Page 54 of The Cupcake Cottage

“And been around the dating track so many times—”

“You just know.”

“You just know,” he echoed.

They shared a smile.

“So when are you moving in with me?” he asked.

She laughed, and he joined in.

“Too fast?”

“Just a tiny bit.”

“I want to go fast, but I also want to get this right. I don’t wanna skip any of the important steps.”

She nodded, understanding.

“We’ll have a long engagement then,” she said. She thought about it for a second. “Longish.” Not too long.

“And you and I?” he asked.

“We’re real. Nothing fake between us any longer,” she said softly. Not even a possible engagement.

“And we go at your pace.”

“Then you’d better go ring shopping.”

CHAPTER 9

Maverick couldn’t believe how well that coffee date had gone. Daisy-Mae was in love with him. He felt like singing, clicking his heels, whistling, and throwing money from the sky.

She’d told him to go buy a ring.

He was so glad he hadn’t waited until he was retired to try his luck in the love department again. He’d found the right woman for him, and she’d been there the whole time. He shouldn’t have postponed things for so long. They’d missed so much time they could have spent together.

Sure, part of the engagement was for spectacle, but if their crazy idea worked, not only would he soon be married to Daisy-Mae, he might also swing some nice deals that would allow him to sit pretty during retirement. Then he and Daisy-Mae would have all the time and money in the world, and the entire globe as their playground, as they made up for lost time.

“What’s got you so cheery?” Louis asked as Maverick left the ice after a particularly grueling practice.

“Nothing.”

“It’s a woman. Reanna contacted you?”

Maverick stopped cold. “No. Why would she?”

“What else could have you smiling like that?”

Maverick just grinned at Louis, clapped him on the back, and said, “Merry Christmas.”

“Christmas isn’t for another week,” Louis said, falling into step behind him. “If you’re thinking of cutting out early for the holidays, think again! We’re on a winning streak, and I’ll tan your hide if you make even one error.”

“Sure thing,” Maverick said with a grin that clearly baffled him.

Louis could ride him hard from now until New Year’s. He didn’t care. He had a date to the gala with his future fiancée tonight.

All he needed to do was keep the reporters and social influencers at bay for the next two weeks so she didn’t decide an engagement wasn’t necessary. He shook his head at himself and began shucking off his gear at his locker. He no longer needed to hold on to those old fears. Daisy-Mae was in it for the real thing. She wanted the ring because she loved him.

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