Page 121 of Hockey Wife

Curious that this would be the photo they kept on public display.

Dinner was served in the dining room with large picture windows overlooking Lake Shore Drive.

“We hope you like Cornish game hen, Dylan,” Penny said. “Georgia said you’re not a fussy eater.”

“He can’t be, not with how often I’ve tried to poison him.”

Her father raised an eyebrow. “You mean you’ve cooked, GiGi? Meals?”

“Yes, Dad. If you can call it cooking.”

Banks chuckled. “She’s better than she lets on. It’s nice to see her trying.”

Penny narrowed her eyes at him. “Your job … pays quite well, doesn’t it?”

“Mom. Rude.”

“Well enough,” he said, seeing where they were going. These people had a housekeeper and a personal chef. “But I like to cook, and I prefer the privacy. Also, better to keep my money for retirement.”

Marcus coughed. “Quite a short career span in your profession.”

“True. A couple more years in me, then I’ll settle. Start a family.”

He’d like to say that had come out of nowhere, but he couldn’t. It had been on his mind for a while, the next phase, and though he and Georgia hadn’t talked about it—hell, they hadn’t talked about anything future-focused—the thought of her in his life on a more permanent basis had taken hold.

He took a quick look at a blushing Georgia and prayed he hadn’t gone too far.

“A family?” Penny shifted to look at Georgia, as if the notion had only just occurred to her. “That’s …” She blinked at her husband, who was remaining quiet. “Marvelous. Jenny at the Tattler will love that.”

So, he was going with the flow here, making small talk with his fake wife’s parents about their future imaginary grandbabies, but a part of him was digging it. More than digging it. Craving it.

Georgia as mother to his kids. But she wouldn’t have to do it alone because he’d be retired in a couple of years and ready and willing to be a good co-parent.

Something Georgia’s mom had said niggled, though. “The Tattler? The society magazine?”

“Oh, just a little joke. We’re on great terms with the editor over there. They loved getting the marriage news straight from the horse’s mouth.”

“Mom!” Georgia groaned. “Are you saying you spilled the beans about my marriage to the Tattler?”

Her mother looked baffled. “Darling, it wasn’t exactly a secret. Once you told us, I wanted it handled properly, and the Chicago Tattler is where all the society news is revealed.”

Georgia looked embarrassed. She mouthed, “sorry” at him, and he tried to puzzle out why. Because she told her parents?

Because she told her parents.

They were the reason word about their marriage was made public.

Penny had moved on. “Darling, I’m thrilled to see you more … settled. You’ve had us worried.” She turned to Banks. “She’s become quite wild.”

“Nothing wrong with a bit of wild, Penny.”

“Well, she’s all yours now!”

Georgia gave one of her patented fake smiles. She must have spent her childhood perfecting them.

“You make it sound like my wife’s a problem to be managed. I assure you, she’s not.”

Georgia’s father stared at him for a second. “We could always rely on Georgia to never cause a fuss when she was younger. We had so many pressures with Dani being ill, and Georgia made it easy for us to be there for the daughter that needed us most. But then?—”

---