How had she almost let this man get away?
Gage’s eyes roamed over her hair, and she was suddenly self-conscious. “Not a good look?”
“It’s a great look, but so are the curls. Then again, you could be bald and you’d still be gorgeous.”
The compliment, along with the heat in his eyes, flushed her cheeks with fire. She pulled into her drive and shut off the engine. Running a finger along her jaw, he chuckled. “I love this shade of pink on you, Goldilocks.”
Locked inside her house, she gave him a moment to gawk at her revamped hallway before she tugged him into her bedroom and peeled off his clothes. He eagerly returned the favor. The sweetness in rediscovering one another had her heart on the verge of bursting, and she lost herself in their slow, torrid lovemaking.
Hours later, she lay curled against his body, walking her fingers lightly over his solid chest while his hand caressed her arm.
“There’s something that has me a little worried,” she began.
He craned his head and peered at her. “What’s that?”
“After we stopped seeing each other, you played a lot better, and I’m just wondering if that means hanky-panky’s off-limits during the season?”
“Hell no!” he laughed. “I’ll give up hockey first.” He kissed her head. “Seriously, I have off nights, like all players do. It happens. As for hanky-panky, we’ll pace ourselves. If you can keep your hands off me, that is.”
She smacked his very hard chest. “I can if you can.”
“That,” he laughed, “may be the tougher challenge.”
They made love again, and as she snuggled against him afterward, she drifted and dreamed, bobbing contentedly among the clouds while “At Last” played in her head. Jack appeared, a quick flash where he waved and gave her a thumbs-up before he drove away in a sky-blue convertible.
Epilogue
Seven months later
Gage piled into the sleigh and spread a thick layer of blankets over Lily, who cuddled Daisy on her lap. He wrapped them both up in his arms, silvery moonlight setting the snow aglow as the snowcat lurched their contraption forward.
“Everyone nice and cozy?”
Daisy giggled. “My nose is cold.”
“Of course it is.” He shucked his glove and placed his hand over her frosty sniffer, getting another giggle out of her.
“You’ve had the giggles all night, baby girl,” Lily declared as she gave her a little squeeze.
The all-star break was nearly over, and they were finishing up in grand style. Gage had been voted to go, but the coaches had kept him out to rest a banged-up shoulder. While he loved being selected by the fans, not going gave him a rare run of days to relax with his girls before the grueling end-of-season push toward playoffs.
Stanley Cup, here I come.
They’d seen the colorful ice castles in Dillon, explored Breckenridge, and were riding back to their retreat after dinner at Beano’s Cabin. Their days in the mountains had been pure perfection. As a matter of fact, his life was pure perfection—except for one detail, which he planned to correct shortly. And that plan had his stomach gurgling. Maybe he should’ve stuck with soup for dinner.
Lily leaned her head against his chest. “We’re gonna miss you when you go to the Bay Area.”
The very last of his break would be spent in California catching up with family, seeing that they had everything they needed. He rested his cheek against Lily’s soft beanie. “It’s only a few nights. You could still come with me.”
She raised her eyes to his. “Your mom wants you to herself this time.”
“Grandma would love to see you again. I just don’t know if she’d recognize you. I don’t know if she’ll recognize me.” A band tightened around his heart. He hoped like hell his visit would fall on one of her good days. They were becoming a rarity.
“I’m sure your mom will be relieved.”
“Hey, she’s warming up. It’s a cold thaw, but she’s getting there,” he chuckled. Even if it was by slow degrees, his mom was softening. She loved Daisy, and while she wasn’t head over heels for Lily—yet—she was making the effort. One day, she’d “move on” and get over the fact Jessica would never become her daughter-in-law. As for Jess, he’d heard from Sarah that she was seeing someone, and he was happy for her.
“Yeah, I guess she is,” Lily sighed, bringing him back to the present and what awaited when they reached the house. “I’m really glad you’ll get to see them, especially your grandma. I just like having you around.”
He gave her a quick kiss. “I like being around.”
Daisy tilted her head back and grinned at them both. “You guys are mushy.”
He wiggled his eyebrows and gently turned her face away. “Then stop watching.” This earned him another giggle.
At their vacation rental, he took off their coats and hats, and the girls settled in front of the fireplace while he uncorked a bottle of Dom Perignon he’d stashed. He tapped his shirt pocket, opened a sparkling cider for Daisy, and filled champagne flutes.
Lily craned her head. “What’s the bubbly for, Professor?”
“To toast the end of a perfect trip and the beginning of … uh, a perfect year.”
Her eyebrows bounced. “One that includes a Cup win?”
“Among other things. Hey, if I win the Cup, I can hire you to sing at my party.”
“I’ll always sing for you.” She gave him a smile that had his nervous stomach beating a tattoo.
“I’m counting on it.”
He handed out the bubbles, slid beside his girls, and clinked their glasses.
Daisy turned bright eyes on him. “Are you gonna play that song for Mom now?”
Lily’s eyebrows scrunched. “What song?”
Setting down his champagne, he cleared his throat. “I’ve been practicing a song by Train.”
Daisy began bouncing on the couch.
Showtime.
He picked up his acoustic guitar. “Daisy’s gonna help me with this one. Ready, princess?” She bobbed her head, excitement gleaming in her eyes.
Lily’s features reflected her growing bewilderment.
Heart thumping like the
