“Yeah, good idea.”
I look up and down the street, my gaze landing on what I’m looking for.
“Are you parked on this street?” Molly asks me.
“Just a little further,” I tell her, “and we have to cross the street at the corner.”
We cross and walk to the next block, and I stop walking in front of a little art gallery.
“Let’s go back to my place,” I say.
Molly gives me a puzzled look. “Okay, but where’s your car? Is this where you parked?”
I shrug. “I was thinking you could drive us.”
She scoffs and laughs a single note. “You want me to drive your car?”
“I was thinking you could drive yours.”
I reach into my pocket and take out a set of keys, passing them to her. My heart races as I wait for her reaction. It starts with disbelief, her eyes narrowed, and turns into a huge smile.
“Did you seriously buy me a car?”
“Yeah. It’s right here.” I point at the little white BMW M3 sedan we’re standing next to.
She looks at it and lets out a little scream, which makes me throw my head back with laughter. Her expression of wonder is like a kid who just saw presents under the tree on Christmas morning.
Soon, though, her smile fades. “Kit, I can’t--”
I knew this was coming, and I stop her. “We make the rules, remember? You and me. And buying you this car so I know you aren’t walking home in the cold at night means a lot to me. Take the car. Please.”
She looks hesitant. “It’s beautiful, and so generous of you, but...it’s so much money.”
“You’re my girl. I want to share what I’m fortunate enough to have with you.” I pass her the keys. “Come on, drive us back to my place.”
“But I can’t...I can never give you a gift like this,” she says softly.
I know for sure Molly is the woman I want to spend forever with just from the earnest look in her eyes. She prefers to give in relationships, and taking is hard for her. But together, we’re going to work on that. I reach up and cup her cheek.
“You’ve given me gifts money can’t buy,” I say. “Chances, and...” I clear my throat. “Feelings and hopes I never thought I’d get to have. This car is nothing compared to that.”
Tears shine in her eyes as she says, “You’ve given those things to me, too, Kit.”
“So let’s celebrate. This is the beginning of something great, babe. I know it is. Believe in me and I’ll believe in you and nothing will be able to come between us.”
Molly smiles. “I like hearing you call me that. Babe.”
“Good, because I plan to do it for a really long time.”
She takes a step closer to the car as she wraps her fingers around the keys. “It would be really nice to be able to drive Gram places instead of walking or taking the train.”
“It will be nice, because this is your car.”
Molly shakes her head. “I can’t believe you did this. I’m just...completely blown away. Thank you so much.”
She kisses me, her smile making me happier than buying a car for myself would’ve made me.
“You’re welcome.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve driven a car,” she warns as she walks around to the driver’s side.
“What’s life without a little excitement?” I crack.
She fires the car up and gives me an excited look. “I can’t believe this!”
Looking over her shoulder, she eases the car out and steps on the gas. My back hits the seat as the car quickly picks up speed. I give her a wary look.
“Relax, I’ve just never driven a car that picks up like this. I won’t make you feel like I’m a racecar driver, promise.” She glances at me, grinning. “We should take a little road trip!”
“That sounds good.”
“We could go somewhere today if you want to. Right now, even.”
I love seeing her be spontaneous. She’s realizing that with me, it’s safe to do and say anything. And even though I was planning on a little afternoon delight back at my place, I don’t want to squash her spontaneity.
“Let’s do it,” I say. “We can pack at my place and then stop at yours and head out for the night.”
“You don’t want to...have a little fun at your place first?” she asks coyly.
My cock hardens, ready to go. “Hell yeah. And then again later, wherever we end up.”
We’ve been having a lot of sex, and Molly always keeps her hands up on the headboard when she’s on her back or around my neck when she’s on top, which is fucking incredible. I’m trying things with her I’ve never done before. I’m not sure I’ll ever work up to her touching my cock, but what we have is incredible just as it is.
“Wherever we end up,” she repeats. “I like that. Let’s not decide on a destination. We’ll just drive and see where we end up.”
Reaching over to take her hand, I say, “Let’s do it. It doesn’t matter to me where we end up, as long as I’m with you.”
Afterword
Thank you for reading Kit! The Chicago Blaze series is the longest I’ve ever written. The final book in the series, Olivier, releases April 27, 2021.
If you’ve read the notes and acknowledgments in my other Blaze books, you know I lost my beloved friend Janett while writing this series. It was hard to write again after she unexpectedly passed away, because for years I’ve sent Janett my books a few chapters at a time as I wrote them. I felt her with me as I kept writing, though, and I still do. Every book I write has a piece of me in it, and they’ve started to have a piece of her in them, too.
You may be wondering why there was no epilogue in Kit. All the other books in this series have epilogues. I planned on having one for this book, but as I got close to the end of the book, it didn’t feel right. I’m a big believer in happy endings not looking the same for everyone. You don’t have to get married and/or have babies to be completely happy. Some people want those things, and some people don’t. Olivier’s book starts a little bit before Kit ends, and I didn’t want to skip too far ahead in time with Kit. With the issues Kit and Molly faced, what felt right to me was to leave them in a moment when they’re together and content even though the future is unknown. Who knows, I might write bonus content in the future about Kit and Molly. I’m already feeling sad about leaving this team behind. But the good news is, my next series is part of this world, focused on a different team. More on that soon!
Thank you for again your support—it means the world to me.
Acknowledgments
This book came in like a wrecking ball—fast and furious as I approached my deadline. Thank you so much to M.E. Carter, who encouraged and supported me when I needed it—which was A LOT. This can be a solitary job, and I don’t think I could do it without my author friends. M.E., Chelle Bliss and Genevieve Jack are there for me anytime I need them.
My super amazing editor Taylor Bellitto is a huge part of this series. I’m so grateful for her in every way. Thank you for making my books shine, Taylor.
Big, squishy hugs to Jenn Gaffney and Jessica Estep, who handle all the things I’m not good at (and there are a lot!). You guys are the best.
Proofreader Rosa Sharon did another amazing proofread on this book. I’m so lucky to have her on my team.
Huge thanks to my awesome husband Dan and our family. Thanks for eating so much pizza while I skipped cooking dinners to finish this book, guys.
The ninth and final Chicago Blaze book, Olivier, releases April 27, 2021. Preorder it HERE.
Also by Brenda Rothert
Chicago Blaze Series
Book 1 - Anton
Book 2 - Luca
Book 3 - Victor
Book 4 - Knox
Book 5 - Alexei
Book 6 - Easy
Book 7 - Jonah
* * *
Fire on Ice Series
Book 1 - Bound
Book 2 - Captive
Book 3 - Ed
ge
Book 4 - Drive
Book 5 - Release
* * *
On the Line Series
Book 1 - Killian
Book 2 - Bennett
Book 3 - Liam
* * *
Lockhart Brothers Series
Book 1 - Deep Down
Book 2 - In Deep
Book 3 - Drawn Deeper
Book 4 - Hidden Depth
* * *
Filthy Series
Book 1 - Dirty Work
Book 2 - Dirty Secret
Book 3 - Dirty Defiance
* * *
Standalones
Come Closer
Buried
Sweet Sixteen
His
Alpha Mail
Healing Touch
Barely Breathing
About the Author
Brenda Rothert lives in Central Illinois with her husband, children and two dogs. She loves to hear from readers through her website or her Facebook Group, Rothert’s Readers.
Kit: A Chicago Blaze Hockey Romance Page 15