Hockey Holidays Read online

  But at what cost?

  He was ready to admit the price he’d paid to live up to the expectations of his father, his coaches and himself. Picturing the look on Andie’s face when he’d said he was busy over the holidays because he had to focus on the games ahead made it hard to breathe and he finally understood. There hadn’t been any room for her and he’d never made an effort to put her first.

  “I have to go, Dad.”

  “You just got here. And the Winter Classic is—”

  “A hockey game.” Erik was already pulling on his coat. “I don’t think—I hope—I won’t be back tonight, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Erik left before Lamont could get over his surprise and use all the familiar phrases to get back into his head. He called Andie’s number from the car, but got no answer. And when he drove by her apartment building, her car wasn’t in its space. Then he remembered she was working extra at the clinic to cover for Chelsea.

  Not the best place for what he had to say, but he wasn’t going to wait any more. The young receptionist was back at the desk, watching a Christmas comedy on a tablet when he walked in.

  “Sorry,” she said, tapping the pause button. “We don’t have regular appointments this week because we always get bombed with dogs that ate something they shouldn’t and cats that get hold of ribbon, but it’s slow today.”

  “Is Andie around?”

  “She was checking on a cat we have staying over for observation, but I think she’s in her office now.” Before Erik could tell her he knew the way, she’d hit a button. “Andie? Peanut’s dad is here to see you.”

  That hurt. Peanut’s dad. Obviously the news about her going home hadn’t spread. But rather than focusing on his loss, he thought about the joyful reunion of Peanut and her girls until Andie appeared from out back.

  “Erik.” She looked confused. “I thought you were going to your dad’s. You didn’t find another dog, did you?”

  “Not yet, but I think visiting some shelters will be in my near future.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, jittery suddenly and not sure what else to do with them. “Can we talk somewhere for a minute?”

  “Sure.” She nodded her head and he followed her back to her office. It was even smaller than the exam rooms, but he peeled off his coat and shut the door.

  Andie looked at his face, her brows furrowing. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “For?”

  This was so damn hard, but hopefully worth it. “I’m sorry I made you feel like you weren’t as important as hockey to me. No, wait. You didn’t just feel like that. It was me. I didn’t make you more important than hockey. And I’m sorry.”

  Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I don’t really know what to say.”

  “I love you.” His throat tightened and he cleared his throat. “I loved you then, and I let you walk away. I still love you—I will always love you because you are my one—and I hurt you again, when I used hockey to avoid dealing with giving Peanut back. I should have let you in.”

  “I still love you, too, Erik. I never stopped.”

  His pulse quickened and he had to take a deep breath. “I want us to be together again, Andie. Forever. I’ll retire right now. I’ll call everybody I’ve got to call and tell them I’m not playing anymore because I found a woman who’s more important to me than anything, including hockey.”

  “Erik, I…”

  He pulled out his phone. “I mean it. I’ll call right here and now.”

  “I don’t want you to retire. That’s never what I wanted.” She slid her arms around his waist, tilting her head back to look up at him. “I never asked you to give up hockey. I would never have asked you to do that. All I wanted was for you to be present and really with me when you were with me. I had a place in your bed and I think I had a place in your heart, but I never fully occupied your mind.”

  “I get it. You tried telling me before and I didn’t really listen.”

  “What’s changed between then and now?”

  “What’s changed? Everything. What’s changed is that I’ve spent the last year without you in my life. And because I had you in my life, I know what I’m missing. I know what it felt like with you and I know what it feels like without you, and being without you sucks.” He sighed and wrapped his arms around her. “That’s all I’ve got Andie. I love you and being without you really sucks.”

  “Being without you really sucks, too.”

  He kissed her, holding her as tightly as he could without crushing her. Her kisses always rocked his world, but this one was different—better—because she was his again. He’d gotten a second shot and he wasn’t going to blow it this time.

  “I don’t have a ring yet,” he said when they finally came up for air, “but I want you to be mine forever, Andie. I want you to share my life and my home and…everything. A dog.”

  “Definitely a dog.” She stretched up on her toes to kiss him again. “Yes, Erik. And Merry Christmas.”

  ~ THE END ~

  Books by Shannon Stacey

  Hockey Romances

  Here We Go – Book 1

  The Boston Fire Series

  A contemporary romance series about tough, dedicated (and sexy) firefighters!

  Heat Exchange – Book 1

  Controlled Burn – Book 2

  Fully Ignited – Book 3

  Hot Response – Book 4

  Under Control – Book 5

  Flare Up – Book 6

  The Boys of Fall Series

  A contemporary romance series about going home again.

  Under The Lights – Book 1

  Defending Hearts – Book 2

  Homecoming – Book 3

  The Kowalski Series

  A contemporary romance series full of family, fun and falling in love.

  Exclusively Yours – Book 1

  Undeniably Yours – Book 2

  Yours To Keep – Book 3

  All He Ever Needed – Book 4

  All He Ever Desired – Book 5

  All He Ever Dreamed – Book 6

  Alone With You – Novella 6.5

  Love A Little Sideways – Book 7

  Taken With You – Book 8

  Falling For Max – Book 9

  What It Takes – Book 10

  The Devlin Group Series

  This action-adventure romance series follows the men and women of the Devlin Group, a privately owned rogue agency unhindered by red tape and jurisdiction.

  72 Hours – Book 1

  On The Edge – Book 2

  No Surrender – Book 3

  No Place To Hide – Book 4

  Christmas Novellas

  Holiday Sparks

  Mistletoe & Margaritas

  Snowbound With the CEO

  Her Holiday Man

  In the Spirit

  Holiday With A Twist

  Hold Her Again

  Historical Westerns

  Taming Eliza Jane – Book 1

  Becoming Miss Becky – Book 2

  Also Available

  A Fighting Chance

  Heart of the Storm

  Slow Summer Kisses

  Kiss Me Deadly

  About Shannon Stacey

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her favorite activities are writing romance and really random tweets when she’s not driving her RZR off-road. She loves mud, books, Boston sports & watching way too much TV.

  Email | Website

  Jaymee Jacobs - Christmas Crosscheck

  A Dallas Comets novella

  Bryan's planning to propose to Georgiana on Christmas Eve, but will the chaos of their families’ first holiday together ruin their special moment?

  Prologue

  Bryan Comstock fidgeted in his seat. The couch was plush and comfortable, but his nerves got the best of him. This was worse than NHL Draft Day, when he had to sit through other guys’ names being called before a team f