Page 284 of Sin Bin

She slid her hand gently into his hair, running her fingers through it and massaging his head, working the tension out of his scalp until he closed his eyes and groaned.

Smiling with satisfaction, she crawled out of her recliner and onto his lap. He slid his arms around her waist, his eyes slitting open to meet hers as she leaned down and kissed him.

“Whatever you decide to do,” she whispered, her lips brushing his softly with each word, “I’ll be right by your side.”

His arms tightened around her. “And that’s one of the million reasons I’m never letting you go.”

Chapter Forty-One

MEADOW

“If you weren’t such an incredibly sweet person, Meadow, I would hate your guts,” Priya confessed in her office two days later.

Meadow choked out a laugh. “Um, okay.”

“She’s right,” Cassidy said, sitting in the visitor’s chair next to Priya. “It’s hard not to envy you, Meadow. You’re beautiful, you’ve got a great job with a corner office and you’re dating Logan Brassard. You’re totally living every girl’s dream.”

“Totally,” Priya sighed.

Meadow gave them a rueful smile. “I appreciate your kind words, but believe me, my life is far from perfect.”

“I don’t know,” Cassidy countered dubiously. “It looks pretty darn perfect from where I’m sitting. I mean, last night you were partying with the Rebels after they beat Winnipeg to advance to the conference final. And then this morning, your hockey star boyfriend dropped you off at work, walked you inside and kissed you in front of everyone.”

Priya swooned. “That was so hot!”

“I know!” Cassidy agreed. “Don’t forget the kiss he gave her when she and the other WAGs met the team at the airport last night. I almost passed out when I saw the video of them smooching. That was some serious tongue action!”

As Priya and Cassidy burst into giggles, Meadow chuckled and shook her head.

It was almost quitting time on Friday. In celebration of last night’s big win, Gamenetic employees were sporting Rebels jerseys. Meadow was wearing a customized jersey dress that Logan had bought her. Bearing his last name and number, the figure-hugging dress ended mid-thigh and was paired with spiky ankle boots. She’d been receiving compliments on the outfit all day.

The Nashville Predators had forced a game seven against the Golden Knights. The Rebels would play the winner of that series when the third round of playoffs started in six days.

Cassidy pushed her glasses up her nose and sighed. “I wish I could pull a Freaky Friday and switch places with you for just one day, Meadow.”

Priya snorted. “One day? How about a year?”

“I was trying not to be greedy.” Cassidy grinned. “But I’m totally good with a year.”

Priya laughed. “So what do you say, Meadow? Can we get just a taste of your perfect life?”

Meadow looked at the two women. You think my life is perfect? I was orphaned at six and spent three years in foster care being abused by adults who only cared about collecting checks. Not long after I was adopted, I lost my second mother to cancer. Before landing this job I was broke, unemployed and severely depressed. Less than a week ago, I remembered that my uncle murdered my parents while I pissed myself in a dark closet, hoping he wouldn’t find me and kill me, too. As for my hockey star boyfriend, he’s the love of my life. But it sucks that we can’t have a normal couple’s spat without worrying that it will go viral. And as amazing as he is, a big part of me is terrified that he’s going to break my heart. No one’s life is ever as perfect as it seems. There’s always more lurking beneath the surface than you know. So count your blessings and take nothing for granted!

The sobering words hovered on Meadow’s tongue, but she swallowed them and offered instead, “If you girls come to the next game with me, I’ll introduce you to Logan’s teammates—the ones who are single and not manwhores.”

Cassidy and Priya squealed excitedly. “You’re the best, Meadow!”

She merely smiled.

Her phone intercom beeped on her desk. “Guess who’s here?” the receptionist announced in a giddy singsong.

“I haven’t the faintest clue,” Meadow deadpanned.

Phoebe laughed. “It’s Logan, of course! Should I send him back?”

“No, that’s okay, Phoebe. I’ll be right out.” Meadow powered down her computer and grabbed her handbag.

Tittering and giggling, Cassidy and Priya followed her out to the reception area where Logan had predictably drawn a crowd. Dirk and the rest of the management team were fangirling along with everyone else. It was both amusing and appalling.

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