’s face from losing what

would have been her last child, but she quickly
looks to my mom as she nods, and Mom looks at
me. “So, really, it’s a toss-up.”

“I just want a healthy baby. I want them to be

okay.”

“We all do,” Mom says, kissing my cheek as

she pats my lower back. “All right, turn around.” I
do as she asks and then look into the tall mirror in
my mom’s bedroom. It’s like I’m stuck in a time
warp. I can remember hiding in my mom’s closet
and gazing at this dress. Dreaming of my Prince
Charming and having all the babies with him while
living in our castle in Ireland. Don’t ask; I watched
P.S. I Love You when I was a kid and never truly
recovered.

I can’t believe this is real, yet here I am,

standing in my mom’s dress, ready to marry the
man of my dreams, and pregnant to boot. My
mom’s dress—well, I guess my dress—is a
showstopper. It’s a classic white, with a puffy skirt
like a Disney princess’s dress. The overlay on all
the poof is a beautiful, complex lace, showcasing
beautiful and complex flowers. At the top are thin
straps, and it has a wide-open back, with a modest
but sexy V for the neckline. The bodice has the
same designs of flowers and vines all over it,
making the dress timeless but Southern. Which
describes my mom to a T.

And now me.
I swish the skirt around, and a small smile pulls

at my lips.

“Oh, Posey.”
“I think if we take in the straps a bit, she won’t

need a bra,” Grace says as she pulls a strap tighter,
which completely helps the boobie situation. “You
look stunning, maybe even more gorgeous than
your mom on her special day.”

I scoff. “Doubtful.”
“It’s true. We were both there.” Harper pulls

my other strap, and it’s perfect. I look like a bride. I
swallow thickly as emotion takes over. I didn’t
even know I wanted to wear my mom’s dress and
have a ceremony, but now that it’s happening, I feel
like I could cry with happiness.

My mom, who is on the verge of tears, nods her

head. “Totally. You’re perfect, my love.”

I smile softly as I exhale. “Thanks, guys.”
“Now, you have a choice in veils,” Mom says,

holding up her birdcage one. “I did this.”

Grace grabs her long, cathedral veil before

presenting it to me. Harper does the same with her
tiara. I’m unsure how to make this decision since I
don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. “I think I
want to do flowers.”

Mom squeals as Harper nods. “That will be

stunning,” Grace gushes. “What kind?”

“White orchids. It’s the flower Boon brought

me when I was recovering.”

They all three beam with tears in their eyes.

“It’s going to be stunning, all of this,” Mom says,
taking my hand in hers and swinging our arms
together. “I rented a taco truck for the reception
dinner. All the chairs are being set up as we speak,
Grace sent her team to decorate the gazebo with
candles, and it’s going to be perfect!”

“I’m honored you want to get married there,”

Grace whispers, and I’m overly emotional at the
moment. My uncle James bought Grace land and
put a gazebo on it to woo her. She was reluctant
after being hurt so many times, but James was the
love of her life. It’s the reason she hasn’t found
anyone else since his death. She’s still so
heartbroken without him, as are all of us. Cancer is
a coldhearted bitch.

I always said I wanted to get married in the

gazebo; it’s a beautiful white structure in the middle
of a field of flowers. I thought my cousin Amelia
would have gotten married there, but she chose the
beach for her ceremony. Ryan and his wife, Sofia,
had a gorgeous wedding, but they didn’t use the
gazebo either, which is crazy. I wonder why?

I can’t wait to be Mrs. Boon Hoenes. I love my

last name and the people who gave it to me, but I’m
ready for my new name. My unbelievable exciting
future that he has been promising me since the
moment we met. He may never have said those
words, but his eyes promise me endless excitement
to come.

Remembering that Grace just spoke to me, I

say, “Thank you for allowing us on such short
notice.”

She winks. “I’m just glad I get to come.”
I chortle a bit as I look back in the mirror. “I

hope Boon likes it.”

“He’d be an idiot not to.” At the sound of

Shelli’s voice, I meet her gaze in the mirror as she
enters my mom’s room. She shakes her head slowly
as she takes me in. “Man, I knew I couldn’t pull off
that dress, but you… Wow, Posey, it’s perfect on
you.”

I pull up the straps a bit. “It’s a little big.”
“Just a bit, but I’m sure my alterations lady can

take care of it,” she says, looking back at my mom,

but she waves Shelli off.

“Grace is going to do it. It’s an easy fix.”
“Awesome. You look gorgeous, Posey.”
I smile gratefully down at my sister. I assumed

she was still mad about yesterday, but thankfully,
normal Shelli is here and not Bridezilla Crazy
Pants. “Thank you.”

She takes my hand in hers, and I squeeze her

palm. “So, no one is standing up there with you?”

I shake my head. “No, but I’m going to have

you, and Boon has Wes, sign the witness section of
the marriage license. I didn’t want you and Ally to
have to figure out dresses or anything like that.
Figured only Boon and I need to worry about that
since we’ve sprung this on everyone.”

“It’s going to be beautiful,” Shelli reassures me,

and I sigh.

“I hope so.”
“It will! Grace, can we go out to the field and

make sure they are doing what we want?” my mom
asks, and Grace nods.

“Sure. Harper, you want a ride?”
She agrees as Mom looks up from her phone.

“We’ll need to swing by the airport. Mom, Dad,
Amelia, and her family will be landing in two
hours.”

“Sounds good.”
“Shelli, help Posey out of the dress. We’ll be

back. Wait for Daddy and Boon.” Then Mom stops.

“Oh, I haven’t heard from Tina. Do you know if
she needs to stay here or not? I have her room
made up, and I put Grandma and Papa in your
room.”

I shrug. “I haven’t heard, but I’ll text Boon and

ask.”

“Great. Make sure to hang up the dress in the

bathroom. Reese and Piper will be here in the
afternoon for hair and makeup on everyone.” Mom
says all that as she walks out the door, so I don’t
hear the rest, but I’m sure she’ll tell me about six
more times before tomorrow.

Shelli looks back up at me. “This is all so

overwhelming.”

I laugh as she steps behind me. “Who are you

telling?”

She unzips my dress, and together, we carefully

take it off me. “I’m glad I got my own dress. This
wouldn’t look good on me.”

I nod my head. “Yeah. You need something all

ritzy and Broadway-ish. Your train is the length of
Times Square.”

She laughs. “Maybe half,” she jokes as she

hangs up the dress, and I put my bra back on.
“Boon is going to pass out from how hot you’ll look
tomorrow.”

I sigh as a grin covers my lips. I reach for my

shirt, but Shelli’s hands on my gut make me jump.
“Damn cold hands!”

She laughs as she rubs my belly. “I can’t believe

there is a baby in there.”

I nod as I look down at my itty-bitty little belly.

In all reality, it’s probably just from the candy and
Oreos Wes and I eat all the time. “I can’t either. It’s
all so crazy.”

She meets my gaze, still rubbing my belly.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I shrug. “I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Not even Ally?”
“No. No one. I still can lose it, but I don’t think

I will, which is why I told everyone. I could be
jumping the gun—”

“No. Don’t think like that. We will meet this

baby, and they will be spoiled rotten by their auntie
Shelli.”

I cover her hands with mine. “Really? Because

Auntie Shelli was acting like a baby herself at
dinner yesterday.”

She rolls her eyes, shaking her head. “This

wedding is making me crazy,” she says, sitting
down, and I do the same. reaching for my leggings.
“I am so stressed out at the office with the Cup run.
I’m trying to make sure to have new donations at
every home game and even away ones. Which
involves yelling at the guys to sign things for me
and asking for contributions from local businesses
and big corporations. It’s been rough. And then
when I think I’m done with the wedding planning,

something new comes up. As much as I wanted a
huge, lavish wedding, I am totally envious of your
sweet little gazebo wedding in our mom’s dress.”

I snort. “Liar.”
“Seriously! I am,” she insists, and I still laugh.
“Shelli, you live for that kind of stuff. You love

it.”

“I know, but I just wish it would happen

already. I think that’s why I acted the way I did last
night. I want my wedding to be perfect, but I want
it now. I want it to be over so the stress and anxiety
of it are done with. So I can just be married to
Aiden, and that’s it. Really, you’re smart doing it
this way.”

I cover her hand with mine. “I know it’s all

stressful, and I know us teasing and picking at you
and my getting pregnant isn’t helping.”

She snorts with laughter. “I’m just worried you

and Amelia will be too big to do the group dance.”

With the straightest face I can muster, I say,

“God, I hope not.”

She side-eyes me, and I can’t hold it in. I laugh

from my soul, falling back on the bed as she does
the same. Our hands lock, and I let out a long,
happy sigh. In a matter of months, Shelli and I will
both be married, and I’ll be starting a family. Owen
and Evan will be heading to Carolina for their new
careers, and Quinn will be off to college soon. It’s
all so crazy. “When did we grow up?” I find myself

asking.

I look over as Shelli does the same, a bit of

sadness in her blue eyes. “I don’t know. I can still
remember playing hockey with Dad, and the boys
being in their walkers on the ice.”

I grin. “Remember when Owen flipped his and

busted his face? Dad and the rest of us were
laughing so hard, while Mom was freaking the hell
out.”

Her laughter fills my heart. “It was so funny.”
“It was!”
“It has all gone by so fast.”
“I know, but I’m so happy.”
She nods. “So am I.”
“Good thing we have a dad like we do. We

would never settle for less than Shea Adler status.”

“For real, and I think Aiden knows that.”
“I know Boon does. I mean, he’s out with dad

right now.”

Her eyes widen. “Have we checked to make

sure he’s still alive?”

I chuckle, but then I stop abruptly. “No. Maybe

I should?”

“You should.”
“I should.”
And as I text my future husband, our laughter

fills the room.

Just as it did when we were kids.

C H A P T E R S E V E N

oon

HEA

KICKED

my ass at golf, but it wasn’t like I

thought I would win. What I didn’t expect was to
have such a breakthrough with him and also to be
able to talk about my mom so freely. It’s been a
long time since I had a father figure, and I may be
getting ahead of myself thinking Shea could be that
for me, but it was nice to talk to someone who
knew how to deal with what I am going through.
We had a blast this morning. We got along, and
Shea didn’t even give me any death glares. He
laughed a lot, and I did too. With all the stress of
the Cup finals, my mom, and praying to God that

Posey’s pregnancy goes to term, it was nice to
unwind.

