20. Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Adam

80’s music blares against the sound of blades tearing up the ice as we walk into the hockey rink. Tonight’s the season’s home opener and a division game against the Blackhawks. Both teams are on the ice warming up.

Duncan James, the Wolverines goalie, is another one of Finn’s clients. I’ve talked to him a few times and watched him play when he was on the Florida Panthers. He’s good—really good. However, I do not like that my wife is wearing his jersey tonight.

I wouldn’t consider myself a jealous man, but when Susie took her coat off and I saw James’ name on her back, both of my fists clenched and I saw red. Apparently, with the right woman, I am not just jealous; I am steam pouring out of my ears, beating the man to a pulp, jealous.

The only name she should be wearing is mine.

Possessive much, Adam?

Apparently I am and I’m not sure how much I like it.

Either way the two of us will need to have a chat about it later. I hope she’s flattered rather than upset. But it’s definitely not worth me being angry every time we come to watch a game. Susie likes every sport, so I’m positive there will be other games—and other jerseys.

Wearing jerseys with another man’s name is clearly something I am not okay with. Numbers, sure. Names, no.

If I have to buy every team jersey she has and get them custom made to say Daniels, I will. I want the world to know that this woman is taken. I shake my head at how ridiculous I’m being, and I hear Nicole’s voice.

“No, you didn’t read the other book we talked about at book club?” I turn to Nicole, with my eyebrows knitted. She is leaning forward in her seat. I don’t miss the quirked brow on Susie’s face or the smirk on Steve’s lips as he pretends he’s watching the game.

“Did you like the book by J Anthony that you just read?” Susie asks, innocently. Nicole eyebrows shoot to her hairline and Steve lets out a snort.

“Oh no. I hate horror, that’s all Steve. Olivia, Adam and I read—” She stops and looks at me, as I wave my hands and shake my head. Susie turns back to me and I pretend to scratch my head. “Romance. Our favorite is Amelia Adams.”

Steve laughs and Susie’s eyes widen and her mouth forms a small ‘O’. “Amelia Adams.” She says slowly.

Is it just me or is there a hint of pink staining her cheeks? She grabs her water bottle and takes a long swig.

“Yes. She’s the best! We just finished The Husband I Never Knew I Wanted . It was fabulous!” Nicole chirps. “Have you read her?”

Susie starts to cough and I lightly pat her on the back. “Are you okay?”

“Yup,” she coughs out, sticking a thumb in the air. “Just fine.”

Steve is looking at the three of us with his lips pressed together. He pins me with his gaze and slowly looks from me to Susie. I narrow my eyes and tilt my head, not understanding what he’s trying to tell me. “Amelia,” he mouths. His eyes widen, and his motions become more emphasized. He looks at Susie and then me, punctuating each move with a head nod.

I shake my head and shrug, still lightly patting Susie on her back. I have no clue what he’s saying. He laughs, shakes his head before turning his attention back to the hockey game.

“I’m okay, Adam.” Susie pats my knee, leaving her hand there when she looks back at Nicole. The warmth from her touch is leaving tiny trails of heat spreading through my body. “I haven’t read her, but I hear she’s good.”

“Good?” Nicole screams. “Good? She’s a creative genius! How many authors do you know who are able to take the same tropes and have it feel different in every book they write?”

“Many?” Susie’s voice is slightly high pitched and her cheeks are definitely pink.

Nicole huffs, throws her arms up and vehemently shakes her head. “No! Adam, tell her how great Amelia is.”

“SCORE!” Steve screams, and the stadium roars. Relief fills me at the distraction. I’m not ready to discuss my love of Amelia Adams just yet.

Susie looks up at the jumbotron and watches the replay. “Wow. What a shot by Davidson!” She twists toward me, the pink in her cheeks gone and a mischievous grin on her face. “So you read romance too?”

Steve laughs, and I suddenly find the activity happening on the ice very interesting.

