I ride with Leo to his place. The team won’t be far behind, even with the hour warning, but neither of us cares. He drags me upstairs to his room, and his mouth slants over mine. Oh, how I missed this.
“I’d go to jail for you too,” I say, and we both burst into laughter. “I meant it to sound sweet.”
We start laughing again so hard that tears form in my eyes.
“Let’s try to stay out of the clink.” His hands cup my ass through my jeans. “I like sharing the same air as you.”
“And the same bed.” We both eye the king-size mattress. There are things to discuss, but I’ve missed him so much.
I thread my fingers into his thick hair at the nape of his neck and lift onto my toes to kiss him. Our mouths linger there, the smallest contact, reveling in the feeling. We’re so good like this. We’re good, period.
“I want this to work,” I breathe him in.
“It will.” He lifts me into his arms and places me on the bed.
Slow isn’t working for either of us anymore, and I scramble to undo his pants as he kicks off his shoes and basically rips off my shirt.
His big hands go straight for my boobs, and he squeezes them together like he’s refamiliarizing himself with my chest. His trance continues until I wrap my fingers around his shaft. His lids close, and he lets out a low groan.
“Need you,” he mutters.
We hurry out of the rest of our clothes, and he quickly pushes inside, like waiting another second might physically harm him.
“Oh goddamn.” Leo rests his forehead against mine.
There is no other feeling like this with him. We fit together so perfectly.
I’m certain if I could bottle up this feeling, this connection with another soul, I could solve all of the world’s problems.
“Love you, dream girl,” he whispers.
The next morning, we’re downstairs, and I’m in my favorite spot on the couch next to Leo.
Dakota and Maverick ended up crashing here, so did Tyler.
Ash comes through the front door in sweats and a t-shirt, bags looped over each arm and a tray of coffees in one hand.
“Wow,” I say. “Where was this service all the other times I stayed over?”
He hands me a coffee first. “Dick over donuts.”
“Oh my god,” Dakota mutters. “What does that even mean?”
“Since it seems you’re sticking around, I thought I’d get on your good side,” Ash says. “We need to talk about scheduling, Miller.”
“Scheduling?” I quirk one brow as I take a sip of the coffee. It’s too early for Ash.
Leo’s chest rises and falls with silent laughter.
“Yeah. My boy disappeared for the past month. It got lonely over there.”
“I see.” I really try to keep a straight face, but damn, is it hard. “You can have Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
“And Sundays during football season,” Ash counters.
I bite my lip. “Sure.”
Ash nods, obviously pleased with our arrangement.
“You gave up half the week just like that?” Leo asks. “Man, I see how it is.”
I lean forward and place my lips over his. “I’ll sneak back over when you’re done having bro time.”
We enjoy a lazy morning. Eventually, everyone leaves, and it’s just the two of us. Neither of us got a lot of sleep last night, so we nap, and I wake up to Leo hovering over me with a camera.
“What are you doing?” I ask, hiding my face.
“You’re ruining my shot,” he whines.
I peek out between my fingers, and he takes another.
“I didn’t know you had a camera.”
“I don’t.” He places it on the bed beside me. “It’s for you.”
I sit up and take it in my hands. It’s a small, simple black Canon with only a few buttons and settings. “It looks like my very first camera. I loved that thing.”
He smirks, and it hits me.
“You already knew that. How did you already know that?”
“Your dad told me the story once, and I had a little help finding one that was similar.” He shrugs. “I know it isn’t as fancy as your other one, but I thought you could leave this one here. We can start our own photo book of memories.”
“I love that.” I hold the camera out in front of us and then kiss him as I take the picture.
“And, uh, maybe you want to leave a few more things here too?”
“I will bring my toothbrush back, so I don’t have to use yours again,” I say. The man is super protective over his toothbrush. “Are my drawers still available?”
He nods slowly. “And half the closet, or an entire closet in one of the spare rooms if you want.”
“I don’t think I’m going to need that much—” I stop.
He grins. “Move in with me?”
My heart races. “Really?”
“Yeah, I mean, it’ll make it easier for you to sneak into my room on Tuesday, Thursdays, and Sundays.”
43
LEO LOHAN, LUCKIEST MAN ALIVE
LEO
The days and weeks start to blur together. Hockey takes up most of my time, and I spend every other spare minute with Scarlett.
Or almost every other minute. It’s Sunday, and officially, it’s Ash’s day. I shake my head at the thought of my girl and my best friend splitting custody of me like I’m a child, but in all honesty, I feel pretty fortunate to have both of them.
Me, Jack, Declan, Maverick, and Tyler are at Ash’s house to watch the Vikings play. It’s halftime, and we’re outside, braving the December cold for a game of washers and a couple of beers. Tyler’s been on the phone basically since he walked in.
“Wonder what’s up with him,” Ash says.
I shake my head. “No clue.”
When we head back in for the second half, Tyler finally rejoins us. He plops onto the couch, jaw set and brows furrowed.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah.” He roughs a hand through his hair. “No. Not really. My sister got suspended from school. Again.”
“Sorry, man,” Ash says.
