Play to Win

by Kelly Jamieson

  He closes his eyes for a second. “Thank you.”

  “I think a relationship is give and take. There’ll be times where your career is demanding and I’ll support you on that. Time when your family needs your attention. And there’ll be times when my family or…or…well, I don’t feel like I have much of a career at the moment, but I’m working on it. And you’ll support me.” I pause and meet his eyes. “Right?”

  “Right.” His agreement is swift and heartfelt.

  I lean up to kiss him. “But you are the most important thing to me. Always.”

  “And you are to me. Always.”

  And he rolls me under him and proceeds to show me how he really feels.

  Chapter 27

  Théo

  “There’s no way we can stay under the salary cap and keep Bertelson, Belmont, and Bell, with the money they’re looking for.”

  I look around the table, taking in the frustration on the faces of my grandfather; Scott; Dave; our new assistant coach, Stanislav Pretrov; and Barry Betlach, our director of hockey operations. “I have a solution.”

  Barry shakes his head. “We have to lose one of them.”

  “No. We can do this. We can change how we do business in this cap era.”

  “How?”

  “By carrying twenty-two players instead of twenty-three.”

  The room falls silent, every face pulling tight. Except Scott’s, because he and I have already talked this through.

  “What?” Grandpa finally says. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  I expected this reaction, so it doesn’t faze me. “Teams typically carry either fourteen forwards and seven defensemen, or thirteen forwards and eight defensemen. But we could go with thirteen and seven.”

  They’re shaking their heads already. Except Scott.

  “Think about it. It’s the perfect model.”

  “With eight healthy D-men, practices are slower,” Dave says thoughtfully. “You don’t get enough reps in.”

  “But you don’t know you’re going to have eight healthy D-men,” Grandpa points out. “Guys are always getting injured.”

  “True. But we’re in a good position because our farm team is nearby,” I point out. “If someone gets hurt, we can get a guy from Pasadena here in an hour, if we need to.”

  “Yeah.” Grandpa’s still frowning.

  “It does make calling a player up easy,” Scott adds.

  I can see they’re coming around to the idea.

  “So let’s look at which defensemen we definitely want on the roster and who we can send down,” I continue. “That’ll save us money and give us room for our top three forwards.”

  The air in the room changes from flat to vibrant, and excitement sizzles over my skin. I love it when I solve problems in unique ways. We all turn to face the screen where I’ve got my charts projected and get to work.

  * * *

  —

  When I get home Lacey’s waiting for me. I expected this.

  “What the hell!” she cries on seeing me, rushing toward me.

  “I know, I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” She lays her fists on my chest like she’s going to pound on me.

  I rest my hands on her hips. “I couldn’t tell you. You know I couldn’t.”

  She’s nearly in tears. “Taylor’s going to be so hurt.”

  “I know.”

  “This is awful!”

  “I get it.”

  The news broke today that Manny’s been traded to Nashville.

  She leans her forehead against my chest and says nothing, but I can feel the emotion vibrating in her.

  “It’s a business,” I say softly, running my hand down her hair. “I’m sorry. I had to do it for the team.”

  She gives a tiny nod and says in a small voice, “I know. It’s still hard.”

  “Yeah. It is. I’m dealing with people. Their lives are impacted. It makes it hard.”

  “I know. And I admire you for being able to do what you do. I’m just…hurting for Taylor. She and Manny just got together.”

  “Maybe she’ll go with him.”

  Lacey lifts her head and blinks. “Maybe?”

  I shrug.

  “But then I’ll miss her too!” She sighs. “Well, I do have some good news.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. Today I was at my class, and my instructor told me that Gina Peregrino approached her about someone to work with her on the set of her next movie.”

  “Who?”

  “Gina Peregrino. She’s a makeup artist in Hollywood. She’s worked on a couple of big movies. Anyway, my instructor recommended me! I’m meeting with Gina tomorrow!”

  “That’s fantastic!” Pride expands in my chest.

  “Yes! Blake Lively is going to be in this movie! I’m so excited!”

  “This is something to celebrate.”

  “Yes! But maybe not tonight…I’m going to stand by in case Taylor needs me.”

  “Okay.” That just makes me love her more…that she wants to be there for her friend instead of celebrating her own success. “I fucking love you, Lacey.”

  “I fucking love you too.” She wraps her arms around me and squeezes. “Even if you did trade away my friend’s boyfriend and break her heart.”

  “Shit.”

  Epilogue

  Théo

  Lots of people get married twice. But not many get married twice to the same person.

  The ocean breeze ruffles my hair and rustles the fronds of the palm trees behind me. Above me, the sheer white fabric draped over the arch along with brightly colored flowers and greenery flutters. The sun is setting over the Pacific Ocean in a blaze of orange and gold. Perfect.

  I focus on the rows of white chairs facing me, all filled with guests…friends and family. A white silk runner lies on the stone patio, marking the aisle between the chairs. Next to me, JP in his black tux catches my eye and grins. I smile back.

