It would be so much easier to go through it the first time with girls who had been there before. “God, yes; that would be great. I’m still not sure about my dress, though. Zoe made me buy it. It’s much more her style than mine. Any chance you might be willing to come over and look at it?”
“Absolutely! The guys won’t be home for a while, so how about if I drive over there now?” Lacey gave Kelly directions to the house and went upstairs to get her dress and shoes out.
Kelly arrived looking fresh and perky, as usual. She was a beautiful girl. Her long blonde hair was perfect for California. She had flawless, porcelain skin that she left natural, except for some mascara and a dab of lip-gloss. “Okay, let’s see the dress.”
Lacey motioned for Kelly to follow her up the stars. “I have it laid out on my bed.”
“No! Let me see it on you. Go put it on, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure. I’ll just be a sec.” Kelly took a seat at the breakfast bar while Lacey ran up the stairs to put her dress on. Trying it on again didn’t make her feel any better. It was still super skimpy.
“Okay, here I come. Be honest, please. Remember, wild Zoe picked it out.” Lacey walked carefully down the steps and held her breath.
“Oh my God. Spin around.” Kelly thought Lacey looked gorgeous. It was ultra sexy, but the lines of the dress were still classy. It hinted everywhere, but revealed nothing overly scandalous. The rhinestones gave it just the right amount of sparkle. It would look fabulous under the right lighting. “Has Jody seen that?”
“No, and I’m debating on letting him see it before we go. This dress could push him over the edge. He tends to be a bit, shall we say, unappreciative if another man looks at me a certain way.” It was just a dress, though, right?
“Well, make no mistake. Every man there will be looking, including Keith. Damn, Lacey, I should go buy a sexier dress!” Kelly could admit that she was a little envious of Lacey’s dress. No one would be able to compare to her in that.
“Thanks, but Jody’s gonna freak, don’t you think?”
“Lacey. Do you feel good in it? Do you like it?” Kelly thought that Jody needed to learn to accept that his girl was a hottie. He should be preening and showing her off!
Smiling a smile only another woman could understand, she answered her, “Yeah. I feel like a goddess. I mean, I’m a little uncomfortable with the amount of skin that it shows, but why? I go to the beach, you know?” Looking down at herself again, she made her decision. “You know what? I am going to wear it and I’m not going to show Jody beforehand. He’ll just have to deal with my sex appeal!”
“That’s the way to go. He’ll get over it, and then he’ll be beaming with pride.” Kelly left her to her thoughts, and they agreed to meet at Kelly’s house at two in the afternoon the day of the party.
Jody couldn’t wait to see Lacey dressed up for the party. He had already donned his penguin suit. As much as he hated wearing it, he supposed he looked pretty good.
He was picking her up at Zoe’s in a limo. Since he went to the trouble of getting his hair trimmed and wore a tux, he decided to go all out.
When he pulled up to the house, he saw Lacey through the window. All he saw was a lot of skin and something that sparkled. He tried to get a better peek, but Lacey saw him looking in and quickly put her black, floor length cape on to cover up.
Lacey came out of the house and gave him her award-winning smile. “Wow, Jody. You look magnificent. I mean, drop dead gorgeous.” Lacey fanned herself as her face flushed with appreciation of the male specimen standing before her.
Jody bowed before her. “Thank you, ma’am. I wish I could say the same, but I only got a look at lots of skin through the window. Am I going to approve of that dress, dear?”
Lacey laughed at his haughty behavior. “Probably not, but you’re going to pretend to and tell me how nice I look, got it?”
Jody played along for now. “Yeah, I got it.” He offered her his arm, and that’s when she saw the limo.
“Wow, a limo? I’ve only been in one once before when I went to the prom.” Lacey was surprised by the limo, but pleased. Their way home from the party held lots of potential. She hoped it was a long drive.
“Nothing but the best for my girl. Speaking of which, I got something for you. I have to admit, I asked Zoe for advice. She wouldn’t tell me what you were wearing, but gave me an idea of what might look nice.” He handed her a thin, black velvet box.
