Page 73 of Power Play

twenty-seven

. . .

Al

Riley sits beside me through dinner, and as we’re relaxing after the heavy meal, I set my arm on the back of her chair. She leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder and her hand falling to my thigh while she talks across me to Vanessa.

I’m glad they’re getting along. It certainly makes my life easier, knowing she has someone in her corner. She shouldn’t feel like she has no support network.

Mitchell catches my attention from across the table, a smirk twisting his lips. He’s holding a drink loosely between his fingertips, swirling around the clear liquid. I owe him an apology. Riley, too. I know he wasn’t trying to make a move on her, and I know she wouldn’t fool around with him. It’s good that the team has accepted her so unconditionally; I shouldn’t try to read into it any more than that.

I give my teammate a nod, and he dips his chin, a satisfied glint in his eye. He tips back his drink, draining the glass, then lumbers to his feet. His gait is unsteady as he shuffles to the bar.

Should I say anything? We’re technically at a work event, and we have a game tomorrow night. It’s none of my business if he wants to get loaded.

Movement in the corner of my eye steals my focus, and MacGregor shoves back his chair and strides directly to the bar. No pretense. He and Mitchell have a conversation, low and intense, and then Mitchell scowls and turns on his heel. Nobody else is paying attention as the center slips out of the room.

The team captain sinks against the bar, rubbing his forehead. I do not envy his position. Dealing with our cast of idiots is difficult enough on a good day; add alcohol to the mix, and it’s sure to be a disaster.

This will be our first Thanksgiving as a family. Cari leaves for Florida early in the morning to be with our parents, and Tony’s in Denver, so it’ll just be the three of us. Somehow, it feels right. I’ll always love my parents and siblings, nothing will fracture our bond, but now that I’m married, I have my own family. Truth be told, I’m looking forward to sitting on the couch with my wife and kid, watching the parade and the football game while the turkey is in the oven.

Well, the turkey is already cooked. Tyler dropped off a giant container the other day, along with all the side dishes, so we don’t actually have to cook anything, only warm through.

Although, after this heavy meal, I can’t imagine eating another bite, much less a second full turkey dinner. I push back from my seat with a groan, and Riley looks over at me with concern.

I lean over and kiss her temple, a soft, innocent brush against her skin. Her cheeks flame red, and a shy smile curves her kissable berry-red lips. Somehow, even with eating and drinking, her lipstick is perfect, the dark color doing dangerous things to my heart rate.

We almost kissed. A real kiss, not the innocent brushes I’ve gotten away with. If Jenkins hadn’t interrupted us, we would have. There’s still a lot to discuss, but just knowing she isn’t indifferent to me… I can deal with a little more uncertainty if it means we get to the bottom of this.

I want my wife, and I’ll do anything to prove myself worthy to her.

Eventually, dinner draws to a close, and we drive home in a comfortable silence. I don’t feel that constant pressure to perform, to entertain her. It finally feels like maybe she likes me for me, and not for all the perks of being a rich and talented hockey player. What we have is so different from my other experiences with women. Even the few long-term relationships I had, it was always about what I could do for them, rather than about the two of us as equals.

With Riley, I can be myself.

When we enter the house, Cari is asleep on the couch, the baby monitor on the coffee table. Carefully, I shake my sister awake.

“How’d it go?” I ask.

“She was a perfect angel,” she reports with a sleepy smile. “She convinced me to read triple the number of stories, but⁠—”

I laugh. “Oh, the baby who can’t talk?”

“Yeah. She’s very convincing.” Cari yawns, her eyes fluttering shut. “If it’s okay, I’m going to stay here. My flight is in… six hours. I can head to the airport straight from here.”

“Stay as long as you need,” Riley cuts in. “Thanks for staying with her.”

“Anything for my favorite niece.” She grins.

“Only niece,” I add.

“Favorite,” Cari says firmly. “Even when you guys have more kids, she’ll still be my favorite.”

My face heats at the idea of me and Riley having kids. Filling our house with children, her belly swollen with my baby. My cock likes that idea, too, and I swallow loudly.

“Okay. Well. On that note, I’m going to bed.”

“Awesome,” Cari yawns. “See you when I get back.”