“You have a sister?” Maverick asks.
Tyler nods. “She’s in high school. Or was. She’s one more fuck up from being expelled. She wants to come live with me.”
We’re all quiet. His phone pings with a text. He sighs and stands. “And she just got on a bus headed this way. I have to go deal with this. Sorry, guys.”
I stand to bump his fist and wish him luck.
“Let us know if you need anything,” Jack says.
“Unless you know how to speak seventeen-year-old girl, I’m probably on my own. Hopefully, I can talk her into turning around and going back home.” Ty shakes his head and heads out.
After the game, I jog across the street. Scarlett is just pulling in. She hasn’t moved in yet. She wanted to take some time and make sure things were solid with us first, but she spends almost every night here. I have to bite my tongue to keep from bringing it up daily, but the offer is out there, and when she’s ready, I’m excited to live with her.
She rolls the window down and lets the music filter out. She sings along to a Backstreet Boys song, not missing a single lyric.
“You sang this song the first night we met,” I say as I open her car door.
“I know. It’s my secret weapon.” She gives me a sexy and playful look. “It got me one night with Leo Lohan.”
“Got you a lot more than that.” I smack her ass. “What are you using it to get this time?”
“I know you have practice early tomorrow, but any chance you want to attend a fake engagement party?”
I chuckle. “A fake one?”
“Jade and Sam. They rented out Mike’s bar for the night.”
When I don’t immediately agree, she adds, “I bought a new dress to wear.”
I’m a sucker for her sexy little dresses and skirts.
“Yeah, it sounds fun. As long as we can duck out earl
y enough I can still get under your new dress when we get home.”
“Deal.”
I haven’t been back to Mike’s in a while, but the small dive bar has been transformed tonight. The tables are all covered in white cloths. Flowers and candles are set on each one. The neon signs are off tonight, and someone strung twinkling lights from the ceiling.
“Wow,” Scarlett mutters as she hugs her best friend. “How did you pull this off?”
“Vivian.” She nods toward a woman in all black bossing Mike and another bartender. “And the magazine is paying for a lot of it since I’m using it for the article.”
Her fiancé looks less than thrilled. We offer our congratulations to Sam, which feels a little weird since they aren’t really engaged. Or they are. I don’t understand it.
But my girl is smiling, and she looks fine as hell.
“Leo Lohan,” Mike booms my name when he finally sees me. “I had no idea it was you.”
“I get that a lot.” I squeeze Scarlett’s leg, eliciting a giggle out of her.
“I’d love to have you sign something to hang in the bar,” the likable bar owner says.
“Yeah, of course. I’ll bring a few things the next time I’m in.”
He starts to question me about our upcoming games, but Vivian interrupts and shoos him back to work.
“Does she know it’s his bar?” I ask Jade. She’s hiding out and chugging champagne like it’s her job.
“Vivian’s amazing, right? I think she’s my hero.” Jade finishes her glass of champagne and then stares at the empty flute, and blows out a breath. “Okay, going back out there.”
“Good luck,” Scarlett calls. She leans into me. “I forgot how much I enjoyed a night out with you. You look sharp, boyfriend. We should do this more often.”
We’ve been laying low in the weeks since we got back together. The media storm has died down, but neither of us wanted to burst our happy little bubble.
“Yeah?” I ask.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love staying in with you, but I don’t want to hide. Maybe we can pencil in a few Daria-approved events.”
“I’ll send you the list, and you can pick whatever you want.” I lean in, kissing her shoulder and whispering, “Are you sure you want to be photographed with the least photogenic guy in history?”
She smiles. “It’ll make it seem like you’re the one dating up instead of the other way around.”
“Oh, I am,” I tell her and slide my hands up her bare legs. No doubt about it.
The following day I slip out of bed, careful not to wake Scarlett as I get ready for my run with Ash.
“Did you do it?” he asks as soon as we start jogging away from our houses.
“No.” I chuckle, my breath appearing in front of me. “Guess where she took me last night?”
“Where?”
“Her best friend’s engagement party.”
Ash throws his head back and laughs loudly into the silent morning. I bought a ring two weeks ago, but every time I make plans to give it to her, something happens, and it doesn’t feel like the right moment.
I’m one hundred percent certain, but I’m not sure Scarlett is. She hasn’t even agreed to move in yet, and I’m about to ask her to do a lot more than that. I think I knew from that one night that she was it for me. I don’t want to rush her. We can be engaged for a long time if she wants. The point is, I’m in this for as long as she’ll have me.
“You need a solid, fool-proof plan.”
“You might be right.” I’d been avoiding planning a night out, unsure how Scarlett would feel about making any more of our moments public, but winging it isn’t working, and it sounds like she’s ready to be seen with me again.
Friday, I swing by her house to pick her up for our night out. Coach answers the door, holding a golf club in one hand. “Come in. She’s still getting ready.”
The clubface on that driver could kill a man. I wonder if this is his equivalent of cleaning his gun to let me know he has no problem disposing of my body if I hurt his little girl again.
“Hi, Leo.” Scarlett’s mom waves from the kitchen.
