“Wow,” Tacker says, reaching out to shake Dominik’s hand. We each do the same, offering our congratulations.
“Thanks,” Dominik says with a silly grin. “It’s not a done deal, but we think it will go through. His name is Dillon, and he’s six. It’s doubtful he’ll be re-homed. No one knows who his dad is, and his mom has been in and out of jail for drug charges. She wants to sign a parental waiver for him to live with us, and she’s inclined to let us adopt him.”
Questions are launched, and Dominik does his best to answer them. I listen with half an ear, my gaze moving over to the women to survey Mollie. I know so much about her, yet it hits me like a ton of bricks… I have no clue how she feels about children. Or marriage, for that matter.
Not that I’m thinking about holy matrimony right now. This is all too new and tenuous, especially given the fact Mollie could very well choose to go back to life on the road.
But I do wonder if she has ever thought about settling down, not just with a man, but to have a home and children one day.
I’m not sure if my stare is so oppressive that she senses it, but she looks across the yard toward me. Our eyes lock, and she gives me a sweet smile.
No matter all this heavy thought, it suddenly strikes me that I’ve spent enough time in the company of men. It’s Mollie I’d like to hang with now.
I clap Dominik on the shoulder, congratulate him again, and say, “Can’t wait to meet the little dude soon.”
“Thanks, Kane,” he replies, then returns to his conversations.
I take my leave, weaving my way through other guests. Riggs sits off by himself, sipping at a beer and surfing on his phone. I should go talk to him, but truly… he’s given me no reason to want to. He’s been surly and standoffish this week in training camp. The guy will talk constantly about strategy when we’re out on the ice, but he’s been practically mute about himself personally.
Still, I make a mental note to do as Mollie and I had discussed and invite him over to dinner one night.
When I reach the women, whatever they were chattering about stops abruptly, and I’m given welcoming smiles.
“We love her,” Pepper says to me, nodding at Mollie. “She’s now an official member of our lady Vengeance posse.”
“Glad to hear it,” I reply, looping my arm around Mollie’s back. When she moves into me, I find I like that a lot.
“Also, we’ve figured out your problem,” Regan says.
“I have a problem?” I ask, confused.
“Well, this issue with Matthew,” Regan clarifies.
“Or douche,” Brooke says with a grin. “As we’ve taken to calling him.”
I glance at Mollie, who shrugs. “I told them you were overbearing and wanted to lock me up, so they helped come up with a solution.”
One of my eyebrows rises. “Which is?”
“When she’s not with you and wants to get out of the apartment, she’ll be with one of us,” Clarke explains. “She’s going to help me out at the bookstore some.”
“And she’s going to attend yoga classes with me,” Regan says.
“And take horseback riding lessons from me,” Nora chimes in.
Laughing, Mollie squeezes me. “They’ve each volunteered their time for me to hang with them on occasion, so I can get out of the apartment and be around people. Strength in numbers and all that.”
“Plus,” Nora says. “I’m going to teach her how to shoot a gun.”
“I already have a gun,” Mollie assures her. “Plus, I’ll have Samson with me most of the time. Clarke says he can stay at the bookstore when I go there.”
“The point is,” Pepper says, bringing it around full circle. “She has a whole group of people to help look out for her.”
While I appreciate what they are doing by banding around my woman, I have to wonder what their men will think about it. They could be putting themselves in danger, and I realize I need to talk to the guys about it. I can’t put my approval on something that could be dangerous for all involved.
“It’s a good solution,” Mollie says as if she can read the exact worries in my eyes. “We’ll all be in public places or the safety of someone’s home. Plus… I’ll carry mace. It will drop a man flat.”
Leaning down, I press my lips to hers, offering a silent acceptance of the idea because I know I can’t tie her to my side or keep her locked in the apartment. It’s really the best we can do at this point.CHAPTER 13KaneI’d like to say I’m looking forward to visiting Baden at the rehab hospital. In the few months I had come to know him at the end of last season, we had become good friends. It wasn’t a chore, either. Baden was just one of those all-around good, fun-loving guys who always had a quick smile or dirty joke at the ready to make people laugh.