Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“Hi,” I say brightly as I grab a plate from the end.
They both smile at me and the man nods at the silver chafing dishes over Sterno warmers. “This is a nice touch. They did something similar to this in Arizona.”
“Ahh,” I say with a knowing look. “You must be Bain’s parents.”
The super-hot hockey player that I had a very interesting exchange with a few days ago at the Titans’ Christmas party.
“Yes,” his dad says and holds out a hand, his smile popping. “I’m Dave Hillridge and this is my wife, Sheila.”
I shake their hands. “Kiera McGinn. Drake is my brother.”
Dave grimaces slightly. “He had a rough game.”
That he did, facing a whopping thirty-eight shots on goal while we only managed to get off thirty against our opponent. “It’s part of the business, right? But Drake can be pretty circumspect.”
“Not our Bain,” Sheila says, moving in closer to whisper. “He takes it all very personally.”
Interesting. I got a very laid-back vibe from him when we met. Not that you can be mellow after a loss. The spirit of competition runs hot with these guys, but in just those few minutes of conversation, I could tell that Bain is confident and well balanced. I suppose he could still let the weight of defeat rest on his shoulders. He’s a defenseman and his job is to help protect against the shots.
And then it hits me… I could be seeing him again.
Any moment, really, and a thrum of excitement swims through me. I had imagined we’d cross paths again at some point but didn’t think it would be this soon. I rarely go to the games, usually the one watching the boys in the evenings since Brienne has to be here too.
“Have you met him yet?” Sheila asks, and I blink a moment, realizing I’d zoned out.
I manage a quick smile. “Yes, actually. At the Christmas party but only for a few moments.”
“He’s single, you know,” she says slyly, and her husband rolls his eyes, muttering under his breath.
I see Brienne and Drake walking through the lounge door and I set the plate down on a table. “I’m sorry… but my brother just walked in and I need to hand over his kids. It was really lovely meeting you.”
“We hope to see you again,” Sheila says. “We live in Virginia, so we plan to come to as many games as we can. We’re so happy to have Bain back on the East Coast.”
“I look forward to seeing you both again.”
I gracefully step away, my heart racing a bit that Bain’s mom would just come right out with the matchmaking. I have no desire for that and what little I’ve come to know about her son, he’s not into that either.
I smile internally as I head over toward the boys to round them up, remembering the conversation with Bain. He and I seemed very much alike, neither of us interested in anything serious. I’ve had amazingly bad luck finding someone to have a fling with since moving here… maybe he’s the one.
Granted, I’ve been incredibly busy between work and the kids, but now that Drake’s seeing Brienne, the boys are with her on the nights he travels to away games. I meet my brother at the couch and step into him for a hug in commiseration. “Sorry about the loss, bro.”
He squeezes me. “Thanks.”
My eyes go to Brienne and I share my empathy with her as well. It’s her team, so the loss stings just as much. She smiles wanly, her hand reaching out absently to tousle Colby’s hair. He tips his head back and smiles at her. My heart does a flippity-flop because Brienne used to be terrified of kids. Now those boys adore her and she’s going to make a wonderful mom to them. There’s no doubt in my mind that Drake will be proposing. There was a time when I never thought he would marry again because of how bad his first marriage had become. But Brienne is a one-in-a-million woman and I know he’s never going to let her get away.
“You sure you don’t want to come to dinner with us?” Brienne asks.
“Yeah… come eat,” Drake says.
I shake my head. “No offense to you or the rug rats, but I want some ‘me’ time. I’m going to hit that buffet, fill my belly, then go home and binge-watch some TV while drinking wine.”
“That does sound nice.” Brienne sighs.
There are more hugs, mainly extra squeezes from me to my nephews who are by far the most important things in my life. I promise we’ll go to the indoor trampoline park when I pick them up from school tomorrow, which, for the moment, makes me their favorite aunt.
Well, I’m their only aunt, but if I had rivals, I’d be the best.
By the time they’re walking out the door and I’m back at the buffet table, I see that Bain’s parents are gone. Disappointment settles in as I’d looked forward to at least laying eyes on him. Maybe slipping a saucy wink his way.