“Hi, Mrs. Miller. Good to see you.”
“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Emilia?”
“Emilia,” I say to appease her.
Scarlett comes up the stairs, placing her phone into her purse as she gets to the landing. “Sorry, I couldn’t decide which shoes to wear.”
I haven’t even made it to her feet. My gaze is glued to her ass, and I’m struggling to pry it away. Her dark red dress is molded to her, pushing those perfect tits up and hugging her ass. Fuck me.
Coach clears his throat, breaking me from my trance.
“You look beautiful,” I say as I place a kiss on her cheek. I step back, afraid I might maul her in front of her parents. “Ready?”
“Staying at Leo’s tonight,” she says as we leave.
“Have fun,” Emilia calls after us.
Coach walks us to the door. Before I can step outside, he stops me with the end of his club.
Scarlett pauses to see why I’m not following.
“Be right there,” I tell her.
She lifts her brows at the man stopping me. “Daaad.”
“One minute. I just want to have a quick chat. Hockey stuff.” He waves her off.
She doesn’t look like she believes him, but I hit the automatic start on my car, and she gets in.
“You’ll keep an eye on her?” he asks, shifting his weight and leaning on the club.
“Of course.”
“We have tomorrow off.”
I nod. This isn’t news. It’s a scheduled rest day.
“But if my baby girl comes home crying, just go ahead and meet me there at eight sharp.”
I choke back a laugh. “Yes, sir.”
We shake hands, and I jog toward my car.
“And Leo,” he calls before I open the door.
I look up as his lips pull into a wide grin.
“If someone does try something, do me a favor. Don’t hit anyone.”
Tonight’s event is a formal, black-tie charity shindig for local at-risk youth. We valet and hit the red carpet. I’m holding tight to Scarlett’s hand. I don’t expect any altercations here, but I don’t want to give the media anything to use for tomorrow’s headline unless it’s Leo Lohan, Luckiest Man Alive.
We pose for a few photos then head inside where we find our place cards for dinner and roam around the room drinking and talking. Jack is here with a date, and Ash came solo since Talia is out of town.
My arm is draped around her waist, and Scarlett leans into me. I like being out with her like this, and that’s saying something because I used to avoid these things at all costs. Hence Daria’s demands to do more of them.
I’ve got the ring box in my pocket, and the plan is to do it right before dinner, somewhere semi-private, and then we can spend the rest of the night celebrating.
We’re about to take our seats for dinner, and I’m eyeing the perimeter to find a secluded spot to spill my guts when Tiffany Ryan approaches, holding onto the arm of Ryan Moore.
“Leo,” Tiffany says by way of greeting. She smiles at Scarlett.
I hold tight to my girl’s hand as Ryan gets a slimy grin on his stupid face. “What are you doing here, Moore?”
“Came in a few days early.” He shrugs one big shoulder.
We play Seattle again on Tuesday, and I’ve been waiting for another chance to face this asshole on the ice.
“Still having your coach pick out your dates, I see.” He gives her a once-over that makes me want to knock him out. “If my coach had a daughter like this, I wouldn’t mind so much either. What do you say, Seattle wins on Tuesday, and I get a turn?”
I squeeze Scarlett’s hand tighter. I swear to god I cannot make a scene here.
I’m about to walk away when Scarlett steps forward, rests her free hand on his shoulder, and knees him hard in the balls. “You wish.”
A chuckle breaks free. “I’ve been waiting to see you stare up at me from the ground, but damn if it isn’t twice as satisfying seeing her do it.” I lift Scarlett’s hand and kiss it. “See you Tuesday, Moore.”
EPILOGUE
TO LOHAN AND HIS DREAM GIRL
Scarlett
After the newspaper story about Rhyse gave me credit for his racing photos, my phone blew up with job offers. I went from no experience and being unemployable to magazines and teams begging me to come on board. Life is weird.
I took some time to think about what I wanted and finally accepted a position at the same bridal magazine Jade works at. What’s better than working with your best friend? Nothing, that’s what.
While I don’t always get assigned to work on her articles, we spend almost every day together, either at the office or working at the coffee shop.
Tonight, I’m at a bridal expo taking pictures of couples in front of a white floral backdrop that makes whoever stands in front of it look like they’re on the cover of the magazine.
Jade and our boss, Melody, are working in the booth next to it.
My phone buzzes in my bra, and I retrieve it during a break in the line, smiling when I see Leo’s name. Just landed in Minnesota. What time are you done?
I let him know I still have another hour and that I’ll come over after. I love taking pictures, capturing smiles and memories. It feels like such a privilege. They won’t remember me, and I probably won’t remember them, but in twenty or thirty years, they’ll still have something that I helped make.
“Thanks for your help tonight, Scarlett,” Melody says when the event ends.
“I took a few of the booth before and during. I’ll get them edited and sent to you this week.”
“Looking forward to it.” She looks at Jade. “What’s next on Jade’s Bridal Blog?”
“I’m meeting with venues this week,” Jade answers. She might be faking an engagement, but her dedication to this job is real.
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