Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Fuck, really?” Coen sputters.
“No, not really,” I say with a laugh. “Not once I reassure them you’re just a hockey player.”
“They’ll be fine when they make it to Gage and Jenna,” Tillie says, sliding an arm around Coen’s waist and nodding down the row.
I look and my jaw drops. “Is that… fucking Cinderella’s carriage?” I ask, and then my jaw drops further. “And holy shit… those costumes.”
Gage and Jenna are Cinderella and whatever the fuck the prince’s name is. Jenna is dazzling in a blue gown covered in sparkles and lace that puffs out in a wide arc all around her.
“We don’t fuck around when it comes to the kids,” Coen says with authority.
I snort and shake my head. This guy was the team’s resident jackass mere months ago, and now he’s champion of all the children. I’d bet a thousand bucks he and Tillie get pregnant sooner rather than later.
“I’ll catch you later,” I say, holding out my hand and fist-bumping Coen’s.
I walk along with the kids and Kiera, marveling at the extent to which the childless players went to decorate their cars with spiderwebs, pumpkins, grave markers, and spooky cat cutouts. Everyone is dressed in elaborate costumes, and all the kids are interacting so well.
At the end of the row, a long table has been set up with fall decorations and a woman bent over helping kids with what looks like some type of craft project involving paper pumpkins. I start to glance away, but the woman straightens and laughs at one of the kids, and my heart trips as I realize it’s Brienne.
I honestly didn’t expect her to be here, and I most certainly didn’t expect her to be dressed up. I didn’t recognize her at first because she’s dressed as Hela, and the long black wig with gray streaks and dramatic eye makeup threw me off.
But as I’m taking her in, I have to stifle a groan over how unbelievably sexy she is in a skintight suit of black and green that showcases every curve that I know by memory, taste, and touch.
Kiera has the boys at a table where they can bob for apples, so I make my way over to Brienne.
She sees me walking toward her, and her eyes widen as she takes in my costume. It’s not a cheap one you can buy in a package—I ordered it from a cosplay company, so it’s pretty authentic. She clearly did the same.
“What are the chances we’d choose costumes from the same movie?” I ask with a grin.
She glances back at the kids, sees everyone’s occupied, and then steps closer to me. “I didn’t pick the costume. Jenna did. I don’t even know who I’m dressed as.”
My jaw drops. “You’re Hela.”
“Yeah… she said that. I don’t know who that is in the movie world, but I like the wig. I think I look good as a brunette.”
“You’d look good in a potato sack,” I assure her. “How do you not know who Hela is? Wait a minute… do you know who I am?”
“Some type of Viking?”
I groan and clutch my heart. “You’ve never seen a Marvel movie, have you?”
“I don’t watch movies or TV,” she says, chin lifted as if that’s something to be proud of.
Leaning in a bit closer but still keeping distance so it doesn’t look inappropriate, I lower my voice. “I totally have to work on your ability to relax and be entertained outside of the way I fuck you and the way you feel after.”
I’m pleased that she flushes, but her smile is way more satisfying.
“By the way,” I murmur softly, “my pants are way too tight for you to be dressed like that. Next time have a care in the costume you pick.”
Brienne snorts, but her eyes drop briefly to my crotch. Good thing I’m in control today, or else she and everyone else would get an eyeful.
“Brienne,” Jake says as he runs toward us. “Kiera said I could come give you a hug.”
I glance back to see Kiera walking our way, holding the twins’ hands.
Brienne squats and lets Jake throw his arms around her shoulders. I watched stunned at the obvious affection my kid has for her, and it hits me—they must’ve made more of a connection than I’d thought. She spent several hours with them, fed them, gave them ice cream, tucked them into bed. They watched her take care of Kiera, and she eased their fears.
Of course, they’d be happy to see her.
Colby and Tanner break away, and they also rush up to give her hugs. I cut my eyes to Kiera, who levels me with a very pointed look as it of say, “Look… your boys like a woman who’s in your life. Better not let her get away.”
“Let me see what you guys got,” Brienne says, taking critical looks inside the boys’ buckets. “Nice haul.”