“Yup!” Nicole answers for me. Susie’s brows shoot up and a cheeky grin crosses her face. I feel heat creeping up my neck. “Adam has always been a big reader, but he didn’t get into romance until he joined Olivia and me for bookclub one week. The book discussion was one of Amelia’s books. He’s been hooked ever since.”

I can feel Susie’s eyes burning a hole in my cheek. I pretend not to notice and act like the game is the best game I’ve ever watched.

“What a block!” Steve yells, “Way to go, Denier, show’em whose net that is!”

“What a way to end the period.” I reach over and high five Steve, then turn to Susie with my palm in the air. Music starts playing as people head to the concessions. Susie slaps my palm but continues to stare with a gleam in her eyes. “What?! I like to read romance novels, what’s the big deal?”

Her lip quirks and a teasing glint lingers in her eyes. “Nothing, nothing at all. Have you read any books by J Anthony?”

“Well he only has one, and no. I haven’t. Horror books and movies give me nightmares. Steve has, I think.” I nod my head in his direction and look around at the people getting up from their seats.

She rests her head on my shoulder, and my stomach flips. “Aw, you get nightmares?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty hilarious,” Steve smacks me on the back and I cringe.

Susie is still looking at me with a swirl of emotions that grip my gut and make my heart race. She looks at my lips, and my breath catches. When she brings her gaze back to mine, I’m pretty sure she wants me to kiss her.

I can’t think of anything better I’d like than to feel her lips under mine again.

“Kiss Cam! You and Susie are on the Kiss Cam,” Nicole shouts.

I don’t need any more encouragement than that. Sliding my hand behind her neck I gently bring her face toward me and lean in. She lifts herself up in her seat, bringing her body closer. Her hand rests on my wrist and I touch my lips to hers.

I feel her hand tighten and I weave my fingers through hair. Her lips are so soft and perfect, just like I remembered.

“Ava Norris!” Nicole yells in what feels like my ear. I groan against Susie’s lips and feel a grin slip across hers. How does such a small woman have such a big voice? “Is she with David James, shortstop for the Smokies?”

Susie turns her head to look up at the jumbotron and my head falls to my chest. “Didn’t she just have a bad break up with her fiance?” I let my hand slide out of Susie’s hair, and grab hold of the hand that’s on my wrist, entwining it with mine.

She looks at our hands and gives me a squeeze. Then to my surprise she leans over and gently presses her lips to mine for a quick peck.

I officially know what it’s like to be tortured. Note to self, talk to Susie about kissing. All. The. Time.

“Rumor has it Ava and Sean O’Connell got a little too cozy on the set—” Nicole continues, not noticing my disappointment.

“Of Web Of Love?!” Susie interrupts, shock evident. Nicole nods, her eyes wide. Steve and I find each other gazes over their heads and press our lips together. I can see his shoulders shaking from here, but the girls don’t even notice as they carry on with their conversation. “No. I can’t believe that. Sean seems like such a stand up guy.”

The announcer comes back on as the sound of skates hit the ice to begin the second period. Susie and Nicole’s conversation about Ava and Sean continues, moving on to Ava’s nasty breakup.

I tune them out and enjoy the feel of Susie’s hand in mine. Heat spreads through my chest remembering how, without hesitation, Susie knew it was Steve at the house.

Steve’s voice from years ago rings through my memory. “A woman who can tell the difference between us is the one.”

First there was Nicole, now there’s Susie.

The corners of my lips lift. Susie is the one.

“Your family doesn’t know you’re married?” Nicole sputters, and I watch Susie shrug with an embarrassed grin on her face.

I laugh drawing everyone’s attention to me. “Well there is this one small thing of her brother being Josh Owens.”

“Josh?” Steve asks. “What’s the thing?”

“You know how you and I are with Liv?” I see his head nod in the rearview mirror. “Josh is the same.”

“Gotcha. Wait,” Steve’s voice is filled with confusion. “You knew Josh would be mad and you still asked her to marry you?”

Susie and I glance at each other, and smirk at our shared secret.

“That’s actually a very interesting story.” Susie fills them in on how we met before we met and how we thought we were meeting ‘those’ people and not each other.

