Page 71 of Cold as (N)ice

Irene gasped, tears springing to her eyes as she looked down at the squalling infant in her arms. Her heart, already so full, swelled impossibly larger. Tiny fists flailed, a scrunched-up face already showing fierce determination, and a soft, downy head of brown hair nestled beneath her chin.

“Ohhh… oh my goodness, sweet pea,” she wept, unable to contain the overwhelming love that crashed over her like a tidal wave. She lifted her gaze to Barrett, her vision blurred with tears. “It’s a baby girl…”

Barrett let out a breathless laugh, his face split with an expression of pure wonder. “Stephen’s gonna be mad.”

Irene let out a watery chuckle. “He’ll get over it.”

“I’m kidding.” His voice was thick, his hands trembling slightly as he reached out to stroke their daughter’s tiny head. The baby fussed, letting out a soft, disgruntled cry, and Barrett’s entire face softened. “I think Stephen’s going to be an amazing big brother,” he murmured, awe in his voice. “And he’ll be so protective of his little sister.”

“I think so, too.”

A quiet moment passed between them, one filled with so much love it was almost too much to hold.

“What did you want to call her?” Barrett asked, his voice gentle.

Irene sniffled, brushing a fingertip against the baby’s impossibly soft cheek. “We talked about so many names over the last few months—I don’t know anymore.” She looked up at him. “What did you think we should call her?”

Barrett studied their daughter for a long moment, his thumb running softly over her tiny fist and then touching the faint tuft of hair on her head almost reverently. “How about Heather?” he suggested.

Irene barely had time to reply before their daughter latched onto her breast with a ferocity that had her flinching in surprise.

Barrett blinked, his mouth falling open in exaggerated shock. “Never mind—how aboutJawsHeather Coeur.”

The unexpectedness of it made Irene laugh, a real, full-bodied laugh despite the exhaustion weighing her down - and the baby flung her arms open in surprise at her bark of laughter. Irene’s eyes shot to Barrett’s as he smiled in awareness and silent understanding. Heather was responding to sounds, which meant she could hear them. Stephen never did that motionunless it was a visual stimulant, but Heatherheardher laugh… and Irene thought her heart would burst with relief.

“Troll Doll, Dumpster Fire, and Jaws,” she mused, smiling down at their baby girl. She rested her head against Barrett’s shoulder, shaking with the overwhelming emotion within her. “Stephen is gonna be jealous that he doesn’t have a nickname.”

“Nahh, no need to be—he’s my buddy and has the best nickname of all.”

She arched a brow, her heart brimming with affection. “Oh?”

Barrett leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Son.”

The word held so much meaning, so much promise. It was everything. Irene swallowed hard, emotion clogging her throat as she nodded.

“In fact,” Barrett continued, brushing a loving hand over their daughter’s head one last time, “I think I’ll go break the news to him when we’re done in here.”

Irene sighed contentedly, her heart overflowing. “I really appreciate Constance and Boucher watching him for the evening,” she murmured. “And I think it’s sweet how the team is learning a few phrases.”

Barrett grinned. “We all love him and think he’s going to be an incredible young man—and a Wolverine someday.”

Irene turned her face up to his, letting him see everything she felt, every unspoken word shining in her eyes. “I love you,” she whispered. “Thank you for taking a chance on me—a chance on us.”

His expression softened, full of warmth, full of devotion.

“I love you too,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “And I would do it all over again.”

Ready for more?

Get read to fall for our handsome goalie as he navigates his own marriage of convenience with the one person he never imagined - his sister’s best friend.

Except things won’t be that easy.

(They never are!)

See, Laurel is the guardian for her younger sister, Kendall, who hates his guts on sight and he’s got to keep this all under wraps while trying to hang on to his career.

Dustin Lafreniére is next…

When love, secrets, and family collide, they’ll have to find a way for their sudden marriage to appear believable – for all their sakes.