by Toni Aleo
“It won’t be easy,” he went on, smiling up at her. “I’m hard to love but when I mess up, I promise I’ll do everything to make it better because I want you. Only you. For the rest of my life. I love you, Piper Titov, and you are mine. Marry me … again, and know that I will love only you for the rest of my existence.”
Piper closed her eyes. She had waited for this day since the very first moment she set eyes on this man. As she opened them she knew there was only one thing she could say.
“Yes, Mr. Titov, because you are the only man I want to give my heart to.”
Grinning, Erik stood up, pressing his lips to hers. Her hand came up, holding his face as she deepened the kiss. She knew she would never get enough of his kisses and would love this man forever. Drawing her face back from his, she grinned just as Dimitri stirred in her arms.
Erik looked down at Dimitri and said, “Hear that, bud? Momma said yes!”
Dimitri was looking up at them with wide, innocent eyes. Piper laughed along with Erik and then watched as Erik took the ring from Dimitri’s fist and reached for her hand.
Taking her other ring off, he said, “I know you don’t like flashy stuff but I want the whole world to know how much I love you.”
Piper cried happy tears as he slid her new ring on her finger and slid the other one in beside it. Erik leaned over, kissing her mouth again and pressed his forehead against hers.
Piper whispered, “I’m sorry I gave up and didn’t give you the love you needed when it mattered most.”
“We learn from our mistakes and the main thing was that we weren’t broken, Piper, we were just bent. We still have so much learning to do, but together we can do it. I love you and nothing will ever change that,” he said, rubbing his nose along hers.
She smiled and closed her eyes, enjoying the sweet sensation. “I may change my mind on everything else in this world, but you and Dimitri are the two people I am sure of.”
“So me and you to the end?”
She nodded. “And Dimitri.”
“I love you, Mrs. Titov.”
Piper grinned as she said, “And I love you, too, Mr. Titov.”
He moved his mouth to hers, kissing her softly as his fingers tangled in her hair. She felt as if her heart was going to explode from all the love she was feeling. She knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy road for them, but looking deep into Erik’s dark eyes, she knew that even though he was a hard guy to love, she would never love a man the way she loved him.
When Dimitri started to cry, she realized she had the love of two of the greatest people in the world.
Her man and her son.
What more could she ask for?
Epilogue
Four weeks later …
“So then I cut left, then to the right before rearing back. Dimitri, I hit that puck so hard that even I didn’t see it hit the back of the goal! All I saw was the red light go off and the next thing I knew, everyone on my team was tackling me!”
Dimitri looked up wide-eyed at Erik from where he lay on Erik’s legs.
“It was amazing, and not only was it my first goal as the new alternate captain, but it was also my first as your daddy. That is too cool, little man.”
As if Dimitri knew how awesome that was, he cooed, causing Erik’s heart to skip a beat. Reaching for the stick that he scored the goal with, he moved Dimitri’s little hands onto the shaft and smiled when Dimitri tried to hold it.
“That’s my boy, good job.” Taking his phone out, Erik took a picture. He couldn’t believe how much his life had changed. He had missed most of the preseason games, since he wanted to be home with Dimitri and to help out when Piper needed him. Thankfully, Elli was okay with that; she even tore up his probation documents and promoted him to alternate captain.
The hockey season was in full swing. It had been a long week away from Dimitri and Piper, and he missed them constantly. He didn’t know how being away from home would affect his game, but the Assassins had won all three road games. They even won their first home game, which rocked, since Piper and Dimitri were there at the arena with Alla and Cooper. When the plane landed earlier that morning, he didn’t think he could get home quick enough and when he opened the front door both of them were waiting for him. It was the most unbelievable feeling in the world. He could never imagine that he could love two people as much as he loved his wife and son.
“Dimitri?” he said softly, then smiled when his baby looked up at him while chewing on his fist. “Do you know who my best friend is? That’s right, you are, and you know who your best friend is? Me, and don’t forget that. I’ll always be here even when I’m not. Daddy loves you, so much.”
“I’m pretty sure that we both love you just as much.”
Erik looked up to find his beautiful wife standing in the doorway in a pair of shorts and his old high school shirt. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders and her eyes were locked on him as she leaned against the wall. He gave her a lusty grin as his eyes scanned over her beautiful body.
“I don’t know about that. I love you guys a lot.”
She smiled as she came over to kiss him, and when they parted she said, “I think I’ve told you about letting him hold your nasty hockey sticks. It’s gross.”
Erik smiled as she got a baby wipe and cleaned Dimitri’s hands.
“I’m starting him early.”
“Jeez,” she said with a laugh as she sat on the side of the chair. “Daddy’s gonna have you on skates and with a hockey stick in your hands before your walking, little man. What do you think of that?”
When Dimitri burped, they both laughed.
“See, he likes it,” Erik said, flashing her a grin.
She leaned over, pressing her lips against Erik’s temple. Closing his eyes in reaction to her touch, he moved his free hand up her bare legs.
“I just got off the phone with Tate,” she said, bringing his attention back up to her face.
