Hockey Holidays

by Toni Aleo

  Georgiana smiled. “I’m happy you didn’t listen to her either.”

  “Does that make you feel better?”

  She sighed. “A little.”

  Something was still bothering her. “So then why are you still upset?”

  “I can’t help it, Bry. I’m disappointed that today didn’t turn out like I had planned. It was so important to me that I make a good first impression, and I didn’t. I feel like I let you down.”

  “But you didn’t.”

  “I feel like I let myself down.”

  “You are being way too hard on yourself. I’ve never seen you this way. Why was this such a big deal to you?”

  Her bottom lip quivered. “Because, Bryan, I love you. Things just feel . . . right with you, you know? Everything’s great. And I wanted today to be better than great, because it’s Christmas, and we were bringing our families together for the first time, and meeting your mom. I just wanted everything to be perfect.”

  “Don’t you get it? It was perfect. You prepped everything and executed it all, flawlessly. If anything, I screwed up. I messed up on the candied yams or sweet potatoes or whatever, and I got carried away during the football game.”

  “Yeah, you really messed it all up,” Georgiana said, laughing through her tears.

  “I did. You were great. You don’t have anything to be upset about.” He brushed a curl out of her face. “I should have just let Ian show me up and not get so riled up.”

  “Ian’s an asshole.” She sniffed, starting to feeling better about the day’s events. “You shouldn’t have let him get to you.”

  “I know,” he cooed, continuing to reassure her. “And if it makes you feel better, I got an earful from my mom about toxic masculinity and the dangers of head injuries.”

  That sounded like severe enough punishment. “It does make me feel better.” Bryan knew how to make her feel better, how to make her laugh when she needed it most. It was just one of the many reasons she loved him.

  “So, what do you say? You ready to change your answer?” Bryan pulled out the ring box again from his pocket.

  She hesitated. “You’re sure you want to do this? Even if, after all this, our families never get along? Even if I don’t live up to your mom’s expectations? Even if—”

  “You can list a million ‘even ifs’, and my answer will always be yes, Georgiana Marie Pierson. No matter what, I want to spend the rest of forever with you. Nothing could ever change my mind. It doesn’t matter to me how today went or what my parents think or your—no, never mind, I care a lot about what your dad thinks. I asked him for your hand. Because I knew it would be important to you. Don’t you see? The only thing that matters to me is you. And I wanted to ask you in front of everyone we love, to show you just how much I care about you. Doesn’t that prove how much I want to be with you, through thick and thin?”

  She wiped the tears from her cheeks and nodded. “Yes.”

  He paused. “Yes, that’s enough? Or yes, you’ll marry me?”

  “Yes, I’ll marry you!”

  Bryan sighed in relief and grabbed Georgiana, pulling her into his lap. He kissed her, hard and happily. Her hands cupped his face, and she kissed him back, matching his passion. He pulled back and fumbled with the velvet box, removing the ring and clasping her left hand. “This is yours now.”

  Georgiana watched as he slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly; no resizing would be necessary. It was fate, demonstrating once again that Bryan and Georgiana belonged together.

  Their lips met again, Georgiana straddling Bryan on the bench. His hands ran up and down her arms, and he felt her shiver. “You cold, babe?”

  “A little,” she replied, her mouth still against his.

  “Wanna go inside?”

  “Not yet. I just want to remember everything about this moment.”

  Bryan’s hands moved from her arms to her back and then to her ass. “I want to make the most of this moment. Didn’t you tell me we’d be having sex tonight?”

  “You do know that the guest room window is right above us, right?” She kissed his jawline and then pulled his earlobe into her mouth. She whispered, “I bet they can hear everything we’re saying.”

  “And your point is . . . ?”

  “Maybe we should head on inside. Get some privacy. Have some fun.”

  “Mmm, I like the sound of that.” Bryan stood up and held onto Georgiana. As she wrapped her legs around his hips and grabbed his shoulders, he walked them into the house and up the stairs. Luckily, the master bedroom was on the opposite end of the house from the guest room, with no shared walls.

