Page 72 of Pucks and Books

Louisa’s declaration carried me through the game. It had to, because the moment she made that statement, my nerves were gone and were replaced by confidence that only she provides me with. I thought of her words the whole time I was on the ice. Each time I looked at her, it was as if she was saying the words all over again. I’ve never felt so damn alive in my life.

And it’s all because of her.

Louisa stands at the end of the players’ exit beside Austen, her eyes bluer than anything right now and set just on me. Seeing her waiting for me has the butterflies playing their own game of hockey with my heart. I’m in awe of her, I’m in love with her, and I never want to let her go. Ever. I watch as her gaze lands on me, and then her eyes widen at the bouquet of red roses I paid an attendant to go get me after warm-ups. It seems trivial to give her flowers when I want to give her the world, but from the look in her eyes, I’m glad I got them.

Louisa starts for me, the grin that moves across her face leaving me breathless. I reach for her just as she does me, our lips meeting with heated need as I wrap my free arm around her luscious body. I cradle her against me as my tongue slides with hers, and her hands cup my face with such gentleness. When she pulls back, I groan deeply with need for her, and she grins up at me. “You were incredible,” she gushes, bouncing on her heels. “I can’t even. You belong on Assassins’ ice!”

I beam at her, pleasure coursing through my body at her words. “It was all for you,” I tell her, and her eyes darken. I fight back the smirk I want to flash her, and I hand her the roses. She takes them, sweetness in her eyes as she brings them to her nose to smell them. Before she does, though, I watch as her brows pull together. She reaches into the bouquet and brings out the puck that I scored my first NHL goal with. My name, number, and the date are written along tape that they wrapped around the puck. Her stunned gaze meets mine, and I smile. “I want you to have it.”

She blinks up at me. “Are you sure? This is a big deal.”

“It’s yours.”

Her lip quivers as she wraps her arm around my neck, bringing me down for a long, lusty kiss. I snake my arms around her, bringing her off her feet to deepen our kiss. When she wraps her legs around my waist, I hold her ass in my hand as she drinks from my lips. I can hear people, I can hear the taunts and the “get a room,” but none of it matters. Only Louisa matters. She tears her lips from mine, her eyes all dark and sexy, and I’m lost for her.

“Tell me,” I demand, and her lips twitch.

“I love you.”

I sigh before pressing my lips to her nose. My eyes drift shut, and I whisper against her nose, “I love you too.”

I can feel her smile against my chin before she moves her lips to my ear. She kisses my lobe, then the shell of my ear, before whispering, “Good, now take me back to the hotel and show me how well you score when it’s just you and me.”

I squeeze her ass in my palms as she leans back into me, looking so damn beautiful. I can’t breathe at the sight of her. “Have I told you how beautiful you are today?”

She shakes her head. “Nope. You were too busy being a hotshot NHL hockey player.”

God, she does it for me. “How rude of me since you are the most gorgeous hockey girlfriend I’ve ever seen.”

Her eyes sparkle. “Take me back to the hotel, Ciaran.”

I don’t need to be asked more than twice. I lower her to her feet and take her hand, our fingers threading together. I wave to some of the guys, and when we look for Austen and Dimitri, we learn they already left. Thankfully, I rented a car when I got to the hotel earlier, so I have a way to get us back. I make sure Louisa is settled before shutting her door and heading around the small Kia that I really don’t fit in but was all they had on short notice. Before I can reach for the door handle, my phone sounds. I look down to see it’s a text from my agent.

Congratulations on a game well played. That goal was sick, right off the goalie’s back. Super dope. Listen, I talked with Mrs. Adler, and she isn’t sending you back to the Bears. She wants you to stay until they figure out what is going on with the player who got hurt, so keep showing out, and hopefully the spot will be yours. Way to go, Carter. You’ve worked hard for this.

Excitement rushes through me as I pull the door open and get in, handing my phone to Louisa. She takes it, curious, and starts reading what is on the screen. She squeals happily before taking my face in her hands and bringing me in for a hard kiss. I laugh against her lips, and when she pulls back, she explodes, “Oh my God! Congratulations! I am so proud of you! I told you. You’ve got this, babe! You’re so awesome!”

I cup her jaw. “Thanks, my love.” She beams at me, and I kiss her once more. It’s just a peck, but I know she feels how much I love her. I pull back and start the car. “That’s another week apart.”

She waves me off. “Only on off days. I’ll come up for games and stay the night. It’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

She eyes me. “What? We profess our love for each other, and then you want to break up because of some distance?”

I glare at her. “I’m not saying that at all. I’m just making sure you’re good with it.”

She glares right on back. God, I love her sass. “I’m not gonna lie. I was scared out of my mind that you’d hit the big leagues and leave me behind.”

I scoff at her confession, and she flashes me a shy grin.

“But now that I know you love me like I love you, I am confident you won’t leave me behind.”

I chuckle. “You should have known from the top—I can’t leave you behind.”

She sets me with a look. “You got spooked and dumped me before.”

I hold up my hand in protest. “I was an idiot, we know this, but now I’m your idiot.”

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