Wild for You (Hot Jocks #6)(66)

Deciding that I’ll be sure to talk to him later, I cross the lawn to where Ana is standing with Hunter on her hip, talking with a couple of the other hockey wives.

“Hey.” She smiles when she sees me.

“Hi, sweetheart.” I touch my lips to her neck, unable to resist the temptation to steal a quick kiss.

“Will you take her?” Ana groans. “My arm feels like it’s going to fall off.”

“We can’t have that. Come here, baby girl.” I hold out my hands toward Hunter and she babbles something, clapping her hands and grinning her gummy smile at me.

She’s been teething lately, and all she wants is to be held. Usually, it’s Ana she wants, but sometimes—like right now—I’m lucky enough to be the one she wants.

I hoist her up in one arm, and she settles her little face onto my shoulder. This gets a collective coo of sighs from the women nearby.

“Grant with a baby . . . I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that sight,” Elise says, meeting my eyes with a soft look.

“He’s all mine, ladies.” Ana’s mouth lifts in a smile, watching as I bounce Hunter in my arms.

“As happy as I am to stand here and be objectified like a piece of man candy . . .” I grin at Ana. “Think she’s going to make it to lunch, or should I lay her down now?”

Ana reaches over and rubs circles on Hunter’s back. “I think she’ll make it.”

“Burgers are done. Chicken’s almost there too.”

At this, Hunter lifts her head from my shoulder and makes the sign we taught her for eat.

Ana chuckles. “I guess that answers that.”

I head back to the grill, and after checking on the chicken, I announce that the food’s ready. After I fix a plate for Ana and then one for our daughter, I deliver them to where Ana’s sitting in a lawn chair with Hunter on her knee.

“My hero.” Ana smiles up at me. “This looks amazing.”

“My pleasure.” I lean down to take Hunter from her once again so she can eat. “I’ll feed her,” I say when Ana meets my eyes.

“You sure?”

“Of course. Eat your lunch while it’s hot.”

Her expression softens, and she shakes her head. “What I ever did to deserve you, I’ll never know.”

I chuckle. “I think it’s the other way around, babe.” Then I lean close and lower my voice. “The guys were asking when we’re going to start working on filling up some of those bedrooms.”

Her eyes flash with heat. “We might be able to work on that . . .”

“Tonight,” I growl.

Ana’s kissable mouth relaxes, and her eyes crinkle with amusement. “Your daddy is a very naughty boy, Hunter,” she says before taking a big bite of her burger.

“Hey, I’m behaving.” I hold up one hand in mock surrender. “I could have made some remark about wishing it was my meat you were biting into . . .”

“Biting?” She chuckles.

“Good point. Wrong word. Maybe . . . wishing it was my meat you had in your mouth.”

She laughs again. “Go get yourself some food. I think the lack of calories is making you delirious.”

I chuckle and head off to follow my marching orders. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past six months of being married, it’s that the phrase happy wife, happy life is spot-on accurate. And my main mission in life now is to keep Ana happy. A mission I’m more than good with.

It used to be that all I had was hockey. Now my life is so full of love, and family, and friendships. Ever since I met Ana, not a single day has gone by that I haven’t been grateful for her in my life, grateful for the man she’s turned me into.

Just as I’m loading my plate with food, Jordie wonders over, looking more serious than I’ve ever seen him.

“Hey, man, can we talk?” he asks, his voice low.

I nod. “Of course. Lead the way.”

? ? ?

There is one last Hot Jocks novel coming your way. Don’t miss Jordie’s book with Taking His Shot.