Page 265 of Cross Check

“Talk about getting my attention. Sounds like it could be fun.” She tosses her signature game day ponytail over her shoulder with a coy grin. “I hate to lose, and this is a battle I’m going to give my all to make sure I win.”

EIGHTY-THREE

AMELIA

I care about every game I’ve ever coached, but the stakes were higher tonight.

With a bedroom wager on the line, I pulled out all the stops. I called plays with a heavy focus in the offensive zone. Our forwards ran attack triangle after attack triangle. They supported the puck carrier, and it’s the best we’ve looked all season.

It also helped us snag the win.

I’m giddy after I dismiss the players, and Darcy stops me on my way out of the arena.

“Coach,” she calls.

“Hey, Darcy.” I smile and head her way, tucking my keys in my purse. “What’s up?”

“Great win.” She holds out her palm for a handshake, and I take it. “We have two days before we match up against New York, and for personal reasons, I’m hoping we can replicate tonight’s intensity when we’re back on home ice.”

“Not to sound like I’ve found the key to all the success in the world, but this is about the time in the season when a team really starts to mesh together. We’ve worked out the kinks. We’ve found the lines that work. With Thorne’s leadership and Hartwell’s power at the crease, we’re right where I want us to be.” I lean in close. “Speaking off the record, I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make sure we take down your ex. No sloppy passes. No lagging over the blue line. They’re going to look great.”

“Thanks for your discretion.” Darcy beams and rolls her shoulders back. “I don’t give a shit what anyone—especially a man—thinks about me, but bragging rights after a solid victory would be a nice bookend to the legal hell that man put me through.”

“I’ve got you.” I give her another smile. “Get home safe. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With a wave, I walk to the visitors’ parking garage. I climb in my car and wonder if Grant is already on his way home. I tap his name on my phone, and the call connects over Bluetooth.

“There’s the winner.” His voice crackles over speakerphone, and I’m lighter from the sound of it. “Are you going out to celebrate with your coaching staff?”

“Nope. There are more important things on the agenda. Are you still at the arena?”

“Already halfway home. I’ll be waiting for you to get here.”

“Halfway home? Did Saunders not give you all an earful after that loss? We beat you by four goals.”

“Wow. Rub it in, why don’t you?” His chuckle fills the cab of my car. “No earfuls. He told us we know what we need to fix, so we need to fix it. Think he’s turning soft in his old age.”

“That, or he has your sister waiting at home for him. He’ll punish you all tomorrow,” I say.

“Dammit.” Grant groans. “Not you too, Lia. I get enough of the brother-in-law comments from my teammates. I don’t need you joining in.”

“I couldn’t help myself. I’m riding the high from this win.”

“Hurry up and get home so you can ride me.”

I laugh at the joke, but it does encourage me to go five over the speed limit. “I love you. I’ll see you soon.”

The drive is quick in the late-night hour. It doesn’t take me long to turn into our long driveway and park in the garage. I close the door behind me and hop out of my car, excitement brewing when I hustle into the house.

“Grant?” I toe off my heels and drop my purse in the mudroom. I’ll put them away later. More important things await. “Are you awake?”

“Bedroom,” he says from the second floor, and I take the stairs two at a time.

The lights in our room are off. Dozens of candles cover the dressers and end tables, and Grant is on the bed in nothing but my jersey and a pair of white compression shorts. My mouth goes dry at the sight of him stretched out on the mattress with his hands behind his head. He grins my way, and that’s when I realize he’s turned the jersey backward so my name is on the front.

“Hi,” I whisper.

“Hey, Lia. Great win.”