Her chin quivered and she pressed her lips together. Tears gathered in her eyes. Swallowing hard, she cuddled the dog tighter.
He shifted a step closer, fighting the sting behind his eyes. "Please, can I come in so we can talk?"
"All right." She nudged the door open wider with her foot. Relief washed over him when he stepped inside the space but he still had a long road ahead.
Kelsey deposited Icing in her bedroom and closed the door, then gestured to the couch. "Have a seat."
He sat then immediately stood again. Too much adrenaline moved through him, he couldn't keep still. "I guess I should start with some of the things I said the last time I was here. I couldn't handle the thought of being responsible for you being hurt, especially if it's somehow connected to something I started. I left because I thought you'd be safer if I wasn't a part of your life."
She shook her head. "That's—"
"Ridiculous? I realize that now. Ryan told me that my reasoning was also lame. And he's right."
A mixture of confusion and hurt crossed her face. "But I basically told you the same thing. So, why did you believe your brother but not me?"
"I think it was still too raw for me that morning. The attack had just happened. I couldn't think past anything except the overwhelming need to keep you safe." He moved a step closer to her. "The thought of you getting hurt still terrifies me. It cuts me deeper than actually being hurt myself."
Her lips pressed together and then she let out a shaky breath. "Then how do I know that you won't skate off and leave me again the next time something difficult happens?"
Desperate to wipe that brokenhearted expression from her face and to soothe her worries, he closed the space between them. "Because these days away from you have been hell. Because I know now that being apart from you is something I never want to experience again. Because I know that together, you and I are strong enough to face anything. I love how strong you are and that you'll protect and help anyone who needs it."
"Even you?"
"Even me."
She folded her arms across her chest. "You said some things that day that I'd like to discuss too. First, you said that you can't shake the shadow of what happened, and that every time you look at me, you think of my being injured in that fight. How do we change that?"
"I don't know. I still get the picture in my head of Ryan when he was injured too. I'm going to have to work on that." He yanked his hands through his hair.
Kelsey captured his hands and linked their fingers together. "I think you're strong enough to face it, and I think that over time, those things will fade, especially if we're replacing them with lots of good memories."
The touch and the words moved through him, healing the darkened places. "If I have you with me, I know I'll be strong enough."
"I promise, okay? I know we have other things that still need to be worked out, but I'll be there."
He brought her hand to his lips then pressed her palm against his cheek. "I talked to the GM this morning and told him I'm interested in playing here next year. He said he'd like to keep me. Obviously, we'll need to get through the playoffs first, but we're going to work on a contract after the season is over. I'll do whatever I have to do, take less money, name it, to stay here. I just need to be with you."
"What about Philly and being near your family?"
"I think we can divide our time between both places. Even if it's summers in Philly and a few weekend trips during the year, we'll figure it out. Buffalo is a lot better than when I was flying in to Philly from L.A. I definitely need to be there for my brothers, whether it's going to Xavier's games when I can, or marching with Ryan in the Pride parade. But I want you there with me."
Her smile grew wider. "I love your family and I love Philly."
He tucked her hair behind her ear. Letting his hand linger, he traced a path across her lips. "I'm glad. My family loves you too."
Kelsey laid her hand over his heart. "You also said the last time that you were here that things with us were too good to be true, and that you didn't deserve me. Neither of those is true, okay? What we have is good. It's real. It's true. And we definitely deserve each other, in the best possible way. You were made for me and I was made for you."
Warmth and light flowed through him, washing away his heartache. "I love you."
A full smile beamed across her face, lighting her up from the inside. She wound her arms around his neck. "I love you too."
She. Loved. Him.
How the hell had he lucked out?
He lowered his head, savoring the feel of her in his arms and the happiness welling within him. Her soft lips met his and lingered. His blood sang, wanting more. He deepened the kiss and she strained closer, wrapping them together from their lips down to their toes.
Instinct, connection, or love at first sight, whatever people termed it, he knew with Kelsey he had found it forever.
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE BUFFALO BEDLAM arena was the friendliest rink in the league. The ice wasn't giving or forgiving. The fans were loyal and loudly voiced taunts for the opposing team. And, the Bedlam members were some of his best friends. As Leo had learned through the hard-fought first round of the playoffs, he could rely on them for anything.
Including planning his engagement.
The last of the fans had cleared out of the stands and even the clean-up crews were absent. Showers, media interviews, and celebrations for securing the win and advancing to the second round, were
