20. Braxton

Holding her hand over the center console of my car, as was my right as the boyfriend, I pulled into the parking lot of the private airstrip in Hartford on the morning of Christmas Eve. I'd pushed Dakota off all week when she hounded me about buying a plane ticket. I wasn't sure of her financial situation—honestly, it wasn't any of my business—but even if we weren't flying private, there was no way in hell she was paying to accompany me home when I was the one who invited her. That's not how this worked.

Confused, she peered through the windshield. "Where are we?"

"The airport," I replied casually.

"This is not the airport."

"Of course it is." I gestured with my hand out the window. "See? Airplanes."

"Braxton, this isn't funny!" Her voice got high and squeaky, and I couldn't help but smile at her panic.

"I'll get the bags." Stepping out of the car, I popped the trunk, grabbing our suitcases.

The passenger door slammed, and Dakota pressed into my side, rising on her tiptoes to hiss in my ear. "What the hell is going on?"

Slamming the trunk, I offered, "We're going to Minnesota for Christmas."

She huffed, the rush of air blowing curls away from her face. "I know that."

"Good. I was starting to worry." I bopped her on the nose.

Dakota swatted my hand away. "Seriously? A private plane? You didn't think it might be important to share that little nugget of information before now?"

Cocking my head, I challenged, "Why? Would it have changed your mind to come with me?"

She paused, and I saw the exact moment she gave up the ridiculous fight. "No. It's just—" She sighed. "You and I come from very different worlds."

"No, we don't." Dipping my head, I kissed her softly. "This is Jaxon's world, not mine."

Nodding, she mused, "I should have figured. I've seen their house."

I chuckled. "Oh, Jaxon didn't buy that house. That was all Liam. After the divorce, he and Amy moved in with Natalie to help with the kids. Bear in mind that back then, he was simply Nat's brother-in-law and Amy was her best friend. Nothing romantic happened between those two until after Natalie and Jaxon were married. Jaxon's house was the much smaller one next door. The two couples switched. Well, I suppose Natalie got to stay where she was." Wheeling our suitcases through the parking lot with Dakota by my side, I explained, "However, that's not to say Jaxon isn't in a whole different tax bracket than me. I could play for ten years at my current salary and not earn what Jaxon does in a year." Using my fist, I pounded the side of their enormous eight-passenger, armored SUV as we passed. "His car costs double my monthly paycheck."

She placed her hand on my arm, halting my progress before we crossed the threshold to the small reception vestibule. "I know you can't help but compare yourself to him, but maybe you need a reminder that he started out exactly where you are. Hockey isn't like other sports where you can make a killing right out of the gate. Every single one of you gets the same entry-level contract with the same base salary for your first three years. It's what you do in those three years that counts."

"Someone's been doing their research," I teased.

A corner of her kissable lips turned up. "Some pain-in-the-ass rookie keeps giving me homework. Not like I have a day job or anything."

She was right, though; I couldn't compare my career in its infancy to Jaxon's mature one. A lot could change in three years.

Nudging Dakota with an elbow, I tipped my chin toward the glass doors. "Come on. Our chariot awaits."

Walking into the warm space, I spoke to the receptionist, giving our names and charter number. She told us which tarmac and that if we didn't want to walk, they could arrange a shuttle. By the time I turned to ask Dakota her preference, she was halfway out the door.

Jogging to catch up with her, I asked, "You sure you don't want that shuttle?"

Curls whipping in the wind, she shook her head. "Might as well stretch my legs while I can. We're going to be cooped up for hours inside a metal tube." The subtle laugh barely reached my ears as she added, "Good thing you didn't choose Bristol. She's terrified of flying."

"Seriously?" That was a surprise, considering how outgoing she was, but I suppose everyone had issues, no matter how sunny or bright their disposition.

"Oh, yeah. We flew to Florida during spring break two years ago, and they almost had to make an emergency landing. She freaked out that bad."

Stepping up to the crew who descended the short staircase to take our bags, I handed them over, placing a hand on Dakota's back to enter the plane ahead of me.

The second we stepped inside, we were hit with a wall of sound.

Charlie was screaming, throwing her tiny body on the ground in a tantrum. Max's accompanying wails were quiet by comparison but no less insistent. Natalie wore a weary expression, trying to calm him. Beau was arguing with his older brother over who would get the window seat, with Jaxon trying to mediate.

Smirking, Dakota peeked back at me. "Athletes, they're just like everyone else."

