Chapter 30

chapter 30

brYCE

“That was freaking erotic,” Emmaline says as we dry each other off. “But did you rip up the only two flower bouquets in the house?”

“Yep. I want to make all your dreams come true.” My hand slides over her cheek.

Teasing me and my cock all over again, she rewards me with a seductive grin. “Done. Guess I’ll have to think of another one.”

I feel a little naked and vulnerable since she hasn’t said she loves me back. All my life when I wanted something, I went after it, and I’m not stopping now. So, as we get into my bed, I lock the door and set my alarm as she turns into my arms.

I roll out the red carpet to my heart, hold it in my palms, and ask her to take it.

“It wasn’t the heat of the moment. I love you, Emmaline. But if you know you can never choose me… for the long haul be cause your brother will be upset with you, and you might lose him, tell me now.”

My insides quiver and shake. I just hope it’s not noticeable on the outside. Emmaline deserves a strong man who can take care of her every need. I struggle to keep my voice steady, betrayed by the onslaught of emotions within. “Because I can’t take another heartbreak. Another person leaving me.”

There’s a golden circle around her iris that draws me in closer. “That’s my dream. For you to love me and express it in a way I know is true. I love you.”

It’s as if time is frozen, and all I can hear is the sound of her voice reverberating in my mind.

“Does that mean we can tell your family?”

“Yeah, we’ll tell them on Thanksgiving.”

I tuck her head under my chin, breathing the floral scent left from the petals I rubbed over her skin. “When your brother sees how happy we are, he’ll throw us a damn party.”

She mumbles, “I hope so.”

But there’s a rattle in my head that knows I’m dreaming.

Once again, I sneak out of bed even though I never want to leave. I go into the other bedroom suite and find flower petals that didn’t get wet and lay them on the pillow beside her with a note.

I love you, Rusti.

When I walk into her house, contractors are working at a furious pace. I want them to get this done tonight so we can surprise her on Thanksgiving Day. She can have her family in her house instead of her brother’s bachelor pad.

The floors are gorgeous. The contractor found the exact same size boards and refinished them in a honey color that’s representative of the hardwood back in the 30s. The cabinets have been installed, and they turn the slab of marble twice, asking me my opinion on which way the veins look better as they run through the marble slab.

The second configuration pulls in the color from the fixtures and the cabinets, so the crew installs it while I meet the fence guy. To move faster, I help him dig holes, and Roman finally shows up.

“How long you been here?”

“A couple of hours.”

“What should I do?” he asks.

I look to Mario, who says, “Hold the pole while I pour in the concrete. Make sure the bubble on the level stays in the middle.”

Roman raises his brows and makes a funny face reminding me of his sister. He’ll be fine. He’ll be happy. I’ll manifest it.

“Level?” Mario asks.

“Sure is,” Roman says, filled with pride.

The three of us work around the perimeter of the yard until the poles are set, and the concrete hardens around them.

“Wanna ride to practice? Then we can come back after and put the finishing touches on the house,” I ask Roman.

“No, my date from the dating app is tonight. I hope it pairs me better than it did Emmaline. Because I’m in dire need of some fucking sparks.” He shakes his head, laughing.

There were plenty was an inferno.

During practice, I explain to Lykins, “When Cross makes this move, he wants you to lag behind. He’ll usually do a no look pass when the defense collapses.” Lykins nods in agreement as he sucks down water. He’s not as fast of a skater as Cross and Rustavelli, and it’s taking its toll. We stay. The four of us stay for an extra hour so I can direct him, and they can get the feel of working together on the ice.

As they come in, and we head into the locker room, Lykins goes in first. Rustavelli slaps my back. “Thanks for helping. Maybe you’re not so bad after all.”

“It’s my team,” I say, trying to be an asshole, but it comes out soft.

My teammate wanders off to his corner of the locker room. Reed says, “Are you pregnant? You’re absolutely glowing.”

“Shut the fuck up, Cross.”

He gives me a knowing smile, and I’m hesitant to confide in him, not because I don’t trust him. I just don’t want to jinx it. She plans on telling her brother and parents tomorrow about our relationship.

I push him against the lockers, playing around, and whisper, “Rusti’s mine… shh.”

Reed pulls us into the small room of towels. “Brooke and I knew it. Dane and Lettie knew it. You honestly don’t think Rustavelli suspects you’re sleeping with his sister? Especially since you’re transforming her house.”

“He has a date tonight, so I think his attention is elsewhere. But she promises she’ll tell on Thanksgiving.”

“Are you going to be there when she tells him?” he asks.

I lift my shoulders. “I don’t know. I’ll ask her tonight.”