Page 34 of Fierce Obsession

Ugh. “Just because it’s you,” I whisper. “A few years ago, during my yearly checkup, my doctor heard a heart murmur. They did some testing and found I had a hole in my heart from birth. Minor. Until now, I guess.”

I leave out that my parents are already stretched thin with finances.

“They put in something through my groin.” My face heats when his gaze drops to my lap. “Um, like a catheter, it goes up the artery to my heart. I get to go home tomorrow.”

He nods carefully. “So you have something in your heart.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” He pauses. “I’m glad you’re not dying.”

I look away. “Jury’s still out on the dying thing. My dad just banned me from playing hockey ever again.”

He’s suddenly a lot closer. His hand cups my cheek, forcing me to face him again. “You can play vicariously through me, Sunny. Every time I’m on the ice, I’m skating for you.”

A lump forms in my throat.

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

14

KNOX

The bar is crowded. It’s not really an excuse, but maybe an explanation for why I don’t see her at first. That, and I’m distracted by the girl next to me. She’s been flirting nonstop, although I have a feeling if I were to outright reject her, she’d just move on to one of my teammates.

We’re celebrating a home game win. It was by the skin of our teeth; my goal tied us with two minutes to go, and then Jacob’s goal in the last ten seconds of the game sealed the deal. It helped that I haven’t seen Aurora in almost a week.

I’m well on my way to getting drunk. Celebrating the fact that she hasn’t shown her face in a few games, too.

Haverhill’s been particularly stoic. I spotted him talking to Lawson, one of the d-men, in hushed tones after practice. But besides that, he seems to be keeping to himself. He sure as shit didn’t show up to drink with us.

Love life in peril, maybe?

But anyway. I sip my drink and lean back, smiling at the girl, when Aurora appears. It’s like the crowd just fucking parts for her.

She’s in a tight, slinky black dress. It shimmers in the low lights. The top is tied behind her neck, and it plunges betweenher breasts, almost to her navel. She’s showing way too much skin, and I can’t take my eyes off her.

The dress stops mid-thigh. Her legs are toned and more tan than I expect, and she’s strapped into daring heels that have to be five inches, at least.

She breezes past Royal Lawson, who checks out her ass on the way past. And Camden Church, who raises his eyebrows in surprise. Because they know her as Joel’s fiancé, and he’s not here.

Instead, her gaze is focused solely on me.

And when she drops into my lap, wrapping her arm around my neck and pressing her left hand to my chest, I think time stops.

There’s a new ring on her finger. Or should I say, anoldring.

One that brings immediate flashbacks.

She smiles brightly. “Honey, I’m home,” she sings. “Did you miss me?”

I narrow my eyes, ignoring the way my stomach twists. “What are you doing?”

“You’re the one who wants to be married, Knox. I’m just being a good wife.” She kisses my cheek with her blood-red lips before I can stop her.

The girl who was sitting next to me leaves without a word.

“Wife?” Church asks.

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