Page 67 of Power Play Pursuit

“Is this the kind of wedding you want?” I ask, leaning in and matching her hushed tone.

Her cheeks tint red. “Maybe. Do you ever want a wedding?”

“Absolutely,” I say without hesitation. It’s true. I’ve always imagined that I’d get married one day. Honestly, I thought I’d be married by now. But life didn’t go the way I planned it. Hopefully, that’s all about to change.

We both turn back to the altar when the officiant says, “You may now kiss the bride.Vous pouvez embrasser la mariée.”

Frenchie Boy tugs his girl toward him, then kisses her under the applause and whistles of the crowd.

After we congratulate the newlyweds and have our pictures taken with them, we head to the dining area and find our table. We’re seated with all our friends, except for Hayley and Beaumont, who are at a table with their close family.

I lean back, my arm draped over the back of Elizabeth’s chair, and immediately, everyone’s eyes zero in on it. I give a nonchalant shrug. “What? Elizabeth and I are on a date, didn’t I tell you?” I grin, proud of my big reveal. I purposely hadn’t said anything until now, waiting for the perfect moment.

“No way! You guys are dating?” Alice exclaims, her eyes sparkling. “That’s great.”

Elizabeth shakes her head. “We’re not dating. We’re onadate. Tonight.”

“Wow,” Miles says, leaning back. “Good for you guys.”

“Yeah, who would have predicted that one?” Marissa says with a hint of sarcasm, winking at Elizabeth.

Before I can say anything, Beaumont’s dad stands up and proposes a toast to his son and his new daughter-in-law. His English is pretty fluent, and he even makes a joke or two. Then, Hayley’s mom, Emma, and Alice give their toasts.

“All right,” I say, taking the microphone when Alice hands it to me. “I guess it’s my turn.” I glance at Beaumont and Hayley, who are watching me expectantly. “Well, when I first met Frenchie Boy, he was just a young, promising rookie player hoping to make it big in the NHL. Today, he’s still all that, but he’s also a married man.”

Everyone chuckles, and Beaumont clears his throat, flipping me the bird.

I shoot him a grin. “Okay, maybe you got alittlebetter over the years. After all, you’ve been working with the best winger in the league.”

Some people laugh, but not nearly enough, so I add, “I’mthe best winger in the league.”

Now everyone is laughing, and Beaumont just rolls his eyes. “But none of that matters. Because you’ve won the most important prize, man,” I say, glancing at Hayley, who’s all smiles. “You found the perfect woman for you. Someone to love, and who loves you back, even with your many,manyflaws.”

More laughs ripple around the room.

My tone sobers a little. “And that’s what matters most in this life. If I could trade my stats and trophies for what you have, I’d do it in a heartbeat.” My eyes instinctively fall on Elizabeth. She’s gazing up at me, and my heart leaps in my chest. Because I meant every word of this speech. If I could give everything I have to make her see how much I love her, I would. “To Beaumont and Hayley,” I say, forcing my eyes back to them, and everyone applauds.

Beth Bowen

I’m just getting back to the table following a long restroom break. After those speeches, I needed a hard reset. But somehow, James’ words are still echoing in my head, torturing me.

“There you are,” James says, approaching the table. “I was looking all over for you.” He extends his hand, a devastating smile on his face. “May I have this dance with mydate?”

I press my lips together, then smile. “Absolutely.”

He guides me to the dance floor, where several other couples are already swaying to the slow ballad. He settles his hands on my waist, and I wrap my arms around his neck. As we start moving to the music, a blissful sensation washes over me. Everything about this day has felt like a dream, too perfect to be true. But it’s still going strong, leaving me wondering if this could really be my life. Being in James’ arms every day, joking around, listening to him tell me how beautiful I am.

Our eyes meet, and once again, I’m sucked into his smoldering gaze.

“I’m crazy about you, Elizabeth,” he murmurs into my ear, his voice husky. It’s like he’s reading my mind. “What will it take for you to go out with me for real?” He caresses my cheek, his fingers leaving a trail of fire in their wake.

“You’re a hockey player,” I blurt out, not taking the time to edit my thoughts. As much as I wish that wasn’t a problem, I think it’s still what’s preventing me from trusting him fully.

“No,” he says softly. “I’m a man who plays hockey. I don’t define you by your occupation. Why is it any different for me?”

I look down, trying to find an answer to his question. That’s when I realize there’s something else preventing me from finally going after what I want. “You’re going to break my heart,” I whisper, pressing my forehead to his.

“Never. I’ll worship you, like I have since the second we met. You were just too stubborn to notice it.”

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