  The music playing softly in the background as people take their seats stops. Then it starts again, and the song is “All You Need Is Love” by the Beatles. My chest is full, my nerves electric.

  Everly appears at the end of the aisle, dressed in a midnight-blue gown, carrying a small bouquet of bright flowers.

  This is surreal.

  Okay. Deep breaths. I watch her walk down the aisle, followed by Taylor and then Karine, who I only recently met, wearing the same color dresses.

  The song finishes and then another Beatles’ song starts—“In My Life.”

  My throat thickens as Lacey appears at the end of the aisle. Last time we got married, she was wearing a chlorine-soaked, skintight black dress with a cheap tiara and veil and carried a bouquet of fake flowers. Now, she’s wearing white. Okay, it’s still a skintight dress, hugging her body down to the knees where it flares out, and it’s sexy as hell…lace—like her name!—low cut, spaghetti straps, but it’s elegant and beautiful…like her.

  I swallow hard, unable to take my eyes off her.

  Her blond mane of hair has been somewhat tamed into a loose knot, but golden tendrils frame her face. Her smile is stunning…because it’s for me.

  She glides down the aisle, carrying her flowers, bright pink and yellow and pale blue, then stops beside me. I smile down at her and all the nerves buzzing in my gut settle down. “I love you,” I mouth. “You look amazing.”

  Her eyelashes flutter, her smile radiant.

  We say our vows, this time in front of Father Vincent, from Holy Rosary Church where my parents attend, a compromise over us actually getting married in the church. We wrote our vows ourselves this time, wanting to make them personal. This time means so much more…but don’t get me wrong. La
st time was pretty damn magical too. Because it joined us together. It was a weird way to start a relationship, but I don’t care. It worked.

  Lacey loves the ocean, so there was no question we’d get married outside, not quite on the beach but as close as you can get, with sand and water and the sunset on one side of us and our friends and family on the other. So my mom got her wish and here we are at Shores. Somehow she pulled this event off in record time.

  My mom wipes her eyes and beams from the front row. Chelsea and Grandpa are there too, also looking emotional. Dad’s pretty stoic, but even he has a wide smile on his face. They love Lacey.

  When Father Vincent has pronounced us husband and wife, the music starts up again, another Beatles tune—“Love Me Do.” As the opening strains play, I meet Lacey’s eyes with a wicked smile and lean in to her ear. “I’m going to do you later, Mrs. Wynn. I’m going to do you so hard you won’t be able to walk.”

  “Please.” Her smile is naughty. “Please, please. Love me do.”

  We dance down the aisle with a couple of spins as the guests cheer and clap, and we laugh. I can’t believe I’m doing this, but this woman…okay, okay, I can’t say she makes me do these crazy things. She makes me want to do these things.

  Lacey

  We’ve posed for pictures. We’ve mingled with our guests and drank champagne. We’ve had dinner. We’ve listened to speeches that made us laugh and made us cry. Well, me anyway. Théo might have choked up a bit. I’m so happy his brother is here as his best man, along with Andy and his friend Leo, who he started his stats business with, standing up with him.

  The room glows with candlelight, the tables glitter with glass and silver. Tall crystal vases hold masses of bright flowers on each table. The big domed chandelier shines down onto the dance floor where Théo and I are about to take our first dance.

  The music starts…another Beatles tune. These songs remind us of that crazy drive from Vegas to L.A. when we’d been married less than a day. Now we dance to “Something,” smiling into each other’s eyes.

  Théo seems so relaxed and at ease. I love seeing him like this, happy and casual. I know he won’t always be. His job is stressful, with pressure from so many directions. The decisions he makes impact so many people and involve millions of dollars. He takes his work seriously, wants to be the best. I plan to help him do that, for the rest of our lives, even if it involves hot tubs, massages, and lots of sex. Oh, the hardship.

  He twirls me, and we both laugh as we come back together.

  He dances with his mom, and I dance with his dad, then with JP. Everyone joins in on the dance floor.

  It’s all so picture-perfect and romantic and beautiful…until…

  The music stops.

  “Hey, everybody!” JP has taken over the mic from the DJ. “Some of Théo’s friends have a special surprise for you tonight.”

  I look around, but don’t see Théo anywhere. Where is he?

  Andy positions a chair at the edge of the dance floor, then leads me to sit there. I’m laughing, still puzzled, as the slow, slightly ominous opening notes of “Beat It” by Michael Jackson fill the ballroom.

  The crowd starts clapping and laughing as four men carry Théo in on a chair raised above their shoulders. They cross the dance floor and set him down next to me. He’s laughing his ass off too, and we shake our heads as we look at each other.

  The four men are his uncles, Asher, Noah, and Harrison, and his cousin Jackson. They move onto the dance floor, joined by JP and Andy. All six of them hockey players, dressed in suits over their muscular bodies.

  As “Beat It” launches into its familiar, catchy rhythm, all six guys strike a Michael Jackson pose then start dancing.

  “Oh my God!” I cover my mouth with my hands, laughing. “They’re so good!”

