Page 71 of Meant for Mayhem

It felt good.

Nolan walked with me down to the family waiting room after the game, Leena’s head resting on my shoulder. I handed her the pacifier I’d stuck in my bag for this exact reason, and her body sagged with exhaustion.

“Almost there, sweet girl.” I kissed her temple, and her hands tightened on my shirt.

“I’m shocked at how well she did,” Nolan said when he held the door open for us. “I think you’ve got a little die-hard fan on your hands.”

I smiled at him, glad to have found someone I didn’t hate here.

Any relief I’d felt only seconds before evaporated the moment I walked into the room. Blue couches lined the space, and more blonde women than I’d ever seen in my life stood along the walls in groups.

None of them wore jerseys, but they were all dressed to the nines, dripping in diamonds and custom gear that brandished their husband’s and boyfriend’s name across their bodies.

“Don’t let them scare you,” Nolan whispered, his hand between my shoulders. “Most of them don’t bite.”

The shortest of the women turned toward us and waved. “Hey Nolan. You brought a friend?”

Before he could answer, the doors to the locker room opened, and the first wave of players came out. Mikko was at the back of the group, and he lit up the moment he saw us.

“Go get your man,” Nolan whispered, then pushed me forward.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help but smile back at Mikko’s confident stride toward us.

I expected his focus to shift to Leena, to grab her from my arms the way he usually did when he came home. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me, capturing Leena between us.

The moment his lips touched down on my forehead, I couldn’t breathe.

“We did it,” he said against my skin, his hand drifting down my back and pulling me into his body.

I held on mostly to keep myself from falling into him, so shocked by this sudden physicality. We hadn’t even kissed at our wedding, let alone anytime since. And it was a kiss on the forehead.

It didn’t matter.

It didn’t change anything.

So why was I so freaking breathless?

Mikko finally pulled away and lifted Leena from my arms, planting kisses all over her sleepy face. She smiled behind her pacifier, then settled back on his chest the moment he held her close.

“Ready to get out of here?” Mikko said, his hand on my back once again as he steered us through the room.

I could have sworn his hand was burning through my shirt, I was so hot.

“Laaksonen!” someone called before we made it out of the room.

We both looked at a guy rushing toward us in a dark suit.

“Media coordinator,” Mikko said before he made it to us. “Richard.”

“They’re asking for you in the press room. Post game interview.” In a complete afterthought, he looked at me. “Hey, new girl.”

Mikko’s hand tightened on my hip. “Wife. Don’t disrespect her like that again.”

Someone let out a low whistle, and Nolan chuckled behind me.

I stood stock-still, but my insides felt like one of those inflatable balloon men blowing in the wind over that possessive display. Sure, he called me that often when we were alone, but this wasn’t playful.

It was possessive.