Posey was right; Shea Adler is a great man.
She’s right a lot, which is really annoying.
“Where you guys thinking of honeymooning?”
We’re riding back from the course after a lunch

to sober up from our drinking this morning.
Apparently the whole Adler clan is back at the
house, so Shea is killing time. He loves his family,
but they are loud. I had to hold back from
reminding him where they get that from. I want him
to continue to like me.

“I wanted to do like a European tour, but she’s

nervous about leaving for that long, being pregnant
and all.”

“Ah. Has the doctor said she can’t travel?”
I shake my head. “Not to my knowledge, but

then I haven’t gotten to go to an appointment yet.”

“True. I get why she did that, but still, she

should have told you.”

I grin. “Yeah, she’s lucky I’m totally in love

with her.”

Shea laughs. “That she is. Just like her mom.”

I’m unsure if I can agree with that, but before I can
decide one way or the other, he asks, “So, where
are you guys going?”

“Jumby Bay in Antigua. We plan on lying

beside the pool and beach and never leaving.”

“That’s a damn good plan. You’ll need to let me

know how it is. I might take Elli.”

I don’t know why that pleases me. Maybe

because I want to still be happily married and
wanting to go somewhere with my gorgeous wife
when we’re older and our kids are leaving. “Of
course. I’m sure we’ll take a lot of pictures.”

“Let me know if you need the plane.”
“The plane?”
“Yeah, our plane. You’re more than welcome to

it. Posey is weird about using it. She says we’re
bougie,” he laughs, shaking his head. “But Shelli
uses it every chance she gets. So, you guys can use
it for the trip.”

I laugh. “Well, Shelli is bougie.”
He agrees. “Damn right. Gets that from her

momma,” he says as we pull into the driveway of
his house. “Oh, speaking of Momma Adler, Elli
says she can’t get ahold of your mom. I didn’t tell
her your business, so maybe see what your mom is
doing and then just let Elli know?”

My heart kicks up. “Of course. I’ll take care of

that now.”

“Cool,” he says, shutting off the car. We both

get out, and he comes around the car toward me
just as I take my phone out of my pocket. I pause
as he cups my shoulder. “I had a great time with
you. Maybe we should make this a weekly thing?
Get Aiden to join us.”

Thank God. “Yeah, I’m down.”

“Great. Take your time. Though, my mom and

dad are excited to meet the guy who snatched
Posey up.”

I flash him a smirk. “I hear they’re pretty

awesome people.”

“The best,” he says with a wink, and then he

heads for the house. I lean against his truck and bite
the inside of my cheek as I go to my mom’s
contact. Shea’s words from earlier are still swirling
over and over in my head. I think I know how this
conversation is about to go, and I’m truly scared.
It’s always been my mom and me, and whatever
guy she brings in, but I feel that may not be the
case anymore. I take in a deep breath and hit her
contact.

She answers right away.
“Boon. I’ve been trying to reach you,” she says

sternly. “You are being ridiculous.”

I swallow hard. “Elli says she’s been trying to

reach you.”

“So, you call when I don’t answer her?”
“Mom, are you coming to the wedding?”
She pauses. “No. I’m back home.”
My stomach drops.
“I told you, I don’t think you’re making a good

choice, and I refuse to watch you do this.”

I’m surprised by the emotion that takes over. I

suspected it would go down like this, but the
sadness is still overwhelming. “Okay. Have a good

life, Mom.”

“Boon! Are you serious?
“Yes. I told you, if you can’t support my

choice, the woman I love, then there is no place for
you in my life.”

“That is insane! You need to see that I am

right.”

“Mom, I won’t argue with you.”
“I gave you fucking life. I made you who you

are!”

“I know, and thank you. Thank you so much for

raising me to be the man I am. A man who can love
and be loved fully. I will always love you for who I
am—”

“This is pathetic. So, what? You’re pushing me

out for her?”

“I don’t want to, but you’re forcing my hand.”
“And what about my bills you’ve been

paying?”

I press my lips together, and I hate the

traitorous tear that runs down my cheek. She
doesn’t care about anything but her bills. She
doesn’t care about who I love, the man I am, or the
life I am making. She’s always been a bit selfish,
but I never expected this. “Goodbye, Mom.”

I hang up and quickly block her contact. I let

my head fall back, looking up at the sky, which is
the most gorgeous shade of blue with puffy white
clouds. I take in a deep breath, letting it out shakily

as a sob bubbles in my chest. I don’t know what I
am searching for in the clouds. A solution, a
promise that it’s okay that no one will be there for
me at my wedding. Oh, wait, I’ve got Wes. I always
have Wes, but it isn’t about who is there for me—
it’s about who I am marrying. I close my eyes as I
take in another deep breath. When a body presses
into mine, I look down to see Posey wrapping her
arms around me and nuzzling her nose into my
chest.

I kiss the top of her head as she says, “I love

you.”

I smile against her hair. “I love you, my lovely,”

I say, cupping her ass in my hands.

“Are you okay?”
“I am now,” I say simply, and she rests against

me as I hold her. I take in her scent, enjoying the
closeness—needing it, really. After a few minutes, I
whisper, “She isn’t coming.”

She sucks in a sharp breath. “She isn’t?”
“No,” I say, my voice breaking.
“Why? What did I do?”
“Absolutely nothing,” I insist, kissing her once

more. “It’s not you. It’s her and her selfish jealousy
issues.”

“So, I can’t fix it?”
“No, lovely, you can’t,” I admit as I clear my

throat, and I know that bothers her. I can feel it in
the tautness of her body.

“Can I call her?”
“No, Posey. Promise me now you won’t. I

handled it. It’s done. She went back home.”

I feel her shake her head. “I’m sorry. That’s

crazy.”

I truly don’t believe it is. I may be blinded by

my love for Posey, but she is a good person and has
always been respectful. I think it really is about the
money with my mom, which is downright pathetic.
“Just let it be. I’m fine.”

She tilts her head as she looks into my eyes.

“So, what can I do?”

“Just love me.”
“Always,” she says as a promise, like she

always does, and I burrow my nose in her hair. As I
hold her ass, I take in the orange blossom shampoo
she started using since it was the only gluten-free
shampoo she liked at Target.

“You know what I need?”
She moves her head to look up at me. “What?”
“A Target date with slushies and popcorn.”
Her face lights up. “I am due for one, too.” She

kisses my chin. “But my grandparents want to meet
you. Can we go after?”

“Absolutely,” I say, kissing her once more. “All

I need is you.”

She cups my face, running her thumb along my

bottom lip. “You got me.”

As our lips meet, I know I was right all along.

Posey has been, and always will be, all I need.

’

THE

BIG

DAY

Posey left the ice early to head to her mom’s

after her mom came down to the rink to steal her. I
wanted to kiss her, tell her I couldn’t wait to meet
her at the altar, but I was in the middle of a play.
She did send me a wink and blew me a kiss, which I
guess will satisfy me until I see her later. I was
worried it was bad luck to see her before the
wedding,

but

everything

about

this

nontraditional.

Posey’s wearing white and pregnant. We have a

taco truck with margaritas, which I think is totally
traditional, but I remember when Julia was planning
our wedding, she said we had to have a sit-down.
I’m also not wearing a tux. I’m wearing a navy suit
with no tie at all since Posey likes my neck. No one
will be standing up with us. The only really
traditional thing is that Shea will walk her down the
aisle.

I can’t friggin’ wait.
Wes runs into me, slamming me into the boards,

and I elbow him as he laughs. “You good?”

I laugh as I shove my shoulder into him. “Yeah,

I’m good. Excited.”

He grins, his blue eyes flashing with

enthusiasm. “I was talking about your mom.”

I shrug as we lean into the boards while

everyone skates off the ice. Usually Jayden stays
on longer, but even he’s left. He’s been rehabbing
his knee, yet another injury this season, so he’s
always the last one off. “I’m good with it. I made
my peace.”

He nods. “She called me, asking me to ask you

if you are continuing payments so she can prepare.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t answer her calls

anymore.”

He eyes me. “You sure?”
“Yeah. It is what it is.”
“Okay,” Wes agrees. “I hate that it went down

like this. I don’t know why she doesn’t love Posey.
She’s a good girl—a little stubborn and rough
around the edges, but still good.”

“Agreed. She’s the world to me.”
“I know,” Wes says as we head off the ice.

Together, we walk down the tunnel heading to the
locker room, handing off our equipment to the
trainers. My mind is heavy with thoughts about my
mom not being there for the best day of my life.
But knowing the day will end with me being
married to Posey keeps me going. When I enter the
locker room, though, I’m completely taken aback
as my teammates all yell, “Congratulations!”

I laugh when I see everyone is wearing paper

hats and blowing paper horns. Soon, I’m in the
middle of all my friends as they hug me and pat my
back. Someone puts a crown on my head and then
a sash with very girlie writing and glitter that reads
“Bride to Be!” Someone hands me a beer, and then
Jayden is clearing his throat.

“Now, now, now,” he hollers as Aiden and

Everett bring in a huge, wrapped box. “Our boy has
decided to get himself an old ball and chain,” he
says through laughter. “Some of you don’t know
what it is like to be married, so let me explain.” He
waggles his brows at all the single guys before
meeting my gaze. “She’s always right. She’ll drive
you nuts. You’ll never love anyone the way you
love her. And just when you think you can’t love
her any more, she’ll give you a child.
Communication is the key to happiness. But my
biggest advice… When those pregnancy hormones
hit, just sleep on the couch. But-but-but…” he says,
trying to quiet everyone down as they cheer and
catcall. “Make sure there is room for her. To
Hoenes! May you and Posey live a beautiful and
fulfilling life together.”

Everyone toasts me, and I grin as I take a long

pull of my beer. Then Coach walks up to the box
and pulls off the wrapping to reveal a grill. “Every
husband needs a grill. We expect a barbecue since
most of us aren’t invited to the wedding.”

I’m overcome with emotion, but I’m a bit

bashful too. “In my defense, this wedding has been
a whirlwind, but it would mean the world to me if
you all would be there. You guys are my family, my
brothers, and my wedding wouldn’t be complete
without you.”

