Page 170 of The Husband Game

After that, all they had to do was play keep-away with the puck until the buzzer ran out. He collided with his teammates, celebrating their 5-3 victory with a roar.

Was this a game that would make or break the season? Probably not. But it felt good to wipe away the disappointment of their lackluster pre-season start. And there was no better place than to do it on home ice with Charlie and his family cheering for him.

The team lined up to thank their goalie before they stepped off the ice and when Dustin reached Macky, he gave him a big smacking kiss on the top of the helmet.

“Nice one, Macky,” he said with a grin. “Let’s keep that up.”

Macky grinned back and thumped him on the shoulder. “Will see what I can do!”

Dustin skated to the tunnel door and waited for the team to head off the ice. Dom bent down, kissed the ice, and Dustin swatted him on the ass with the blade of his stick, like always.

He glanced back to make sure all of the Ottawa players had left, then stepped off the ice, ready to get some of his sweaty gear off before it was time to talk to the media.

But to his surprise, Charlie was waiting in the hallway outside the locker room door.

“Dustin!” Charlie waved. “Oh my God, you were amazing!”

He jumped into Dustin’s arms, wrapping his legs around his waist.

Laughing, Dustin held Charlie up as he pressed kisses all over Dustin’s sweaty face.

“Well hi there, kitten. I didn’t know hockey got you so fired up.”

“It does when you play like that!” Charlie shouted over the general melee of players celebrating.

Dustin beamed. “I scored that first goal for you.”

“Aww. Aren’t they all for me?” He batted his lashes.

Dustin laughed, letting him slide down his body. “Sure, we’ll go with that.”

“Oh God, here they go,” Matty grumbled as he passed by.

“Fuck off, Matts,” Dustin said cheerfully without looking away from Charlie’s happy face. “Let me enjoy this.”

“Fucking Captain Sappy here,” Colton said with a snigger.

“Hey, you wish Birdie was that excited about your goals,” Dustin chirped back.

Matty let out a loud, booming laugh. “Captain Sappy. I love it. Now that’s what we should have put on the jersey.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“Well?” Charlie said.

Dustin looked up from his phone, blinking at the sight of Charlie posed on the third step from the bottom of the stairs.

Tonight was the golden gala charity player auction at the arena and Charlie had gone all out. He wore a long metallic gold and black velvet dress and some high stiletto ankle boots.

He let his hips sway as he walked down the last few steps and Dustin’s gaze tracked his every movement, the fabric parting to show off a flash of leg.

“Shit.” Dustin gulped. “You look …”

Charlie gave him a coy little smile.

“You look pretty good yourself.” He smoothed down Dustin’s crisp white tuxedo shirt.

Dustin had gone for a classic tuxedo with a velvet jacket. Thanks to his inside sources, he’d worn it with black and gold cufflinks and a black silk pocket square with gold embroidery in a delicate lace pattern to compliment Charlie’s look.

---