  Bryan kicked the bedroom door closed behind them and set Georgiana down on the bed. He immediately grabbed at his hoodie and pulled the fabric over his head. She started to reach for his belt, but he batted her hands away.

  “I’m fixin’ to get you naked,” she said, grabbing for his belt again.

  “Not if I get you naked first,” he replied, making quick work of her sweater, bra, and jeans.

  She let him strip her down to her panties before she insisted, “It’s your turn now. Now lay down.”

  “Whatever you say, Future Mrs. Comstock.” He undid his buckle and lifted his hips, allowing Georgiana to pull off his pants and boxers. His stiffening cock stood to greet her.

  She climbed onto the bed and hovered over Bryan, her hair falling down around her face as she looked down at him. “You know, I never said I’d take your name.”

  Bryan cupped her breasts, too distracted to care. “That’s fine. As long as you marry me, I’ll call you whatever you want.”

  She lowered her hips and rubbed against him. “Mrs. Pierson-Comstock has a good ring to it, don’t you think.”

  He groaned from the pleasure of contact. Bryan wouldn’t wait any longer; he pulled the crotch of her panties to the side so she could position herself on top of him. Once he was fully inside of her, he pushed the hair away from her face, so he could see her. “You know what sounds even better?”

  “Hmm?” Her hands gripped his forearms, giving her something to hold onto as she began to grind her body against his.

  “Calling you my wife.”

  She smiled at him, beaming like the light she was. No matter what life decided to throw at them, they’d get through it together—just like they had from the start. Like they had during the past nine months. As long as they stayed on the same team, they’d be invincible.

  Epilogue

  Georgiana woke up slowly. She was warm and cozy in her bed, nestled up against Bryan beneath the duvet. This was the first morning in months that they got to sleep in, since there were no games or other obligations. Even so, she was up at 6:30 like she was every other morning, her body stuck in a sleep routine that she couldn’t break even when she wanted to.

  She carefully extricated herself from underneath Bryan’s arm, scooting out of bed without waking him. She pulled on her cotton robe over her pajamas and headed down to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee for their guests.

  As the coffee percolated, she turned on the electric kettle so she could steep some peppermint tea for herself. Georgiana also pulled some fruit, cream cheese, and bagels from the fridge for breakfast. She spotted the leftover sweet potato pie in there, and she grabbed that too.

  Carol turned the corner and entered the kitchen. “I thought I heard someone else up.”

  “Good morning, Mrs. Comstock.” Georgiana felt her anxiety run up her spine, stiffening her body and tensing her muscles. She wasn’t sure she was ready to be alone with her without any backup from Bryan. But she knew she had to be a good hostess. “I have coffee on, and I’m just getting some breakfast. Are you hungry?”

  “I’m feeling a bit peckish. Coffee sounds good.” Carol stepped toward the counter and opened up the cabinet, looking for a mug.

  “Oh, I can get that for you, Mrs. Comstock.” Georgiana walked over, but Carol held up a hand.

  “Thank you, but I don’t mind. I appreciate the
trouble you’ve gone to for us, but there’s no need for you to wait on me.”

  “It’s no trouble at all. We were—I am—really happy you came down to celebrate with us.”

  Carol nodded at the ring on Georgiana’s left hand. “I see you changed your mind last night.”

  “I did. It was, uh, a rough day yesterday, and I was a little emotional. Overdramatic. Bryan helped me see what was really important. And I’m sorry about everything that happened yesterday. Things got out of control quickly.”

  “Yes, it was definitely, shall I say, an eventful day.” She took a sip of her black coffee. “I’m glad it’s over. We can move on now, now that you’re going to be my daughter-in-law.”

  Georgiana smiled. It wasn’t much, but that was a welcome into the family. It felt like the perfect time to give Carol the gift she’d gotten her. “I, um, I got you something. Let me grab it.”

