Aynslee looked into the older man’s brown eyes. “I don’t know much about hockey, and this is my first time watching him in person, but I’ve seen the YouTube videos and he is amazing. He has this fire inside him to be the best.”

Sean nodded, a grin playing on his face as he said, “But his injury has altered him a bit.”

“True, but he has learned to adapt. The Assassins are crazy for not playing him all the time. He’s resilient, you know, and he can only get better with every game he plays. I’ve never in my life been so proud of someone.”

“So if you were the GM of a hockey team, you’d take a chance on him and sign him right now?”

Aynslee was a little taken aback by the question, but she knew the answer right away. Not only did she mean every word she said, but she loved Jordan, body and soul, and believed in him completely. He might be leaving her, but she would always love him and he would always have a place in her heart. “In a heartbeat.”

After watching Jordan shut out the Sabres, Aynslee made her way to her father’s pub and waited for him. It had been an exciting game, and watching him was like foreplay to sex. He was so hot and so efficient; Aynslee couldn’t wait to get him home. When Jordan finally walked through the door, dressed up in a sexy suit, she hopped off the barstool and closed the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her off the ground.

Kissing him breathless, she smiled against his lips before saying, “You were a killer on the ice.”

“Because you were there.”

She smiled as she shook her head. “No, because you are awesome. Great game, baby.”

“Thanks, it felt good.”

He put her on her feet and then took her hand as they walked over to the bar to order a beer. He sat on the barstool and she sat in his lap, leaning her head against his neck.

“I have to leave tonight,” she said sadly after he’d taken a swig of his beer.

“Really?” he asked, with a disappointed look on his face.

“Yeah, my plane leaves soon; I’ve got school tomorrow.”

“That sucks. I wanted to take you back to my hotel room and see if you were wearing those panties you mentioned yesterday,” he said with a grin, whispering the last part.

She giggled against his neck, placing a kiss there before looking up at him. “I’ll be at home, waiting for you.”

“In the panties?”

“And nothing else.”

“I can’t wait. Let me see this sign. I loved it, by the way,” he said.

“You’re welcome,” she replied with a wide grin.

“How about you sign the poster and I’ll frame it?” Bowie asked.

“Sure,” Jordan said, grinning at Aynslee before taking the Sharpie from Bowie.

“It’s just a silly sign!” Aynslee complained, shaking her head.

“You’re lucky your dad wants it, or I’d hang it at my house,” Jordan said before signing his name along the bottom.

Aynslee grinned as she watched him write:

Jordan & Aynslee.

Her heart exploded as he gave her a shy smile. Leaning over, she kissed his lips and then teased, “You’re so corny, but so am I.” Taking the pen from him, she wrote:

Forever.

Chapter 10

Jordan should have been excited, but he wasn’t.

After signing a hefty-paying contract with the IceCats, things should’ve been looking up. He was going to be the starting goalie for them, but it didn’t matter, because Aynslee wouldn’t be there with him. He could have gone to the Predators, but only as a backup there too, and their GM didn’t want to do that to Jordan. It was the same story with all the other teams Jordan had shown an interest in.

Sitting across from Shea and Elli Adler, Jordan listened as Elli told him about the new goalie they were bringing up.

“Jep Klinsky, the starting goalie for the Rays. I’m happy with him. Wish I could keep you, though,” Elli said.

Jordan laughed before taking a swig of his beer. Putting it down, he said, “If I was starting, I’d stay, you know that.”

“I know. I’m lucky you stayed this long,” she said with a sad smile. “We’ll miss you.”

“It’s going to be tough, but I’ll come back to visit.”

A lot, and hopefully Aynslee would still want to see him.

“Good, you gotta see the boys!” she gushed, rubbing her hands on her belly fondly.

Jordan smiled. Elli Adler was a great person, and he was going to miss her. “I will. Text me pictures as soon as they are born.”

“Definitely,” she said, taking her husband’s hand in hers.

“I’ll make sure,” Shea said, kissing Elli’s temple before reaching for his beer.

“Good.”

Jordan looked down at his food. He loved spending time with the Adlers, but at the moment he just wanted to be with Aynslee. He needed to tell her about the contract so they could discuss what they were going to do. He was ready to go home and plan the rest of his life with her.

“So how’s your girlfriend? I was hoping to meet her at Jakob’s thing, but y’all didn’t show,” Elli said.

“Yeah, she had a headache that night, and since we were leaving the next day, I wanted to stay home with her. She’s great, though. I would’ve brought her tonight, but she had a teacher’s thing—”

Jordan stopped mid-sentence when he saw a flash of red out of the corner of his eye. He turned to see his girlfriend only a few feet away, sliding her jacket on. He called out, “Aynslee.”