In the Crease (Assassins Book 11) Read online

  Shot after shot, Jensen took, only letting a few through here and there until his hands were aching and his groin was dead. But in a good way. It was a great workout, just what he wanted and needed in a way. Dropping his gloves, he lay on the ice as Vaughn did the same, sliding toward him. Looking over, he found Vaughn watching him.

  “What if she says no?”

  Jensen shrugged. He hadn’t thought about that. “Then that will suck.”

  “You know it’s ’cause she’s scared. She’s such a pansy. This whole ‘I hate love’ shit is wack. She doesn’t hate it, she loves it. It just keeps fucking with her.”

  “Because she chooses shit to fall for.”

  “Wells tells her the same thing constantly.”

  “She doesn’t listen.”

  “She’s stubborn.”

  “Yeah, but I like that.”

  “You like everything about her.”

  “I do, except that she’s making me wait for her to decide what the hell she’s doing.”

  “Have you reached out to her?”

  “No. I’m giving her space.”

  Vaughn nodded, tossing his gloves in the net as Jensen slowly undid his goalie pads. “Brie said the dude, the father of the baby, told her she wasn’t trophy wife material.”

  Jensen glanced over at him, his brows furrowing as anger shook his body. “What the fuck does that mean?”

  “Probably a dig at her weight.”

  “She’s not even big. Thick, yeah, but she’s been thick her whole life. She’s a strong girl.”

  “Yeah, but dickheads don’t see that.”

  “I fucking hate dickheads. Give us good guys a bad rep.” Vaughn agreed as Jensen threw off his pad, starting on the other one. “I was thinking about that time, out at NateWay1 when I fell for her—”

  “Dude, please don’t tell me the story again. It’s sickening.”

  “I’m not, asshole. Listen,” Jensen said, a grin pulling at his lips. “Also, remember I helped you write out messages in sausage on pizza for Brie.”

  “Hey, that was sweet.”

  “And so is my story of the hammer on that hot—”

  “Please don’t.”

  Jensen smiled for the first time in the last two days. He could still see her hair blowing in the summer breeze. It was one of his favorite memories. He loved the sweat dripping down the backs of her thighs and the wide smile on her beautiful, round face. “I should have told her I had a thing for her then.”

  “That was right after Ophelia, though.”

  “Yeah, but I knew,” he said simply. “I always knew. I was just too scared she wouldn’t have me.”

  “Why? You ain’t ugly.”

  Jensen smirked. “I’m aware, but I couldn’t shake that I wasn’t man enough for her.”

  “Dude. Really? It’s not like you’re the only dude who can’t have kids. Plus, not all women are like that whore. Especially Wren, she wouldn’t do that to you.”

  “Still, it fucks with you.”

  “I get it, but still.”

  “Yeah, but then again, I’ve always been scared Wren didn’t see me as any more than just a brother.”

  “Maybe she thinks the same thing?”

  “Probably. My fault.”

  Vaughn nodded. “You know, way back when, before I admitted to myself that I loved Brie and wanted her, knocked her up, and all that jazz, my best friend told me that his dad always told him, ‘You can’t be a coward and be in love. You’re not allowed. You gotta choose one before you’re a coward and alone.’ And you, my friend, have been the coward and alone, a perfect example of that. Ready to change it?”

  Jensen laughed. “Wow.”

  “I know, I’m amazing.”

  “And cocky as fuck.”

  “Oh, yeah, totally that.”

  “So I should call her.”

  “You should go to her office or her place.” Vaughn sat up, looking down at him. “And you say, ‘Woman, you’re marrying me, and I’m gonna be that baby’s daddy! And you’re gonna love me!’”

  Jensen sputtered with laughter as he sat up. “Yeah, we both know I’m not gonna say that.”

  Vaughn shrugged. “Hey, worth the try.”

  Nodding, Jensen sucked in a deep breath. “Yeah, but you’re right. And please God, don’t let that go to your head.”

  Looking over at him, Jensen found Vaughn grinning. “Too late.”

  “So she’s pretty booked?”

  Wren’s assistant, Leah, glanced up from her computer. “I mean, she has like a fifteen-minute window between the appointment she has now and her next, but everyone is coming in today since they are either leaving or going on vacation.”

  Jensen nodded. The food he was holding from The Southern was burning his hand, and the flowers he held in his other hand were making him want to sneeze, but he didn’t care. He was going to see Wren. “Can you put me in for those fifteen minutes?”

  She looked skeptical. “She usually eats—”

  He held up the food. “I know, I’m trying to surprise her.”

  Her brow perked and then she smiled. “Yes, Mr. Monroe, I’ll put you in.”

  “You rock, Leah. If she doesn’t tell you that enough, it’s true.”

  Her face reddened before Jensen flashed her a winning smile. “You’re sweet. Have a seat, it shouldn’t be much longer.”

  “Thanks,” he called back to her before taking the seat that was right in front of Wren’s office door. His chest hurt, his heart was pounding so hard, but he had to know. Right now. Yes or no, if they were doing this. God, he hoped she said yes. But a part of him was pretty sure she was going to say no. He didn’t know why, but he just felt it. She was a hard sell, and he understood she didn’t want to hurt him. They had too much history, but man, he really wanted this. He did. More than he thought he would.

  Not to mention he was pretty sure it went past more than him just wanting to help her.

  He wanted her to love him.

  Biting the inside of his lip, he tried to inhale and exhale slowly as he waited for the door to open. He felt jumpy. Almost like he had a couple of weeks ago during the play-offs. He felt like he was watching game five all over again. He really didn’t want that feeling. She was Wren. His buddy’s baby sister and he knew her. He shouldn’t be nervous, but then it was Wren. Someone he had been very awkward around for most of his life.

  He was pretty sure the only time he wasn’t nervous around her was when he was married to Ophelia. But that was only because he was trying to let Wren go. To love only Ophelia. He should have known that would have happen, though. He’d always had a place in his heart for Wren. Ophelia was constantly a little jealous of Wren, and it was probably because he would drop everything to help her. Wren knew that, so why was she holding back?

  When the door opened, he stood just as Tate Odder came out. “Monroe.”

  Jensen smiled. He hadn’t seen Odder in a while. “Odder, how you doing? Any news on when we can start training together?”

  Tate looked away and then shook his head. “No, sorry. No news.”

  Jensen’s shoulders dropped. “Well, that sucks. I’m excited to get out there with you.”

  Tate looked apprehensive as he nodded. “Me too. I’ll see you?”

  “Yeah, see ya,” Jensen said since Tate was already walking away. Huh, that was weird.

  Taking a deep breath, Jensen pushed the office door open just as Wren looked up, her eyes widening. “Jensen.”

  She looked beautiful. Her hair was up in a bun, her makeup soft but bringing out her eyes gorgeously. She was wearing a low-cut dress or shirt, he wasn’t sure. All he knew was her boobs looked great and, crap, he was staring. Was his mouth open? Shit, it was. She stood and the dress was loose, but he could see her bump. Her child. The child that could be his.

  Moving her hands across the baby hairs along her forehead, she then ran them down the front of her dress, nervousness coming off her in waves. “I wasn’t expecting you.”