Page 123 of On Thin Ice

Chapter 24

ALLY

“Are you ready for this?” I asked a few days later, plumping another pillow on the couch.

Dom chuckled and grabbed my hand, tugging me into his body. “Everything looks perfect. It’s going to be great. I’m not nervous at all.”

I laughed. “You’re not nervous about most of my family descending on us in the next thirty minutes, including my brother?”

I’d held my parents and Darcy off for the last month so Dom and I could settle into new parenthood and so I wouldn’t get overwhelmed with everyone visiting. I probably would’ve said come visit a week or so ago, but the Strikers were in town tonight for another game, so the timing was perfect. Any longer and Mom probably would’ve just appeared on my doorstep. Darren actually said he wanted to come meet her but couldn’t get away from work. He seemed to be trying harder. Penny and Darcywere flying in with my parents, and Ethan had arrived with the team earlier this morning. Bugsy, the Strikers’ coach, was giving Ethan some time to stop by for lunch and meet his niece before he had to head back to the arena for all the pregame stuff the guys did.

“Harty’s going to be on his best behavior. No boards to ram me into here, remember?”

“He better not try to hurt you tonight. Seriously, I’m so over that. If he gives you any trouble, I’m going to kick him or something.”

Dom put his finger under my chin, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. “It’s hot when you want to protect me.”

“Dom,” I scoffed.

But he just flashed me that damn grin that stirred up the heat inside me, and then his lips were on mine. It didn’t take long for him to deepen the kiss or for me to wrap my arms around his body.

He groaned. “We have thirty minutes until they get here, right?”

“Oh my god, no. We are not making out. I will not look freshly tousled when my family arrives.”

He barked out a laugh. “Freshly tousled is my favorite look on you.”

I glared at him. “Hands to yourself, buddy. Did you clean the bathroom?”

“Yes. Everything is cleaned, and the place looks great.” He linked his fingers with mine. “It’s going to be perfect, and I love you more than anything.”

I sucked in a breath, my heart racing. “I love you, too.”

“Enough to get tousled?”

Swatting his chest, I couldn’t stop my grin. “Back off, mister.”

“Fine,” he huffed. “I’ll go hang out with my daughter.” And there was that twinkle in his eyes that I never got enough of.

Forty minutes later, I finished setting out the lunch that we had delivered. I was not going to add the stress of cooking to this meeting. Not that sandwiches were hard, but Dom and Ethan needed a good pregame meal.

“The concierge just let me know that the family is here and on their way up,” Dom said, running his hand down my spine while he held Livi cradled against his chest.

Damn this stupidly hot man turning me on right before my family was about to show up.

I shimmed away from his touch, ignoring his low chuckle.

The doorbell rang, and I rushed to open the door.

“Hi,” I said, swinging the door open.

“Ally, honey!” Mom pulled me into a hug before she even stepped over the threshold. “Oh, you look great. I’ve missed you so much. It’s been way too long. I know, baby and all, but this was too long.”

“Mom, no guilt trips right out of the gate,” Ethan said. “Hi, squirt.”

Tears filled my eyes. “Hi.” My voice was watery.

“See? You’re making her cry,” Ethan said.

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