“This can’t be real!” Nicole shakes her head, poking me in the shoulder. Meanwhile Steve gave up listening five minutes ago. “Wait! You’re the girl Adam wouldn’t tell us about.”

I focus intently on the road in front of me but look down when I feel Susie’s hand resting on my arm. She gives me a gentle squeeze and my stomach quakes. I like her touching me for no reason other than because she wants to. “He talked about me?”

“Not exactly.” Nicole chuckles. “I would say it was more like Olivia trying to pull teeth. But we knew there was someone, and now it all makes sense.”

I feel heat on the side of my face, and without looking, I know it’s Susie.

“He gets a bit cagey when he meets someone that he likes. I can’t even remember the last time that he’s acted this way.” When she focuses back on Nicole I feel like the sun has been hidden behind a cloud. “The fact that this entire situation happened like it did could be the plot of a book.”

Steve groans. I hear Nicole laugh only to whisper that she knows exactly how much he loves romance. My heart lifts, and I grin. It feels good to be with my family.

“Cagey, huh?” Susie’s soft breath on my ear sends goosebumps down my spine.

“After meeting a small part of my family, can you see why I wouldn’t want to talk too much about my love life?”

She grins and leans, kissing me on the cheek.

Both of our phones vibrate, and Susie freezes.

“You okay?” I ask, glancing in her direction. She’s so quiet I get worried. “Susie?”

She lifts a finger up to me before she sighs.

“Phew. I was worried that someone from Tea Time saw us at the game.” My stomach tightens.

“Would that be a bad thing?” I ask, just as Nicole says, “ Tea Time ?”

“No,” Susie responds to me and Nicole, as she’s typing furiously. “It’s a local gossip column.”

“Right up my alley.” Nicole claps her hands. “Whose spilled tea are we talking about?”

“My brother and my best friend.” She’s still typing. “Just sent over some texts to Josh and Brie, but now I’m just texting Brie. These two have had the biggest crushes on each other forever. I’m happy this is finally happening. Even if it only happened because of Finn.”

She hands her phone to Nicole so she can read Tea Time’s scoop just as we pull into the driveway and get out of the Jeep.

Steve follows Nicole into the house. She is still focused on Susie’s phone, and Steve makes sure she doesn’t trip.

Susie walks over to me and hooks her arm through mine, pressing her body close. “I wouldn’t be embarrassed if Tea Time saw us.” She suddenly stops and pulls me to a stop. “I just want to be the one to tell my family about…”

She looks away, and I put my thumb on her chin and gently pull her gaze to mine. “Us?” I ask, my heart pounding so hard that I’m not sure my rib cage can contain it.

“Us.” she smiles up at me, and my heart stops. She wraps her arms around my waist and snuggles her face against my chest. “I’m just not sure if I should tell them we’re married or dating. I don’t want to lie.”

“It’s both so whichever one you say will be true.” I press a kiss on the top of her head and breathe her in.

She looks up at me, eyes shining. Her gaze falls to my lips. My head drops toward her and her head lifts up. She whispers inches from my lips. “True.”

“Are you two coming in?” Steve yells from the door. “It’s cold outside!”

I lean my forehead against Susie’s and groan. “Now do you see why I like to keep my family out of my love life? They interrupt at the most inconvenient times.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to do what they say,” she laughs. I open my eyes to find hers sparkling, and I cup her face with both of my hands.

“This is true,” I whisper, lowering my head and pressing my lips against hers.

Her arms tighten around my waist, pulling me flush against her. I move my hand into her hair, deepening the kiss.

“Come on, you two!” Steve yells, followed by his laughter.

This time, Susie groans, and I chuckle, pressing one last quick kiss against her lips. I yell, “When are you going home again?”

“Soon enough. You two can kiss all you want when we’re gone!” He teases.

“I like that idea,” Susie grins at me, and her green eyes twinkle. She drops her arms around my waist and starts moving toward the house.

Before she gets very far, I reach for her hand and entwine it with mine.

I like that idea, too. I just wish I didn’t have to wait.