Page 97 of Crush
Chapter 37
Shea
We had Tampa on their heels all night—but we just couldn't solve their goalie. Until Lance fed me that perfect cross-ice one-timer. Once we scored, the whole team let out this collective sigh of relief. That was the point when we knew, justknew,that we'd opened the floodgates and the game was ours for the taking.
Sure enough, that goal was the breakthrough we needed. Lance and Radar went to work in the offensive zone, both players lighting the lamp before the period was up. By the time the final horn sounded, we'd put Tampa down 5-0.
There wasn't anything quite like the thrill of victory to lift a man's spirits and get the adrenaline pumping through his blood. The dressing room after a big win like that was a sight to behold—everyone was in a great mood. Everyone was closer. The laughs were louder and came harder. Sure, we were still down in the series, 2-1, but the boysknewwe could win this thing.
On the way home, I cranked up the radio and sang along as loud as I could, drumming my fists on the steering wheel. I raced from one red light to the next. I couldn't wait to be home. I couldn't wait to see my kids and be with Brynn—even if I knew I couldn't kiss her or touch her the way I wanted to.
When I finally pulled into the garage and stepped foot into my house at last, a surprise was waiting for me.
My kids,even Chloe, and Brynn. The hero's welcome that I hadn't had in years.
“Dad!” the twins yelled, mobbing me at the door with hugs. “You won!”
“Congratulations, Dad!” Chloe said, joining the group hug. “You guys really kicked Tampa's butt tonight.”
My eyes met Brynn's, and right away, I felt a charge. She struggled not to smile so big. Inside, I felt the same way.
“Congratulations, Shea,” she said once the kids broke away.
She didn't step forward for a hug. We had to play it cool, after all.
“Thank you, Brynn,” I said.
I drank the sight of her in. Maybe it was the high of the victory, but I could've sworn I'd never seen a woman looking so beautiful in my life. I wanted to throw my arm around her and plant my lips on hers, claim her asmine,and let the kids think whatever they wanted to think about us. But I couldn't do that. I had to restrain myself instead.
“How, uh, how'd the night go?” I stammered—my eyes were on her breasts and I was having a hard time stringing together coherent sentences. Her spell over me was strong.
“Everything went fine.” She folded her arms over her chest and leaned forward to quietly scold me. “Eyes are up here, big guy.”
I grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear. “I want yousobad right now, Brynn.”
“No!” she whispered back.
Grrr.
This was going to be a hard charade to maintain …
Nick and Cam ran over, grabbed hold of my hands, and pulled me towards the basement.
“Dad, come shoot some pucks with us!”
“Okay, guys, but not for long. It's almost your bedtime.”
***
After the kids took their showers and went to bed, I found Brynn in the living room, curled up on the couch with a glass of wine and a book. Pickles the cat was perched on her legs.
She peeked up at me and smiled. I sat on the couch, leaving plenty of room between us. I couldn't sit any closer, or else I might be tempted to do something dumb.
“Thanks again, Brynn.”
She marked her page and set her book aside. “For what?”
“Everything, really.”