“There will be tacos and margaritas!” Wes

announces, and everyone explodes with cheers
before I’m wrapped up in another bro-hug. The last
time we hugged like this was last year at the Cup
final. There is a good chance we’ll do it one more
time in the next twelve days. I feel we’ll win, but if
we don’t, not only do I have the best family of
brothers, I will have the woman of my dreams as
my wife.

What more could I ask for?

C H A P T E R E I G H T

osey

FAMILY

HOME

is full of all the strong,

phenomenal women I grew up admiring.

Harper is helping Mom and Shelli get ready. As

Piper does my makeup, Reese does my hair. Grace
is on the phone, yelling at someone about how they
set up the chairs in the field. My grandma hasn’t
stopped crying. Seriously, she has a box of tissues
under her arm, bawling that I am getting married.
To my surprise, my mom doesn’t match her; she’s
actually keeping it together pretty damn well. The
day is still young, though.

Amelia sits on the bed, ready, with one of her

twins in her lap. The other twin is in my newest

cousin Sofia’s lap. She’s also ready, in a stunning
yellow floral dress, showing the world why my
cousin Ryan is totally obsessed with her. Ally sits
on the floor beside me, her feet in my lap as she
wires flowers to the headpiece my mom got me. I
didn’t even know I was having a cake until Audrey
Odder showed up, not only to get ready but to
finish my cake. Fallon, Aiden’s mom, is actually
helping her since it’s all so last minute. I told them
they didn’t have to, but neither listened to me.

I didn’t even know how much I needed to be

around these women until this moment. I still can’t
believe it’s about to happen. It feels like I have a
million butterflies in my belly. I’m almost light-
headed, and I have gooseflesh all over. I am so
excited, terrified, and a little sad. I wanted so
desperately to call Tina and beg her to come, but I
didn’t want to go against Boon’s wishes. Even Wes
said it wasn’t worth the call or text. I don’t know
what that means, but it sucks. I just want Boon to
be happy. I want him to feel whole. Can he do that
without his mom watching him give himself to me,
and me to him?

I also can’t seem to fathom what the real issue

is. I thought we were getting along just fine. She
was so kind when I was recovering, helping and
being attentive. She called weekly to check on me,
texted daily. But something changed, and I don’t
know what it is. My stomach hurts from the tension

of it all, but Boon was so reassuring when we woke
up this morning. He kept saying how he can’t wait
to marry me. How this is going to be the best day of
his life, and I agree—it will be.

My sister stands from where Harper had just

curled her hair to perfection in the way I love it.
Small curls, all wild and free. I grin over at her, and
Piper’s annoyed with me since she is trying to make
the perfect cat eye. “Woo-hoo, sexy lady!”

Shelli giggles as everyone catcalls her. My mom

asked for all the women in my life to wear floral to
go with the lace of my dress. My sister took it one
step further, not that I’m surprised. Her crop top
has a beautiful halter neck and is made of lace. The
floral skirt fits her waist tightly and flows
beautifully. I know she has a pair of red-bottomed
shoes by the door, along with my mom’s and mine.

Like a blessing, I get to wear the shoes from the

day my mom got married. They were a gift from my
dad, and they’re stunning. They are specially made
Louboutins with the red bottoms, but they have
glitter on the heel and back before a nude mesh on
the sides leads into more glitter. The date my
parents got married is embellished on the right
shoe, and their initials are on the left. I’m a little
worried my heels will sink in the field, but Mom
says she has these guards she’ll put on my shoes to
make sure that doesn’t happen. I’ll believe it when
I see it.

Shelli flips her hair, posing as pictures are taken

by the photographer Harper brought with her. Shelli
comes over to me, kissing my cheek before heading
out of the room. “Gotta go warm up my voice,” she
says, grabbing a guitar that is leaning against the
wall. “Aiden and I have something special for
y’all.”

My heart warms. They wanted to sing for Boon

and me as I walk down the aisle. It’s incredibly
sweet. “Don’t expect the same. I can’t sing for
shit.”

She laughs. “Nope. Just be ready to dance.”
In unison, Ally, Amelia, and I all groan. Sofia

just laughs. “Do you not want to do it?”

“No,” I say simply, giving her a “Come on”

expression. “No one wants to do a group dance.”

She giggles. “I think it’s cute.”
“I am going to be the size of a beach ball, while

she is a mini beach ball. There is lifting, there is
dabbing, and there is some arm dance thing. Let me
tell you, I go into labor, I’m blaming Shelli,” Amelia
complains, and I snort with laughter as Piper goes
back to my makeup. When my grandma walks
over, taking my hand, I have to fight laughing at
her. She’s a ball of tears.

“I just can’t believe my baby girl is getting

married.”

“Believe it, Grandma. It’s happening.”
“You’re too young, just a baby.”

I side-eye her. “You got married at eighteen.”
“I was an idiot.”
Everyone starts laughing as her fingers lace

with mine. “Liar. Y’all have been together like fifty
years.”

She smiles at me in the mirror. Everyone says I

look like her, but I don’t see it. Maybe the eyes, but
the rest of me is my mom. I’ve always been
Grandma’s favorite, though. We’d cook, craft, and
just hang. Golden Girls is our jam, and I even gave
her the log-in to my Hulu so she can still watch it.
She’s always said I had an old soul. As I hold her
hand, feeling the wrinkles, I’m so thankful I waited
to do this until she could be here. I want her to be
here.

“Want to know the secret to a good marriage?”
I beam at her. Piper is carefully putting glitter

on my eye, and I swear I’m gonna look like that ice
queen Shelli played way back when on Broadway.
“Sure.”

“Always hide the receipts when you go

shopping.” Oh, this is going to be good. Everyone is
laughing, agreeing, as she holds my gaze. “Always
make sure he is full. Carry snacks—I swear, they
can act like toddlers sometimes. Plus, when you’re
hungry, then you have snacks.” I grin widely, and
for some reason, my eyes are welling up. This kind
of advice doesn’t just come at any time. No, it’s
special for a special day like this. “Never let him

have the remote, or you’ll be stuck watching
hockey, SportsCenter, or anything that deals with
any sport at all.”

Mom giggles as Sofia nods. “It’s so bad!”
Grandma nods, but I grin. “Grandma, I love

sports. It’s okay.”

“Okay, ignore that one. But my last bit of

advice, my sweet, beautiful girl,” she says slowly,
her eyes burning into mine. It’s almost like staring
into my dad’s eyes. She’s so beautiful.

“Yeah?”
It’s like everyone is waiting too. The girls have

stopped getting me ready. Mom and Harper are
listening intently instead of finishing my mom’s
hair. All eyes are on Grandma.

With the widest smile and such excitement in

her eyes, she says, “Blow jobs, honey. You have to
suck that cock like a porn star, and I promise you’ll
get everything you want.”

I think I just swallowed my tongue. Everyone

loses their shit laughing. Except my mom. She cries
out, “Jenna! For the love of God!”

Grandma just looks at her. “What? I’m not

stupid. I know how you have Shea wrapped around
your finger and how I have Mark.”

“That’s your granddaughter!”
She nods. “My knocked-up granddaughter.

She’s obviously been around the bases a time or
two.”

I can’t breathe, I am laughing so hard. The

whole room is in a ruckus, and I am loving every
second of it. When Shelli pops her head in, I’m
crying, I’m laughing so hard. “What is happening?”

Grandma looks at Shelli with a straight look.

“How do you keep a man?”

Shelli grins like a cat with a canary in her

mouth. “Keep him fed and drained.”

“Jesus Lord!” my mom cries, but I’m lost in my

giggles. I hold my belly as I laugh, and as I look
around the room at everyone laughing and cutting
up, it’s like growing up all over again. Yes, we had
our dramas—people are human—but this is what I
loved. The laughter, the comfort, and the love that
my mom provides everyone with.

Once the giggles subside, it’s time to get my

dress on. As my grandma and mom pull up my
dress, both stopping to rub my belly, Shelli stands
behind me to put in my floral headpiece. As they
adjust and start to zip, I can see into the kitchen
where Audrey has put together a beautiful
masterpiece of a cake with lace designs and orchid
flowers. If I’d known, I would have told her I only
needed one tier, but she did three. Tears rush to my
eyes at the outpouring of love I am receiving from
all these amazing women. When my mom squeezes
my shoulder, I take in a deep breath.

“All right, everyone! Come on! She’s about to

see herself!” Mom yells as Shelli steps up to me

with my shoes, helping me into them. Soon,
everyone is running into the room. Amelia’s son
Carter squeals in excitement, and I grin at him as
everyone beams at me, tears in their eyes. “Okay,
sweetheart.”

Why am I nervous? I hold my breath as I turn

slowly, and the image that looks back at me… I
don’t believe it’s me. My hair is up in a huge, slick
bun with a thick braid wrapped around it. On the
side is the comb of beautiful orchids. I may
resemble the ice queen from Shelli’s Broadway
show, but a Southern ice queen—even though that
makes no damn sense. Either way, I’m stunningly
beautiful.

“Wow.”
And that’s when my mom breaks down. She

tries to hold in her sob as she wraps her arms
around me, hugging me tightly. I close my eyes,
holding my mom, and soon, everyone is hugging us.
As each woman wraps her arms around me, I have
never in my life felt so loved, so supported, or so
cared for by a group of women. These women
raised me and grew up with me, and again, I am
glad I waited. Because my heart container is full,
and I haven’t even seen my groom yet.

How in the world am I going to handle seeing

Boon?

RIDE

as a convoy to the field. Grandma, Mom,

Shelli, and I all ride together as Shelli warms up her
voice. I don’t know what she is going to sing, but I
am excited. My sister sings like an angel. When
Mom comes to a stop at the bottom of the hill, I
notice that outside, my dad is waiting by his truck.
My lips quirk as she parks, but before I can get out,
Mom chastises me loudly. “Wait a damn second.
We need the photographer.”

Shelli snorts as Mom gets out and gets everyone

in place. I know my dad is trying to see me, but
Mom has the darkest tint she can have on her SUV.
My dad looks dapper in a gray suit that fits him like
a glove. His hair is brushed to the side, and he’s
wearing dark sunglasses over his eyes. That is, until
Mom yells at him to take them off. I laugh as he
does as she asks, but then we’re all laughing when
she comes to the door saying, “Shit, Grandma is
right about the blow jobs.”

