Leo checked his pocket one more time to make sure the ring was secure. He paced outside section 302, more nervous about popping the question than anything he'd faced in a long while.
"Leo?" Wearing a Bedlam blue sweater and dark jeans, Kelsey was stunning. "Roddy said you wanted to meet me up here. What's going on?"
He joined their hands. "There's something I want to show you. But I'm feeling sentimental and we first met on March second, so—"
"So, that's why we're meeting at section 302. That's very sweet." Her lips curved in a smile he was lucky to see nearly every day. She slid her hand to his neck and urged his head to meet her lips. The steady warmth in his chest grew and dashed some of the nerves prickling his skin. "What did you want to show me?"
He unfolded one of the papers she'd included in the welcome packet she'd given him on the first day they'd met. "I know the team is a little busy right now with trying to win a Cup, and I know you're not in player services anymore and are rocking your media and TV jobs, but once the off season arrives, I'm hoping you'll help me with finding an apartment or house here, and help me figure out how to move my stuff from L.A."
Her eyebrows knitted together. "You know I'll help you."
"Good. Because I'm thinking of making a permanent move." He tucked the paper into his pocket and drew her further down the concourse.
"Did you really bring me up here to ask about that?"
"No, but it was on my mind." He stopped at the entrance for sections 305 and 306. "Here we are."
"What's here? What did you find?"
"It's more fun if you see it first."
"Hmm. Mysterious." Smiling, she bumped her hip into his. "Is this a solo mission or are you coming too?"
"I'm there. I'll even hold your hand." His palms began to sweat and his heart began to pound. He rubbed his hands on his jeans and then clasped their hands together. Slowly, they walked through the darkened entrance. When her gaze landed on the ice, her eyes grew wider and wider. The catch of her breath matched the moment her hand tightened in his.
They reached the safety rail. From their bird's eye view of the rink, hundreds of pucks dotted the ice, spelling out Will you marry me?
Kelsey's grip tightened even more. "Is this real? Is this happening?"
She spun toward him.
"So real. Definitely happening." He leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "I know this is fast, and I don't want to rush you but I know you're it for me, and no amount of time or any other bit of fan interference is going to change that. Will you marry me?"
"Yes." She wrapped her other arm around his neck and kissed him. "I'm so happy."
"Me too." He slanted his mouth and deepened the kiss, stupid with happiness over the amazing woman in his arms. When he pulled back to take a breath, he dug the ring from his pocket. The round-cut diamond and the amethyst stones on either side of it sparkled. "I know you like purple."
"I do. It's beautiful." She held out her hand and he slid the platinum band on her finger.
He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her fingers, just below her ring. "I have one more surprise for you."
Her brows rose, her eyes widened, and she sputtered a surprised laugh. "More? I can't wait."
"We have to head down a level."
"I hate to leave this view." Her hand swept over the expanse of ice.
"Where we're going, we'll still be able to see it."
"In that case, lead the way."
They rode the elevator down one level and he walked her to a stop in front of a party suite. "We're here."
He pulled open the door. Their families and friends erupted in a cheer.
Raising their joined hands high, Leo pointed to the sparkling diamond on her hand. "She said yes."
Amid more cheers and shouts of congratulations, Kelsey threw her arms around his neck. "This is amazing. All of our favorite people together."
He kissed her again. "It's the best way to start this next part of our lives."
Kelsey's parents sat with his dad at a table overlooking the ice. His dad and brothers had come up for the game and would be staying for the next few days.
Rod and Arielle and Dylan and Blair waved at them from another table. Dylan's health had improved so much that he could be coming off the injured list and returning to the lineup within the next few days. Leo couldn't wait to have his captain back.
His teammates Vince, Celek, Kreider, and Slater were there too. Those guys had proven they were also solid friends.
Leo slid his arm around Kelsey as everyone in the room lifted their glasses in a champagne toast.
Champagne, cake, family and friends, and the love of his life by his side.
Buffalo had turned out to be pretty amazing.
He couldn't wait to stay.
Thank you for reading!
IF YOU ENJOYED THE book, please consider leaving a review. Reviews, even one-sentence long, help other readers find my books.
If you started the Buffalo Bedlam series with Fighting For More, you can read Rod and Arielle’s story in Making His Move, and Dylan and Blair's story in Taking His Shot.
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Acknowledgments
THANK YOU TO MY BETA reader/brainstorming team: Jackie, Beth, Chantel, and Tina. You all truly go above and beyond for me, and I love you.
Thank you to my husband Scott for being my strength and support.
About the Author
SUSAN SCOTT SHELLEY is a USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Philadelphia with her very own Superhero and
