Page 69 of Total Shutdown

The single word sends my starting center into full golden-retriever mode as his eyes grow wide and he quickly pushes the ring onto her left finger, the fit as perfect as they are together.

“You hear that?” He tips his head toward the ceiling. “I’m marrying Kendra Hart and making her a Morgan!”

“Yeah, you are, Baby!” Kendra wraps her arms around Jack’s neck.

He picks her up, looping her legs around his waist, and spins her around in a circle.

Archer and Jenna immediately leap to their feet, flying across the room to congratulate them, and I take a second to let them all hug it out before I join them myself.

“I think you need to copyright your pivot moment so no one else uses it.”

I turn my head away from the group to find Collins standing in front of me. Her eyes are still glassy, but her face wears a cute smile.

I rise to my feet and hover over her while the others continue going crazy.

My left hand palms her hip, and I grin down at her, loving the way she relaxes beneath my touch. “Maybe I should copyright it; it definitely has an impact.”

The temptation to lean down and kiss her is overwhelming, as is the tent forming in the front of my jeans.

Collins drops her eyes to the bulge, her lip pinned between her teeth when she looks back up at me. “We should go congratulate the happy couple,” she whispers, her voice full of lust.

I nod once and summon all my willpower to release my tightening grip on her hip and, consequently, break the spell between us. Although I’m already running through options and my best opportunity to get her alone—as soon as fucking possible.

“Lead the way, Baby Girl.”

* * *

“Where areyou going to get hitched?” Archer asks.

He, Jack, and I stand in the kitchen while the girls gather in the living area, inspecting Kendra’s ring for the hundredth time.

Collins is animated, excitement written across her face while she holds Kendra’s left hand in front of her.

You can’t convince me this girl doesn’t believe in love.

Jack speaks, pulling my attention back to the boys. “How much do you know about your coach?”

Archer side-eyes me, and I throw him a blank look, unsure what the location of where they get married has to do with Jack’s stepdad.

“Errr …” Archer scratches at his temple. “I guess I know a bit.”

Jack shakes his head, smiling around the lip of his beer bottle before taking a quick pull. “One thing you need to know about Jon: if anyone—and I mean,anyone—he knows is due to get hitched, he wants to organize the entire thing from start to finish.”

I take another look at my goalie, not entirely sure I’m hearing Jack right. Either the single beer he’s had went straight to his head or I’m hallucinating from zero sleep, courtesy of banging Collins all night.

I reach forward and take the bottle from Jack’s hand, setting it down on the counter beside me. “That’s enough alcohol for you; we’re heading on a seven-day away series tomorrow, and I want my center in good shape against Dallas.”

Jack frowns and grabs the bottle back. “I’m being serious. The guy is addicted to weddings. I haven’t even told Mum and Darcy I planned on asking Kendra, for fear of Jon turning up at my door with five wedding planners and a fucking six-tier cake. Only person who knows is Ollie, Kendra’s brother.”

“Oh, Darcy’s going to be pissed when she finds out you didn’t tell her beforehand,” Archer chimes in, a devilish smile tracing his lips. “Your sister is a little like me in that way.”

Jack sets his own bottle down behind him this time, one brow raised as he turns back to Archer. “And what way would that be, Moore?”

The use of Archer’s last name has my goalie grinning harder, loving how easy it is to goad Jack about Darcy.

He shrugs and crosses his ankles, leaning back against the fridge. “I’m just saying, we share a lot in common, is all. When she’s around, I can tell she wants to talk with me; we vibe with each other.”

Blowing air into my cheeks, I’m powerless to prevent the explosive laugh, and I bend over and release it. “I’m sorry.” I hold up a hand. “Give me a second.” I point in Archer’s direction. “It’s just his reference to vibing. Seriously, this entire conversation is awkward as shit.” I laugh again.

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