Bitter Sweet Heart (Lies, Hearts & Truths #2)(123)

His jaw works, and his fists clench.

“You throw a punch, and you’re in the back of the cruiser, and no one here is going to be kind about how we get you in there. Just something to think about,” Logan offers calmly.

Dave’s lip twitches. “I’ll get my keys.”

We wait at the door while he aggressively gets what he needs.

“Eyes on the ground. Do not look at that car,” Logan warns.

“I’m not a fucking criminal.”

“Don’t kid yourself. You abuse women. You’re pretty low on the human-decency meter.” Logan escorts him to his vehicle and positions himself so Dave can’t see past him. “We’ll text you when we’re done here.”

We wait until the car disappears down the street and then check the house before we deem it safe.

Two hours later, we have all of Mindy’s belongings in the truck. We drive to her new apartment, bring all the boxes and furniture in, and set up what we can before we leave her and the friend who met her here to finish.

“That went pretty well,” I say to Clover as I walk her back to the car.

“It did. She was really nervous that he wasn’t going to leave, or that he was going to make it difficult.”

“Having a group of guys who look like they would happily use him as a punching bag is pretty good incentive. And having a cop tag along doesn’t hurt either.” I open the driver’s side door.

“Mmm . . . This is true.” She smooths her hands over my chest and laces her fingers behind my neck. “Can you head home now, or do you have other things to take care of first?”

“I’m running a practice with my dad at four thirty.”

Two weeks after Gabriel went to jail, I officially rejected the offer from Nashville. I knew it wasn’t what I wanted for my life, that there was another path I needed to take—one that still included hockey, but didn’t require the same amount of travel, the fame, or the stress.

“You mind a spectator?”

“Of course not.”

“I’ll pick up coffees?”

“That’d be great.” I tuck my finger under her chin and drop a chaste kiss on her lips. “You were amazing today, as usual, by the way.”

“So were you. You’re very sexy when you’re standing up for women’s rights.” She bites her bottom lip.

“You’re very sexy, period.” I smirk when she blushes.

“Mav, practice is in half an hour. We gotta get going,” my dad calls.

“Coming,” I yell before I return my attention to Clover. “Tonight. You and me. Strip Scrabble.”

She grins and blushes further. “My favorite. I can’t wait.”

“That makes two of us.” I drop another kiss on her lips and hold the door while she gets behind the wheel. Then I close it for her and start toward my dad’s truck.

She rolls down the window. “Hey.”

I turn and quirk a brow.

“I love you.”

“And I love you. Every minute of every day until forever ends.” I wink and turn back around, a smile on my face, my heart full.

I know I made the right choice when I turned down Nashville’s offer. This is exactly where I’m supposed to be: surrounded by the people I love most and helping people who need a hand up out of the dark and back into the light, so they can learn how to shine again.





Epilogue





Birthday Gift





Clover





Maverick’s 25th birthday


Strong arms wrap around my waist from behind, and warm lips sweep along my neck. I let my eyes flutter closed and angle my head, giving him access to more skin, should he want it.

And he does.

He nips his way up to my earlobe, and his fingertips find the hem of my shirt and glide under the fabric, drifting up my stomach to cup a breast.

“What are you doing?”

“Kissing you.” He slides a hand into my bra and grazes a nipple. “Touching one of my many favorite parts of you.” His other hand finds the button on my jeans.

“Your family and mine are going to be here in less than an hour.”

“I guess I better be quick then, huh?”

“I still have to prepare the appetizer platter.”

“Our moms and my sister will help you with that. It’s my birthday. I want one of your orgasms as a gift.” I don’t stop him when he flicks the button open and slides his hand down the front of my pants, cupping me over my panties.

“We had sex three hours ago.”

“It feels like days, not hours. Whose idea was it to invite our families over anyway? Why aren’t we going out for dinner?”

“Because we decided it would be nice to host them here. Remember?” My parents flew in from Florida yesterday. They’re staying with Maverick’s parents. Over the past few years, huge family celebrations have become a regular thing.

“We must have had this conversation after sex when my brain wasn’t really functioning.” He pushes my panties to the side, fingertips gliding over my clit.

“Are we really going to do this right here? What if someone shows up early?” I arch, my butt pressing against his erection.