Grandma grins. “Damn right.”
We’re still laughing as Mom helps me out.

Instantly, I’m thankful she was right about her little
disk that she put on my shoes, because I don’t sink
into the ground. I hear the click of the camera as I
walk around the SUV with my mom into view of
my dad. Within seconds, I am thankful for the
waterproof makeup Piper used. My heart explodes
in my chest as tears start to fall down his cheeks. I
don’t know if it’s because I’m the spitting image of

my mom on her wedding day or if it’s because his
baby is getting married. He wraps his arms around
me, kissing my jaw, and I hold on tight as he
whispers, “I can’t believe I have to give you away.”

I melt in his arms as I hold him even tighter. “I

love you.”

He pulls back, looking at me. “I love you,

sweetheart. My God, you’re an angel.”

My lips wobble. “I can’t believe it’s

happening.”

“Shit, you and me both, kid.” He then kisses my

forehead, and I know that’s the picture that will
hang in my living room. When he laces our fingers,
guiding me to his truck, he helps me in so we can
drive over to the back of the seating area and then
walk down the aisle together. Shelli is mad we
didn’t use her idea of riding in on horseback, but I
quickly reminded her that we all play hockey and
no one has ridden a horse in their damn lives.

Though, seeing Boon on a horse would have

been the funniest thing ever.

As we drive up, I look over at my dad. It’s

obvious he’s barely keeping it together. “Dad, can I
ask you something?”

He looks over at me. “Turn the car around?” he

asks, but before I can even stop him, he whips it to
the left, and I laugh loudly.

“Dad! You’re gonna piss off Mom!”
He laughs as he turns the truck around once

more, getting back on the road behind the rest of
the cars. “Fine, what is it?”

“Do you know why Tina isn’t going to be

there?”

He swallows hard as, around us, everyone parks

their cars. He stops so they can get set up and looks
over at me. “I do, baby. But I told Boon I wouldn’t
tell his business.”

I nod. “But he confided in you?”
“He did, and I think I gave him good advice.”
“She didn’t want him to marry me, did she?”
He bites his lip, watching as my mom and the

other members of my family head the rest of the
way to the chairs. He sighs heavily. “No, baby. She
didn’t.”

I press my lips together. “And we’re sure he’s

up there, right?”

Dad chuckles lightly. “He is. He’s ready. He

loves you, baby. So damn much, which I’ll admit,
made me hate him less.”

I snort. “You don’t hate him.”
He gives me a look that says otherwise, but

then we’re both laughing. He covers my hand with
his, squeezing it. “You’re gorgeous, Posey.
Stunning, really.”

I beam at him. “Thank you, Daddy.”
Before my dad can answer me, Owen is in the

window. “Hey. Wow, you’re pretty!”

“Hey. Thanks!”

He grins. “We’re ready.”
Dad takes in a deep breath, and Owen heads

back up toward the gazebo. Dad looks over at me
with tears in his eyes. “You sure?”

“Damn sure.”
He nods. “Well, let’s do this.”
Dad gets out and comes around to help me out.

As I fix my dress, he hands me my bouquet that
Ally made of yellow orchids and white daisies. I
look up at him as our hands meet from the passing
of the bouquet, and he brings his hand up to cup my
face. “I have been preparing myself to give Shelli
away since the moment I knew she was getting
married. But with you, I know that no amount of
preparation would ever make me ready to give you
away, Posey Rose.”

My lip quivers as I gaze up into my hero’s eyes.

“I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, sweetheart.”
His lips come to my cheek, and I lean into his

kiss with my eyes closed. When he pulls back, he
tucks my hand into his folded arms and exhales.

“Well, come on. Let me go give you away

before the angina kicks in.”

“Aw, I miss the angina. Is it finally leaving?”
He scoffs. “If I hadn’t played golf with that guy

yesterday, it would be in full effect.”

We share a grin before heading up the pebbled

path that leads to my aunt’s gazebo. The soft

sounds of two guitars reach me as we get closer.
When I hear Aiden’s voice, the song he is singing
hits me right in the soul. “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran.
But then I hear Shelli’s voice, singing “Can’t Help
Falling in Love” by Elvis. It’s amazing the way they
take turns, both songs becoming one. It’s beautiful,
and soon, the tears won’t stop flowing. When we
arrive to where everyone is seated, I see the taco
truck and the dance floor, but what I didn’t expect
to see is the whole Assassins team. Everyone is
grinning at me, so happy for us, and it’s
overwhelming.

But then my gaze is captured by a certain pair

of hazel eyes that are my future.

Just like that, everyone else is gone.
All I see is him.
My forever teammate.

C H A P T E R N I N E

oon

I’

UTTERLY

speechless and completely breathless

as I gaze into her eyes. Posey is stunning, perfect,
and I can’t believe this is the woman I get to marry
and spend the rest of our days together. “I will
love only you,” I promise, my hands shaking as
they hold hers. “No one can, or ever will, compare
to you. I promise to love you, cherish you, and
make you smile. When you’re sick, I’ll take care of
you. When you’re happy, I’m happy. You guided me
to love. I never knew how to show affection, how to
be emotionally available, until I met you, and I
thank you for that. Each day, you make me feel

things I’ve never felt, and man, I can’t get enough.
Posey, you are the best part of me, and I am so
lucky that you want to love me, let alone spend the
rest of our lives together. I love you, lovely, and I
always will.”

The vows I spoke earlier fill my head as I watch

Posey’s dress slowly fall down her hips, but just as
it drops, my mouth follows close behind. She is so
beautiful. So perfect. I kiss her swollen breasts,
running my tongue along each of her nipples as she
rakes her fingers through my hair. I suck and kiss
her ribs, licking around her belly button before
kissing the spot right above it. I linger for a second,
wishing like hell I could wrap her and our baby in
bubble wrap to make sure they are both safe. Her
eyes meet mine, and I whisper, “I love you, Posey.”

She glides her fingers along my ears, my jaw,

before cupping my chin. “I love you more.”

The way she says it, so rough and needy, I feel

like I could lose my marbles at any moment. I hold
her hips in my hands as I kiss down her pelvis to
her slick center. I stroke my tongue along her shiny
lips before French kissing her in the most perfect
place to kiss.

Her moans fill the room as her legs buckle, and

she falls back into the wall. I hold her in place as I
slide my tongue up and down her succulent pussy
lips, tasting and savoring every single inch of her.
When I flick the tip of my tongue along her clit, my

name leaves her lips in such a way that I almost
come.

Her body is taut as she starts to rock against my

mouth, looking for her release. It’s fucking hot.
Especially how her body is flushed and starting to
perspire. I loved her in her wedding dress; she
looked like a damn queen. She was gorgeous,
stunning, and I swear, there wasn’t a dry eye in the
field. I was crying, Shea was crying—hell, I’m
pretty sure the minister was crying. How could he
not? She’s a dream come true. My queen. But
having her naked, under my mouth, completely
mine, is where I would spend the rest of my days if
I had the choice.

When she lifts her leg onto my shoulder,

opening herself up to me more, I groan against her
pussy. I slide my thumb up into her, fucking her
slowly as I ruthlessly take her clit into my mouth,
sucking and nibbling on the bundle of nerves that,
at any second, will cause her to go over the edge.
Her moans are loud, strangled, as she slams her
palm into the wall. It only makes me suck her
harder. When she comes undone, the sound that
leaves her comes from deep within, almost like a
growl.

It’s by far the hottest noise she’s ever made.
I kiss her vibrating body, and she quickly

pushes me away. I fall onto my haunches, laughing.
“Can’t handle it?”

“Shut it,” she says with such heat in those blue

depths. She takes my shirt and rips it open, buttons
flying as I cry out in surprise. Before I can even
react, she’s pushing me back more until I’m lying
flat on the floor. Her eyes never leave mine as she
kicks off her dress and then steps out of her white
thong.

I swear, she’s like a dream, and within seconds,

I’m brought back to the moment I was holding her
on the dance floor for our first dance.

I’d never really enjoyed Aiden’s voice until

now. I remember when he sang to Shelli to get her
back after a boneheaded comment, and it was cool
and all. But right now, with the low timbre of his
voice as he sings “Tennessee Whiskey,” I actually
love it. Or maybe it’s the way Posey is staring into
my eyes. One of my arms is around her waist, while
my other hand holds her jaw, our foreheads
pressed together. Her hands are tucked up under
my chin as we slowly sway to the music Shelli and
Aiden have prepared. They must have been in a
mash-up mood, because when Shelli joins in, she’s
singing “At Last,” and boy, is it amazing.

I slide my nose along Posey’s as Shelli sings,

and everyone watches us. I don’t see them; I see
only her as the words her sister sings mean more
than she’ll ever know. I don’t know who brought a
keyboard out here, but hell if Aiden isn’t playing
the shit out of it as Shelli sings with all of her

heart. “You are a dream, Posey Rose.”

She beams, her eyes sparkling as we sway

together. “Nothing could make this any more
perfect.”

“Agreed,” I whisper against her lips as I bring

her in closer. “Well, maybe what we’ll do once we
get home.”

Her smile widens more. “That’s going to be

loads of fun.”

“So much fun,” I agree, moving my nose with

hers, my eyes falling shut.

“But first…”
“First?”
“Yes. I need tacos, my virgin margaritas, a

s’more from the fire pit—”

“Wait? There are s’mores?”
She snorts. “Yes. And Mom got you the thick

marshmallows.”

I give her a smirk. “You know I love anything

thick.”

She laughs loudly. “Well, you have your hands

full.”

“And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Her eyes search mine, and I know she wants to

say something. Something about my mom, more
than likely. Instead, she says, “But after all that
and I dance with the guys—”

I bring in my brows. “Wait, what? You had me

until the end, when you are dancing with everyone

on my team.”

She kisses my nose. “Don’t you worry, Boon

Zachariah Hoenes, I’m coming home with you—
every night and forever.”

“You’re damn right, you are,” I say roughly

against her lips, but all she does is laugh. In such a
free and silly way.

A way that makes me fall for her once more.
I have a feeling that’s going to happen more

than I could ever realize. That constant re-falling in
love with her. Only she can do that to me. Drive me
absolutely insane.