I couldn't hold back a snort. A few short months ago, she wouldn't have been caught dead on this plane with not just one but two professional hockey players. Now, she was cracking jokes, understanding that our lives weren't perfect. That we were human, and we didn't think we were better than anyone else. Life in the spotlight didn't have to change you—it only did if you let it.

The boys finally stopped yelling over one another, and Jaxon moved to deal with Charlie. Natalie saw that we had boarded and gave a weak smile. "Sorry, we're having a rough morning."

Most girls would be wondering what the hell they'd gotten themselves into, but not Dakota. Stepping right into the fray, she offered, "Tell me what I can do."

Natalie's eyes met mine before she smiled at my girl. "You're so sweet to offer. I'm sure we"ll be fine if we can settle the little ones."

Charlie's screaming ceased suddenly, but there was still a ringing in my ears from the high pitch. Tears staining her face, she looked up. "Da-pota?"

Dropping to her knees in the aisle, Dakota tucked the messy black strands away from my niece's face. "Hey, Charlie. Do you want to sit beside me?"

She peeked at her mom for approval. Natalie nodded. "It's fine with me."

Charlie stood, throwing her arms around Dakota's neck. "Yes, please." She hiccupped, trying to calm down after her tantrum.

Getting to her feet, the toddler still held in her arms, Dakota spun to face me. I was sure the expression on my face said it all—that I was in complete and total awe of her—and she blushed, averting her eyes. She fit seamlessly into our family, stepping right in and throwing herself into the chaos without a second thought.

Natalie motioned to a car seat set up for Charlie. Abandoning my carry-on, I moved to help her with the buckles. Placing my hands atop hers on the straps, she let me take over, dropping into the empty seat.

I wasn't kidding when I told Dakota I could see our future with crystal clarity. And right now, I could imagine buckling our own dark-haired little girl into a seat and heading home for the holidays. I wondered if she would want to get a summer home in Minnesota near Natalie and Jaxon or if there was somewhere else she might prefer. Or maybe she wanted to spend all year in Hartford. It didn't matter, so long as we were together.

I was moving at the speed of light in my mind, but I didn't care. My future was seated right in front of me, and I was going to hold on with both hands. She was mine, and I was keeping her. Forever.

"Braxton?" Her musical voice broke into my daydream.

"Yeah?" I was still in a daze, lost in the vision of our life together.

"Are you going to sit down? They've closed the doors, and the pilot said we're going to take off soon."

Plopping into the seat across the aisle, I reached over to grab her hand, stroking the knuckles softly with my thumb. Sighing, her head dropped back on the headrest, and her eyes drifted shut.

"You didn't have to do that," I whispered, my words almost drowned out by the engines turning on.

Head lolling to the side to peek at Charlie quickly, she turned back to me. "I know, but I wanted to. She's a sweet little girl, but I can imagine getting lost in the shuffle is frustrating, and she's not old enough to vocalize it. So, she acts out, trying to get attention. I'm more than happy to give her a little bit of my time. It's simple, but I have a feeling it means a lot to her."

My heart grew three sizes inside my chest; that small act of compassion for a three-year-old meant even more to me.

Dakota was beautiful inside and out. She was perceptive to others' needs and was quick to offer emotional comfort. It might seem insignificant in her mind, but she left her mark everywhere she went. Her tiny actions would leave a lasting impression on those whose lives she'd touched.

And I was the lucky bastard she'd let down her walls for. I would never take that for granted. It would become my life's mission to cherish this woman the way she deserved. I would devote my entire life to her happiness.

Our forever had already begun.

It was early afternoon when we arrived in Minneapolis, where it was a good fifteen degrees cooler than the temperature in Connecticut when we'd left. There was a reason the hometown hockey team was called the Freeze. You were hard-pressed to find a day above freezing in the winter out here. It was great for the thousands of lakes, providing the ideal condition for nature's outdoor ice rinks, but if you weren't accustomed to the low temps, it could be a shock.

Case in point: Dakota was shivering the second we stepped off the plane. Immediately, I shucked my winter coat, placing it over her shoulders.

"Layers are the only way to combat the cold, baby," I whispered in her ear.

Turning around, she saw I was standing outside in only my sweater, and she tried to give back my coat. Placing my hands on her shoulders, my voice grew stern. "Don't even think about it."

Dakota's sigh was so heavy it formed an icy cloud that hung in the air. "I'm wearing two coats now, Braxton. You're going to freeze to death."

"We'll be inside the car in five minutes. I'll survive."

"Stubborn ass," she mumbled.

I smirked. "Maybe I want an excuse to hold you close all evening, sharing body heat to raise my core temp again."