When Lacey opened the box, her eyes went wide. She had never seen anything as beautiful as the necklace inside. It was a thick silver chain with a dozen or so diamonds creating a V and an oblong ruby dangling from the end. She allowed Jody to put it on her and peeked down into her cape to see that the ruby rested right at the tip of her cleavage. Wow.
“I don’t know what to say. Jody, it’s exquisite. Thank you so much, but you didn’t have to do that. You don’t need to buy me expensive jewels; I’m already yours.”
“I know I don’t, Lace. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I want to. You don’t expect anything from me, and I know that you don’t care about my money. I love making you smile like that. Do you really like it? We can return it and buy something …”
Lacey stopped him by putting her lips on his. “I love it, Jody. Thank you for picking it out for me. It’s perfect.”
When they got to the hotel where the party was being held, Lacey felt her nerves go on alert. She was worried about Jody’s reaction to her dress. “Um, Jody, maybe I should warn you. My dress is a bit skimpy. But Zoe made me try it on, and when I did, all I could think about was how much I thought you might like it on me. I didn’t think enough about what other people would see. I don’t really care about that, but I know you …”
Jody took a page from her book and placed his lips on hers this time to quiet her. “Lace … Angel, it’s okay. I’ll be good, I promise. I am proud to have you on my arm. Let them look, let them all look and be jealous of what is mine.”
His? Hmmm, yeah, okay. His. “Then let’s go.”
Jody took her hand in his, anticipation etched on his face. He couldn’t wait to see what she had on under that cape. When they reached the coatroom, Jody held her cape and let her untie it. As it slipped off, he inhaled sharply. “Holy hell, Lace.” He could certainly tell that she wore no panties with the dress. It just covered her backside. With his voice hoarse, he commanded, “Turn around.” When he saw the front, he thought he might hyperventilate.
Lacey was holding her breath. This was it. Would he embrace it or make a scene? “Well? God, tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Lace, I’m thinking I’m the luckiest guy in the room. I can’t say the looks you’ll get won’t bother me, but damn honey. I get to take you home with me. You take my breath away, Angel.” Putting his hand on the small of her back, he led her into the banquet room.
Lacey did indeed get quite a few looks, and even though Jody glowered at each and every one (including the females), he didn’t say a word. She was extremely proud of him and couldn’t wait to reward him on the way home.
As soon as the door was shut in the limo, Jody pulled her onto his lap and slipped his hand inside her dress to cup her breast. With his lips against hers, he murmured, “Been wanting to do that all night.”
Lacey threaded her fingers through his hair and held him close as he replaced his hand with his mouth and lapped at her. “God, that feels so good.” Tugging on him, she led him to her other one. “Here, too … yes!”
Jody was too hot and bothered from watching her walk around in that dress all night, half hoping her breasts would slip out, to partake in a lot of foreplay. He reached down and freed himself from his pants as he slid his hand up Lacey’s dress to make sure she was ready for him.
Lacey thought she’d spontaneously combust when she felt Jody’s finger slip inside of her. Letting out a gasp, she flung her leg over his lap and impaled herself on him in one quick motion.
“Fuck, Lace, yeah, that’s it.”
He peeled her dress away, fully revealing her beautiful breasts for him to feast upon. As soon as he took her nipple into his mouth, he felt her muscles squeeze him. Riding him faster, she had him panting and straining not to come. It felt so good. Biting down not so gently on her nipple, Lacey squeezed around him as she came. He wanted it to last longer for him, but when she leaned down and sucked on his tongue, he lost his battle. He bellowed her name as he came deep inside her.
They stayed in that position for a few minutes as their breathing slowed. Putting his forehead against hers, he told her how much he loved being with her. “I don’t know how to describe what I feel. It’s like wherever we are, when I’m with you, I feel like I’m home.”
Lacey felt a tear slip down her cheek as this hard, sometimes ungraceful, man bared his soul to her. “I’m the lucky one. You are everything I could ever hope to find in a man. You’re the best of the best and I’m so lucky to have you." Lacey didn’t think she would ever forget that moment.
