I clear my throat. “You mean…on the team plane?”
“It’s a big fucking plane,” he says, like I just said the dumbest thing ever. “And you know we’ve sometimes let family members travel on special occasions.”
That’s true. One of our veteran third-line left wingers brought his parents to New York a few weeks ago on the plane. They were in visiting and he got permission for them to ride back with the team to New York, where they were from.
Again, that probably boils down to the generous nature of our owner, Dominik Carlson. He did, after all, loan his private jet to Bishop once to travel cross country to hunt Brooke down when things got intense between them. And Blue…he’s the one that ultimately pushed through her raise and helped get her parents’ life insurance money.
But still…we’re talking about a baby.
I don’t think on it overly long, though, and push forward my advantage. Coach really wants me to play. “I need three seats on the plane,” I blurt out.
Coach Perron’s eyes narrow at me in question.
“I have a new nanny that I’m not quite comfortable with yet, and my good friend that’s been helping until we get the nanny up and running.”
He stares at me a moment, then says, “Done. Now get out of here and get some rest.”
I pop up out of the seat, eager to leave to get home to Pepper and before coach changes his mind.
His voice stops me when I reach the doorway.
“I trust,” he says slowly so that I’m forced to turn around and give him my eyes. “This will take away your worries about your daughter, which means you better continue to play some fantastic fucking hockey for me. Got it?”
“Got it,” I say with a confident nod.
As long as Charlie is with me, that will ease my worries.
Now I have to figure out how to convince Pepper to come to the game in Winnipeg with me, and not because I think she’s crucial to be there to watch over Lucy. I could get one of the hockey wives to do it, but because admittedly…I’ve gotten used to having her in my bed and I’d like to keep her there.Chapter 13LegendPepper is supposed to be waiting for me in the hotel lobby and my eyes perform a slow crawl around the area looking for her.
When I find her, my lips curl upward. She’s wearing a Bay jersey and something about seeing the woman I’m sleeping with—who has been helping to care for my newborn daughter—not only fills me with a sense of peace, but it makes me anxious to be inside her.
I can’t describe the feeling. It’s a connection I’ve never felt to another woman before and it makes me feel proprietary.
Like I own part of her, and she owns part of me.
She looks around nervously as the rest of the team ambles through the lobby, some of the players stopping to sign autographs for fans that are staying in the hotel. I know I have made a statement to my teammates about bringing Pepper along, particularly to those that know her only as my neighbor who used to drive me batshit crazy.
We meet each other mid-lobby. Pepper gives me a shy smile and says, “Another great game under your belt.”
I shrug and bring my hands to her waist to pull her in a little closer. “I was just showing off for you.”
Her husky laugh causes a tremor to ripple up my spine. She shakes her head, “You’re just an amazing player. No other reason.”
As much as I used to be irritated by Pepper’s carefree and whimsical ways, I realize in this moment she’s very much a realist. Many women would have been all aflutter at the compliment I had just paid, but she didn’t even bat her eyes at me. I actually think I kind of like that and it makes her all the more sexy to me.
Also makes me want to try harder to make her bat her eyes at me.
“I would suggest we go out and have some drinks or a bite to eat, because Winnipeg is a beautiful city at night. But the fact is, it’s five degrees outside and the coat that you’re wearing is barely worthy of Phoenix winter, so do you want to get a drink here in the hotel bar?”
“Whatever you want to do. If you want to go be social, we will go be social. If you want to go to sleep because you’re exhausted, you should do that.”
“You’re not being very decisive,” I drawl.
She grins at me. “Hey, I’m just a part-time nanny that got a free luxury ride to watch a professional hockey game. I’m just being easygoing because I’m so thankful to have been invited.”
The smile that had been on my face slides away and I dig my fingers down into her hips slightly. “You are not here because you are a part-time nanny. You’re here because I wanted you to be here. You’re here for me, not for Charlie.”