He jerked his head up, his eyes locking with mine as realization clicked into place.
“Because we have forever,” he said, grinning.
I smiled.
“Forever,” I said before kissing him again.
And then I wrapped my arms around my world and held on tight.
Epilogue
Eric
Two weeks later
The party was in full swing by seven p.m.
Maybe it wasn’t a giant mansion like Gage’s or a swanky loft like Rory’s, but our new townhouse was perfect for us.
Then again, everything about being married to Pepper was perfect. And maybe it was the whole newlywed thing. Or the great sex thing. Or the infatuation that came from being utterly and completely blissed out. Either way, I’d never been more in love with the gorgeous blonde in the blue dress.
“I love you, Mrs. Gentry,” I whispered in her ear as I came up behind her.
She startled but settled into my touch.
“I love you, Mr. Gentry,” she replied, turning so I could brush a kiss across her lips.
“Happy Housewarming!” Ivy said, carrying a bottle of champagne over her head as she walked into our foyer, ending our kiss.
“Hey!” Pepper grabbed her sister into a hug. “I’m so glad you came!”
“Me, too?” Asked Coach Harris as he came in behind her.
Sure, he’d agreed to let me marry Pepper, and kept me on the Sharks, but I hadn’t given him much of a choice. I was a top goalie, my contract had been signed, and we were seated to start the Stanley Cup playoffs in three weeks.
Just like he’d forced Pepper’s hand, I’d forced his.
“Of course, Dad,” Pepper said, giving him an awkward one-armed hug.
“Gentry.”
“Coach.”
“Guess we haven’t quite reached the Dad and Son titles, yet, huh?” Ivy joked.
It fell flat as Coach and I stared at each other.
“So this is awkward,” Ivy rocked back on her heels.
“Ivy!” Hannah shouted, running into the foyer in her pink party dress.
“Hannah Banana!” Ivy answered, handing the champagne to Pepper and scooping up Hannah. “The dress is perfect on you!”
“Thank you for buying it for me.” She kicked out her feet. “Uncle Connor bought me new shoes, too!” She showed off her new pink Vaans.
“So he did,” Ivy sang with a smile. “Let’s go find him, shall we?”
“Right here,” Connor answered from the doorway.
“Seriously, do you not understand dress shoes?” she hissed, dragging Connor into the party.
“What? She said pink ballet flats. I got her pink shoes that are flat.”
“Not the same!”
They disappeared into the party, leaving the three of us in an uncomfortable silence.
“Glad to see they’re still at each other’s throats,” Pepper muttered.
“I don’t see that changing,” Coach answered, tugging on his tie.
Pepper had wanted something on the more formal side, so I’d agreed. She’d said something about showing that we were good adults. I would have rather hung out in a tee shirt, but I lived to make her happy, so my hair was tied back and my neck was strangled by Hermes silk.
“Look, I know we haven’t had a lot of heart to hearts, since…”
“Since you blackmailed me into dumping my husband?” Pepper answered with a smile.
“Hey, he wasn’t your husband at that point.”
“Semantics,” I answered. “But we get your point. And baby, he did give me permission to marry you.” I looped my arm around her waist and pulled her tight against me. In just a few hours, this house would be empty and I’d be able to slide my hands right up her thighs and taste her orgasm on my tongue.
Fuck, how long was this party?
“I did,” Coach answered. “Which is why I’m stepping the hell out of my daughters’ lives,” he laughed.
“Oh really?” Pepper teased.
“Yeah, you think I ever want Ivy coming at me married just so she can date someone?” He shook his head. “I’m glad you two are working out, but that girl is never going to settle down, and you both know it. I’d rather she date every player on the Sharks than marry the wrong guy. You, Gentry, I know are the right guy for Pepper, so don’t get all testy with me.”
Hell yes, I was.
“So, I’m saying I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have interfered or made you feel like you had to choose. And I should have done a better job balancing my obligations as a coach and my love for you as a father,” he said directly to Pepper. “I’m just glad you were both certain enough to fight for what you have.”
“Me too,” Pepper said.
“Me three.” Sure, I was pissed at the guy, but it had all been done out of a misguided sense of love.
“Forgiven?”
We nodded, and he ended the awkwardness with a smile. “Guess I’ll go check out this new house of yours.”
We stood in the foyer, and Pepper looped her arms around my neck.
“I’ll always fight for you,” she promised.
“I’ll always protect you. You and your heart,” I vowed before kissing her long and deep. Our tongues met and tangled, and it wasn’t long until I had my hands on her ass, lifting her for a better angle.
“Stop molesting your wife, Gentry! No one needs a peep show!” Lukas called out from the doorway, his arm around yet another woman.
I stared him down.
“What? Did I say it wrong?”
“Nope,” I answered, “that one you got exactly right.”
He gave me a grin and disappeared with his flavor of the evening.
“I can’t wait to get you alone later,” I growled in my wife’s ear.
My wife. Mine. She had my last name, my heart, my future, everything.
She was my everything.
“Me, either,” she said, nipping my ear. “I have to ask, though…”
“What?”
“Do you still happen to have that Iron Man costume lying around? Because I definitely have a couple fantasies to fulfill.”
Her smile was heart-stopping.
I laughed. God, this woman would keep me on my toes.
“Yeah. I think we can make that happen.”
Because I’d make her every dream come true...the same way she had mine.
The Seattle Sharks Have Bite!
Sign up here for my newsletter for exclusive content and giveaways!
Follow me on Amazon here or BookBub here to stay up to date on all upcoming releases!
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my incredible husband and my awesome kids without which I would live a super boring life!
Huge thanks must be paid to these amazing authors who have always offered epic advice and constant support! Not to mention creating insanely hot reads to pass the time with!
And thank you to each and every single one of you AMAZING readers who love the Sharks as much as I do!
About the Author
Samantha Whiskey is a wife, mom, lover of her dogs and romance novels. No stranger to hockey, hot alpha males, and a high dose of awkwardness, she tucks herself away to write books her PTA will never know about.
The Crown Sneak Peek
If you enjoy the Seattle Sharks series, you may enjoy my Modern Day Fairytale Romance series! Turn the page to read the first chapter of THE CROWN!
The Crown—Prologue
Xander
How the hell was this happening?
Six months ago I’d been in New York, arguing a human rights case in front of the United Nations. Then the call came, and my entire life turned upside down.
I drew a shaky breath as they slid the last piece of marble in place, effectively sealing my father’s coffin in the tomb. It was as if my lungs had simply forgotten how to function since he died almost two weeks ago...as if I didn’t know how to breathe in a world where he couldn’t.
I was twenty-eight years old and drowning in a sea of regret. Had I learned enough from him? Had I listened when he’d asked? Done as he’d wanted? Why hadn’t I spent more time here in the last few years? The cancer had been quick—both a mercy and the worst case scenario, and though he’d told me his soul was ready to leave this life, mine was anything but ready to let him go.