The Romance Line (Love and Hockey Book 2)

Max

Man, these team executives love to have dinners.

But no complaints. I like food.

And I really like this—holding Everly’s hand as we walk into a sushi restaurant together several days later. The Ice Men producers are joining us here too, and so are Zaire and Clementine, as well as my agent. Everything is a go for the documentary to start shooting next month, and I’m still grateful for the opportunities that it might bring. The chance to put some extra money aside for my family.

But the best part of this dinner is that I don’t have to pretend I’m not madly in love with the woman by my side. Garrett asked me to come a few minutes early so we find him at the bar, nursing a glass of what looks like a seltzer and scrolling on his phone. When he looks up, he smiles, sets down his mobile and the glass, and stands to give me a clap on the back. He shakes Everly’s hand. “Good to see you again. Both of you,” he says, then turns to me. “And don’t worry. I did it,” he says emphatically. “I turned down Date Night for you.”

I laugh. I asked him to do that on the day Everly and I went public.

“I appreciate it,” I say earnestly, looking him square in the eyes. “I appreciate all that you do. I know I’m not easy to work with.”

He waves a hand dismissively. “The job’s not supposed to be easy. We’re all good.” He shifts to Everly. “And congratulations on the promotion. I was rooting for you.”

“Thank you. And I’m always rooting for you,” she says, and that’s my sunshine woman.

“And before we start dinner, I have some news. Rosario snagged a brand-new deal for you,” Garrett says to me.

I tense, briefly wondering if this is going to be another one that won’t work out. “Please don’t tell me you want me to be the face of a circus or something,” I say. “Or a naked bike ride.”

Everly taps her chin. “Oh, I didn’t tell you? The naked bike ride already requested for you to be their spokesperson next year and of course I said yes.”

I shoot her a warning look. “You troublemaker.”

“And you love it,” she says right back to me. That’s my woman. Always keeping me on my toes.

Garrett takes a beat then says, “How about a brand deal with a popcorn maker?”

A laugh bursts from Everly. She turns to me, those big brown eyes playful and bright. “Max, say yes.”

My heart thumps harder from those two words.

Our words.

I kiss her on the cheek, both because I can’t resist and because I can. Then I look at Garrett. “Yes. ”

But there’s something else I need to say to these two people who put up with me and turned my reputation around. “Thank you.”

Everly

After dinner, we go out on a date that’s not at all a secret.

We don’t need to peer around corners or peek down blocks. We don’t need to leave the city or hide behind tinted windows. And we certainly don’t need to worry if we make a mistake like kissing each other in public because we just can’t help ourselves.

We wander along the bustling blocks of Hayes Valley on our way to The Resort, a hotel in the heart of this neighborhood since Max got us a room for the night…because.

Just because.

We pass trendy boutiques and record shops with garlands in the windows and Christmas lights sparkling over the doorways, then into the hotel where we’ll meet his sister for a quick drink.

In the lobby, we pass artful bouquets of dahlias and an elegant waterfall structure when I catch sight of the familiar silhouette of my redheaded friend. “Fable’s here. I didn’t realize the team party she’s going to was tonight.”

“Your friend who works for the Renegades?”

“Yes.” And she’s walking across the lobby right now with Wilder Blaine, who owns the team and the hotel.

“Are they together?” he asks of the man I chatted with at the city vegetable garden.

I make a seesaw motion with my hand because I know a lot of the details of what’s been going on with Wilder and Fable for the last few weeks since the guy she was dating—Brady—showed his true colors. “Not exactly,” I hedge, then tell him what happened at Thanksgiving. Max cringes when he learns what her ex did that day. “But then Wilder—her boss—asked her to be his fake girlfriend for the holiday season.”

“So the billionaire needs a fake girlfriend,” he says quietly, sounding intrigued.

“But don’t tell a soul because it’s a secret, and nobody knows it’s fake.”

Max mimes zipping his lips. “You know I know how to keep a secret.”

Fable must catch sight of us since she stops and beelines for me. “Good to see you,” she says, then makes quick intros to everyone even though I’ve already met Wilder.

He looks me in the eye and says, “Good to see you again. And congratulations on the new job. I’m not at all surprised.”

“Thank you so much,” I say. “And your vote of confidence meant a lot to me. It was part of what drove me to go after the promotion with everything I have.”

“That’s fantastic. I like it when good things happen to people who deserve them.” Then to Max, he says, “And congratulations on…your future wife.” Wilder’s lips curve in a grin.

Max laughs, dragging a hand down the back of his neck. “I guess you saw that.”

“A lot of people saw it,” Wilder says with a clever smile. “Like, the whole world. That was quite a gesture. You set the bar awfully high for men everywhere.” He steals a glance at Fable, then something like longing passes in his eyes as he adds, “And it should be high.”

We say goodbye and they leave. But as they go, he sets a hand on her back. Possessively. Maybe more possessive than a fake boyfriend should be.

I tug Max close. “I can’t wait to tell Maeve she was right. She’s had this theory that he’s had a massive crush on her for a long time.”

Max checks one last time then turns to me. “Maeve is definitely right.” He makes a move to go to the bar, but then stops. “Speaking of massive crushes, I’m pretty sure Asher has exactly those kinds of feelings for Maeve.”

The corner of my lips curves up. “You don’t say?”

He gives me a curious look. “What does that mean?”

“It means I’ve had that feeling for a while too. But I don’t know if he’ll ever do a thing about it. Since he’s her brother’s best friend and all.”

Max drags a hand through his hair, like all this romance stuff is too complicated. “Sometimes you just have to screw all that stuff and go after what you want.”

“True,” I say.

He runs a hand down my back, sending shivers through my whole body. “Because it’s worth it.”

I smile. “Yes, it is,” I say, as we head to the bar.

We quickly find Sophie and her date.

Lucas.

After a warm hello, Max clears his throat and says to my former physical therapist, “I need to apologize for my behavior when we first met?—”

Lucas waves him off. “No need. That date played out perfectly.” Then he kisses Sophie’s cheek.

Sophie looks at him with genuine affection and says, “It sure did. ”

We join the new couple for a drink.

After, we head to our room. When the door closes, shutting out the world, Max picks me up and carries me to the king-size bed. He sets me down and holds my face, his eyes filled with both a love and lust that I hope never ends, especially when he says, “And now I’m going to undress my future wife and kiss her everywhere all night long.”

I run a hand along his arm. “Get to it, future husband.”

And he does.