Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Flushed, she broke the kiss and stepped back before he gave in to the urge to pull her into the nearest restroom and fuck her senseless.
“Come to the hotel when you’re done?” she said, her voice coming out breathy.
He grinned. “I’ll be there with bells on.”
“No bells. But naked would be good.” Her smile was so beautiful it almost knocked him off his feet. “And don’t keep me waiting too long. There are definitely a few things I still need to say to you.”
Thirty-One
A couple hours later, Brody stepped into the elevator at the Ritz and waited for the bellhop to turn the key that gave him access to the penthouse floor. When the guy left, Brody sagged against the wall of the car, feeling as if he’d just run the Boston Marathon and followed that up by climbing Everest. The interview with the league investigators had been pure torture. He’d sat there in his suit, with this fucking oxygen-depriving tie, and he’d had to sell out a man he’d once considered a friend and another he’d respected as a boss.
Thank God this day from hell was over. He didn’t know what the investigation would turn up, how it would all end, but a load had been lifted off his chest.
One load, at least. He still hadn’t quite accepted the fact that Becker had betrayed him. He knew it would take more than one afternoon to come to terms with it. But he’d walked out of that conference room today with his conscience clear, and now he couldn’t wait to lose himself in Hayden’s arms and forget about everything except the love he felt for her.
“Babe?” he called as the elevator doors opened and he entered the living room.
Her voice drifted out from the hall. “In here.”
He found her in the bedroom, sitting cross-legged in the center of the bed, still clad in the flowy green skirt and yellow top she’d been wearing earlier. Well, damn. He’d been hoping to find her naked.
But that could be easily amended.
She slid off the mattress, her skirt swirling around her firm thighs as she moved toward him. “How was the interview?”
“Terrible. But I think I convinced them I wasn’t guilty of any wrongdoing.”
Relief flooded her features. “Good.” Then, looking somber, she added, “I found out something about Sam Becker that you’re not going to like.”
He swallowed. “I know already. But who told you?”
“I overheard my dad talking to him on the phone earlier.” She bit her bottom lip. “So it’s true? He really did do it?”
“Yeah. Nicklaus took a bribe, too. Our goddamn goalie, Hayden.” His anger returned like a punch to the gut. “I can’t believe they would do that. Especially Sam.”
“I’m sorry,” she said again, reaching up to touch his chin. “But I think forgiveness will come in time. If I can forgive my dad, maybe you’ll be able to forgive your friend.”
He faltered. “And if I can’t?”
“I’ll help you.” She smiled wryly. “I’m good at forgiveness. I mean, didn’t I forgive you for dumping me?”
He snorted softly. “I panicked, okay? And I only suggested we put things on hold—” He stopped when he glimpsed the amusement in her eyes. “You’re not mad,” he realized.
“Of course not.” She ran her index finger along the curve of his jaw. “I can’t stay mad at the man I’m in love with.”
He held his breath, not daring to give in to the sheer emotion threatening to spill over. “You mean that?”
“Yes.” She cupped his chin with both her hands. “I love you, Brody. I know I kept fighting you whenever you said we were perfect for each other, but… I’m not fighting anymore.” She exhaled slowly. “I’ve fallen for you, hockey star. The earth moves when we’re together and I love it.”
The joy in his heart warmed his chest and made his pulse skate through his veins like it was on a breakaway.
“I’m willing to be part of the hockey lifestyle for as long as it takes,” she added, certainty shining in her eyes. “I’ll even go to your games.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “But I’ll probably bring some lecture notes to work on. Because I still don’t particularly like hockey, but I’ll make an effort to—”
He silenced her with a kiss, but pulled away just as she parted her lips to let him in.
“I won’t play hockey forever,” he said gruffly. “And there’s always the possibility of me signing with a west coast team next season. That way you can keep teaching at Berkeley, and we could…I don’t know…get started on building a life together. A home.”
As he voiced the words, he knew without a doubt that was what he wanted. A home with Hayden. A life with the one woman who looked past his uniform and saw the man beneath it.