Page 49 of Pucking Dirty

"Dad," she whispers.

"You have my blessing, Whatley." He glances over at me, emotion in his eyes. "But if you ever hurt her, hell will not compare to the level of agony I'll put you through. You put herfirst, even if it means you walk away." He glowers. "And you keep her damn name out of the press."

Emilia squirms from foot to foot like a little girl who just got busted breaking the rules. "Um, about that…" She peeks up at him, grinning. "Too late?"

He shoots her a glare cold enough to freeze hell. "Oh, believe me, kid. I'm aware. My phone hasn't stopped ringing all fucking day."

"Whoops," she whispers.

Lariat actually cracks a smile. "You're going to think whoops," he mutters, shaking his head before he looks at me. "Good luck with this one. You're going to need it."

"I think I can handle her."

It's goddamn eerie just how alike they are when they throw their heads back and laugh at the same time. And that laugh tells me in no uncertain terms that they can't wait to see me try to keep up with her.

Christ, I can't wait either.

"Don't you dare take that jersey off, Nash Whatley!" Emilia shouts, jumping up from her seat behind our box as soon as I skate over to the boards. "I'm wearing mine!"

I laugh quietly, crooking a finger for her to come to me.

She stomps my way, looking too damn beautiful with my name across her chest and my ring on her finger. I put it there as soon as her father left last night. I hope I planted my kid in her belly too. God knows, I've been trying for weeks.

"What kind of trouble are you here to cause now?" she asks, eyeing me suspiciously as she steps up against the boards.

"No trouble," I lie. "I just came to tell you that I love you."

Her expression softens. "I love you too."

"I also wanted to remind you that you owe me five minutes in the box after the game."

She squeaks, whipping her head around. "We're in San Jose, Nash."

"So?" I arch a brow at her. "I mean…unless you're afraid?"

Her shoulders go back, her eyes narrowing on me. "Meet me after the game, Whatley. We'll see who's afraid."

Fuck, I want to kiss her right now. And for once, there's nothing stopping me.

I motion her toward the door off to the side and wait for her to reach it. As soon as she does, I hook my fingers in her jersey, tugging her forward.

She crashes into me, her tits up against my chest.

I swoop, claiming her lips in a hard kiss as everyone around us whoops and catcalls, cheering like we're putting on a show for them. I don't give a fuck about them, though. The only thing that matters to me is right here in my arms, whimpering in a way that sets my blood on fire.

Epilogue

Emilia

Five Years Later

"Daddy!" Evie squeals, racing toward Nash with her little hockey stick waving wildly in one hand and the puck in the other. "I gots the fuck! I gots the fuck!"

Nash whips his head around to look at our four-year-old daughter, his eye wide.

"Did she just say…?" Alice whispers from beside me.

"Yep," I say, biting my lip.

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