Page 221 of Risking the Pucking Defense

He smirks. “Still love it.” His eyes drop to Sutton standing at my side. “Hey lil’ Riv. How’s it going?”

“Good. Just waiting to see you all out there.”

Twisting around, he shouts into the locker room. “Rivers, you’ve got a visitor.”

Seconds later, a half-dressed Kodie appears, and almost instantly, Sutton jumps into his arms.

“Hey, peanut.”

The moment Hayden steps toward me, I forget all about what they’re doing. Just like always, he steals every bit of my attention.

“Hey, baby. You’re spoiling me with this little visit.”

“I couldn’t help myself,” I breathe as he wraps his arms around my waist.

“I hate to tell you this, but I might get used to in-person good-lucks, and you’ll have to come to every game,” he tells me before ducking low to steal a kiss.

I don’t mean to respond with a groan, but that’s exactly what happens as he deepens the kiss.

“All right, kids. There are young eyes around,” Coach states as he stalks past. We jump apart, and the second I look at Coach, I find determination in his eyes but a smirk playing on his lips.

“Oh yeah, because I’m not forced to watch stuff like that at home,” Sutton deadpans.

“I should hope not,” Coach quips, shooting Kodie a death glare.

Kodie holds his hands up in surrender before he gives Sutton a kiss on the nose and puts her back on her feet. “I want to hear you shouting for me out there,” he tells her.

“I’ll be louder than anyone else, Daddy,” she says proudly. “Score me a goal.”

“You got it, peanut.”

With a small wave, he ducks back into the dressing room.

“Monroe?” Coach growls.

“Gotta go, baby.”

Stretching up on my toes, I give him another kiss.

“Have you seen my parents yet?”

“Uh…”

“You’re not scared, are you?”

I swallow nervously.

No. I’m not scared. I’m fucking terrified.

They only have one kid left now. What if they don’t think I’m good enough for him?

“What? No. Of course not.”

His brows lift, not believing a single word.

“I’m so grateful I get to see this side of you, Hails,” he says before finally taking a step back before disappearing from my sight.

“You should go and say hello to his mom and dad,” Sutton suggests helpfully. “They’re going to love you.”