He swallowed hard, pushing away his need for her as he asked, “Really, what happened? Is Dimitri’s girlfriend here yet?”
“Yup, Audrey had Penelope by C-section a couple of hours ago. She came out screaming at a healthy ten pounds, six ounces, and twenty-two inches long.”
“God.” Erik laughed before looking down at Dimitri. “Your girlfriend came out almost as big as you are now.”
Piper smacked his arm. “Oh hush, she’ll be more to love; nothing wrong with that.”
Erik shook his head.
“Nope, not at all. I sure do love your handles,” he said teasingly.
She smiled, then pressed her lips to his and whispered, “I love you.”
Erik bit her bottom lip and answered, “I love you more.”
Just as he went back for another kiss, he was interrupted by Dimitri’s cries. Looking down at his little man, he asked Piper, “Is he hungry?”
“Yeah, probably,” she said, reaching for him, but Erik shook his head.
“Weren’t you almost done with your book?”
She smiled as she nodded. “Yeah.”
“Okay, well, you go read, or start a bath or something. You’re on break while Daddy is home,” he said with a grin, then looked back down at Dimitri. “After I get our little man fed and cleaned up, he’s going down for a nap, and then Mommy and Daddy are going to go play a game that we really like.”
“I like the way you think, Mr. Titov,” Piper said as he stood.
He smiled, leaned down to give her a kiss, and looked deep into the lusty eyes of the woman that he loved. “Oh you just wait: While I’ve been gone, I have been thinking of all kinds of things I want to do to you.”
“Ooh, I can’t wait,” she said with a sexy little grin.
He reached for her, bringing her close to his chest as he pressed his lips to hers. She melted against him and as he kissed her with his son cuddled in the nook of his arm, he knew that there was no other place he wanted to be, that he would never experience a better love than this. Breaking away from her, he sm
iled as she ran her fingers down the front of his arms.
“I’m so glad you changed these.” He looked down at where she traced the words on his arms. He had a big X put through Nothing. Above it was now the word We’ll, so that when he put his arms together, it said, “We’ll last forever.”
Smiling down at her, he said, “It’s the truth.”
She nodded, pulling him by his shirt to bring their mouths together for another hot kiss. With every day that passed, he only fell more in love with Piper, and nothing could ever touch the love he had for Dimitri. They were his whole life.
Parting from his wife’s beautiful mouth, he said, “Thank you.”
Her brows came together as she looked up at him with a smile. “For what?”
Erik looked down at Dimitri, and smiled before looking back at Piper. “For giving me the world.”
Acknowledgments
My life will never be the same after the loss I suffered this year.
Thankfully, I not only have the best husband, children, and brother; I also have friends and also my amazing family to help me grieve. As much as I want to go through the reason I love my family and friends, I think the only thing I need to say is that I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be writing, I wouldn’t be reading, if it wasn’t for my mom.
She gave me the gift of reading when I was a child. We used to go to used bookstores and she’d let me get as many books as I wanted, the first being Pride and Prejudice. She told me it was the best love story ever told and that my heart would always be happy if I had that book within reach. I’ll never forget how many times I came out of my room and found her reading amazing romance books. I used to tease her and ask why all her books had half-naked guys on them, but she would just laugh and tell me that one day I’d love them, too.
Boy, do I.
When I started writing, I didn’t tell her at first. I really didn’t tell anyone. I wrote Taking Shots and then I looked at my husband and told him. Next I told my mom, and by the way she looked at me, I don’t think she had ever expected me to write. Heck, I hadn’t, either. The first thing she said was how proud of me she was, and the next was that she wanted to read it. She loved it.
I am crying as I write this right now, not only because I miss her so much, but because she never got to read this book. I never got done with the edits in time and it kills me that I never got her opinion on it. I know she would have been proud. She told everyone, “My daughter is an author, the best I know,” and it used to embarrass the hell out of me, but God, I miss hearing her say it now.
Like I said before, this book is for her. Everything I do, my parenting, my writing, the way I love and how loyal I am to my friends and family, is because of her. She was my best friend and I’ll miss her until my dying day.
I love you, Mom.
Photo: © Regina Wamba
TONI ALEO is the author of the Nashville Assassins series: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, Empty Net, and Blue Lines. When not rooting for her beloved Nashville Predators, she’s probably going to her husband’s and son’s hockey games and her daughter’s dance competitions, taking pictures, scrapbooking, or reading the latest romance novel. She lives in the Nashville area with her husband, two children, and a bulldog.
The Editor’s Corner
Welcome to Loveswept!
I have a little secret: when I’m shopping for gifts, I can never resist buying myself a little treat as well—usually in the form of a sexy and romantic read. If you’re like me, then you’re in luck because we have some exceptional books on sale this month. Like Juliet Rosetti’s Crazy for You, the next book in her fun and sexy series featuring Mazie Maguire, everyone’s favorite escaped (but exonerated!) felon, and her hilarious capers. For historical romance fans, there’s Samantha Kane’s Devil in My Arms, the last installment in her Saint’s Devils series which is heaping with steamy intrigue and mystery. Then there’s Lauren Layne’s Love the One You’re with, the next book in the clever and sassy Sex, Love & Stiletto series—which reminds me so much of Sex & the City, with the story of two high-powered magazine writers who find love amid a war of words. And don’t miss Toni Aleo’s Blue Lines; if you’re not already a Toni Aleo fan, you will be after this book. Sports romance are so hot right now– and Toni’s sexy hockey book will have you craving for more sports in your life.
