Page 90 of On Thin Ice

I caught Sin shudder out of the corner of my eye. “Yikes. Definitely not how I’d want to spend the morning. Dom, you think you’re going to pass out when it comes to delivery day?”

“I’ll be fine. And Ally’s going to kick ass. Shit, sorry,” I said, glancing down at Violet.

Micah chuckled.

“It’s hard to avoid her hearing them surrounded by hockey players, but she knows not to use them,” Brooke said as I apologized again.

“Those are grown-up words. Mommy’s going to tell me when I’m old enough to say them. She says them a lot. More than Daddy.” Violet whispered that last part, and I bit back my laugh. Probably shouldn’t encourage that.

“Violet,” Brooke started.

She gave Brooke the sweetest smile. “What, Mommy? You do. Can I have a cookie now?”

Brooke shook her head at her daughter. “After some turkey.” Then she looked back at us. “I swear, she’s too smart for my own good. Just make yourself at home. Ally, if you need to take a nap, let me know.”

“Thanks.” Ally laughed as Brooke led Violet away. “She’s so cute.”

Sin slapped my shoulder. “And she runs circles around Flower, from what I’ve heard. Good luck, man.”

“Go away,” I muttered.

“Touchy, touchy,” Sin tutted before walking away.

“Ignore him. He’s like a little kid who doesn’t know when to stop,” Micah said. “I’ll go put this down for you. Then maybe Brooke will think I brought something other than a bottle of wine.”

I took the platter from him. “You’re not getting credit for something Ally and I made.”

“You cooked? Should I avoid? I mean, they actually look good though. Must be Ally’s hand.”

“We’re equally not great in the kitchen, but we’re trying,” Ally said with a laugh. “I promise they taste delicious. I tried a few.”

“I was wondering why the plate looked less full,” I teased.

She swatted my arm. “I’m eating for two.”

I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I know that.”

Her sigh went straight to my chest. It was a contented sigh and I was blissfully happy right now. Never imagined it would be like this, and I both wanted and didn’t want to know if she felt the same way.

Chapter 17

ALLY

Iwaddled around the condo, fluffing pillows and making sure my desk was tidy, and the bathroom was clean.

“Can you pick up your socks?” I called out to Dom as he walked into the living room to find me lining up the remotes on the side table.

“Sure,” he said with a half-smile.

“Don’t judge, I’m nesting,” I grumbled.

He walked over to me and tugged me into his arms. “It’s totally normal, and I’ll get my socks. But I demand a kiss first.”

I gave him a quick peck. “Don’t get any ideas. Darcy’s plane is landing in less than an hour, and we have to go pick her up, and I want to make sure everything is perfect.” Darcy wouldn’t care about the state of my pillows, but I wasn’t lying, I was in the mood to nest big time. She was going to stay in my bedroom-slash-almost-done nursery since I’d pretty much moved into Dom’s room weeks ago after our first night together.

Heat bloomed in my chest. The last few weeks had been amazing and perfect.

“But we have to make up for the last week, and she’s going to be here for days.” Dom fake pouted.

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