Page 78 of Stick Work

Just then the bathroom door creaks open. Liam’s eyes go big. “I better go.” He waves his phone. “Thank you for this.”

“My pleasure.”

Before he darts out the door, he says, “I uh, knew this was your room, and added a few extra things to the menu and the coffee is hazelnut vanilla coffee. I heard all the guys drink it.”

I grin at that. “Thanks, bud.”

“Bud,” he repeats under his breath, giggling again and I turn to see Taylor watching me with a knowing smirk.

“What?”

“You’re so good with your fans, Elias.”

“Oh yeah, and how am I with my wife?”

“Well, your wife has no complaints…until now.”

I take one look at her big, expectant eyes and instantly know. “Coffee taking too long?”

She chuckles. “Right.”

I pull a chair out for her. “Sit, my lady.”

She plops down, wiggling happily as she pulls the dome off her plate. I pour us both a big mug of coffee, adding a splash of milk to hers. The second she takes s sip, she lets out a little moan of appreciation, and damn, I’d do anything to make her this happy every day.

“Hazelnut vanilla. I hope you gave him a big tip.”

“I did.” I sit across from her and take the dome off my plate. She waves her fork over the table.

“Did you think I was going to wake up ravenous?”

“Didn’t you?”

She grins and stabs a home-fry. “Yes.”

I nod toward the door. “He also added a few extra things.” I playfully blow on my fist and buff it against my shoulder. “Perks of an NHL player.”

“Lucky guy.”

I stare at the woman I’m in love with. “Yeah, I am.”

Her head lifts and our eyes meet and lock for a moment. Is she feeling this too?

Her gaze drops and she reaches for the syrup, drenching her pancakes.

“Would you like some pancakes with your syrup?”

She looks at me like I might have a hockey stick growing out of my brain. “Don’t you know that pancakes are just a transport mechanism for syrup?”

“I do now.” I drench mine as well and moan as I take a big bite. She wiggles happily again and we eat in silence, simply enjoying the food, the coffee and each other’s company.

“What should we do today?” she asks, breaking the quiet.

“We have until after dark.” I refill our cups with coffee watching the steam curl in the air. “How about we go hit up some machines, walk the strip, see what kind of trouble we can get into?”

She holds her hand out to examine her ring, turning it to catch the light coming in through the curtains. “We’re already in enough trouble. I need to get this off without destroying it, or my knuckles before your parents see it.” She reaches for her coffee, then freezes mid motion. “Do you think Grandma told your parents about what happened last night?”

I shrug. “It was fake. What’s to tell?”

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