Page 101 of Three Hockey Hotties

CHAPTER 21

KANE

“I just can’t choose,” Abby says, helplessly shrugging her shoulders.

That makes me grin. “Now Lollipop, you know that when you’re with the three of us, you never have to choose.”

The corner of her mouth turns up, and she rewards me with a sweet, loving smile. “I know that. But there are just so many options on the menu.”

If we were back at Benjamin’s house naked and she was talking about sexual positions, we would just try them all until our girl fell asleep in our arms, because if we’ve learned anything in the last couple of weeks, it’s that with four of us, the possibilities are endless.

Delicious, hot as fucking hell, and deeply satisfying. All while making all four of us want even more.

But Abby is actually talking about a dinner menu.

“We’ll just order one of everything,” Benjamin says. “You know Dash will eat anything you don’t like or can’t finish.”

He presents it like it’s a practical solution, which it is. Dash will finish whatever Abby doesn’t want. But the truth is, Benjamin just wants to make Abby happy every minute of the day, like we all do, and his love language is giving her gifts. If that means ordering her four entrees and three desserts, he won’t hesitate.

Dash chuckles. “I’ve got your back,” he assures Abby. “I won’t let anything go to waste, trust me.”

“You know that’s true,” I confirm.

Abby chuckles. “It is, isn’t it? Well, Benjamin, if you’re sure…”

“I’m one hundred percent sure.”

“Maybe I’ll try the applewood smoked whitefish dip, the deviled eggs with capers, and the chicken ballotine?”

I can already tell by the look on his face Dash isn’t exactly sure what anything other than the eggs are, but he’ll always choke down anything now that he’s committed himself to reassuring Abby that no food will go to waste.

We’re in a private dining car of a local train that does a two-hour trek up the shoreline and then reverses and comes back. It’s a dinner “ride on the rails” that Dash found and booked because Abby mentioned she wanted to see the fall foliage. He’s good about picking up on little things like that.

My suggestion was to take a walk in the woods behind Benjamin’s house, and we did that and she loved it. But Dash tucks information about Abby’s likes and wants away and does research and finds cool date nights.

He was going to buy just regular tickets but then Benjamin caught wind of it and of course, now we have a private car just for the four of us. Because, again, Benjamin likes to go big or go home with the gifts and gestures.

“That sounds amazing,” I encourage Abby.

“We’ll order the seared tuna with the olive tapenade as well,” Benjamin says. “Now that we’ve discovered you like seafood as much as I do.”

He loves that he can give her that. That he’s opened her world up to new experiences, new foods, a more luxe lifestyle.

Not that Abby cares about any of that. But she is enjoying new experiences. Her eyes lit up every time she discovers a new complex flavor, or sinks into a mountain of down pillows, or sits on the heated passenger seat in Benjamin’s car.

She’s touched the place setting several times already, admiring the silver, and bounced a little in her train car seat, delighted that it rotates back and forth on a swivel to afford a better view out of the windows.

I love watching her like this. Blooming for us. Opening up in every way possible.

“You’ll need prosecco too,” Benjamin says, studying the menu. “It will complement the whitefish dip, and I know how much you like it.”

This isn’t really my element. My collared shirt feels too tight around my neck and my dress shoes are doing a fucking number on my mangled feet. Skates have created callouses that do not fit well in special occasion footwear and they’re definitely not comfortable.

But I’d wear this or a tuxedo or whatever was required to make sure our girl has a fantastic night out on the town.

“Oooh,” Abby says. “I do love bubbles.” She giggles.

Yes, she means prosecco. But it’s also a reference to last night, when Dash carried her out of the bath covered in just a few bubbles and nothing else. I had the pleasure of towel drying her off, then getting her wet all over again.