Steele (Arizona Vengeance #9) - Sawyer Bennett Page 0,51

words to show how he feels, Dillon leans into Willow’s side and she bends to kiss him on the head. Dominik reaches a hand out to ruffle his soon-to-be son’s head. “Soon, he’ll be Dillon Joshua Carlson and we’ll have him up on hockey skates in no time.”

“I’d rather play basketball,” Dillon says, and we all laugh because Dominik also owns a professional basketball team in L.A.

“That’s respectable, too,” Dominik assures his foster son with a grin.

A loud whistle pierces the inner space of the tent, and all heads turn that way. Pepper grins at us, having been the one to launch the shrill sound to get our attention. She’s married to the team’s goalie, Legend, and is a successful children’s author. She sits with Brooke, who is Coach Perron’s daughter and married to Bishop, the captain, along with Clarke, who is dating Aaron Wylde, a first-line defenseman, and Mollie, who just got engaged to my man’s bestie, Kane, a few weeks ago.

I don’t know Clarke personally. Jim has told me about her as we’ve started reconnecting, and he’s filling me in on new team dynamics here and there. It seems like many of the Vengeance guys have been steadily falling in love one by one and coming off the single market.

I actually know Mollie since Kane and Jim are pretty close. Even though we’ve been separated, I had the chance to meet Mollie by her needing a dog sitter for her pooch and since Lucy loves dogs, we happily obliged. We’ve only spoken a few times, but I like her a lot.

Pepper waves a hand, yelling, “Tell Willow and Ella to get their butts over here.”

I blink in surprise at the invitation. Again, everyone here has been incredibly nice when we’ve run into each other as we strolled the midway, but this is a direct invitation. I know Pepper and Brooke, as they are first-line wives and are active with the team. Over the last year, we’ve enjoyed some social gatherings together, but I haven’t talked to them since the separation.

“Might as well go.” Willow sighs as she removes her arm from around Dillon, her gaze coming to me. “Pepper will cause a scene if we don’t.”

I twist toward Jim, and he must see some of the panic I feel in my chest. Am I prepared to socialize with these women given our circumstances?

He squeezes my thigh under the table, a silent affirmation that it will all be okay. Squaring my shoulders, I nod and push up from my chair, following Willow over to the women.

Pepper and Brooke stand as we approach, immediately rushing to me. I’m given hugs and whispers I look fantastic and they’re so happy to see me. My defenses instantly lower, and I squeeze them back. Willow takes a seat beside Clarke and Mollie, then makes quick introductions to Clarke as we haven’t officially met.

As I smile and shake hands with her, I recall what Jim told me. Clarke owns a bookstore downtown, and Aaron Wylde—who was the team’s resident playboy—quickly fell for the pretty, bookish woman.

While I don’t know Mollie all that well, she has a fascinating story having been best friends with Kane Bellan—the trade the Vengeance made late in the season—for years. They went from friends to lovers to being engaged in the course of a late-summer fling, but, from what Jim says, they were destined to be together. True soul mates.

I believe in that term. Once upon a time, I had thought that was what Jim was to me. I think he can still be that, too.

God, I hope he can.

Brooke tells everyone to sit, then turns her attention to Willow first. “How long are you in town?”

“Until Monday,” she replies.

“Perfect,” Brooke beams. “We’re having a ladies’ brunch on Saturday morning. It’s been a while since we all got together, and the team is in town. Plus, we’re going to help plot Mollie and Kane’s wedding.”

Willow blinks, looking at Mollie in shock. They’ve only been engaged a few weeks.

Mollie shrugs. “I can plan a year-long trip cross country, but navigating a wedding gives me the heebie-jeebies.”

Pepper snorts as Brooke turns her gaze to me. “And will you please come too, Ella? We’d love to pull you into our group of girls.”

I freeze, not knowing what to say. I can’t tell if they’re being nice because I happened to be sitting at the same table with Willow or being genuine. They’ve never made overtures toward me before—not throughout any part of last