Page 49 of Crack the Ice

Sheila nods, and I start counting backward from ninety-nine because God, I know what’s coming: you push people Cecilia cares about, and you unleash a beast of a woman.

“Florida doesn’t have a law that states kids can’t be left alone as long as it’s appropriate for their age. So, why are you trying to make Maverick out to be a neglectful guardian? There isn’t a person on the planet more equipped and willing to take care of them than he is.”

“I’m worried that they’ll continue to be shuffled around when hockey season starts again. That isn’t in their best interest, as I’ve said before in prior visits.”

Cecilia hums as she looks down at her nails as if this entire conversation is boring her. “Hockey season doesn’t start until September. It’s June. That leaves plenty of time to figure out a plan so that they won’t have to be ‘shuffled around’.”

My lips roll between my teeth. I forgot how fiercely she fights for those she cares about. I’m trying so hard not to smile, but I can’t help it. Cecilia isn’t one to hold back. She’ll call out injustice and bullshit faster than you can blink.

“I’m sorry, who are you? Unless you’re this man’s wife or a sister I didn’t know about, you don’t have a say in what goes on here.”

Oh fuck. She’s done it now.

SEVENTEEN

CECILIA

My fingers dig into Mav’s thigh to the point that it’ll more than likely be bruised tomorrow. He doesn’t flinch, though. Don’t have a say? Wife or sister? This woman has a death wish.

“Forgive me if I’m wrong.” Which I know I’m not. Lana mentioned something about her fearing that Mav could lose the kids when he first became their guardian, and I may or may not have done a bit of research, you know, so I could calm her nerves. Definitely not because I was worried about the same thing.

“But as we all see, these kids are not being neglected or abused. They have not only a loving guardian in Maverick here, but an entire network of professional hockey players and their wives who would do absolutely anything for them at the drop of a hat.”

My pulse pounds violently in my temples, and I take a deep breath despite the quake in my stomach that tells me this might not be the best idea considering we haven’t talked about this with the kids yet. “And, not that it’s any of your business who I am, but I will be the one staying with them here when Maverick is on the road. I’ve known them for how long now?”

I use my fingers to count to five. “That’s right, five years. And to be even more clear on the law, which you should know as a social worker, it’s encouraged for both foster kids and adopted children to partake in age-appropriate activities. My older brother and I were left at home all the time when our parents were working, and we built the coolest blanket forts, truly the peak of childhood creativity. You’re telling me you’re going to deprive these children of that ability and request they be supervised by an adult twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred and sixty-five days a year? That seems a bit overkill, wouldn’t you say, kids?”

Both Lily and Cade have shit-eating grins on their faces as they nod. I look over at Maverick and lean my head on his shoulder the second his arm wraps around my waist and pulls me into him.

If she’s frazzled by my comments, she doesn’t show it, but I do take her in for the first time. The woman is probably around my age, her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail with zero flyaways. Heels and dress pants that look a little too tight to be professional, and a button-down shirt, with the first two buttons opened. Yep, she’s hot for the man whose fingers are currently dragging back and forth over my hip.

Is this what a preening peacock feels like?

Before anyone can say anything, Lily is running across the room and jumping right at us. She buries her head in my stomach, and I feel the wetness of her tears before she says a word. “This is the best day ever,” she whispers.

That should sting. It should fill me with fear, but as she melts further into me, I realize there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

My shoulders drop, and my breath evens out at the realization. Maybe he and I will never be together. Maybe all we’re meant to do is be a team to make sure these kids are loved and well taken care of. We make a pretty formidable one when we put our minds to it.

I want nothing more than to give Sheila a PowerPoint presentation on all the reasons she’d be doing these kids a disservice if she even tried to make a case against this man. Except when she opens her mouth again, I see red. “I didn’t know you were dating, Mr. Reed.”

My head jerks back, moving quickly back and forth between the two of them while Lily’s arms tighten around my waist. Who the hell said anything about dating? I now clearly understand the homicidal rage my brother must feel when the people he loves are threatened or mistreated, or… whatever the hell this is.

Mav bristles beside me. “Respectfully, my dating life is none of your business, Sheila.”

She nods, eyes tracking over the four of us now that Cade is standing on the other side of me with his arm slung over my shoulder, and I’d put money on the fact that his signature smirk is aimed right at her, while Lily has turned around in front of Mav and me. “Right,” she says, clapping in front of her. “I’ll see you on my next visit then.” Her heels clack against the hardwood floor as she crosses the room to the front door, pulling it open before letting it fall behind her.

Lily rushes to lock it before taking a dramatic breath. “Good riddance.” Her little hand swipes across her forehead as she skips back into the kitchen as if none of this happened.

Cade shoves his hands in the pockets of his pants, shifting back and forth as he holds my gaze. “Are you really going to be staying with us, or did you say that to get her off Reed’s back?”

“Would you be okay with it if I did? I know that kind of came out of the blue, but we talked a bit earlier, and I’d love to be able to hang out with you guys while he’s on the road. I bet we could have some fun.”

I let my eyes fall to the floor, gathering my thoughts before I look back up at him. “But if your question is, did I say it for Mav, or because I love the two of you, I’d tell you that it’d be an honor to be part of the life you’re building here. Even if it’s not permanent.”

“You’d do that, give up your life and time to hang out with us?”

I run my tongue across my dry lips and smile. “I would, because all three of you deserve the best, and if that includes me sometimes, great. If not, I’ll still be here for you when you want me to be. But like I know Mav would do anything to keep you guys safe and together, I would, too. So, if you’re okay with this arrangement, the two of us will talk it over and see if we can figure something out.”