  She left the room and grabbed a small, wrapped package from beneath the Christmas tree in the living room. She went back into the kitchen as Carol sipped her coffee. “It’s nothing much,” she warned, setting the gift down on the island and sliding it toward Carol.

  “That’s very nice of you,” she said, setting her mug down and touching the flat, rectangular package. “Should we wait until Bryan and Perry are up, too?”

  “No, actually. I think now’s the perfect time.” Georgiana nodded toward the present. “Please, go ahead.”

  Carol inserted her finger between the flaps of paper and tore it open. At first glance, she saw the back of a picture frame. She flipped it over to look at the front. The frame was white, with brightly colored letters across the top. The photo itself was black and white.

  It was a sonogram, and the frame read My First Grandchild.

  Carol looked up at Georgiana, who was biting her lip tentatively. “Surprise.”

  “You’re . . . pregnant?”

  Georgiana nodded as she placed her right hand low on her abdomen. “I am.”

  “Oh, wow.”

  Carol’s response was short and confusing. Was it a positive or negative reaction? Georgiana thought that they were bonding, and now she could have ruined it by surprising her with her big news.

  “How far along?”

  “Just over eight weeks,” Georgiana told her, nodding toward the sonogram. “I wanted to wait for the doctor to confirm, to make sure before telling anyone.”

  Carol stared back down at the picture.

  Georgiana’s nervousness returned, and she started rambling to fill in the silence around them. “I’ve only known for sure for a couple of days. Had to wait a full month before the doctor would even see me. I haven’t even told Bryan yet. I thought it would be fun to surprise him today and to tell our families in person.”

  “Bryan doesn’t know yet?”

  “No. No one knows, besides my doctor. You’re the first person I’ve told.”

  Carol raised her eyebrows. “I’m touched to be the first to know.”

  It was a nice sentiment, but Georgiana still couldn’t read Carol to know how she felt about it. “I really wanted to wow Bryan with this news, but he may have shown me up by proposing.”

  She let out a little chuckle. “No, you’ll take the cake with this.”

  “You think?”

  “Of course. He adores you. And he’ll be ecstatic to hear this. He’s going to be a dad. And I’m going to be a grandmother.”

  “Baby Comstock,” Georgiana said, rubbing her belly. “It’s only the size of a blueberry right now, I think. It’s hard to imagine.”

  “It is. I remember when I first found out I was pregnant with Bryan. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to have kids, but as soon as I found out, I fell in love with him.” She pressed the frame against her chest. “And now my baby’s having a baby, I can’t believe it. Congratulations, Georgiana. This is so exciting!”

  Georgiana was overcome with emotion, and she rushed toward Carol, opening her arms to give her a hug. “I’m so happy you feel that way.” She had been nervous that Carol wouldn’t be happy to hear this, especially if she wasn’t quick to accept Georgiana into the family. That’s why she had needed this Christmas to be so perfect; she had so much riding on it. But not only had Carol accepted Georgiana, she was genuinely excited for what was to come next.

  Carol released Georgiana and then tucked the picture frame back into the wrapping paper. “Better keep this hidden if we want to keep the news a surprise.”

  “I can’t wait to tell him. It’s been the hardest thing, keeping this a secret from him. I wish he’d wake up already.”

  “He always could sleep anywhere and everywhere.”

  “Tell me about it.” Georgiana had been impressed and annoyed by Bryan’s ability to fall asleep at the drop of a dime, no matter where he was or what was going on around him. “Actually,” she added, “I’d love to hear more about Bryan was like, as a child.”

  Carol laughed and picked up her coffee mug. “Then why don’t we sit down and get comfortable? Because I have a ton of stories.”

  “I can’t wait to hear them all,” Georgiana replied, grabbing her mug of peppermint tea and following Carol into the living room, ready to bond with her future mother-in-law.

