Roman (Cold Fury Hockey #7)(80)

We all laugh, because that’s oh so Georgia, and then it turns awkward when Brian kisses her deeply, his hand dropping down to her ass.

“A-a-a-a-n-d,” I drawl out with exaggeration. “That’s my cue to go get another beer.”

Lexi laughs as I release my arm from around her waist and says, “Get me one too, will you?”

I kiss her on the side of her face, admiring that the bruise is finally faded and nothing is left but a faint pink scar. Her shoulder has healed as well and she’s feeling completely back to normal. “Sure thing, babe.”

Looking across the room, I hold my empty beer bottle up at Ryker, silently asking if he wants another one. He shakes his head, and I turn to walk into Brian’s kitchen.

We’re all here having a Sunday afternoon dinner on one of the rare weekends we don’t have a game. We’ll be flying out tomorrow for a game in Chicago, and while I’d rather be spending today solely with Lexi, I’ve learned to indulge her desires to be with her family as much as possible.

And honestly, it’s not that much of a chore. Brian and Gray have welcomed me right into the family, treating me like I have permanent member status. Fuck…I hope that’s true.

I stand by my earlier position that it’s not too early to propose, and if I thought I had a chance at Lexi saying yes, I’d be whipping a ring out too. It’s like once I decided to jump in to this new experience of love and commitment, I wanted to go full force without any regrets and no holding back.

But Lexi wouldn’t say yes to me just yet, as she’s the more levelheaded of the two of us. As much as she’s my goofy, ukulele-playing barista, she treats our relationship with a genuine and healthy respect. She wants it to grow, flourish, deepen, and solidify before we take the next step.

For me, I’m fairly goal driven, and if I can’t propose yet, I’ve set my eyes on something within easier reach. I’ve been trying to talk her into moving in with me. I think I’m almost there, although her hesitation has more to do with not wanting to leave Georgia in the lurch than it does with giving up her independent living.

But now that Brian’s put a ring on Georgia’s finger, I’m thinking she’ll be selling her house, along with Lexi’s little garage apartment, and lucky me…she’ll have no choice but to move in with me.

Just as I open the fridge to grab two more beers, I hear Gray say behind me, “Ugh…there are some things that daughters are not meant to know about their dads.”

I look over my shoulder at her with a grin. “And what’s that?”

As I pull out two beers and snag Gray a bottled water, she says, “That my dad knows how to French kiss. Just gross.”

Laughing, I nudge the refrigerator door closed with my hip and hand her the water as she comes to stand on the other side of the island from me. I put both beer bottles down, reach into a drawer that I know holds the bottle opener, and pop them both open.

“So I had an interesting call from your agent today,” Gray says slyly as she opens her water.

I feign ignorance. “Oh yeah? What about?”

“Well, he called about another player he represents,” she says with narrowed eyes at me. “But he happened to drop that you were given an offer from the New Jersey Wildcats.”

“Huh,” I say, playing dumb. I take a drink of my beer and watch her with twinkling eyes.

“Yeah,” she says knowingly. “Said it was a great offer too.”

“I suppose,” I tell her grudgingly.

“And that you turned it down,” she adds, then watches me like a hawk for my reaction.

“You got me,” I say with a grin. “I turned it down.”

“What the fuck, Roman?” she almost hisses at me, then leans a little over the counter. “It was a lucrative deal. More money than we could pay you here.”

I shrug. “Wasn’t interested.”

“You know Lexi would move if you went with another team,” she says softly. “She’d never let you leave her behind.”

“I know. But I wouldn’t want her to leave her family…not when she just found them.”

Gray nods at me, her face so soft and admiring. “That’s what I thought.”

I take another slug of beer and don’t respond. There’s nothing more than needs to be said. I love Lexi. She loves her family. And okay…I sort of love them too, but most important, I want Lexi to be near them. She’s waited so long for this, I couldn’t deny her now. Doesn’t mean I won’t get traded in the future, and she would go with me, I’m sure.

But for now, we need to be here.

“You’re a really great guy,” Gray says to me. “My sister is lucky to have you.”

“I’m the lucky one,” I tell her candidly.

“Lucky about what?” Lexi says as she walks into the kitchen. She comes to stand beside Gray and casually drapes an arm around her sister’s shoulder.

I push Lexi’s beer across the counter to her and answer, “Lucky to have me. I think your sister kind of likes me.”

Gray snorts and wrinkles her nose. “You’re an egotistical jackass.”

“Better than an uptight windbag,” I throw back at her.

“Cheers,” Lexi says as she holds her bottle out to me, and we tap the necks. “That was a good one.”