Jody was nervous as hell. It was the day before Christmas, and they had a one o’clock game. He had spoken to everyone he needed to, and got permission to propose to Lacey on the ice before the game. It had taken him weeks to figure out exactly how he wanted to do it, and the whole team was in on it. Lacey understood how much a part of him the team was. They were like an extended family. He spent more time with the team than with anyone else, especially during a long travel period.
Jody did realize that they’d only known each other for a little over four months, but he wanted her to know that she was it for him. He was willing to give her a long engagement so that she didn’t feel rushed. Hell, they could be engaged for years if that was what she needed, but he wanted his ring on her finger. It was his way of saying, ‘Back off, she’s taken.’
Jody also put a lot of time into picking the perfect ring for her. He knew she wasn’t flashy, and she tended to like old-fashioned things opposed to super modern. He picked out a solitaire diamond ring. It was a three-quarter carat square cut diamond surrounded by tiny emeralds, since green was her favorite color. He also bought her earrings to match. It was gratifying to him to buy her pretty things, and he hoped the diamond wasn’t too big for her tastes.
As usual, the whole gang went to the game. Zoe was there with Aidan and Gary, along with Gary’s brother, Zach. Gary thought Zoe and Zach might hit it off. Zach was a couple years younger than Zoe, but their personalities fit.
Zoe made sure they weren’t able to get the Scorpions’ suite, so they could get a block of tickets in the section where the Zamboni came out. There was less traffic there, as the rows were two by two, with a single seat in front of those rows, with easy access to the ice. That’s where she was putting Lacey. Zoe was in on the whole proposal, and she could not have been happier for her.
After the National Anthem was sung, there was an announcement.
“Would the person in row number eight, seat number one, please make your way to a staff member for a special Christmas gift from the Scorpions?”
Zoe exclaimed, “Oh my God, Lacey! That’s you! Go!”
Lacey looked down at her seat. Oh no, I am not going down to the ice!
Zoe poked and prodded her until she got up. “All right, fine. Stop that! I’m going!”
Lacey made her way down to the security guard that was beckoning to her. When she reached him, he opened the door by the cameraman, which would give her access to the carpet that was still on the ice for the anthem singer.
Lacey walked out toward the announcer, and he turned her toward the camera, her back to the rest of the ice. “What’s your name?”
“Lacey Benoit.” Oh, she hated being in front of all of these people. The arena held almost twenty thousand!
“Well, Lacey, today’s your lucky day. This year we have a very special gift.” The crowd broke out into applause, and she heard a chorus of “Aww.” She tried to turn around, but the interviewer grabbed her arm.
“If you could have any gift today, what would it be?”
Lacey joked, “World peace?” The crowd gave her a laugh and then turned serious again. The next voice she heard was Jody’s.
“Lace … Angel. Don’t turn around yet, please. I have some things to say.”
Lacey was dying. What the hell was he doing?
“Angel, I love you, and I’m not afraid to tell you in front of all of these people. As a matter of fact, I’m proud. You have made me a better man. I can’t think of one single thing in my life that has made me happier than the first time you told me you loved me. I told you once before that wherever I was with you felt like home, but it’s more than that. You are home.” Jody’s voice cracked with emotion. “I know you hate being the center of attention, but I have to ask you something important. You know that this hockey team is a part of my family. I spend most of my time with them, so I guess we really have a question for you… Lacey Benoit, will you marry us?”
Lacey covered her face with her hands as the announcer turned her around. When she lifted her hands, the entire team was on the ice, on one knee, with Jody right before her.
With tears running unchecked down her face, Lacey simply nodded. “I’ll take you all, but I’m going home with Jody every night, so I hope that’s okay.” Lacey went down on her knees and kissed Jody until she was breathless. “I love you, Jody LaGrange.”
They were playing the Sharks again and Lacey asked, “As an engagement gift, let me have two minutes alone with Dick, will you?” The crowd went wild at Lacey’s request to even things with Grayson.