Her center is glistening from my mouth when

she crouches down to unbutton my pants, and I
kick off my shoes. Together, we push down my
pants, and as soon as my cock springs up, she’s
lowering herself onto me. I arch my spine, my eyes
rolling to the back of my head as my cock
disappears inside her hot, wanton pussy. I squeeze
her hips as her name falls from my lips, and she
moves herself up and down my throbbing cock. I
open my eyes to watch how her breasts bounce
with each rock of her hips. Her thighs squeeze my
waist as she drags her hands up my chest, digging
her fingers into my shoulders. Her pussy squeezes
me like a vise grip, and I swear she’s about to send
me over the edge in seconds.

I reach up, taking her by the back of her neck

so I can bring her sweet lips to mine. Her mouth

captures mine, and she kisses me with her whole
body. Her heart is pounding against mine, and as I
wrap my arms around her, holding her in place, I
know her body belongs against mine. I need it to
hold. I need it to breathe. She rises up on her knees
and starts to slide her ass up and down, still fucking
me as our mouths move together.

I want to be deep inside her to finish, so I roll us

over to get myself on top. She grins against my
mouth as I press her legs back, and I sit up slowly
so I can start to pound into her. When her eyes
flutter open, all half lidded and stunning, my breath
catches once more. Just as it did when she spoke
her vows.

“Boon Zachariah Hoenes,” she says, her voice

breaking a bit as her fingers lace with mine and
her eyes burn into me. “I never saw you coming,”
she laughs, her lips curving as her eyes well with
tears. “For so long, I lived in my sister’s shadow. I
thought I belonged there, but then I met you. You
made me realize that, like my sister, I can shine
too. You tell me daily I am beautiful, and I know
that won’t ever stop. You encourage me to be
strong, stubborn, and follow my dreams. You
respect me—oh, Boon, you love me. You love me
more than I love myself more often than not.”
When her voice breaks and the tears start to fall, I
step into her, cupping her face and wiping her
tears away with my thumbs.

“You were my light when I thought I would be

surrounded by dark for the rest of my life. You
wouldn’t let that happen. You guaranteed me that
we’d be fine, that we’d get our miracle, and we
have,” she whispers, pressing her hands to her
stomach. “I love you. I love you so much,
sometimes I can’t believe it is true. But here we
are, in front of the people who love us, care for us,
and support us, and they believe it. Forever and a
day, I will always love you.”

I didn’t even wait for the minister to tell me to

kiss her; I did it out of turn. Fuck tradition. I need
her lips at this moment, and I don’t regret
anything.

I run my hand up her thighs, pressing them back

as I start to thrust into her, our eyes unwavering. It
doesn’t take long for me to be overtaken by
passion, and when I come, I do it with my whole
body and soul. She has me under a spell I refuse to
recover from. I love it. I rock into her as she slides
her hands up and down my arms, her eyes shut as
she sucks in deep breaths over and over again. I fall
to the side, holding her in the crook of my arm as
our lips meet. Her hair has fallen out of her bun,
and I push it out of the way as I kiss her face, her
nose, her cheeks, her lips, and her chin. When I
press my nose to hers, she searches my eyes with
hers, and I sigh softly.

“I love you.”

“I love you,” she whispers, stroking her fingers

through my beard. “I need you to know
something.”

Gone is the sex kitten, replaced by seriousness.

It almost scares me. “Okay…?”

“I know your mom wasn’t there today, and I

want you to know that I hurt for you. I am mad she
wasn’t there, but Boon, you will never ever be
alone. No matter what, you have me in your corner.
No matter what you are up against. No matter how
alone you feel. I will be there.” Her eyes are misty
as she presses her hand to my chest. “Right here.
You understand me?”

I cup her face. “I had the only person I cared to

have at my wedding, and that was you.”

Her lips tilt. “No regrets?”
“None in sight. You’re it, Posey. I only need

you.”

“Same,” she whispers, and we share a smile. I

thought there were so many moments from today
that could never be topped, but this is Posey. She
keeps surprising me at every turn. When she
presses her nose into mine, I move my hand to the
back of her head, pulling her in so her lips meet
mine. Our kiss is urgent, full of passion, and I don’t
know how in this life of mine I deserve this woman,
but she is mine.

And always will be.

C H A P T E R T E N

osey

WONDERFUL

, perfect, and the best day of my life

as our wedding day was, it’s now a thing of the
past.

I pinch the bridge of my nose as I lie in bed

with Boon beside me, sleeping soundly, while I’m
watching our gameplay. Boon is very much a
dump-and-go kind of guy. He doesn’t dwell on
games, and I applaud that. I haven’t learned how to
do that. Instead, I obsess and dissect until I figure
out a way to win. The IceCats have won three
straight. They are murdering us. We have only
scored one goal, and yes, they’ve only beat us by
one each game, but it’s still killing me. We could

win all these games, but Nico Merryweather is on.
Their team is crisp, disciplined, and I guess they
want it more. I don’t know. One thing I do know,
though, is we are now in panic mode. And if we
don’t win tonight, put a fork in us—we’re done.

I make notes on the screen with my pen to

show Jakob in a couple hours. I should be taking a
shower, getting ready, since I have to meet the
coaches downstairs and head to the arena. I hate
hotels, but being able to share with Boon now has
been great. It’s calmed some of my anxieties, but
not much since we are down three games and on
the brink of elimination. I bite the end of my pen as
I rewatch the play, trying to come up with some
way to make a change, but I don’t understand how
they are outplaying us. I may be biased, but I feel
we’re better.

When I let out a sound of distress, Boon lifts his

head and looks at me. “You good?”

“Fine,” I say, waving him off. “Sorry. Go back

to sleep.”

He reaches for his phone and groans. “Did you

even sleep, Posey?”

No. “Yeah. I just woke up early.”
He drops his phone back on the nightstand

before setting me with a look. “Funny since when I
fell asleep, you were on the tablet. And now that
I’m awake, you’re back on it.”

I shrug. “There were a lot of hours in there for

me to sleep. I don’t know what you’re implying.”

He gawks at me with one eye since he’s rubbing

his other. “That you’ve been on your tablet all
night, obsessing over something that can’t be
changed until today.”

“I have to prepare. We have meetings and then

morning skate.”

He drops his hand, now glaring at me. “And

you need sleep. You sure as shit don’t need all this
stress, so maybe quit.”

I glare back. “Boon, this is my job.”
“Mine too. And I get it. I do. But the difference

is you’re carrying our baby. Take care of yourself.”

I narrow my eyes. “So, because I’m a woman, I

can’t work like a man would?”

His whole face scrunches up. “I’m not saying

that at all.”

“Sure does seem that way,” I snap as I save the

notes I’ve made.

“I don’t care how you work as long as you take

care of yourself and our baby.”

I shake my head. “I am taking care of myself.”
“No, you’re not. You aren’t sleeping, and

you’re blaming yourself for the loss. It’s not you.
It’s a team loss. It’s okay, we’ll figure it out.”

“Well, saying ‘It’s okay’ and ‘We’ll figure it

out’ isn’t going to fix this. We have to find a plan to
come back at them. Maybe if you worked the way I
am, you could score.”

I kick off the blankets as he sits up. “Wow,

please tell me how my scoring is lacking in your
department!”

I get up, tossing my tablet on the end of the

bed. “I’ve told you time and again, get in the
fucking zone and stay sharp. You’re just throwing
your body all over the place and not even scoring.
You’ve had seven shots on goal, Boon! That’s
nothing. You need to get your shit together, maybe
worry a little more.”

I pull off my nightshirt, throwing it in my

suitcase, as he yells, “I am doing my fucking best!”

He gets out of the bed, and I scoff as I grab a

towel from the bathroom to wrap around myself.
“Well, you need to find a better best because it’s
not enough, just like mine is not enough.”

“Posey, what the fuck? We are only losing by

one—”

“But we are still fucking losing!” I scream at

him, glaring. “Don’t you see how important this is?
Not only do I want to bring the Cup home for our
team, our city, and our family, but it’s my coaching
that will be scrutinized and talked about. I am the
first female coach in the fucking NHL, and we are
losing in the Cup final by three games. I look like a
fucking loser.”

“Are you insane?” he yells back. “You took a

team that was outside of a play-off berth, and you
were a key factor in us getting where we are. You

should be proud of yourself. I am! So, fucking
relax.”

“No, I can’t just relax and hope for the best. I

will make the best. I will win. I will succeed! I’ve
already lost enough this year, Boon!”

“And you’ve gained even more!” he yells back,

his eyes burning into mine. “I want to win. I do, but
I will not allow you to neglect your health after
everything.”

“Allow me, huh?”
“For the love of God, can you stop twisting my

fucking words? You’re deflecting to keep me from
being right, but guess what? I am right.”

“The hell you are,” I yell at him. “I am fine.

Don’t you worry about me.”

I go to walk past him, and he takes me by the

arm. I try to pull my arm from his big hand, but he
doesn’t let me go, his eyes burning into mine. He
moves his face close to mine, his eyes full of heat.
“I won’t ever stop worrying about you. Relax.
Seriously.”

I swing my arm away from his. “Don’t grab me

like that. I’ve told you that before.”

“You aren’t fucking listening to me.”
“Because I don’t have to!”
I turn on my heel as he groans loudly. “Yeah,

it’s great sharing a room with you.”

“Yeah, fantastic. Don’t worry, I’ll get my own

fucking room. And do us all a favor… Get your

head out of your ass and actually play right.”

“Jesus Christ, we are fine. We got this.”
“You can say that all you want, but it doesn’t

change unless we do!” I yell back at him, and he
gawks at me.

“Is this like…pregnancy hormones? Is that why

you’re fucking crazy?”

Something snaps. I reach for his bag and throw

it at him. He catches it with no issue, though his
eyes are as wide as saucers. “Get out!”

“What?”
“Get out of my fucking room!”
“Posey!”
“I said get out!”
He mumbles something, and I yell, “Got

something to say?”

He reaches for the door as he yells, “Jesus

Christ!”

Once the door shuts behind him, I lean into it as

a sob shakes my core, leaving my body like an
exorcism. He makes me crazy, but I hate that we
fought over something so stupid. I push off the
door, turning around to grab the handle. I yank it
open, and there he is, leaning against the wall in his
boxers. He drops his bag and holds his arms open
for me as I come to him. I wrap my arms around his
torso, crying into his chest. He slides his hands up
my back, tangling the fingers of one of his hands in
my hair as he kisses the top of my head, holding my

neck with his other hand.

