“Did you want to go get brunch with them?” I ask Beckett.
“Sure. I’m starving,” he says as he goes in search of some clothes.
Julia: Yes! We’d love to join you guys. Are you just eating here in the hotel?
Mom: Yes, do you want to meet down at the restaurant in, say, twenty-five to thirty minutes? Will that be enough time for the two of you to get ready?
Julia: That will be fine. See you then.
“Let’s get a move on. We’ve got twenty-five minutes to meet them down in the restaurant,” I tell Beckett.
“Sounds good, sötnos,” he says, as he rummages through his suitcase. I head for my own, pulling out a pair of jeans and one of the tops I packed. I layer a tank top with a flowy open cardigan, just in case the AC is cranked in the restaurant.
“Engagement looks good on you, baby girl,” my dad tells me as we meet them in the restaurant a half an hour later. “You’re glowing.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I tell him as he pulls me into a hug, then look behind me at Beckett. “I got a good one.”
“I’d have to agree with you,” Dad says as Beckett wraps an arm around me, pulling me into his side.
“Good morning, Matt,” Beckett greets my dad. They shake hands, and I don’t miss the looks they give each other. My dad is so obvious in his approval of Beckett, and Beckett silently tells him he’ll always protect me, take care of me in every way. That the torch can be passed, and I’m now Beckett’s main priority and my dad doesn’t have to be worried; I’ve got a great man at my side, ready to be my backbone when I need it.
“Morning, Becks. You treat my daughter well last night?” Dad asks him, a smirk on his face.
“Dad!” I chide as my cheeks heat. My dad is not getting details about our night last night.
“Julia.” He draws out my name. “I don’t need details, but I also want to make sure he’s treating you right.”
“Yes, sir. I was a perfect gentleman,” he says, squeezing my side.
I have to discreetly rub my thighs together as the memories of last night flash in my mind, and I’m transported right back to being naked against that wall as he thrust inside me. I look up at him and he knows exactly what I’m thinking about right now.
“Later, sötnos,” he whispers for only me to hear, then drops a kiss to my temple. At his words, I’m ready to climb him here in the restaurant’s entrance, people be damned.
We make it through brunch with my parents, talking about all the places they plan to visit while here in Sweden. Since they made the trip, they decided to make the most of it and booked a few weeks here, to go off and explore different areas over that time.
“I was thinking all through brunch of a few places that we might go look at for wedding venues,” Beckett tells me as we make our way back up to our hotel room later.
“Okay. Can we pull them up online and see what we can do? I’d love to go look to see if any places can accommodate us.”
“I’m sure they can,” he says as the elevator doors slide open and deposit us in the foyer. Beckett opens the door to our suite and when we enter, we find a large flower arrangement sitting on a table in the entrance. I pluck the card from it, tearing it open to see who sent us flowers.
“Congratulations on your engagement! We love you both and can’t wait for what the future has in store for you guys!
Love, your family!
“Aww, how sweet,” I say, showing Beckett the card.
“That was nice of everyone,” he replies, then tugs me over to the couch and pulls out his iPad. We spend the next hour or so looking at wedding venues here in the Stockholm area. A few are able to accommodate us stopping by just to look at their facilities today, so we head out to start getting information.
Since we won’t decide where we’re going to get married until after we get back to the States, it will be nice to have the information to compare locations. I love the idea of coming back here to get married. The city is just so gorgeous and romantic feeling. Not that Indy isn’t, but something just calls to me here.
I can’t wait to marry this man.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Beckett
Two months later
“Sötnos!” I call out as I enter our apartment. I just finished my first week of training camp. It’s great to be back on the ice. The first week of camp is always a little unpredictable, as so many guys come in and out based on how well they’re performing. Many of them won’t make the final roster, and it will be a few more days before all our starters, except myself, are required to report for camp.
It will be nice to have all the regulars back and playing in front of me again. I’ve seen some of the guys, Mark, Brian and Austin, hanging out, watching how practices have been going. Talking with the coaching staff as they make changes on who to keep and who to send back to our AHL and even ECHL affiliates. While every team ends up with new players each season, it’s always a fine-line balance for the coaching and the GM staff to pick the players who will best fit each position, as well as play with everyone else on the ice in the best combinations. If the guys don’t click together, then it doesn’t matter how good they are. We have to gel as a team, and if that doesn’t happen, then we won’t win games.
“Yes,” she calls out from the couch. I find her surrounded by wedding magazines and her wedding binder.
“Making any progress?” I ask, bending over to kiss her.
“I think so. I got an email back from our first-choice venue, and they have July first available if we want to book it!” she tells me excitedly.
“Good. So, did you book it?” I ask, pulling back slightly.
“Not yet, I just wanted to make sure that was still our first choice before I locked us into it.”
“Is it where you want to get married?” I ask her.
“Yes,” she says.
“Then it’s where I want to get married. Like I’ve told you already, I’d marry you at the courthouse, in Vegas, on a beach… I don’t care where, just tell me where to be and I’ll be there, ready and waiting on you to promise me forever.”
“Okay, I’ll book it!” she squeals, then kisses me hard. I fall onto the couch next to her, pulling her into my arms as I do.
With Julia by my side, cheering for me in the stands, it doesn’t matter what shots I’m faced with in life. I know I’ll be able to face them with her in my corner. I might have tried to deflect her advances when we first met, thinking she was going to be a distraction I didn’t need. Little did I know, all those months ago, she might have been my hardest shot, but she’s also my best save.
My sötnos.
I hope you enjoyed The Hardest Shot! Stay tuned for Jill and Jonathan Camps story in 2020!
In the meantime, start back at the beginning with Just Say Yes!
Afterword
I hope you have enjoyed this book, and would consider leaving a review on your favorite retailer.
If you would like to connect more with Samantha, please join her reader group on Facebook!
Coming Soon
The Perfect Pitch
Indianapolis Lightning Series Book 1
Winter 2020
Add on Goodreads today!
Cocky Doc
Cocky Hero Club
2020
Add on Goodreads today!
You can expect the following yet-to-be titled projects in 2020 as well!
Indianapolis Eagles Series Book 8
Lyrics and Love Series Book 3
Acknowledgments
To everyone who has supported me, thank you! Thank You for the impact you have made on my life and my writing. Please know that I appreciate you all!
xoxo,
Samantha
Also by Samantha Lind
Indianapolis Eagles Series
Just Say Yes - Book 1
Scoring The Player - Book 2
Playing For Keeps - Book 3
Protecting Her Heart - Book 4
Against The Boards - Boo
k 5
The First Intermission - Book 6
Standalone Titles
Tempting Tessa
Until You ~ An Aurora Rose Reynolds Happily Ever Alpha Crossover Novella
Until Her Smile ~ An Aurora Rose Reynolds Happily Ever Alpha Crossover Novella
Lyrics & Love Series
Marry Me
Drunk Girl
About the Author
Samantha Lind is a contemporary romance author. Having spent the first 27 years of her life in Alaska, she now calls Iowa home, where she lives with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, watching hockey (Go Knights Go!), and listening to country music.
Connect with Samantha in the following places:
www.samanthalind.com
[email protected]
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The Hardest Shot: Indianapolis Eagles Series Book 7 Page 19