Lacey took a good look at the ring Jody was holding out to her and squealed, “Holy shit!”
Jody whispered, “We’re still on the microphone, Lace.”
“Sorry. This is the first good look I’ve gotten of the ring. Holy cow, it’s gorgeous. Thank you! Now give it to me, I’m never taking it off!” With a chuckle, Jody placed the ring on her finger, never having been happier.
Lacey made a quick stop at Zoe’s to pick up her Christmas gifts for Jody and Izzy. Aidan and Gary were sleeping in her room. They were spending Christmas Day with Gary’s family, and Zoe was spending it with Lacey and Jody. She would head over to Jody’s after she had breakfast with the guys. Christmas breakfast was a tradition for them that Aidan and Zoe began long ago. Their breakfast was almost as big as most people’s Christmas dinner.
Lacey quickly checked her e-mail before she took off. As Murphy’s Law would have it, there was an e-mail from Steven. She was still on cloud nine, though, and nothing was going to change that, not even Steven.
Lacey,
It’s almost Christmas Day, and I want to set things right. I’m so sorry for all the wrongs that I’ve done to you, both before we were supposed to be married and after.
I’ve met someone here in London who convinced me to go see a doctor. They ran a lot of tests and have found that I do, indeed, have a chemical imbalance in my brain that leads to me being manic. I am labeled as bipolar. I have been going to therapy, along with taking my meds and am doing much better.
I hope you understand, Lacey, that I’m not making excuses for my behavior, but I want you to know that it was always me. You weren’t lacking in anything. I have come to understand that my not caring about having sex with other women was also a part of this disorder and nothing to do with you. You never made me anything but happy (well, except when I was having a manic episode). My point is, Lacey, that I want you to know that you did everything right. Don’t ever think you were inadequate in any way.
This e-mail is part of my therapy, but I also wanted to send it. I am truly sorry for any pain I’ve caused you, and since I know you, I know you’ll want to know that I am happy. I know you’ll be happy, too. As much as it pained me to see the way Jody protected you, now that I can think clearly, I’m glad you found him. I could tell that he loves you very much, and you deserve that.
Lastly, I want to thank you for putting me in my place. I never would have even considered going to a doctor if you hadn’t
rejected me like you did. Melinda has been pushing me, also, and I think that’s what I need right now. Please be happy, and I hope that someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me.
Steven
Holy Mother of God! Not in a million years would Lacey have ever thought she’d get an e-mail like that. Since she and Steven did have many good years together, she responded to him.
Steven,
I’m glad to hear that you are being treated. Thank you for sending me this e-mail. I can honestly say that I forgive you. It takes a big man to admit any wrongdoing.
We had many good times, and I wish you nothing but the best. Keep taking those meds! :)
Lacey
Six months later …
Zoe pounded on Lacey’s bathroom door. “Lacey, you okay in there? We’re going to be late. Come on! It’s the biggest game of the year.”
The Scorpions had made it to the last game in the Stanley Cup Finals. They were playing Pittsburgh, and each team had won three games in the series of seven. There could be no bigger game. Winner took all!
Lacey flushed the toilet and opened the door. When Zoe saw her face, her eyes widened.
“You look awful, are you okay?”
“I’m not feeling great. I’ve been fighting a bug for the past couple of days.” Lacey assumed it was the flu or something because she was tired, too.
“It’s weird, though; I’m kind of hungry, too.”
Zoe looked at her closely and lifted up Lacey’s shirt to look at her belly. Wow, could it be? “Lace, you couldn’t be pregnant, could you?”
“Jody can’t have kids, remember?”
“Doctors have been wrong before. Maybe it’s just harder for Jody to have kids. When was the last time you got your period?”
Lacey wasn’t sure. She hadn’t thought about it, but yes, she might have skipped a month. “Oh my God, do you think I could be? Oh my God, Zoe.” Lacey never thought she truly wanted kids, but with the possibility looming, she realized that she would absolutely love to have Jody’s child.
The Enforcer (NHL Scorpions) Page 25