Page 62 of Pucking My Grumpy Accidental Husband
"With what evidence? He's technically following the fraternization policy that I signed when I took this job." She pulls away from me, wrapping her arms around herself. "And going legal would make everything public anyway. My career would be over regardless."
I run both hands through my hair, my mind racing through possibilities. "So what are our options?"
"We end this." Her voice is barely above a whisper. "We pursue the annulment, and we go back to being strangers who work in the same building."
"That's not happening."
"Dax—"
"I said that's not happening, Tessa. I don't care if Harrison fires me tomorrow and I have to go play hockey in fucking Siberia. I'm not walking away from you."
"Or," she continues like I haven't spoken, "we fight his ultimatum. Risk both our careers on the principle that he's overstepping his authority."
"I'm leaning toward option two."
"Option three is we go public. Force the organization to choose between us and Harrison."
I study her face, seeing the calculation behind her fear. "You've already decided, haven't you?"
"I think option one is the safest?—"
"Safest for who?" I interrupt. "For your career, maybe. But what about us? What about what we have?"
"What do we have, Dax?" Her voice rises. "Three weeks of sneaking around? A marriage we're trying to annul?"
The words hit me like a blindside check, but I can see the pain behind them. She's lashing out because she's scared, not because she means it.
"We have something real," I say quietly. "Something worth fighting for."
"Is it? Because it feels like a disaster waiting to happen."
"Look at me." I wait until she meets my eyes. "Do you love me?"
"That's not the point?—"
"It's the only point that matters. Do you love me?"
Her resolve crumbles completely. "Yes. God, yes, I love you. Which is why this is so fucking terrifying."
"Then we fight."
"Easy for you to say. You're Dax Kingston. Star defenseman. Fan favorite. They're not going to fire you over this."
"You think I care more about hockey than I do about you?"
"I think you've never had to choose before."
The accusation stings because there's truth in it. Hockey has always been my everything—my identity, my purpose, my security. But looking at Tessa now, seeing the woman who's made me want things I never thought I needed, I realize that's changed.
"Then let me prove it to you."
Before she can respond, there's a knock on the door.
"Dax?" Jamie's voice carries through the metal. "You in there, man? Coach wants to see you."
Tessa and I stare at each other in horror.
"Shit," she whispers.
