Another Goal, page 22
My smile remained in place as I opened the door to my condo. Millie’s voice drifted down the short hall, nearly drowned out by Bree’s ragged cries.
I kicked off my shoes and padded toward the chaos. My chaos, my family. Love swelled in my chest, choking me.
Millie stood in the middle of the room, swaying slightly as she bounced Bree. “Is it always going to be this way, little Bree? Every time, you fight sleep like a demon. Why, baby? You’re so tired. Mommy’s tired. What if you gave in, and—oh, Luka!” Her eyes widened as she took in my expression.
My cheeks ached, so I must’ve still been grinning like a damn fool. I wrapped my girls in my arms. Bree quieted, as she always did once she’d worn through the last bit of her energy. Her eyes drooped, and her little pink lips parted on a soft sigh. So sweet and precious. She was a beautiful baby with a feisty streak, and I loved her fiercely. I kissed her silky head.
“I have so much to tell you about my meeting, but first and foremost, I want to say this: I love you, and I’d never hold your choices—your attempts to find a connection with another person—against you, Millie. Hell, I did that for years before I found you.”
I bent down to kiss her lips, and I took my time. Slow and soft, lingering so I would have this moment pressed always in my mind. I pulled out the ring I’d found for her—the one that matched mine. Her band was thinner, and I’d added opals to the channel that led to her large, pink ruby. “The opals signify our meeting last October. I wasn’t ready for you, but I was so ready for being here. Will you wear it?” I asked, holding it poised over her trembling ring finger.
“Y-yes. Of course!”
I slipped it on her and smiled as I twined our fingers together. This was what I’d wanted with Millie from the start, the togetherness I’d been unable to put into words.
“Wow,” Millie murmured. She rested against my chest, her gaze still on our rings, baby Bree cuddled in our arms. She’d slumped more, a sure sign she was asleep.
“Why the change of heart?” Millie asked.
“I didn’t have one. I just got…clarity.” I nodded. “Yeah, clarity.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Let me put her down. You can shower or—”
“Celebrate with my sexy hockey star,” Millie murmured.
“I like the sound of that.” I plucked Bree from Millie’s arms. Something about holding my daughter calmed me—gave me perspective, a centering. I’d thought for so long that a family would be a weight for me to overcome, but now I realized they were the very reason that kept me going. I’d been such a fool. So young and naïve. Millie had opened my eyes. Bree had opened my future.
Millie slipped from the room and I held my daughter for another moment before I laid her in her crib. After ensuring her monitor was on and she was warm enough, I exited her room, shutting the door with the softest of thumps.
And I went in search of Millie.
I found Millie asleep in the middle of our bed. I smiled, more than happy to snuggle in close and hold her until our baby needed us again.
I woke to Millie’s fingertips drifting over my cheeks. “Can we wait six weeks or so to get married? So I’m all healed down there? I want a proper wedding night with you.” She slid closer and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, resting her head against my chest. “And I want to feel beautiful in my dress, not self-conscious about the baby weight in my tummy.”
“You’re gorgeous, Mil—”
“To you, maybe,” she cut in. “But I want to feel gorgeous for you. And for me.” She looked up at me. “But most of all, I want you to know in that thick head of yours that I love you. That I’m marrying you because of that love. That there is no one else for me, ever, because I couldn’t possibly love another person like I love you.”
With each of her words, heat sizzled through my veins. I stared into her eyes, needing her to understand what I was offering—me, all of me—to her, the unloved child, the broken, traumatized teen, the bitter, untrusting woman, the caring partner, and the well-loved mother and soon-to-be wife.
Millie
Clutching his cheeks, I looked into his eyes. “I love you, Luka Aaron Stol. I love you. You. Only you.”
“And Bree.”
I smiled. “And our baby. But not like I love you with all this passion and fire and lust.”
His lips kicked up. “I am irresistible.”
“To me.”
He dropped his hands to my hips and squeezed gently. “I think I really needed to hear you say that.” His voice was soft. His expression was open and filled with contentment but also a tension that vibrated through him. It was fear, I realized.
“I’m not your parents, Luka. I’ll always find you worthy, and I won’t be angry about your dyslexia or consider your need to move while you learn too difficult. I won’t ever, ever denigrate your intelligence or your work ethic or you.” I leaned in and kissed him, just a brush of my lips across his before I pulled back. “You’re not perfect, which is perfect because neither am I. And it’s our imperfections that fit together so very well. I’m sorry it took me so long to fight for you—for us. But I’m in this with you. We’re a team.”
He managed a nod, his eyes shining.
“Tell me about your meeting,” I said.
“Later.”
I tugged his shirt up so I could run my hands over his chest and abdomen. “Now.”
He groaned against my lips. “Five years with an extension clause for another three. Part of the reason is you, your influence on the CATS.”
I leaned back and blinked up at him. “What?”
“Coach loves your presence in our community and your impact on me. You’re a wonderful person, Millie.”
“I…”
“You’ve made me a better man, which led to me being a better teammate.” He nuzzled my neck, and my hips tilted into his warm, hard body.
