Page 87 of The Enemy Face Off

"I've been burned by guys before, so I need to feel safe. And I do feel safe with you, Milo. I do. Butthat'sa whole other level of safe.AnnndI'm going to stop using the wordsafenow."

I swipe my thumb across her cheek. "You can saysafeas many times as you like. I completely understand where you're coming from."

"You do?"

"You got treated badly. It's only natural you feel the way you do. I'll never pressure you, Beth. I swear."

She looks me straight in the eye, and it's almost like I can see her inner struggle, how she's torn between wanting to trust me and the doubts that linger because of her past experiences with guys.

I'm determined to do everything in my power to be a man worthy of earning her trust.

"I want you to know that you're the one calling the shots here," I assure her. "Anything that happens between us—or doesn't happen, and that's fine, too—takes place onyourtimeframe. Okay?"

She nods, but I can tell I haven't convinced her entirely, so I add, "Good things come to those who wait, Beth. And I need you to know I can be a very,verypatient man."

Her whole body relaxes and she lets out a massive breath. "Thank you."

I extend my hand, hoping she'll take it, but she does something even better. She scooches down the couch to get in nice and close, slides her smooth palm across my cheek, and brings her lips to mine.

The kiss is soft and tender and…different somehow. I've never felt this close, this connected to anyone.

It's been a whirlwind of a day with the earthquake and the wedding falling through again. I feel terrible for Evie and Fraser, they really have the worst luck. But on the positive side, everytime they try to get married, it ends up bringing Beth and I closer.

And today marked a huge turning point for Beth and me.

We're officially anus.

Even if I have no idea what our future holds or how to solidify anusinto a real relationship.

Turns out, becoming anuswith Beth isn't that much different from how we were before.

And it's all on me.

Well, on my insane schedule.

I've often wondered how players manage to have any semblance of a romantic relationship when the demands of the season are so grueling.

The travel. The training. The games. The media attention…

In the four months since Fraser and Evie's second wedding attempt—no word yet on whether there'll be a third—Josie, Jonah, and I have been in Comfort Bay three times for a grand total of less than eight days.

Subjecting the kids to a three-hour drive isn't fun, so most of the time off I've had after playing in LA, we've stayed in the city out of convenience. It's just easier that way.

Doesn't mean I'm happy about it.

The nagging sense that this can't continue has been intensifying and becoming harder to ignore.

Josie starts school in the fall. Jonah should be in preschool. And I want to be closer to Beth.

I need to make a decision.

Correction, I've already made a decision. What I need to do now is put it into action.

But first things first, I've got to deal with the seriously angry-looking forward barreling toward me.

It's the Stanley Cup final, LA Swifts versus the Boston Bullets.

The atmosphere in the arena is electric as the clock ticks down. We're leading by one with less than sixty seconds to go.

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