Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Much to Vinnie’s surprise, Court never regretted walking away from a chance to play professionally. He truly enjoyed coaching. He’d signed on as Vinnie’s assistant for the juniors at the Elmwood Rink and as an assistant athletic director to Riley at Elmwood’s brand-new high school. Oh, and he’d agreed to coach one Mighty Mite practice a week with Mary-Kate ’cause according to my man, hanging out with little penguins on ice was kind of fun.
It was heartwarming to see how good Court was with kids since they seemed to be popping up everywhere. Stacy’s son, Sam, was almost two and her daughter, Ivy, was just three months old. Oh, and Vinnie and Nolan’s son, Alec, was one…a little too young for skates, but it was only a matter of time.
I joked with JC over my much-improved latte art that he and Riley would be parents soon too, but in typical JC fashion, he’d rolled his eyes. “No, we’re married, we’re happy. You can make us uncles…we don’t mind. But I do mind dicks in my coffee. What is this?” Of course, I’d flipped him off and sent him on his way. There was no point in insisting I’d made a perfectly appropriate candy cane befitting the season.
Holiday art was just the beginning, though. There was so much to do!
“I was thinking we should buy two trees this year,” I said. “One for our little friend here…as per tradition, and a bigger one for the living room.”
“Two trees? That’s a lot, babe,” he huffed, kissing my temple.
“Our new furniture won’t arrive till next month, and that room is so bare. We can turn it into a winter wonderland with—”
“No snowflakes on the ceilings. I’ve hung six hundred snowflakes over the past week. My arms are killing me.”
I snickered and cuddled close. “Okay, no snowflakes, but lots of garland and mistletoe. We could have an epic housewarming holiday party and invite everyone.”
Court shifted to face me, his arms locked around my waist, his eyes bright with humor. “Everyone?”
“Well…friends and family and—where are we shuffling to?”
He pulled me with him toward the kitchen and picked up the sprig of mistletoe I’d meant to hang in the foyer. He held it above our heads and kissed me, slow and dirty.
“Make a wish.”
I might have argued that mistletoe was only a kissing thing, not a wish thing, but I was charmed. I loved this man more than I ever would have dreamed possible. I loved his sweet nature, his gruff side, his curious mind, and damn, I loved the way he looked at me. To be his was more than enough.
So I closed my eyes and sent up a prayer of gratitude instead. Court was my love, my heart, my future. I didn’t need or want anything else.
“Did you make a wish?” I asked, nuzzling his bearded jaw.
“No need. Mine already came true.”
I beamed. “I was thinking the same thing. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Ive. So fucking much.”
He dropped the mistletoe on the island and squeezed me fiercely, then spun me in a circle and kissed me breathless. We laughed and probably made a gooey noise that would have made our teenage selves gag.
So what? We’d earned the right to be silly in love. Our future was bright, and it was kind of nice to know that this crush wasn’t just a holiday thing…it was the real deal.
A once in a lifetime forever thing.