“Shh, lovely, it’s fine.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I am deflecting my shit

at you, and it’s wrong of me. I’m just so scared to
lose. I don’t want to be a failure, and I know we
can do it. I know it.”

He tips my head back by gently pulling my hair

so he can look into my eyes. “Nothing—and I mean
nothing—can make you a failure. You are the
strongest, smartest, most gorgeous woman, and I
believe in you. It’s all going to work out.”

My lip wobbles. “I think you’re right about the

pregnancy hormones.”

He grins as he runs his fingers along my jaw.

“Yeah, you’re a tornado, baby.”

I let out a sob. “I know, and I feel crazy. I just

feel like there is a wrecking ball in my head,
banging and causing havoc, and I’ve got to figure
out a way to beat it. Stop it. I just want to succeed.”

He chuckles as he drops his nose to mine. “We

will. You know what?”

“What?”
“I still love you. Completely. And it’s going to

work out. Wanna know how I know?”

“How?”
“Because I believe in you, in us, in this team.

We have a lot of fight left in us. We’ve got this. You
and the coaches will figure out a way to win, and
when you do, it’s over for them.” Boon wipes my

tears and asks, “Can I come back in and you not
kick me out again?”

I nod. “I promise I won’t.”
“And I don’t want to not share a room with

you.”

“I don’t either.”
“Kiss me.”
I nod before pressing my lips to his, and as we

kiss in the middle of the hotel hallway, him in his
boxers and me in a towel, I hope he’s right.

I hope we have the fight to win, because it’s

burning deep inside me.

AKOB

SITS

BESIDE

, tapping his pen on the table

as we watch our boys on the tablet. My head hurts
from the stress, and I’m frustrated beyond belief.
Boon is right; I need to relax. There is a couch in
the rest area for the guys that I will be napping on.
I’m exhausted, and my eyes hurt from staring at
this damn screen. I don’t know how the hell this
has happened, but it’s almost as if my boys have
gone back to the way they were playing before I
came. I don’t know how or even why, but we’re
taking one hell of an ass-beating and it’s killing me.

I bite my lip as Jakob writes down a few things.

The IceCats haven’t scored on us when they go on

the power play—our kill team is doing their job—
but the problem is we can’t draw a penalty. They
know that’s how we can score, and they aren’t
letting us have it. Don’t get me wrong—our boys
are putting a beating on Merryweather. We had
over forty-two shots on goal last game, but we
can’t fucking catch a break. I know that’s how the
puck plays sometimes, but for the love of Pete, can
we get a goal?

Jakob exhales heavily as he points to the left of

the cage where Boon is fighting for the puck. “That
should have been a high stick.”

“I know,” I agree, shaking my head. “I don’t

know if the owner of the IceCats put some money
in the ref’s pockets or what, but they’re fucking
us.”

“Exactly. We need the guys to be more

blatant.”

“Yeah, but when we do that, they get called for

embellishment.”

He lets out a hiss of breath. “So fucking

frustrating. We shouldn’t be down like this. We are
a good damn team.”

“I know.” I lean back against my chair, locking

my hands and placing them on my head. “I don’t
even know what to say at morning skate.”

“Get your fucking head out of your asses and

win?”

I grin. “I don’t know if we can say that and not

get in trouble.”

He nods. “I guess. Back in my day, my coach

practically ripped my arm off and beat me with the
bloody end.”

“Yeah, and most of you have extreme PTSD.”
He scoffs. “You’ve been listening to my

daughter too much.”

“Well, she doesn’t stop talking about mental

health, and I applaud her for it.” I’m trying to avoid
the issue at hand. I know I am. I don’t want to go
on the ice and yell at the guys. I wanted to be up in
the series or at least have a game on them. No,
we’re at the bottom. Everyone has already written
us off. The IceCats have it. I press my hands to my
stomach, trying to calm myself. I keep hearing
Boon in my head, and I do need to remember I am
carrying our child. I know I didn’t lose the first one
because of stress, rather because it got caught in
my fallopian tube, but still, I need to be careful.

“You okay?”
The concern in my uncle’s voice has me

reaching out to squeeze his wrist. “I’m fine,
promise. Just tired and stressed. Boon and I already
got into it, so please don’t lecture me.”

“Trouble in paradise?”
I shake my head. “We’re fine now, but my

hormones are kind of scary.”

He laughs. “They can be, but hell, I thought you

two would stay in the honeymoon phase for a

second. It’s only been two days of marriage?”

I grin. “Twelve.”
“Twelve days. Lord, and this was the first

fight?”

I nod. “Yeah, I was a bitch.”
“It happens. You apologized?”
“I did.”
“Then you’re good. He loves you.”
My heart swells. “He does.” We both fall silent

as I watch the screen, taking deep breaths in, when
I notice something. “Have they been aggressively
playing the forecheck the whole time?”

Jakob’s brows come in as he leans forward, his

elbows on the desk. He squints as he watches what
I am. Their offense is taking chance after chance,
and we’re letting them. We’re not ready for their
attack. We’re trying to play a strategic game, and
they’re playing a balls-to-the-wall kind of style. “I
thought they were being sharp, but they aren’t.
They don’t even have plays. Look, Chandler isn’t
even calling anything.”

Jakob nods his head. “You’re right. You’re

fucking right.”

“We need to switch up the lines, press even

harder. Basically, unteach them everything we’ve
taught them since I was brought on.”

He pats my head like I’m twelve again and

picks up the tablet. “Let’s go fix our play.”

As we head out to go talk to Coach, an

overwhelming feeling of accomplishment comes
over me. I found the fix; now it’s time to execute it.

And bring that Cup home.
For the second time.

C H A P T E R E L E V E N

oon

AP PARENTLY

, Aiden is just great at everything.

Great scorer.
Great teammate.
Great golfer.
Great soon-to-be son-in-law.
Great, great, great, great. Not that I’m salty or

anything. I watch as Shea and Aiden high-five after
one hell of a shot by Aiden that got him birdie. I
want to hate him, I want to push him into the pond
where he made that great shot, but alas, I know we
need him. He’s scored four out of the six goals
we’ve made in the last three games. We have dug

out from the trenches of our demise and tied our
series with the IceCats. The coaching team
completely changed everything up, and it was
rough to adjust, but it was for the best. And now
we’re even.

These

wins

haven’t

come

without

consequences. Just as soon as Sinclair came back
for his first game, he scored, but he also took a
nasty hit into the boards. We got a man advantage
for it, and their best defensemen was kicked out for
the rest of the series, but we lost Sinclair once
again. Rumor is, he’s done. But I know him, and he
isn’t done. I’m also battling a sprained ankle, Aiden
has two broken toes, Wes has a sprained elbow, and
a lot of the team is beat-the-fuck-up. But we aren’t
giving up. Proud is an understatement.

One more win.
That’s all.
One win and the Cup is ours.
I lean back in the golf cart as Aiden and Shea

come back toward me. Shea is totaling everything
up—not that I need to know the score to know I
lost. I still suck, but it’s okay. I’m not here to win;
I’m here to get my father-in-law to like me more
than Aiden. “Well, Aiden won.”

Aiden does a fist pump that annoys Shea.
Ha. I’m well on my way to favorite son-in-law.
Shea slaps Aiden on the back fondly. “I’ll get

you next time,” he jokes and then glances over at

me. “Boon, maybe we can get you lessons so you
can be competitive?”

Well, back to the bottom I go. I grin. “I’m here

for the coffee and company.”

Aiden laughs. “He knows what he’s good at—

running his mouth and drinking.”

That has all of us laughing. Shea gets in beside

me as Aiden rides in the back seat of the cart.
“Lunch?” Shea asks. “Or do you guys need to head
back to pack?”

We leave tonight for Carolina for the Cup final.

“I’m packed.”

Aiden nods. “I’m not, but it won’t take me

long. Don’t need much but my lucky underwear.”

I laugh. “Posey is pissed I wouldn’t let her wash

mine. They are rank.”

Aiden laughs. “Legit. Mine are too. Shelli

ignores it. I’m surprised Posey isn’t.”

“She is, but she makes me put them in a plastic

bag. With her thyroid shit, she’s sensitive to
smells.”

Shea nods. “Yeah, Elli was always good with

my crazy superstitions until she could smell them.
Then it was an issue.” I hear him on that.

“Posey is driving me mad,” I admit, and Shea

looks over at me as he turns up the cart path toward
the country club. “She won’t relax. She’s on edge
twenty-four seven. It’s giving me an ulcer.”

Aiden leans between us on his elbows. “Shelli is

the same. She is obsessed with tapes.”

I point to him. “All fucking night long! I’m like,

you need sleep, and she tells me to stuff it.”

Shea laughs as Aiden yells out, “Exactly! Like

what the fuck, babe? I’m trying to make sure
you’re good.”

“Right? And I’m in the wrong.”
“For real. As if that makes any sense. I’m the

one on the ice, and she’s stressing more than I am!”

“Dude, you’re speaking to my soul right now.”
I’m lucky in the brother-in-law department.

Aiden has always been my brother, but now that
we're connected by the crazy of the Adler family, it
makes it hard to be salty that he’s the favorite. I’ll
always be his brother; we got each other. “You
know what we should do? Trade. Stick them
together, and then we can sleep.”

I laugh. “We know for next time.”
“Legit,” Aiden agrees as we bump knuckles,

and Shea scoffs.

We both glance over at him.
“Oh, you two don’t even know yet.”
“That doesn’t sound supportive, Shea.”
He cracks up. “Let me tell you, these Fisher

women—and yes, I use Elli’s maiden name because
this is all that family’s crazy—are fierce, obsessive,
and insanely competitive.”

He isn’t wrong, Shelli stabbed me with a fork

when we played Forks a couple weeks ago. Posey

didn’t talk to Ally for a week because she murdered
her in Risk.

“I love my wife, I love my girls, but I will not

play Monopoly with them. Not only does Elli steal
from the bank, but Posey and Shelli will cry if you
make them pay rent.”

I snort as Aiden nods. “I won’t play with Shelli

either. Or Quinn, for that matter. He’s too damn
smart and kills me at everything.”

