Boarded by Love Read online

  I smile. Harper keeps him while Reese works at the studio since I’m gone now. “He’s sweet, and she loves her nephew.”

  “Whatever. What time is it there? One?”

  “Yeah,” I nod as I lean back against my chair. The walls are vibrating with music, but one of the must-haves was soundproof walls so that when I needed to talk to my family I could. Thankfully my bosses were fine with that because they were crazy expensive, but then, I don’t think they care. They love me and have been amazingly awesome. I mean, I’m living in a penthouse above the Lights and Sounds hotel, I drive a Mercedes, and I have a clothing allowance that would make Kim Kardashian piss her pants. I am set, and man, I love it here. I do wish that Jude was here a hundred percent of the time, but we both knew this was going to happen, that we would be apart. I do have the same problems that every director has, but I don’t know many twenty-year-olds with this kind of job, a hot NHL boyfriend, and basically living a dream life. I am constantly waiting to wake up, but it still hasn’t happened. I don’t know what I did to deserve this amazing life, but I’m more than thankful for it.

  Glancing at the clock, I glare. I don’t know why Jude hasn’t called me, he usually calls me an hour after his game, but it’s almost been four hours, which is really weird.

  “Did you see the game?”

  “Yes, idiots,” I say with a shake of my head.

  Seeing my uncle and boyfriend fight shouldn’t have been so shocking to me, but it was, and I plan on ripping both of them a new one. “Jude should be calling me anytime now. He’s superlate, probably trying to ignore me, but when he does finally call me, I’ll let him have it.”

  “Yeah, Phillip is ignoring me. Even sent me a text saying he knows I’m mad, but just give him a chance to explain. I can’t believe he threw the first punch.”

  “It was obvious that Jude was taunting him. Figures the first time they play each other is the first time they fight. Been good the whole year, but as soon as they get on the ice, they want to be idiots.”

  “So dumb,” she says with a shake of her head. She looks amazing and not like a momma that gets no sleep. Her eyes are bright, and I have to admit that motherhood looks amazing on her. Kissing Sawyer’s cheek, she looks at the camera and waves his little hand. “Say, hi sissy, we miss you.”

  I smile, leaning on my hand. “I miss you guys. I’ll be home for Thanksgiving.”

  “Good, we can’t wait. Can we, buddy?” she asks Sawyer. He’s just looking at the screen, trying to grab her phone. “Anyway, when do you get to see Jude?”

  “I’m not sure. I was going to ask him tonight. I think this weekend he’s going to fly up? I’m not sure. Things have been insane. I had to fire two girls ’cause they’d rather do blow than dance.”

  “More idiots,” she says with a shake of her head.

  “For sure,” I sigh. “It’s so annoying.”

  When my computer signals that I have another call coming in, I say, “Hey, let me let you go. Jude is calling.”

  “Okay, babe, talk to you later. Bye!”

  “Bye! Love you, Sawyer! Love you too,” I add quickly, and she laughs.

  “We love you, bye!”

  I smile as I switch over to Jude’s call. When his beautiful face comes on the screen, I get a little breathless, like I always do. He’s all smiles, but I notice right away that his right eye is almost swollen shut.

  “You’re an idiot,” I say with a shake of my head.

  “Wasn’t my fault!” he says as he walks wherever he’s going.

  “Such a pretty face and you let him mess you up! And why the hell haven’t you called me until now? It’s been like four hours? Did you have to get right on the bus or something? Where are you? Why is it so loud?”

  “’Cause I’m here to surprise you,” he answers just as the door opens and he’s standing there with a bouquet of red roses.

  Squealing, I jump out of my chair and rush to him, wrapping my arms around him. Kissing his lips, I melt against him but then remember I’m mad at him. Pulling away, I smack him in the middle of the chest and he gives me a shocked look. “Jude! You can’t fight my uncle!”

  “Shh,” he says as he grins, wrapping his arm around my waist and carrying me into the office. Kicking the door shut, he throws the bouquet down before holding me up with both hands and walking me to the desk. I know what he’s about to do, and while I’m game for that since I haven’t seen him in two weeks, I need to reiterate that he cannot fight my uncle. As his mouth meets mine, I sorta forget what I need to reiterate and get lost in the way his mouth moves against mine.

  Things have been perfect between us. Even the fights we have over stupid crap are amazing because they are with him, and the make-up sex is unbelievable. Well, any sex is unbelievable, but still, I’m so freaking happy I could scream. Moving his hands up my corset, he kisses the tops of my breasts and says, “Fuck, you are hot in this thing.”

  “Thanks,” I grin as he kisses up my neck to my jaw. “But seriously, Jude, no more fighting, promise me.”

  “I promise,” he says roughly against my jaw.

  Holding his face still, I pull back and ask, “Why were you fighting anyway?”

  I feel his hands leave my body, and a second later he says, “Because of this.”

  He looks down and so do I to see the most stunning diamond ring. Gasping, I cover my mouth as my eyes fill with tears. Through my blurry eyes, I take in the rose gold band and the large diamond that is surrounded by little diamonds.

  “Oh Jude,” I gasp, and he smiles before dropping between my legs to his knees.

  “I asked him if I could marry you. I’ve been asking since the day of the draft, and he has said no every time. Today, I decided I couldn’t wait any more, not when I know my girl walks around looking this hot. I gotta put a ring on it, keep all the men away,” he teases, and I laugh through my tears.

  “Jude, there are no other men.”

  “I know there aren’t,” he says and all the laughter is gone as his eyes meet mine. “I want to marry you, Claire, and I finally have Phillip’s permission. Took me getting my ass kicked, but hey, I’ll do anything for the girl who, every time she looks in my eyes, makes me feel like I’m being slammed into the boards. I can’t live my life without you because you are my other half. So what do you say? Wanna marry me?”

  I’m nodding before the words fully leave his lips. “Of course I do!”

  Sliding the ring on my finger, he grins widely at me before pressing his lips against mine and kissing the hell out of me. Smiling against my lips, he presses small kisses all over my mouth before pulling back to look into my eyes. Moving my fingers into his hair, I say, “So you’ve wanted to marry me since the draft?”

  “I’ve wanted to marry you since I saw you in those geeky black glasses. I love you, Claire.”

  “I love you,” I say, meeting my lips to his.

  Pressing his head to mine, he locks his eyes with mine and I can’t help but smile. I thought I was happy fifteen minutes ago, but right now I am ecstatic. I have the dream job, a healthy, beautiful family, and now a hot hockey-player fiancé. I’m living all my dreams because of the man who is staring into my eyes with a hunger that can’t be touched, and while this would be a great moment to let him have his way with me on this desk, there is still one more thing that needs to be said.

  “But still no fighting with your soon to be uncle-in-law.”

  I smile, expecting him to laugh with me, but his eyes stay serious as his mouth curves up just a tad. I love the little half smile he does. Hell, I love everything about this man and I will for the rest of my life.

  Leaning into me, he whispers, “I don’t have to fight anymore. I won the ultimate prize.”

  As my eyes swim with tears, I nod slowly because he’s not the only one who won.

  I did too.

  THE END

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