  Théo is dying too, nearly falling out of his chair as we watch them dance. They’ve obviously planned and rehearsed this, as that song segues into Bruno Mars’s “24K Magic.” They whip off their suit jackets and the women in the crowd all scream.

  I’m dead. My stomach hurts from laughing. Everyone else is laughing too, clapping and grooving along with the music. They shift to “Gangnam Style,” bringing more gales of laughter, and end with “Time of My Life.”

  JP and Andy dance toward us and pull Théo out of his chair, and then they, Jackson, and Harrison lift Théo over their heads in imitation of the iconic lift from Dirty Dancing.

  The crowd goes wild!

  I’m crying now. Luckily my mascara is waterproof. When they set Théo down on his feet in front of me, he tugs me out of my chair and into his arms and we hug and sway to the music, still laughing.

  It’s crazy but it’s so so fun.

  I love being part of this, this big crazy family, including Théo’s hockey “family.” Chris is here too, getting to know everyone. It’s everything I never knew I wanted.

  The night’s not over, though.

  Riley and Everly are having a snarky discussion over near the head table. I know Riley’s a little peeved that Everly’s a bridesmaid and she’s not. This is the other side of the joy of having a big family.

  Things have also been tense between JP and the rest of the family. Even though he and Théo talked things out, the others still haven’t forgiven JP for stealing his brother’s girlfriend, especially Bob, who may have muttered the words “home wrecker” under his breath.

  Also, Théo’s uncle Mark and his ex-wife, Tori, are both here, and the tension between them is heavy, with them politely showing their teeth in smiles but eyeing each other with heated intensity. It’s hard to tell if they hate each other or want to jump each other. Maybe both, ha. I almost want to tell them to get a room. That probably doesn’t help Riley’s state of mind, with things between her parents so awkward.

  I hadn’t met Jackson, Riley’s brother, until this week when he arrived for the wedding. He’s even taller than Théo, the biggest of the Wynn men, although they’re all big.

  I look over at Taylor, now dancing with JP. They’re dancing pretty close together for people who just met last night for the first time. JP seems taken with her, and she’s smiling at him. He bends his head to say something into her ear, almost looking like he’s kissing her…

  Wham!

  All hell breaks loose, with screams and people scattering as a body hurtles across the dance floor and tackles JP, taking him to the floor.

  “Oh my God!” Théo and I stop dancing and stare in horror along with everyone else. The music keeps playing, despite the throw down happening on the floor.

  “It’s Manny. What the fuck.” Théo charges up to the two men and grabs the back of Manny’s suit jacket, trying to drag him off JP.

  I shake my head. After Manny got traded, he took off to Nashville to find a new place to live with barely a word to Taylor. They’d only been seeing each for a little while, but she was devastated that he just ghosted on her like that. He came back for the wedding, which I know made her anxious, but I don’t think either of us expected this.

  “What the fuck, man?” JP shouts at Manny.

  “You fucking asshole!” Manny shouts back at him.

  Théo is joined by Jackson and Mark, trying to help him get Manny off JP. But then two more guys rush up…Wyatt and another man who I think plays for the Condors, and they grab Théo to try to get him to let go of Manny.

  “Hey!” I shout, my eyes wide.

  Attempting to defend Théo, JP throws a punch. More screams sound as Wyatt staggers back, holding his face. Then they’re all shoving and wrestling with one another.

  I’m standing there with my hands over my mouth watching this brawl. I hope nobody’s hurt.

  Aline moves up beside me, slides her arm into mine, and pats my hand. “Welcome to the Wynn family, ma chère.”

  To my re
aders, with love and gratitude

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to the Wynn family! I’m already in love with this big crazy hockey family, and I hope you will be too!

  Théo Wynn has embarked on a mission to turn the California Condors into a winning team. Rebuilding a team is a long-term project, so we don’t know how this is going to work out for him—yet! Each of the Wynn Hockey books can be read as a standalone, with the romantic relationship ending in a Happily Ever After, but if you want to know how things turn out with the Condors…and how things turn out with the family feud…and how things turn out with some of the other story lines…I hope you’ll keep reading the rest of the books. All the characters will make repeat appearances in future stories so you can see how our couples and the family and the teams are doing!

  BY KELLY JAMIESON

  Wynn Hockey

  Play to Win

  In It to Win It

  Aces Hockey

  Major Misconduct

  Off Limits

  Icing

  Top Shelf

  Back Check

  Slap Shot

  Playing Hurt

  Big Stick

  Game On

  Bayard Hockey

  Shut Out

  Cross Check

  Last Shot

  Body Shot

  Hot Shot

  Long Shot

  Other Books

  Dancing in the Rain

  PHOTO: LANCE THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHIC

  USA Today bestselling author KELLY JAMIESON is the author of more than fifty contemporary romance novels. She writes the kind of books she loves to read—sexy romances with heat, humor, and emotion. She likes coffee (black), wine (mostly white), and shoes (high!). She also loves watching hockey.