Page 23 of Loaded Laces

“Bella bee,” I murmur.

Her mouth curves. “I’ve always loved it when you called me that.”

“I know.” I tilt her head up, leaning closer, my mouth brushing ever so lightly over hers. Then again.

And again.

And—

“Mom!” Quinn shouts. “Stop kissing West and get out here!”

Everyone on the ice seems to freeze, and I don’t miss that my teammates King, Rome, and Cam—all recently matched up with women of their own—look at each other and grin.

Same as I don’t miss that Hudson, one of the newer guys on the team, same as me, looks at his skates, a muscle jumping in his thigh.

He’s been a surly fuck of late, especially since the team hired a new head coach.

But I don’t have time to focus on my grumpy teammate—or the way his eyes linger on Diana, said head coach who’s crouched near the bench, head tossed back as she laughs at something a little kid says.

I don’t have time because Belle is tossing the empty hot cocoa cup into the trash and jumping to her feet, her free hand wrapping around mine.

“Less kissing,” she teases. “More skating.”

Ten

Belle

“Belle?”

I freeze—mid tuck of my purse over my shoulder—at the sound of my boss, Jace Henderson’s, voice. “Yes?”

“Can you come in here a second?”

My throat gets tight.

Because that question…it sounds angry.

Have I fucked something up?

What if Jace doesn’t want me here any longer? What if he’s found someone better? Someone more qualified? Someone with a college degree and years and years of experience?

Panic slices through my middle.

Quinn. Oh God, how will I take care of Quinn?

But just as quickly as that panic comes on, it dissipates. Because I remember…I’m not alone.

I’mnotalone.

Whatever is coming, I don’t have to face it alone.

Holding those words tight, I lift my chin, shore up my spine, and walk into Jace’s office. He owns a conglomeration of media companies in the Bay Area—and abroad—and is a very powerful man.

One who took a chance on me.

One who gave me time off when Quinn was sick.

One who?—

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