  Books by Jaymee Jacobs

  The Dallas Comets Series

  “A Valuable Trade”

  Home Ice Advantage

  Breakout Play

  False Start

  Dump and Chase

  Standalones

  Play the Man

  Shots on Net

  Game On

  About Jaymee Jacobs

  Jaymee Jacobs is the author of several contemporary fiction novels and the popular Dallas Comets hockey romance series. She is also a devoted cat-mom to two spoiled felines. Jay writes from her home in southwestern Pennsylvania when she isn't cheering on her favorite hockey team, the Penguins, or playing fantasy hockey.

  www.jaymeejacobs.com

  You can email Jaymee at jaymeejacobs@hotmail.com, visit her website, or follow her blog.

  Jami Davenport - A Wolfe Brothers Christmas

  A Game On in Seattle Novella

  Spending their first Christmas together in years, the Wolfe brothers fumbling attempts to create good memories go awry.

  GAME ON IN SEATTLE #6.5

  Author’s Note

  The events in this novella take place after the ending of Bottom of the Ninth, during the Sockeyes’ third season.

  Chapter One

  What had he been thinking?

  Isaac Wolfe looked around the large two-story great room and shook his head. His brothers, Tanner and Zeke, were in a heated argument about the popularity of football vs. baseball or some stupid shit like that. Avery, the love of Isaac’s life and his personal savior, was trying to roll out pie dough. There was more on her face than there was on the kitchen counter. Baking was not her forte. Not that he cared. She had other skills he appreciated greatly. Maybe he could get her upstairs later for a little Christmas Eve cheer.

  Pregnant Emma, Tanner’s wife, was overseeing the cooking. She turned positively green and bolted for the bathroom. Zeke’s wife, Paisley, pulled a burned ham out of the oven and rushed to open the doors and windows as multiple smoke alarms deafened every living thing within a square mile. Zeke and Paisley’s three kids raced around the couch screaming loud enough to drown out the alarms.

  Isaac turned on the ceiling fan, trying to get the smoke out of the house. An excruciating minute passed before silence reigned. Even Tanner and Zeke halted their argument. They glanced around the room wearing twin puzzled expressions. The kids stopped running and said nothing.

  For a blessed ten seconds, all was quiet before chaos returned. The kids took off after Hal, Isaac’s cranky boxer. Emma turned on the mixer. Avery cranked the Christmas music. Paisley chased after the kids and the dog. And, of course, his brothers picked up where they’d left off.

  Isaac sighed. It was going to be a long twenty-four hours.

  This Christmas wou
ld be their first one together since the three Wolfe brothers were children. Newly reunited, they’d actually dined at the same table for Thanksgiving dinner, but this was different. For Thanksgiving, they’d been in the Sockeyes team owner’s home surrounded by Isaac’s teammates, which made it easy for them to keep the conversations casual and civil, and avoid each other completely when annoyance set in.

  The Wolfe brothers’ relationship with each other was tenuous at best and combative at the worst. They’d only recently reconciled their differences after years apart. Isaac wasn’t sure they’d truly gotten beyond the hurt and anger that had kept them separated.

  Avery, Emma, and Paisley had dreamed up this holiday together in a waterfront home on Madrona Island in Washington’s San Juan Islands. The home was owned by Isaac’s friend and former teammate, Blake Daniels. He and his new wife were honeymooning in Hawaii and had offered the home to them. It’d seemed like a good idea at the time. Now he wasn’t so sure.

  At three stories and four thousand square feet, it wasn’t big enough. Isaac doubted Bill Gates’ sixty-six-thousand-square-foot mansion would be big enough.

  It was too soon to force the brothers to be together overnight, but none of them had wanted to disappoint their wives by bringing that up. They’d agreed and gritted their teeth while doing it. They would get through this, hopefully only with minor injuries to their bodies and their egos.

  Presents were stacked under the gigantic, two-story tree, testaments to how much money each brother made. Their competitive nature had extended to gift giving. Each package was larger and more elaborately gift-wrapped than the next. As if they could prove what good people they were by the presents they bought.

  Isaac found the entire display as sad as this attempt to be a family was futile.