That got a tiny smile from her. "Wouldn't put it past you."

Grabbing our bags from the crew, I led her to one of the two cars waiting to take us to Jaxon and Natalie's house, an hour away.

Thankfully, the driver had the heat cranked up, and within minutes, Dakota was shedding both coats. Pulling her across the bench seat, I purred in her ear, "Just think, we can spend all weekend cuddled up in front of a roaring fire."

She melted into my side but countered, "This isn't a romantic getaway. It's Christmas with your brother's family."

Oh, she had so much to learn. "Do you think the two of them won't be all lovey-dovey? Because I can assure you, they will. They won't even notice we're there."

"They might not, but there are two teenagers who will probably be scarred for life."

"You're right. Wouldn't want them to see healthy, loving, respectful relationships in action so they know what to look for as they grow older," I countered.

Argue with that one, babe.

"Wow, okay." Dakota huffed out a disbelieving laugh. "You came to play."

"No." I kissed her temple. "I came to win."

Her breathing hitched as those words sank in. But for good measure, I added, "In case you're wondering, you're the prize, Firefly."

That stunned her into silence, and I was more than happy to let her get lost in the thoughts of just how much she meant to me.

Reaching Jaxon's lakefront house, I grabbed our bags as Dakota went to the other car to help Natalie with the kids. With the freezing temps, the snow from the blizzard that had kept planes grounded for Thanksgiving was still on the ground. It would be a beautifully white Christmas.

Stepping over the threshold, I took in the beauty of my brother and his wife's summer home decked out for the holidays. I knew for a fact Mom had taken care of decorating the space. She loved being a grandma and was all about recreating the magic of our childhood with Jaxon's kids. This would be their first Christmas spent in Minnesota, and it was clear she'd gone overboard.

A massive tree was set in the corner of the living room, stretching so tall it nearly brushed the exposed wooden beams of the vaulted ceiling. Lights were already strung up, and boxes of hand-painted ornaments were laid off to the side so the kids could trim the tree themselves. The backdrop through the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the frozen lake was like looking at a holiday card.

Arms looped around my waist from behind. Dakota's voice was full of awe. "This place is stunning."

Tugging her in front of me, I reversed our position, placing my chin atop her head. "Not too shabby for a cozy holiday spent with loved ones." When she snuggled further into my chest, I knew she understood that she counted as one of my loved ones. And I could only pray that I would earn that same designation from her at some point.

Giving her a squeeze, I released my hold, steering her suitcase to the in-law suite on the first floor off the kitchen. "You're over here."

Leading the way, I brought her roller bag to rest beside the dresser before giving a mini tour of the suite. "Over here, you have your own bathroom. There are towels in the linen closet. Anything else you need, let me know. I'm sure they've got extra of just about everything."

Eyeing the lone suitcase I'd brought into the room, she asked, "Just me?"

"Yeah. This room is perfect because you have your own space."

Frowning, a tiny wrinkle formed between her brows. "Where are you staying?"

"Beau is bunking up with Jameson, so I'll take his room." I shrugged.

"You don't have to do that. I don't want to put anyone out by being here."

Before she could get too deep into her thoughts, believing she was a burden, I closed the gap between us, cradling her face and demanding her attention. "It's not a problem. Trust me."

The last thing I expected in response was for her to step back, hurt crossing her features. "Oh." Crossing her arms over her middle, Dakota's voice grew whisper-soft. "Do you—do you not want to stay in here with me?"

"What? Why would you think that?" My hands itched to comfort her, but I didn't want to make the wrong move and worsen the situation.

She sank onto the bed. "Because you're displacing a little boy from his bedroom to avoid sleeping in the same bed with me."

Dropping to a knee before her, I peeled her hands away from where they clutched her waist, taking them in mine. "Of course, I would want to sleep in here with you. But I don't want you to think there's an expectation if I do. That's not why I asked you to come home with me for the holidays. I meant what I said about never letting you go. We have all the time in the world. There's no need to rush this."

"Are you sure?" Those sapphire eyes searched mine.

"Positive," I confirmed. "I'm not going anywhere."

Giving me a small smile, she nodded. "Okay."

Squeezing her hands, I stood. "Get settled in. Jaxon's got baking on the agenda this afternoon before we cozy up with holiday movies." Walking to the door, I paused. "Oh, and Dakota?"

"Yeah?" She turned to face me.

"When I do take you to bed? I'm never fucking leaving." With that, I left the room.

Sit on that for a minute.

Once I claimed her body, there would be no turning back. So, she had better be ready.