her. “That’s a hard thing to see, for sure.”
“I’m not in the mood anymore.”
“No, my either.”
We clean up our dishes from dinner, going back to the game as soon as the commercial ends. They don’t show the ice, probably because it’s still being cleaned up. One of the announcers says the rest of the game is cancelled and will be rescheduled.
“Maverick Hagen is seriously injured, but stable,” the announcer says. “He’s being taken to a hospital for treatment. We’ll provide an update as soon as we have more information.”
My shoulders sink with relief. I’ve met Maverick Hagen, and he’s a good guy. He’s the most talented player on his team, and he’s not that old. It’s sobering to think he may never play again.
“At least he’s stable,” Daphne says.
My phone dings from the other room, and Daphne gives me a little smile.
“Time for some hockey gossip?” she quips.
“Probably.”
“Go,” she says, waving a hand. “I’m going to read in bed.”
She never moved out after helping me while I recovered from my injury. I’m glad it worked out that way, because I have a feeling it would’ve taken me forever to convince her to permanently move in.
Daphne just fits. In our home, in my life, and in Giselle’s life. The three of us are a team now, and I can’t wait to add more players to it when we have more kids.
“Hey, I’m home,” Giselle calls as she walks into the apartment. “Please tell me there’s food here. I’m starving.”
I’m just picking up my phone when she walks into the kitchen.
“There’s pizza in the fridge,” I say. “How was your day?”
She sighs. “Good, but long. And now I have a ton of homework to do.”
Taking the pizza box and a bottle of water from the fridge, she waves and heads upstairs.
I exchange several texts about Maverick Hagen’s injury with Anton, Knox and a friend who owns a share of the St. Louis NHL team. Everyone is shocked by what happened, and about what it means for Hagen’s career.
By the time I put my phone down for the night and walk into our bedroom, Daphne is asleep, still wearing her reading glasses. I gently take them off and put them on the nightstand, then pick up the paperback she has lying open on her stomach and insert a bookmark. I know this drill—I do it a couple nights a week. Daphne loves to read, but she usually doesn’t get to bed until she’s too exhausted to get in more than a few minutes.
I switch off the lights, take off my clothes and climb into bed beside her. She moans softly and snuggles against me, her damp hair cold on my chest.
It looks like sex will have to wait until tomorrow. That’s okay by me. I’m so damn happy Daphne and I have a tomorrow, and hopefully many more tomorrows after that.
She’s the woman of my dreams. The one I never thought I’d actually ever find. However many more days life grants me, I want to spend every one of them with her.
Afterword
Thank you for being part of my Chicago Blaze series. This series marked a return to hockey romance for me, and it has meant a great deal to me both personally and professionally. Some of the Blaze players will appear in my next hockey romance series, Sin City Saints. The first book in the series, Maverick, releases Aug. 24, 2021. Keep reading for a sneak peek at the first chapter.
Maverick: A Sin City Saints Hockey Romance
Chapter One
Chapter One
Gia
Stormy blue eyes follow my movement as I raise a cup to my lips and sip my club soda, wishing it was colder.
Though I’m down more than $300 after my first hour of blackjack at the MGM Grand, it’s not the game that has my face flushed and the back of my neck covered in a layer of sweat.
I could lose ten times the amount I’ve surrendered to the house tonight and still not be as worked up as Maverick Hagen has me right now. The man staring at me from the other side of the table has me wishing I could drop an ice cube down the front of my top.
The stakes are high tonight, but they’ve got nothing to do with money. Not directly, anyway. Maverick and I sat down at this table an hour and a half ago with $1,000 in chips apiece to settle a bet. First one to run out of chips loses.
And while I’d never admit it, it’s the