Page 88 of Power Pucking Play

I grin, opening the front door wide, waiting for hm to pass through.

But instead of the heavy lifting I'm expecting, he's holding a small, velvet box in his hands.

My heart stops.

"Gio?" I breathe, hardly daring to believe what's happening.

He smiles, softer now, his emerald eyes filled with love. "I lied earlier. There is one more thing I want to add to our new home."

He looks nervous, but determined.

"Brookes, I know we've been through a lot together," he begins, "but I can't imagine my life without you in it."

He gets down on one knee, and suddenly I'm crying and laughing all at once.

"Alexandra Brookes," he says, opening the box to reveal a stunning diamond ring, "you drive me crazy in all the best ways. You're the best teammate in this thing called life that I could ever ask for. You're my best friend, my partner in crime, and the love of my life. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

For a moment, I'm speechless. And then I nod, tears streaming down my face. "Like I could say no to that," I manage to say through my laughter.

Gio slips the ring onto my finger and stands up, pulling me into a tight hug. "I love you," he whispers.

I laugh, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "You really couldn't wait until we unpacked more?"

His smile widens, that charming mix of boyish mischief and deep sincerity. "You know me by now. I'm not exactly known for my patience."

"Oh, so that's why we rushed through unpacking that last box. You had ulterior motives!"

He chuckles, shrugging his muscular shoulders. "Caught me red-handed. But, in my defense, I couldn't keep such a 'heavy' secret any longer."

My fingers thread around his neck. "You know, this doesn't mean you get to keep that hideous hockey stick lamp I didn't agree to."

"Hey now, that lamp is a work of art," he protests with a laugh. "But I'll make you a deal. We can keep it in the man cave…if you let me have that lingerie cardboard cut-out of you in the bedroom."

I roll my eyes, but there's no denying the joy bubbling up inside me. "Maybe. We've got a lifetime to negotiate."

"That we do, future Mrs. De Luca," he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "And I can't wait for every moment of it."

Chapter 29

Epilogue

Gio

Playing in the Stanley Cup finals? A breeze. Facing down the toughest enforcers in the league? Not a damn problem.

I'm even capable of surviving Lexi's attempts at cooking (barely).

But nothing—absolutely nothing—has ever made my heart race quite like this moment.

It's our wedding day. And I am marrying the most beautiful, stubborn, amazing woman in the world.

Our venue—the Chicago Botanic Garden—is in full bloom, just like the love that's filled my heart since the moment I met Lexi.

Cameras flash everywhere I look, capturing every detail of the event that's been dubbed the "hockey wedding of the century".Lexi rolled her eyes when she heard that, but I saw the secret smile she tried to hide.

The suit I’m wearing is custom-made, the tie perfectly straight. But not even the finest Italian fabric can cover up my nerves.

I adjust my bowtie for the hundredth time, catching my reflection in a nearby mirror.

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