The Rule Maker (Boston Hawks Hockey #4)
Page 22
“For good,” Greg adds, generating another buzz around the table.
Mimi stands up and holds out both her hands. “I’ll accept my winnings now,” she declares and we all burst into laughter.
I guide Chloe to an empty seat, pulling out the chair for her. Dipping down, I whisper along the shell of her ear, “How much do you think they bet on us?”
She shrugs, turning into my touch, goosebumps breaking out along her shoulder. I run my finger over her sensitive skin, already picturing tonight. After the gala. “I have no idea. But Mimi’s on doughnut duty. Indefinitely.”
I snicker. “Being with you, Chloe”—I kiss her cheek, not even caring that I’m about to be cheesy as fuck—“is priceless.”
She giggles and I flash her a grin, settling into the chair beside her. I lace my fingers with hers, keeping our hands clasped throughout the entire dinner. I only let go when I’m called onstage to accept an award that humbles me. Chloe cheers for me loudly, clapping along with our families.
It’s a perfect evening. I spend the entire time oscillating between shock that Chloe is really here and disbelief that she’s really mine. Of course, we have our work cut out for us but now, I know we’re both ready for it.
I’m all in with my ray of sunshine and I intend to spend all of hockey season and more proving that to her.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Chloe
“Love seeing you in my jersey,” Austin says before he captures my lips in a deep kiss and smacks my ass.
“You guys are gross,” Claire jokes, perched on Easton’s lap.
“But no one could compare to your cuteness, baby girl,” Noah coos, holding sweet Emmaline over his head before cradling her against his chest and dropping a kiss to her forehead.
“Agreed.” I collapse on the couch in the living room. Just last month, I moved in with Austin and, being the incredible man he is, he agreed to let me redecorate the space.
Easton passed along the number of his buddy Evan’s wife, Charlie, who is an interior designer in New York. Through a series of Zoom calls, we managed to transform this space from a bachelor pad to a welcoming and warm home.
Austin hands Indy a fresh glass of wine and sits on the couch next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
Indy takes a sip and groans appreciatively. “Oh, wine, how I’ve missed you.” But her wine is quickly forgotten as her gaze lands on her husband, whispering lullabies to their daughter, and a wistful smile crosses her lips.
“So,” East says, reaching forward to grab a handful of pretzels from the bowl on the coffee table, “we’re clearly old.”
“Speak for yourself,” Austin says, shifting to pick up his beer.
Noah shakes his head. “Nah, Easton’s right. We just won our second game of the season and instead of hitting up Taps to celebrate we’re—”
“Watching a three-month-old blink,” Claire finishes, her eyes trained on Emmaline.
I chuckle, tucking my feet underneath me and snuggling into Austin’s side. “I think I like this better than Taps.”
“See.” East points at me. “Old.”
I shrug. “I’m okay with it.”
“Me too.” Indy leans back in her chair and takes another sip of wine, her eyes fluttering closed. “I’m too tired to go to Taps anyway.”
“Want to play a game?” Austin asks.
Claire narrows her eyes. “Want kind of game?”
“Not a drinking one,” Noah decides.
Indy snorts. “Sure, now no one wants to drink…”
“Scrabble?” I suggest.
Claire groans. “So you can kick all our asses?”
“Hey! I’m good at Scrabble.” Indy perks up.
Emmaline gurgles and Noah walks across the room to the window, pointing to the city below.
“I’m in,” East agrees. “Claire can be on my team.”
Austin stands and rummages through a cupboard until he finds Scrabble.
I clear the charcuterie board and drinks off the coffee table. We all huddle around, dressed in sweats and hockey jerseys, with fuzzy socks and slippers on our feet. It’s definitely a far cry from the start of summer but as I look around the room at the faces of my friends who have become my family, a sense of peace washes over me. Being banished to Boston definitely turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.
Austin unfolds the board and I pass around the bag with the letter tiles.
We all set up our tiles and Easton lifts his chin in my direction. “You go first, Chlo.”
I grin, glancing at Austin.
His eyes spark as they hold mine.
Slowly, I spell out my word. Love.
Claire groans as Easton snickers.
Without missing a beat, my man lays down his tiles, using the o in “love” to make “you.”
“Jesus,” Indy mumbles, rolling her eyes. “I’m totally going to win.”
Under the table, Austin’s hand finds mine and I flip my palm up so he can lace our fingers together.
Easton carries on with the next word but I’m not paying attention to the game.
I’m staring into the deep blue eyes of Austin Merrick wondering how the hell I got so lucky.
He leans forward, brushing his lips over my ear. “Love you, Chlo.”
“I love you.”
Austin’s eyes soften. He looks at me like I’m more beautiful than witnessing life come into the world. Like the rest of the room faded away. Like he’s madly in love with me.
I bite my bottom lip and stare back, knowing that I’m finally enough.
For me, for him, for us.
Thank you so much for reading The Rule Maker! I hope you loved it!
If you want more hockey heartthrobs and swoon for single-dad romances, don’t miss James and Bella’s emotional and heartbreaking book. Preorder The Defender now, releasing August 5.
Desperate for a peek of Indy’s baby shower? Sign up for my monthly newsletter to snag a bonus scene!
Hey Reader!
Hi lovely reader!
I hope you loved The Rule Maker! Austin and Chloe’s story was a joy to write and I hope it added something extra to your summer reading!
It would mean so much to me if you would please leave a review and share your thoughts. If you’re loving Boston Hawks Hockey, make sure you pre-order The Defender, an emotional, single dad romance, out August 5.
If you’re interested in learning more about my books, please sign up for my monthly newsletter. Join now and receive a FREE bonus scene of Indy’s baby shower. It’s filled with humor, love, and your favorite hockey heartthrobs!
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Thank you so much for all of your support and happy summer!!
XO,
Gina
Also by Gina Azzi
Boston Hawks Hockey:
The Sweet Talker
The Risk Taker
The Faker
The Rule Maker
The Defender (Aug 5)
The Heart Chaser (Sept 27)
Second Chance Chicago Series:
Broken Lies
Twisted Truths
Saving My Soul
Healing My Heart
The Kane Brothers Series:
Rescuing Broken (Jax’s Story)
Recovering Beauty (Carter’s Story)
Reclaiming Brave (Denver’s Story)
My Christmas Wish
(A Kane Family Christmas
+ One Last Chance FREE prequel)
Finding Love in Scotland Series:
My Christmas Wish
(A Kane Family Christmas
+ One Last Chance FREE prequel)
One Last Chance (Daisy and Finn)
This Time Around (Aaron and Everly)
One Great Love
The College Pact Series:
The Last First Game (Lila’s Story)
Kiss Me Goodnight in Rome (Mi
a’s Story)
All the While (Maura’s Story)
Me + You (Emma’s Story)
Standalone
Corner of Ocean and Bay
Acknowledgments
All of my love and heartfelt thanks to Becca Mysoor, Erica Russikoff, Amy Parsons, and Virginia Carey for getting this book in tip top shape! Couldn’t have done it without you ladies!
All the thanks to the incredibly talented Kate Farlow, Y’all. That Graphic. for designing covers that I love and being an absolute joy to work with!
To MPP for managing all the things and always being a true friend on top of it all!
A million thank you’s to Dani Sanchez and her awesome team at Wildfire Marketing Solutions and the fabulous women of Give Me Books Promotions for spreading the word about Austin and Chloe.
All my gratitude to the amazing bloggers, reviewers, and readers. I thank you every day for taking a chance on my words. Hope you loved this read!
And to my home team. Love you always.