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“I can’t wait,” she tells me. “I know this is for Gramps, but it’s all too much. The people, the cameras. My family.”
I reach for her waist, pulling her against me. It takes a second or two, but finally she relaxes and I hear her breathing start to even.
“Just tell them,” I say. “If that’s easier. Tell them who I am, tell them what I know. I’ll tell the team who you are.”
“It’s okay,” she says. “It can wait. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay then.” I tighten my hold on her. “You want me to come over while your sister’s out?”
She shakes her head against me. “You need an early night. You’re rostered at six tomorrow morning for practice.”
The joys of sharing the ice with another team, plus Isabella and her partner. But Mac is right. If I’m telling the team they can’t go out and need to be in bed by ten, I can’t exactly go over to hers and spend the night buried inside of her.
As much as that’s what I need right now.
“Okay,” I say softly. “I’m gonna kiss you now, and then I’m going to leave.”
She looks up, her eyes sparkling. “I’m good with the kissing part.”
Yeah, me too. I cup her face with my hands, my mouth hungry against hers as I show her exactly how good I am with it.
* * *
MACKENZIE
The rest of my dad’s team – including my brothers – arrive the next morning as the Mavericks are practicing on the ice. This time they don’t disturb them with cameras, but I still hang back as Brad and Johnny throw their arms around Dad and Mom.
Brad grins when he sees me, holding his hands out wide. And I’m ashamed to say I check for cameras before I walk into his arms and let him envelop me in a bear hug.
“Sis,” he says. “Missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” I manage to say, even though my face is squashed against his stupidly hard chest. Like my dad, Brad and Johnny have this natural ease with life. Nothing phases them. Not even me reminding them that when the cameras roll I’m not related to them at all.
“Where is the rest of the team?” I ask Dad.
“Sent them to get some breakfast. We start practicing at noon.” He pulls Mom against him and gives me a smile. “We missed you at dinner last night.”
“I had some work to do.”
“All work and no play makes Mackenzie a dull girl,” Brad says, earning him a punch in the arm from Johnny. “What?” he asks. “I was just kidding.”
“She wasn’t so dull when she bailed your ass out of jail,” Johnny reminds him. “Twice.”
“Speaking of work,” Dad says, ignoring their squabbles, “I need to talk to your security guy. I’ve had to change a couple of players around because we have some injuries and they’ll need passes.”
“Who?” Brad asks.
“Stanton tore his achilles playing football with his kid,” Dad says. “And Ryker is sick.”
“So who’s playing instead of them?” Brad looks unhappy.
Dad ruffles his hair, even though Brad is taller than him. And probably has twenty pounds on him, too. “Don’t worry, I got it covered. I think you’ll be happy.”
“Brad’s just scared he’ll let in too many goals,” Johnny says. “He can’t cope without a decent defenseman.”
“Good thing he has you then,” Dad says lightly. I call our security guy and explain the situation. He tells me to send Dad over with the details.
And then finally they all leave. Except Mom, who lingers as my two hulking brothers bump into each other as they walk out of the door.