So treat yourself; you won’t regret it!
And, you can’t miss these classics:
Two sizzling books from Ruth Owen: Taming the Pirate, where a woman in danger must hide the truth about her past from the sexy PI who’s bent on protecting—and loving—her, and, Last American Hero, where a seductive cowboy loner learns a lesson in love; Great American Bachelor, Adrienne Staff and Sally Goldenbaum’s story of a small-town girl who shows a high-powered bachelor that some things in life are more important than the perfect deal; Iris Johansen’s mesmerizing Winter Bride, about a woman who risks her life to win the love she’s always dreamed of; Imaginary Lover, a haunting love story and Hannah’s Lover, a scorching hot fantasy—both from Sandra Chastain; and as a special treat, we’re also releasing Connie Brockway’s—McClairen’s Isle trilogy featuring the restless, daring and proud Merrick siblings as they find a love as wild and glorious as the Highland isle they claimed as their own: The Passionate One, the Reckless One and The Ravishing One.
Be swept away with Loveswept!
Gina Wachtel
Associate Publisher
Read on for an excerpt from Toni Aleo’s
Taking Shots
Chapter 1
Eleanor “Elli” Fisher didn’t understand why she was so forgetful. She was convinced that if her ass weren’t attached to her, she would forget it at home, too. But really? How in the world did she forget all the bulbs for her light stands?
Elli stood in the entrance of the Luther Arena, waiting for Harper Allen, her assistant, to bring the bulbs back from her studio on the western side of Nashville. This was one of the most important days of her career and she forgot the bulbs.
God, I am an idiot.
How did she manage this? She ran her hand through her unruly brown curly hair, sighing. As if forgetting the bulbs wasn’t enough, she was also having a really crappy hair day. This was her first year with the Nashville Assassins. She couldn’t blow it. Being chosen to be the photographer for a hockey team was huge, but when it was for the team that just won the Stanley Cup and had the prospect of winning again? Hello, it was huge.
When she saw Harper running into the arena with the bulbs in hand, she let out the breath she had been holding. Damn, that was fast.
“For Christ’s sake! It’s a madhouse out there!” Harper complained in her thick southern accent. Her hair was in spikes this week. The spikes were also purple, which made it even more interesting. Hadn’t she discussed with Harper how they needed to keep a professional image? Yes, purple was a team color.
But still!
“I know, come on. Let’s go put the bulbs in.” She didn’t have time to have it out with Harper right now; she had to get to the ice. They all but ran toward the entrance to the ice. Once there, she was greeted by the Assassins’ PR rep.
“Ms. Fisher, how do you do? Are you ready?”
Melody Jackson was intense. That was the only way Elli could describe her. She was from New Jersey, and had been converted into a Southerner. And that made no damn sense to Elli, but whatever, this was her boss. So she flashed a huge grin and turned on her southern charm.
“Yes, ma’am. Let my assistant put these bulbs in, and we can get started.”
“Good, the boys will be out soon. Then we’ll go downstairs for the other shots we need.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Harper ran ahead of them and started setting everything up. Elli took in a deep breath. She had been photographing weddings almost her whole adult life, and now she was moving to sports. She had always wanted to do sports photography, partly because she had such a love for hockey, but she never could get an opportunity. Now, thanks
to a job opening, and being related to the owner of the Assassins, here she was.
This was her chance.
A big one.
* * *
Harper handed Elli her camera with a big smile. Harper knew how important this day was, and also how nervous Elli was.
“Go on over there and let me test-shoot, Harp.” Harper started toward the goal and turned with a stick in her hand, making a stern expression. It brought a smile to Elli’s face. Harper was a dork but, God, Elli loved her. After fixing the aperture on her camera, Elli called Harper over as the guys started skating onto the ice.
“Good golly, Miss Molly! Look at them! Good Lord! They are gorgeous!” Harper whispered as all the guys came out and sat on the bench. Elli took her time looking the guys over. They were gorgeous, all right. But she already knew that, since she never missed a home game. Sometimes she thought it was the uniforms: bright purple and black that brought out their good looks, with a masked man on the front of the jerseys. But nope, even with the helmets off, these men were just plain gorgeous.
Getting back in the zone, she called for the coaches first. Trying to bottle her nerves, she got started. After shooting the coaches, it was on to the team. Each player came out in front of the goal, striking his pose. Elli zoomed in, taking a head shot before taking one with him holding a stick. After that picture, each lined up for an action shot, which consisted of skating toward her while shooting a puck. During all of this, Harper offered up commentary.
“For the love of God, El, that dude is hot!”
Elli rolled her eyes, taking the shots she needed.
“Hush, Harp.”
“No, really. Like, please, can I hit on one of them? Just one?”
“No.”
“You’re no fun.”