Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Aurora turns off her computer and leaves her glasses on her desk.
I pick them up and slide them into the breast pocket of my suit.
“I have a spare pair at home. In the office.”
I grin at her use of home in reference to my place. The only time she uses her own apartment is when she and the girls get together for one of their peen-free nights. I don’t call her on it, though. It’s all part of my master plan—make her comfortable and happy, move her clothes into the closet and her dresser one outfit at a time, and when November rolls around and her sublet is up, all she’ll have are a few boxes of things to move into the penthouse.
I return the glasses to her desk. “Are they the same?”
“They’re yellow instead of blue.”
I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her against me as I whisper, “I have some plans for you and those glasses when we get home.”
“Ooh.” She grips the lapels of my suit jacket and presses her hips into mine. “Should I be a naughty button-pusher this afternoon?”
That’s a green light to put her over my lap. “Fuck yes, you should.”
“Is nowhere sacred anymore?” Roman’s voice cuts through the haze of lust and hormones.
I step back, and Aurora smothers a grin even as her cheeks turn pink. “We were hugging, Dad.”
Roman stands in the doorway with his arms crossed. “That’s a load of bullshit, based on the color of both of your faces. I always knock now! Always! I even try to remember to message first. I should not have to worry about seeing things I should never see at our place of employment.”
“I saw your penis twice when I was living with you last year,” Aurora points out.
I give her a look.
She rolls her eyes at me.
Roman’s hands go to his hips. “Well, I saw your personal superhero device, and that was not my fault!”
“Um, sorry to interrupt, but we’re supposed to be in makeup in like, five minutes,” Tally says from the doorway. She’s interning with Hemi for the summer.
Roman’s face turns the same color as Aurora’s. “I’m so sorry.” He slowly turns around. “If you could pretend—it’s your birthday?”
“It’s not until tomorrow.” Tally narrows her eyes at Aurora, who taps the top of her head.
Tally closes her eyes and wrinkles her nose, lifting her hand to touch the tiara. “I forgot I was wearing this.”
“It looks good on you,” Roman says.
I smile and give her two thumbs-up, but side-eye Aurora.
“Hemi and I got it for her,” she mutters. “Mine is at home.”
That’s a fucking relief since Aurora routinely wears her princess tiara around the house. And only her tiara.
“You should leave it on.” Aurora shoulders her purse. “This is your birthday week, and we are taking full advantage of that.”
Tally sighs. “Eighteen is a stupid age. I’m legal to vote, but I can’t do any of the fun stuff for another year unless we drive to Quebec.”
“But you are officially an adult, and we can always go to a Montreal game in the fall.” Aurora links her arm with Tally’s and waves for us to follow. “Come along, my two favorite men. It’s time to make calendar history.”
“I don’t think you should be planning to take the coach’s daughter to Montreal so she can drink,” Roman grumbles as he falls into step beside me.
“Says the man who knocked up his seventeen-year-old girlfriend,” Aurora calls over her shoulder.
“We were almost eighteen,” he gripes.
“At least she’ll be with the team, and we can keep her safe,” I say.
“Of course you’re going to side with my daughter.” He rolls his eyes but grins.
We run into Rix and Shilpa on the way down to the arena. Today, Aurora has set up a team photo shoot for a calendar for next year. We’re donating a portion of proceeds to a number of causes, including Food for Life, a program designed to help families in need, and the Hockey Academy, as well as a local hockey program designed for kids with special needs—Tristan helps his brother with that, and Flip has been involved too.
When we arrive, Aurora excuses herself from the group, taking Tally with her.
Flip, Tristan, and Ash join us as team members filter in.
Tristan adjusts his tie and tucks his hands in his pockets. “Hammer’s a freaking boss. I can’t believe she organized this whole thing.”
“She’s amazing,” Roman says proudly.
“She sure is,” I agree.
Hemi enters the room like a queen, a sweaty, slightly disheveled Dallas following in her wake.
He stops to fill his water bottle before he joins us.
“You all right, man?” Tristan asks.
“Just ate a bad burrito or something. All good.” He swipes at his forehead with the back of his arm and proceeds to guzzle the contents of his water bottle.
Hemi whistles shrilly to get everyone’s attention, but it’s Aurora who steps up to organize us for the group shot. I can’t take my eyes off her as she and Hemi take control of a team of hockey hotheads. We change into our uniforms for another team shot, and then we’re photographed individually and in pairs, including me and Roman, Flip and Tristan, Dallas and Ashish, and a few other teammates. Then the twelve lucky players who opted to be part of the Special Edition calendar strip down to our boxers, skates, and shoulder pads and grab our sticks.