This man made me lose my senses in the best possible way. I knew he respected me and loved me and wanted me—just as I respected, loved, and desired him. “And the rest?”
He explained his salary and the housing allowance, which was a substantial upgrade. “We can buy a house.”
We could have bought a house with my money—well, the soon-to-be my money that neither of us really wanted. But I knew Luka needed to feel like he’d taken care of us. He did take care of us, showing me that a genuine man wasn’t one who belittled others to make himself feel bigger. Luka focused on my wellbeing, showing love and respect. He built me up to be the best version of myself and encouraged me to do the same for him.
This time, he leaned in and kissed me—with tongue and that nibbling followed by soothing licks that made me so damn hot I thought I’d combust.
After a moment he met my gaze. “I love you Millicent Anne Jones, soon to be the much better name of Millicent Anne Stol.”
I grinned widely. “We’ll all match. You, me, and Bree.”
He kissed my nose. “Forever.”
I hugged him tighter. “I wish I could get naked and love you up the way you deserve.”
“You are loving me the way I deserve—like I love you, with my whole heart.”
I shifted again. “Dammit, Luka. Stop being so sweet. I’m…” My cheeks flamed. “I need you,” I whispered.
“Good.”
“Good?”
He tightened his embrace. “Good. Now you know how I’ve felt since I sat across from you at that restaurant last year. Yearning like that fucks with your head.”
“But not your performance.” I giggled.
“Oh, that, too. Thankfully, I have stamina.” He rocked me gently. “And patience.”
I sighed into his neck. “You start training next week.”
“I do.”
“So we won’t see you as often.”
“You won’t.”
“I’ll miss you.”
“Not as much as I’ll miss you.” He was silent for a moment. “Tell Bree not to do anything new and cute while I’m at work, okay? I want to be present for all her firsts.”
I smiled as I snuggled closer. How could I not adore this man? “I’ll do my best.”
He laid his hand over my stomach, his breath tickling my neck, and I knew, without a doubt, I was home.
In the city I couldn’t wait to leave, instead I’d found my future. My family.
My purpose.
Epilogue
Ten weeks later
Luka
“Pouting isn’t becoming of a bride,” Naese said, though without his usual snicker. He’d become increasingly morose since that day he’d come over and told me a woman from his past hated him.
I glared. “Fuck off.”
“No can do, Stolly. I’m part of your wedding party.” He found his grin for a moment as he shifted closer, hand raised. “Let’s make sure you’re pretty for your pictures.”
“Touch him, and I rip off your thumb,” Cruz growled as he rose from his spot near the door.
Naese backed away. “That was viciously specific.”
“It’s his wedding day,” Cruz said as he strolled over.
I was getting married exactly one year after I’d sat down at that tiny table and stared into the thick-lensed glasses of my future bride.
I was a lucky bastard.
Cruz’s size and quietness really shouldn’t have gone together, but now I knew his secret: he took ballet. I’d gone with him a few times, so had Cormac and Maxim. That shit was hard.
We’d wanted our new goalie to make it part of his daily routine, but hadn’t thought it fair to ask of him if we weren’t willing to try ourselves. At least, that’s what Cormac and Maxim had said when they shoved me into the class with Cruz and watched through the window.
Once they realized I was getting a damn good workout and was more flexible than they were, they came in and jumped all over the springboard floor. Hockey players would always be competitive, and we loved nothing more than getting the edge over our opponents.
“This is a nice place,” Maxim said, looking around. “I mean, I guess I knew Houston had good wedding venues, but I like this one.”
We were at the Bell Tower on 34th, the premier wedding spot in the city—my stipulation for waiting two months. Because we were getting married on a Wednesday night, we hadn’t had a problem with securing any of the vendors, even with such short notice.
Coach had given us Thursday off, and next week we’d start our preseason with an away game against Colorado.
“He touched my hair, didn’t he?” I asked. Grumbling, I stalked to the mirror on the opposite wall. Good. Naese hadn’t messed anything up. I’d spent way too long fixing it so it looked like I hadn’t done anything at all—just the way Millie liked it. I straightened my pale pink tie and turned to find all the guys staring at me.
“What?” I asked.
“Proud of you, man,” Cormac said, slapping my back hard enough to make me hide a wince. “You stepped up for Millie and Bree.”
“And the team,” Maxim said.
“And taking her piece-of-shit father down about seventeen pegs had to feel fantastic,” Cruz said.
“Not as good as I’d hoped. Knowing Bree’s mine and Millie will be today, though, that makes me happy.”
The guys grunted. “Fucker rolled quickly when he realized his freedom was at stake,” Maxim growled.
“Didn’t hurt that Trent turned on him as soon as he realized he was facing some pretty spectacular criminal charges,” I said. “Millie and I bought those flight attendants season tickets for life.”
“Shit, yeah,” Naese said. “I wanted in on that action. Those two were stone cold and unwavering. Still wish Trent would end up in jail, though.”
“I do, too, for Millie’s sake. But knowing her father’s being indicted on a bunch of charges for bribing that judge and lying on his taxes helps.”
The guys all nodded in agreement.
“I like happy endings,” Naese said, though his expression fell as he turned away.
