Page 69 of Ice Contact

Hayes holds a black jewelry box before me and opens it, revealing a little light shining brightly to highlight what’s sparkling inside. I stare down at the most breathtaking, giant square cut pink diamond in a white gold setting I’ve ever seen in my life. My eyes go wide, and I pull my hand up to cover my mouth.

“Oh my God, Hayes,” I whisper as I begin full-on ugly crying.

“Olivia, I know it’s not been long, but I know what I want. I want you. I want to marry you. I want to live my life with you. I want to start a family with you. I want it all. I know this seems so fast, but when you know it’s right, you know it’s right. And there is nothing in this world that has ever felt more right to me than being with you. Olivia Marie Brooks, will you be my forever emergency contact and marry me?”

“You’re proposing? You…you want to marry me?”

“Remember how I don’t offer things up I don’t want to do?”

I laugh, blinking to see the man I’m going to marry. “I remember,” I say nodding, probably looking like a bobblehead shaking my head erratically through my tears.

“This is definitely something I would not offer up if I didn’t mean it,” he says, his gaze matching mine, as if he can see right through me. “So, you haven’t given me an answer yet. Is the jury still out on this question?”

My heart beats faster than if I was running a race. Not because I’m nervous - something about Hayes makes me feel safe and calm. Nothing has ever felt more right, but the words about to come out of my mouth are going to change the rest of my life. That’s the reason for the speeding freight train in my chest.

“No jury needed for this. I’m in. My answer is yes.”

42

hayes

My hands are shaky as fuck as I slip the ring on her finger, feeling like a nervous teenager about to grab a girl’s boobs for the first time. My heart skips a beat, staring at her finger withmyring on it. I still cannot believe she said yes. My gorgeous, caring, soulmate is going to be my wife. Mywife.I give her a moment to look at the ring, admiring the way her soft eyes sparkle as tears stream down her cheeks, reaching all the way down to her jawline and dripping down the length of her neck. I stand, taking Olivia’s hand and pulling her up so I can wrap her in my arms and kiss her gorgeous lips. She opens her mouth and our tongues collide, heat and passion building between us. This woman has me weak in the knees just at the thought of spending the rest of my life with her.I cannot wait for her to have my last name and officially be mine forever.She ismyOlivia.

As we pull back, I reach up to wipe the tears from her skin and place one last peck on her mouth. “I have one more surprise for you tonight.”

“What? Therecannotbe more,” she insists with a smile. “You’ve given me a cart blanche account at a recording studio and a ring that cost God knows how much with your fancyhockey salary. Please tell me we are going to get dollar tacos or something.”

I let out a roaring laugh, pulling her in close once more. “We are not getting dollar tacos, although that does sound tempting even after the salmon. But, I was thinking, since there’s a home game next week, what do you say we just get married tonight?”

“Tonight?” she looks up at me with wide eyes, telling me she’s not sure if I’m joking or not. “Like,tonight,tonight? I know you’re new in town, but this isn’t Vegas. There aren’t many late-night wedding chapels here in Milwaukee.”

“What if I told you I had that covered?”

“Hayes…are you serious? You want to get marriedtonight?”

“If you want to, it’s all set up. If not, what I have arranged can just be an engagement celebration. But, I’d love for you to be my wife. Tonight. What do you say?” I ask, my voice shaking with a hint of nervousness. I don’t want to pressure her, but my heart tells me she wants this just as much as I do.

“Hayes, I love you…I love you so much. But, if I’m being honest…” she pauses for what seems like the longest span of time of my entire life, my hands nervously rubbing her back as I hold her tight to my chest. “…If I’m being honest, I would have married you the first night we met. This has been the longest few weeks of my life waiting.” She smiles, leaning into me with a grin that makes my heart skip a beat. “Let’s go get married.”

43

olivia

“What are we doing here?” I whisper, confused by what we are doing at Button Bashers. “The sign on the door says they are closed for a private event.”

Hayes pulls open the door, his hand on the small of my back guiding me inside. “They are closed for a private event.Ourprivate event.”

We take a few steps in the door, the lights flashing on the pinball machines around the room. My eyes dart around the room, beyond confused as to what the hell we are doing here.He said we were getting married tonight, right?Why are we at an arcade bar?

“Surprise!”

As I look around, I see all of our friends, family, and half the Milwaukee Steel Riders team clapping and shouting with huge smiles on their faces.

“Surprise, Liv!” Maggie yells as she tackles me with a hug. “Congrats! Welcome to your engagement/wedding party!”

“Maggie!” I scream, cryingagain. “Oh my gosh. How did all of this happen?!”

Hayes plants a quick kiss on my forehead, “I’ll let you two catch up for a minute. I’m gonna go say hi to the guys. Thanksfor all your help Maggie,” he says with a sly smile as he saunters away towards his teammates.

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