Page 181 of Slapshot Bride

“There you are,” he says to it.

Quinn makes an exaggerated “Awww” sound.

Easton looks up. “I know we’re cute as fuck. Deal with it, Brennan.”

“I was going to say nauseatingly adorable, but sure.”

“You’re welcome.”

“For what?”

“Giving you something to aspire to.”

Quinn laughs. “Now I just need someone who’ll adore me like that. No biggie, right?”

“Set your standards high,” Easton tells her.

“Oh, I do.” Quinn picks up her sandwich. “That’s probably the problem.”

Easton gets back to his feet and bends to kiss me, quick and soft this time. “You ready to go home?”

I glance pointedly at the half-eaten food in front of me. “I’m still eating.”

Without a word, he pulls out the empty chair beside me and sits down.

Quinn smiles. “Look at that. Hockey’s golden boy can be trained.”

“Only by her.”

The answer comes so easily that my stupid heart does that stupid little squeeze it still does around him, because apparently eight months together haven’t made me remotely immune to this man.

Easton reaches across the table and steals one of my fries.

“Hey.”

“You said you were eating. You didn’t say you were eating all of them.”

“I’m growing your child.”

“Which is why I ordered you dinner for later.”

I stop with another fry halfway to my mouth. “You did?”

“It’ll be at the house by six.”

“You really know my love language.”

He grins, and his hand settles casually on my thigh beneath the table.

This is what my life looks like now. Easton shows up after practice because he knows I’ll be tired, dinner is already taken care of because he knows I’ll be hungry, and his hand rests on my thigh like touching me has become as natural to him as breathing.

There was a time when I thought I’d have a very different life, with a different husband, a different home, and a completely different future stretching out in front of me.

Thank God I ran.

Quinn finishes her drink and checks the time. “Okay, now that your personal chauffeur is here, I’m officially off duty.”

She smiles at Easton as she reaches for her bag. “Good luck. We bought half the store, so I hope you brought the big car.”