Shea nods. “I’ll only play with Owen and Evan.

They are level-headed and competitive but not to
the point of bodily harm.”

“I’m surprised you’re not used to it with Emery

and Stella,” I say to Aiden as I laugh, and he shakes
his head.

“Dude, Shelli makes those girls look like

puppies when it comes to games.”

We all laugh at that because, really, I’m more

terrified of those girls than Shelli and Posey put
together. The Brooks girls are sneaky and will stab
you in the back. Shelli and Posey will stab you in
the front and laugh in your face as they claim
victory. “But hey, at least she’s not driving you
crazy with wedding crap.”

Aiden chuckles. “No, I get it all. She doesn’t

sleep, which makes her pissy when it’s time to
make decisions. I’ve legit started saying yes to
everything. I don’t even care.”

Shea gives him a dirty look. “Yeah, thanks for

that. Now I have to pay an extra grand for
everyone to have a skewer of shrimp.”

Aiden laughs bashfully as I nod. “I love

shrimp.” Shea’s dirty look now pins me, and I hold
up my hands. “Or I don’t.”

“Don’t worry, Shea. It’s almost here.”
“Let’s hope I don’t go broke before it comes.”
Aiden pats his back. “I pray for you daily.”
“Good, I need it,” Shea jokes as he parks the

cart.

While we gather our things, I ask, “What did

you do about Elli when she got riled up about
things? I worry so much about Posey, with the baby
and all.”

He shrugs. “A little advice. Just love them.

They are both so headstrong, and they know what
they want. As crazy as it drives you, there is no
fixing it. It’s the way they are wired. Why have
both of you stressing, fighting, and all that, when
you can just let her be, and you do you?”

He’s right. If I hadn’t tried to make Posey relax,

we wouldn’t have gotten in that fight. But then, we
wouldn’t have had make-up sex either. So, really, I
should probably pick my battles. That’s a good plan
going forward.

“Or here is an idea,” he adds. “You guys just

win, and everyone will be good.”

I snort. “No pressure, huh?”
Shea grins at me. “All the pressure, buddy.”

Aiden laughs. “We got this.”
“We do,” I agree on an exhale. “As long as our

wives don’t kill us before we even get to the rink.”

Once more, I laugh with my brother, who is

about to be my brother-in-law, and my father-in-law
as we get out to head in to lunch.

Shea clutches my shoulder, squeezing it when I

fall into step with him. “Don’t worry so much about
Posey. She’s stronger than she looks.”

“You aren’t lying.”
He squeezes my arms once more, such

compassion in his eyes, and this warm feeling runs
through me. I grew up without a stable father
figure, and for the longest time, I never thought that
would happen for me. That’s not the case anymore.
Not only will my child have the best grandfather in
the world, but I now have a father I can look up to.
Who can give me advice on how to be a good
husband and father. The Cup final is up in the air,
and as much as I want to win, I know I already
have.

I won in the wife department because she came

with a family that is now mine.

Now, I just need to bring the Cup home.

, my fucking ankle.

Ryan holds my ankle in place as he sprays it

with cold spray to freeze it before wrapping it so
damn tight, I can’t feel it—or my foot, for that
matter. From where I sit, I can hear Coach pushing
and demanding our best. We’re almost there. This
final is no fucking joke. We are tied at one apiece.
It’s the second overtime, and I don’t think there is a
player on that ice who isn’t banged up or
exhausted. It’s basically been fucking war.

I get off the table, walking gingerly to my spot

as Coach looks back at Posey. It’s hard not to
notice how beautiful she is. She has her hair up in a
sleek ponytail and her makeup done to the nines,
and I can’t help but want those glossy purple lips
on mine. She looks like a queen in her tight purple
dress that she’s paired with her knee-high, high-
heeled boots. She started wearing them at game
four and hasn’t quit since. I know they hurt her
feet, especially since her belly is growing. It’s all I
see as she stands there.

My baby carrying my baby.
“This is it,” she says, coming forward since

Jakob has decided not to say anything. I’ve noticed
he lets her take the lead a lot of the time. “This is
our moment. Everyone said we couldn’t come
back, and look at us. We are here, and we will win.
We have got to take away Merryweather’s eyes!
Rush that fucking net and block him. Get a tip!
Defensemen, I need shots, and hard ones. Get

scrappy. Fight for that goal because the Cup is ours
to lose.” She looks around the room, hitting
everyone’s eyes. When her eyes fall to mine,
they’re full of fire. Of belief in us. “I can stand here
and tell you to do it for the coaching staff, for the
organization, the fan base, the city—shit, anything.
But fuck that. Do it for you. Do it for the glory for
you and your team. It’s time to go to war, boys.
Who’s ready to bring home the prize?”

Did she practice that? I’m pretty sure I heard

her in the bathroom this morning saying that, but
before I can even really think or tease her on it, the
guys are in it, ready to win it. We cheer loudly,
smacking one another, pumping the room up. When
we line up to go out there, we’re all still pumping
one another up. When Sinclair comes over to us on
his crutches, my stomach clenches.

“Let’s go, boys! We can do this!”
As much as I want to win for Posey, I want to

win for him. The ice is in sight, and I stare at it until
it’s time for us to get out. Once my skates hit the
ice, I feel it. I feel that second wind of adrenaline.
Gone is the exhaustion; I can sleep when I’m dead.
Now, I have to do my part to bring the Cup home to
Nashville. Home to my captain. Home to the love
of my life.

Let’s go.
Problem is, the IceCats have found their second

wind too. Posey wasn’t kidding; this is a fucking

battle. We fight for the puck, and yes, we’re all a
little slower than we usually play, but still, our
hearts are in it and no one will give up. Every time
the ref blows the whistle, I sigh in relief. A second
to breathe. I skate beside Aiden and Wes, my
brothers looking just as drained and out of breath as
me. Since Aiden is doing awesome Aiden things,
our line is playing big minutes. We are the only line
that didn’t change. Our defensemen pair is
different, but that’s it. We’re still strong. We’re still
who everyone wants to be. The line that makes the
difference. Pretty sure I added to that difference
when I took a puck to my chest after I dropped to
block a shot from my cousin-in-law. Chandler
Moon is my enemy today—though, he is a really
great guy.

My chest stings as I take in a deep breath, and

Wes glances at me. “You don’t think you broke a
rib, do you?”

“Fuck if I know. Let’s win this shit, and we can

worry about that later.”

“Agreed,” Aiden says, smacking my shin, and

then we notice that the IceCats have called a time-
out. “Thank God,” he laughs as we head to the
bench. Before we can even get there, Posey is
hanging over the bench, shaking her finger at us.

My eyes widen as she points to us. “I need

something different. I need someone to do
something to win this fucking game! We have three

minutes. Make it happen!”

I glance at Aiden as he looks at Wes and me.

“Your wife is mean.”

“So mean,” Wes agrees as she leans toward us

with her whiteboard.

“They know Brooks is hot. They are on you.

You can’t be our winner—you’re dead to us,” she
yells, slamming her finger to the whiteboard where
she has drawn a bunch of lines and shit. “Hoenes,
they are anticipating your shot. They are throwing
bodies like it’s nothing. Wes, it’s time for you to do
something.”

He looks between all of us, and I know he

wants to say something, but he refrains.

“Get to the net, tip something—shit, do

anything. I don’t care. Just get a goal and win this!”
She looks around at everyone gawking at her. “We
got this. Bring it home!”

The whistle blows, and we hand over our drinks

before we start to skate to the IceCats’ zone. I feel
my heart beating like mad, and when the puck
drops, Aiden wins it, passing it to me. I pass it to
Wes, who is trying to set up. Trying to do what
Posey wants. He goes to move toward the net, but a
player cuts him off, sending the puck to the point
behind me, where an IceCats player is. I haul
fucking ass to catch him as our defensemen try to
block him from getting a shot out. When he goes to
shoot, I pick his pocket, turning on a whim and

passing it up the ice to where I hear Aiden yelling
his ass off.

He and Wes are alone.
Holy fuck.
I skate hard toward the other end, watching as

Aiden sends the puck to Wes, trapping a
defensemen between them. Wes doesn’t have the
shot, so he quickly sends it to Aiden. But instead of
shooting, Aiden sends it right back to where Wes
has the open net.

When the lights go off, I swear I almost fall to

my knees.

We won.
We fucking won.
We dog pile Wes, and with tears in my eyes, I

think about the fact that I may not have my mom in
my life anymore. I know that’s a huge gaping hole
that is hard to fill, but as my brothers and I hold one
another, crying in relief and excitement, I know I’ll
always have a family. When we break apart, my
gaze falls on my lovely as she shakes hands with
the coaches on the other team. I see her see me,
and she starts for me, making sure not to fall. I
meet her halfway, picking her up off the ice, and
we kiss enthusiastically. When we part, our eyes
lock, and even with the screams, the boos, the
flying beer cans from angry fans, all I see is her.

My Posey.
My everything.

C H A P T E R T W E L V E

osey

“ A

we finding out what it is?”

Boon and I look at each other with grins on our

faces. We haven’t even discussed if we were going
to find out or not. “Do you want to know?”

He nods eagerly. “Should we do a gender

reveal?”

I scoff. “We aren’t Shelli and Aiden. Let them

do that over-the-top shit.”

He grins. “You’re right. Let’s find out and tell

no one!”

I laugh as I hold up my hand, and we high-five.

“Good plan.”

Boon kisses my jaw, leaning his head on my

chest as we look at the technician. “You know we’ll
have to tell my mom,” I mention, and he nods. “She
wants to buy stuff, and she really wants us to get a
house so she can decorate the nursery. Also, since
the guys thought it would be cute to get you a grill
for an apartment in a building that does not allow
grills on its balconies, we’ll need a place for that
since keeping it in the box in our living room is a
travesty.”

He gives me a dry look. “We just won the

Cup,” he says, pointing to the corner where the
Cup keeper and the Stanley Cup are waiting. I feel
awful for the Cup keeper; he has to be bored.
Though, he doesn’t really speak to us. “Give it a
minute.”

“Okay, but we have to tell her, especially

because if she finds out the Cup keeper knows
before her, she’ll freak.”

We both look at the Cup keeper, and he grins.

“I’m not saying a word.”

