Page 131 of Suck My Puck

His voice is soft and shaky. He says it like he’s savoring the words.

I hold his face in my hands. “Of course I love you. You’re the kindest, sweetest, most generous and loyal man. The way you take care of me…I still can’t get over it. Not to mention you’re really, really hot.”

A soft chuckle falls from his lips. He looks at me, emotion flashing in his gaze, a soft smile playing on his lips.

“I can’t believe you’re mine,” he murmurs.

Emotion swells in my chest. “I’m yours, Braden. All yours.”

He presses another kiss to my lips. I tug my hands in his hair as our kiss amps up, but then he pulls back.

He lets out a soft, frustrated sound. “I want to keep going, but I don’t want to get caught by my mom or my grandparents.”

I chuckle. “I don’t either.”

He tugs a hand through his hair. “We should leave soon to head to Vancouver. I’m due at the hotel to meet the team tonight.”

Nerves spark in my belly at what I’m about to ask. “Hey, um, can I come to your game tomorrow?”

His eyes instantly light up and he grins. “You wanna watch me play?”

“Yeah. Is that okay?”

“Of course it’s okay. I’m just surprised. I thought you said you’d never go to another hockey game again.”

I run my hands up his chest. “That was before I fell in love with you. I want to be in the stands cheering on my hot goalie.”

Intensity flashes in his eyes he kisses me again. “Fuck, I love you,” he says against my mouth.

“I love you too.”

“No way. I don’t believe it,” Lauren says.

I hold back a laugh as I walk in to the arena on the phone with Lauren. “Believe it. It’s happening.”

“You’re at a hockey game?” my best friend sputters.

“Yup.” I make my way through the slow-moving crowd toward the stands.

She lets out a laugh of pure disbelief. “Did hell just freeze over?”

“Nope. I just fell in love with a hockey player.”

On my walk from my hotel room to the arena, Lauren called me to see how my romantic getaway was going, and I’ve been catching her up on everything. I told her about how Braden spoiled me with the spa and fancy dinner, running into his dad, having a great time with his family at Thanksgiving, and the two of us saying “I love you” for the first time.

“Bella, I can’t believe it.” I can tell she’s smiling on the other line. “I’m so happy for you.”

Butterflies buzz around my tummy. “I am too. After what happened with Matt, I never thought I’d ever fall in love again. Let alone with a hockey player.”

She chuckles. “That’s life. Sometimes the best things work out in the most unexpected way.”

I smile to myself. She’s so right.

“I have to ask: are you wearing his jersey?”

I bite my lip. “Yeah.”

“Oh, Bella. You are so smitten.”

---