She grinned back at him and he smiled. The women had eaten him up, and he had to admit he enjoyed the attention, but the best part was the way Lacey would hold his hand and introduce him to everyone.

“This is my amazing husband, Karson King. He plays for the Assassins, ugh, I know, but it’s okay because he is the best. So I’ll cheer for his team,” she would say with a wink before cuddling into his side.

He felt so good as everyone gushed over how happy she looked and how perfect they were together. It was a good day, even with Rachel sending him looks of pure hatred. He didn’t care. Lacey was his main concern.

“She’s right, Sabrina, that was rude. We are sorry, princess,” Nate said and Karson had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Meeting his gaze, Nate said, “Thank you for coming and supporting Lacey.”

“I’m lucky to experience this. It’s amazing.”

“Yeah, he’s been great. Too bad he couldn’t do that when we had the cancer scare,” Rachel said as she came up to the group.

“I told you I didn’t tell him. Stop trying to make him feel like crap for that,” Lacey snapped, her brows drawn in. “I’m lucky to have him.”

“No baby, I’m lucky,” Karson said, kissing the spot on her brow that was furrowed. “And as much as I want to stay and enjoy you guys’ company, I gotta go. We have meetings.”

She turned to face him, and he didn’t miss the relief on everyone’s face.

Assholes. Thank God, Lacey wasn’t staying there long.

Snaking her arms around his waist, she smiled up at him. “Sure. I’ll be at the game.”

“In an Assassins jersey?” he asked with a wink and her face reddened.

“You suck,” she muttered, but he leaned in close, kissing her jaw.

Then he whispered, “You know it turns me on seeing you in my number. Just think of the things I can suck.” She gasped against his ear, and he grinned as he pulled back. “Now be a good girl and wear your man’s number.”

Making a face, she shook her head. “Okay. I’ll be in a damn Assassins jersey.”

“That’s just wrong,” Rachel said with a shake of her head. “Your team is the Hawks.”

Without even leaving Karson’s gaze, she said, “No, it’s the Assassins.”

“She’s married to an Assassins player. She really has no choice in the matter,” Nate said, but Karson could hear the venom in his voice. He was pissed his “princess” had come over to the good side.

“See, he’s coming around,” she whispered, kissing his lips.

“Sure,” he laughed and she rolled her eyes.

“Anyway, you’re leaving afterward, right?”

“Yeah, but you’ll meet me right in the bar of the hotel?” he asked, wishing like hell her family would disappear so he could love on his wife.

“That’s the plan,” she said with a nod, and he actually felt okay about leaving this time. She seemed ready for it, even though he knew neither of them really was. He would only be gone for a couple days, but still, he didn’t want to leave her. She was leaving the following day, but he didn’t trust Nate not to try to talk her into staying. He may be trying to act like all was well and forgiven, but Karson didn’t miss the way Nate looked at him or the way he didn’t even say goodbye after Thanksgiving. He’d kissed Lacey and left, no word to him or his family. Which was understandable, but he wasn’t on the road to accepting Karson anytime soon.

Karson knew this. Lacey was still in delusional land about it. She really thought he was coming around, but Karson couldn’t disagree more. Cuddling into her, he said, “What time is your flight tomorrow?”

“Four.”

“Why don’t you just stay until Karson gets home?” Rachel asked.

“Yeah, honey, no reason to be home alone,” Nate said just like Karson knew he would, but he didn’t say a word. It was Lacey’s decision, not his.

“Um, I don’t know. I have things I need to do at the house, and I think I’m having lunch with his boss on Monday,” she said with a shrug. “I’ll be back in a couple weeks.”

Karson’s heart pounded with pride as he dropped his mouth to hers. Kissing her long and hard, he didn’t care that he had onlookers. His baby was going to their home and she was adjusting.

What more could he ask for?

He could ask for a damn win, that’s what he could ask for.

Karson couldn’t believe they lost the game in overtime, but what was worse was the look of pure satisfaction when he saw Lacey at the hotel bar. Glaring, he wanted to enjoy the picture-perfect view she was creating, but it was hard. Even with her sporting his jersey, it sliding off her shoulder as she wore a pair of jeans and boots up to her knees, he couldn’t miss the grin on her face. Her hair was in a braid along her shoulder with a purple knit cap angled off to the side. Her eyes were bright with purple eye junk, but that grin told him she was a little too happy they lost.

“Shouldn’t you be upset I lost?” he asked as she entered his arms, squeezing her arms around him.

“You see, what had happened was,” she started, laughing, and his furrow deepened, but she just giggled. “I was cheering for you guys. It’s not my fault your team lost.”

“You’re a horrible hockey wife, woman,” he teased and she laughed as she kissed his chin.