Boon glances back at me. “We’ll tell her.”
“Okay,” I agree as we wait for the technician to

move her little probe along my growing belly.

I never thought I would love growing a human

in my belly as much as I do. It’s still crazy to look
down and see the bump—but even just as a bump, I
would die for it. It’s my bump, my little person. The
last couple weeks have been absolutely insane. Our
parade for the Cup win was bigger and much more

massive than it was last year. I rode on a float and
waved and cried with my city, celebrating our boys.
It all seems like a dream, but it really happened.
Though Wes isn’t letting anyone forget. He even
got a shirt made that reads, “I scored the winning
goal in the Stanley Cup Final.” I wish I were
kidding, but I don’t really care because I am so
proud of him.

I honestly thought Aiden would have taken the

shot, but he told the press that his coach wanted
Wes to do something, so he made sure he did
something. I love how much the boys respect me. I
love my job so damn much, and when the contract
came in, signing me for another year, I cried. I feel
so accomplished. I am so proud of myself. We
haven’t figured things out for when the next season
starts, but we have had a lot going on.

Shelli’s wedding is in a month, and today is the

huge game between the winning Assassins team
and the alumni players. It’s going to be a blast, and
in all reality, I can worry about other stuff later.
Right now, I am about to find out what I am having,
and then I get to watch my husband try to score on
my dad. Little does Boon know, my dad has been
training for this. He refuses to have anyone
question his greatness. It’s gonna be so awesome.

But it’s clear I don’t know what awesome truly

is until the technician says, “Well, guys, you are
having a little boy.”

My heart stops.
My soul sings.
And I swear, I’ve never been so happy in my

life.

I look at Boon as his eyes cloud with tears. “A

boy?”

I laugh around a happy sob. “A boy.”
“It’s a Boonsey.”
“Really?” I ask, and he laughs before he kisses

me hard on the lips, and then we dissolve in
laughter.

Because how could life get better?

HEN

P ULL

into Luther Arena, Boon looks in

the back seat to make sure the Cup is still strapped
in. He tried to make me sit in the back, but before I
could remind him that, if I did, I would not be
sleeping in our bed, the Cup keeper said it would be
better in the back with him. Thankfully, Boon
listened.

Once we arrive at Luther, Boon gathers the Cup

in his arms, and we head inside, where the arena is
bustling with excitement. Everyone is here because,
thankfully, pretty much everyone retired in
Nashville. Why wouldn’t they? It’s the best city
ever.

I see so many people from my life. Growing up,

I didn’t know that I was preparing to be a coach,
but as we pass alumni players, I’m reminded of
their stats. It’s insane that I can still remember.
Many of them, I still see a lot of, but when I see
Alex Welch, my heart stops. Alex spots me, and his
brows come in.

“Posey Adler?”
My heart soars that he remembers me.

“Welch.”

We embrace as he laughs. “Lord, look at you.

Pregnant? Is this the guy?”

I grin as I reach for Boon, bringing him to

Welch. “Yes, this is my husband, Boon Hoenes.”

“Wow, I can’t believe someone infiltrated Shea

Adler’s wall he put up to keep the guys out.”

Boon laughs, shaking Alex’s hand as he holds

the Cup. “It wasn’t easy. I took a punch or two in
the process.”

Alex laughs, his blazing blue eyes taking me

back to my childhood. Man, even now, he’s
dreamy! Surfer blond hair that he has cut short, and
he’s built like an ox. He’s put on some weight, but
I’m pretty sure he could take someone out. Just like
my daddy can. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.
Man, it’s good to see you, kid. You’re all over the
press.”

I beam. “It’s been a whirlwind.”
“It’s awesome. I’ll see you at dinner? We need

to catch up.”

“Absolutely. Are the kids and your wife here?”
“Not the girls, but Mary Ann is in the stands.”
I grin as he hugs me once more before heading

back to the dressing room.

“He was your dad’s captain?”
I nod as I watch him head back. He’s aged so

much, but that twinkle is still in those blue eyes.
“Yeah, he would always break down plays for me.
He was just awesome, and I cried when he moved
to Canada. It’s so good to see him.”

He eyes me. “Sounds like you liked him, liked

him.”

I look at him incredulously. “Well, duh. Did you

look at him?”

He laughs freely as he sets down the Cup

before he pulls me into his arms. “Too bad you’re
mine.”

“I wouldn’t say too bad. I’m pretty damn happy

where I am.”

He kisses me hard on the lips. When we part,

his eyes capture mine. “When are we telling your
mom?”

“Afterward. She’s busy.”
“So, I can’t tell her when I give her the Cup?”
I glare. “You do, you die.”
“Man, you’re mean,” he laughs, kissing my

nose. “I’m going to go suit up.”

“Okay. I think I’m going to go find the Welch

family or sit with Shelli and the Brooks gang. I
don’t know.”

“Okay, but you’ll be watching?”
I nod. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because I’m gonna make sure to get your dad

back for the punch I took.”

I eye him. “I thought you two were past that?

Also, my dad has been working out. When he
embarrasses you, I don’t want to hear it.”

He feigns hurt. “You don’t believe in me?”
I smirk up at him, running my fingers along his

beard. “Oh, I fully believe in you, but I also believe
my dad is the greatest to ever play and he will lay
you out.”

“So rude.”
“Prove me wrong if you like. But remember,

you’ll have Shelli on your ass if you hurt him. He’s
got to walk her down the aisle.”

“This is true,” he says slowly. “But I’m still

gonna knock him on his ass.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m gonna make sure to record

this.”

He gathers me closer in his arms. “You drive me

wild, Posey Hoenes.”

My heart soars as I sigh happily. “Ditto, Boon

Hoenes.” His lips capture mine, and I lean into the
kiss, loving how my belly presses into him. He hugs
me tightly, kissing me without a care in the world as
the world moves around us. It’s always like that,

though. It’s easy to ignore the world when Boon is
kissing me. I pull back first, kissing his chin. “Good
luck. I love you.”

He squeezes my ass. “I love you, lovely.”
I gaze into his eyes. I don’t question his words.

They are written all over his face. In his body
language. This man loves our child and me more
than he loves himself. I’m so overwhelmed with
love, it’s hard to believe that at one time I never
saw this happening for me. I thought I wasn’t
worthy of a love like my parents’. But in a way, I
think our love story is better. I may be biased, but I
don’t care. I am over the moon with how this all
played out. It took a shitty power play to bring me
the guy of my dreams.

No one could write this better.
His hands cup my belly, and I’m breathless as

he says, “For good luck.”

“You’ll need it,” I warn as he grabs the Cup,

struggling a bit before grinning at me.

“You might be right,” he says, kissing my nose.

“I might have used all of it when you came along.”

He sends me a wink, and my heart soars.
As he walks away, one thing is for sure—I don’t

need luck when I have Boon Hoenes.

I already have it all.

A L L Y I S H E R E ! ! ! !

♀ SPIKED BY LOVE IS COMING!!!

♀

OUT NOW!

Allison Titov and Asher Brooks have been best

friends their whole lives. Brought up together as

part of the Assassins family, they might as well be

related. But… Ally has never felt anything sisterly

toward Asher.

In love with Asher since she was a teen, Ally has

gone pro at keeping her feelings a secret. It’s been

easy…as long as he’s stayed halfway across the

country at college and she has a volleyball to slap

her frustrations out on. But now, he’s home. And

having his quick wit, heart-filling laugh, and

adorkable smile so close is going to test her like

never before.

After being dumped by his fiancée, Asher is at a

loss what to do next. He craves stability, but with

an unexpected kiss, Ally might as well have spiked

Asher in the face with a volleyball. Now he’s faced

with the dilemma of his life. Does he keep Ally in

the friend zone, or does he take the ultimate risk for

love?

If they’ve learned one thing growing up in the glow

of hockey greatness, it’s that you can’t win it all if

you don’t play the game. And by serving one hell

of an ace into the middle of Asher’s safe little life,

Ally is ready to claim victory.

STANDALONE!

Friends to LOVERS

Nashville Assassins: Next Generation folks at

Bellevue Bullies

PREORDER NOW!!!!

A L S O B Y T O NI A L E O

NASHVILLE ASSASSINS

Breaking Away

Laces and Lace

A Very Merry Hockey Holiday

Wanting to Forget

Overtime

Rushing the Goal

Puck, Sticks, and Diapers

Face-off at the Altar

Nashville Assassins: Next Generation

Dump & Chase

Power Play

Bring It Home

Blades of Glory (Coming this summer!)

Bellevue Bullies Series

IceCats Series

Hard Hit (Coming this summer!)

Taking Risks

Whiskey Prince

Becoming the Whiskey Princess

Whiskey Rebellion

Patchwork Series

(Paranormal)

Pieces

Broken Pieces

Spring Grove Novels

(Small-town romances)

Not the One

Small-Town Sweetheart

Standalones

Let it be Me

Two-Man Advantage

Misadventures

(Standalones)

Misadventures with a Rookie

Misadventures of a Manny

Assassins Series

Taking Shots

Trying to Score

Empty Net

Falling for the Backup

Blue Lines

A C K N O WL E D G ME N T S

THANK YOU!

You are the reason I write.
Seriously. I have been struggling getting out the

words lately because of my anxiety, but yet I push
because I know I have people needing an outlet to
enjoy. I hope Posey and Boon’s story was just that.
I hope it filled your soul with so much happiness.
Made you smile, made you laugh, and made you
feel good. If I did all that, that was my goal. Thank
you!

If you looked at the Also by Toni Aleo section,

you may have noticed Blades of Glory….that is
the ALUMNI GAME!It’s coming! AHHH!!! Also
the next IceCats, Hard Hit, is on it’s way!! I am
stoked! PLEASE MAKE SURE TO BE ON MY
NEWSLETTER LIST! You can join on the next
page!

I know things are still insanely uncertain, but

please know, it is okay to feel what you are feeling.
Handle this whatever way you can. I have started
an unhealthy obsession with NCIS and Animal
Crossing. It’s how I deal, and that’s okay. Just
please remember you are loved and you are special.

I pray for us all.
Thank you and God bless us ALL.
Stay home and continue to wash your hands.
Please. I have a kid who needs to go back to

gymnastics before I kill her dead.

Yours forever,

Toni