Marek (Cold Fury Hockey #11)(71)

“Fucking nuts,” I mutter in disbelief. That he would give up what was once the most important thing in his life.

“Make the choice, Gracie.” His smile turns somewhat cocky, but then again, he knows he has me trapped. I can’t say I mind it at all.

“Here,” I whisper to him. “Let’s stay here.”

I expect Marek to almost sag with relief and gratitude, but he just studies me critically. “Are you sure? Because I want you to make the choice that’s best for you.”

My heart swells so fully it’s almost painful.

“I’m sure,” I say softly, taking two steps to walk into him. I press my head to his chest and he wraps his arms tightly around me. “I love you and I’m sure.”

Finally, Marek shows the enormity of his relief as I feel his entire body sag against me. He hugs me tighter, his cheek coming to press down on top of my head. “Thank you. For giving me a second chance.”

“No, thank you for giving me a second chance,” I murmur.

I feel his head moving…nodding in acceptance.

Then he’s pulling back and his mouth is on mine. A sweet kiss completing the gratitude we’re both feeling. Sealing the words of love he gave me. Reminding me that we have a future together now.

“I never thought I’d see this day. It was never in my wildest dreams, and I’m not quite sure what I did to deserve it,” I tell him when his lips leave mine.

“You deserve everything, Gracie,” Marek tells me as his hand comes to stroke my jaw. “I’m going to give it to you too. Going to give you and Lilly the world.”

Finally, I accept what he’s telling me. I decide to let go of the guilt I’m carrying, and I choose to believe in the power of our love overcoming all obstacles.

“I’m going to give you the world right back,” I promise him.

“You already have,” he replies softly, and then kisses me again.





Epilogue


    Gracen


I grasp Lilly’s hand tightly as I weave my way through various family members and significant others who congregate in the family suite after the game. It sits on the same level and just a few yards away from the locker room. It’s always stocked with snacks and drinks, and it’s a place for the Cold Fury family to hang out together before or after a game.

Or at least that’s what Marek had told me when he handed me the lanyards with special passes that Lilly and I now wore that gained us entrance into this secret club.

“There’s Josie,” Lilly squeals, and points her finger. I see her through the crowd and she smiles at us.

We make our way over to her, and she bends down to give Lilly a hug. When she pulls back, she takes Lilly’s chin in between her thumb and forefinger and studies the pink scar on her lip. The stitches came out a few days ago and the wound is still visible. Lilly thinks it’s cool that she has a scar just like her daddy does, except Marek’s is near his eyebrow.

“Looking good, Lilly Bug,” Josie exclaims as she stands up. “Six months and you won’t be able to see it.”

Lilly’s face drops. “But I want the scar.”

I can’t help but laugh as I put my hand on her head. “Trust me, baby. When you get older, you won’t.”

Before Lilly can argue, I feel strong arms on my shoulders. I crane my neck and see Marek hulking behind me. His hair is sweaty and plastered to his head, and I can feel his body heat from the strenuous game he just played.

“Hey,” he says softly with a squeeze to my shoulders. “Just wanted to make sure you found your way down here to the family room.”

I grin at him. “As you can see, we did.”

“You played great, Daddy,” Lilly says, practically hopping in place.

Oh wow, that look in Marek’s eyes when she calls him Daddy in that worshipful tone. There’s nothing more beautiful.

Despite being sweaty, Marek scoops Lilly up in his arms, and she couldn’t care less, as evidenced by the fact she wraps her arms around his neck. He kisses her cheek and shifts her to a hip, looking down at Josie and me. “Don’t you two be making any plans after the game. I have something I need to do with Gracie.”

I cock an eyebrow at him even as my belly flutters. I know exactly what I’d like him to do with me after the game.

“Get your mind out of the gutter,” he whispers as he bends toward me. He reads me far too well, and it makes me blush.

“Daddy’s going to propose to you,” Lilly blurts out, and I feel an electric zap of shock that paralyzes me in place.

Marek groans and turns his head to look at his daughter in disbelief. He chastises her with a smile. “That was a secret, kiddo.”

She giggles, because she knows what she did was just cute as all get out and her daddy clearly isn’t miffed about it.

Marek turns and hands Lilly to me. I’m still frozen as he forces her on me. Grinning, he says, “Be right back. Don’t move.”

“Wow,” Josie murmurs in a dreamy voice as we watch Marek practically jog out of the room on his skates, making it look both lumbering and graceful at the same time.

I hitch Lilly on my hip and ask her in a disbelieving voice, “Daddy’s going to propose to me?”

She nods exuberantly. “I helped him pick out the ring the other day, and he has something robactic planned.”