“Not happy so much as justified,” Cruz said.
Bree squawked through the baby monitor clipped to my belt.
“I’ll get her,” Maxim said.
He’d fallen in love with our daughter, and he rarely wanted to let her out of his sight. Ida Jane had confessed he wasn’t too sure about kids of his own, but I knew my sweet baby girl would change his mind.
Maxim came back into the room holding Bree, who now sported a full inch of rich honey-colored hair on her tiny head. She wore a pink crocheted circlet of roses and a pale pink dress a shade lighter than the bridesmaid’s dresses and our ties. Her dress was made of silk so it wouldn’t irritate her skin, and she wore satin slippers in the shape of ice skates.
I’d insisted we get two dresses, which Millie found silly based on the cost, but I figured we had a better chance of getting nice photos that way. One thing about my daughter—she shat at the worst times. Every. Time.
“She looks adorable,” Cormac whispered.
My chest puffed out. I had chosen the dress, after all. “She does.”
“Aw. She does. I wanna hold her,” Naese said, holding out his arms.
“Try to take her from me and I’ll rip you in half,” Maxim snarled before he tickled Bree’s tummy, making her giggle and kick her legs.
Already she’d outgrown her newborn clothes. Time was flying by.
I clapped Naese on the back. “Time for some pictures, and then I get married.”
He nodded, his mouth pressing flat.
“And then we work out a way for you to get your woman.”
He snorted. “That ship has sailed.”
Millie walking down the aisle toward me took my breath away. Not going to lie—tears burned. Cruz pulled out a handkerchief and unabashedly wiped his eyes, and even Maxim looked a little misty.
Who the hell would have thought I’d talk about my emotions with Maxim Dolov, but I did, and often. He still held Bree, who seemed fascinated by the lights and the new teething toy Maxim had pulled out of his suit coat a moment earlier.
My smile turned into a full-blown grin. I was getting married, and Maxim was in love with my daughter.
Life couldn’t get any better.
Then it did.
When I slipped Millie’s wedding band onto her finger and said my vows, I knew I’d found my forever. My family. She smiled up at me, her eyes so full of love that I just knew, no matter what else life threw at us, we’d make it.
She repeated the vows, slipping the matching platinum ring she’d insisted on buying onto my finger. It settled next to my engagement ring. The two hooked together, fusing us into one. I liked the metaphor, but I enjoyed kissing Millie, now Mrs. Stol, much, much more.
And I loved watching her laugh and smile with our guests. I loved sitting quietly with her in a room off to the side when she pulled down her halter top and nursed our daughter. Millie had the best tits—plump and pretty—almost as perfect as that juicy ass I couldn’t wait to get my hands on later tonight.
We’d waited a few additional weeks to make sure Millie and I could have the wedding night we wanted. It had been torture, but it also made tonight special.
I kissed her, tasting the cake and champagne she’d just imbibed.
“I’ve been thinking about your ass,” I said.
She grinned as she kissed me again. “That’s because it’s the one—well, one of a few parts of me you haven’t seen recently.”
“True, but also because I love it. I love you.”
“Take me home?”
“I’ll take you anywhere, Millie.”
She grinned. “Back to Colombo?”
“I love that place. And we own a condo there.”
Millie had taken an extended leave of absence, not sure she’d be ready to go back to work next month, and not sure what to do with her new wealth. While she wanted to work eventually, she wasn’t sure she wanted to stay in petrochemicals, and she wasn’t sure how she wanted to frame her days.
So far, we hadn’t hired a nanny, but I figured that would come—probably after we bought a house in the neighborhood where Maxim, Cormac, and Naese lived.
Now that I thought about it, it was weird that Naese had bought a big, family house in the neighborhood with the rest of the team. I’d bet just about anything it had something to do with his mystery woman. He and I were definitely having a talk. Soon.
But anyway, as long as Millie was happy with her choices, I was, too.
“Let me just make sure Maxim has everything he needs for Bree,” I said. I kissed Millie again before I broke away.
When I found them, Bree was snuggled against the D-man’s shoulder, a tiny droplet of drool on her lip. I kissed her head.
“You good with my kid, Maxim?”
He scowled. “You know I am. We went over everything yesterday and the day before. And the day before. We set my air conditioner at sixty-eight, and I may die of heat stroke, but your baby will sleep…like a baby.”
“In her pack and play. Not with you.”
“I know, Stolly. And what I haven’t learned, Ida Jane knows thanks to having such an enormous family.” He leaned in closer. “Enjoy your wedding night. We’ll see you at brunch tomorrow.”
He and Ida Jane had set up a morning brunch that all the Wildcatters would attend. It was also a wedding and baby shower combined, so I expected we were going to need a trailer to haul our gifts out of the place.
I ran my hand down Bree’s tiny back once more and then beelined to my wife.
Millie
My pulse pounded with nerves as I stepped out of the bathroom. I’d run a brush through my hair and put on Luka’s jersey. The wool caressed my bare skin underneath, and my nipples peaked.
I tugged at the hem, which hit mid-thigh, as I entered our bedroom. Luka—that mass of muscle and hotness—lounged against the pillows and headboard.
