Page 176 of Risking the Pucking Defense

I hold her eyes, hoping that she can see in mine that it’s okay to use me to help try to figure it out.

After ensuring her face is clear, I push to my feet, dump the trash, and reach for her next round of bottles, ensuring I line them up along the edge of the bath in the correct order before I begin applying them, giving her the time she needs to process her thoughts.

“When you …” she starts as I squeeze a few drops of her retinol serum onto my fingers, ready to massage it into her skin. “Spoke for me…it…it triggered some feelings from my past.”

“I’m sorry, I never should have done that. It’s not an excuse, but I just hated the way he was looking at you, what he was insinuating.”

Hailee reaches out, resting her small hand on my forearm.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” she assures me. “I know you weren’t speaking for me, overpowering, not really. I just hate losing my voice. It was smothered for so many years. I clearly don’t handle losing it again.”

“That’s understandable,” I tell her, switching to a bottle of hyaluronic acid. “I never, ever want to smother you or make you feel like your voice can’t be heard. I always want to hear you.”

“I know that. I do,” she assures me. “As much as I appreciate this, can you please get in here with me now?”

With a chuckle, I finish up, put all her bottles and potions back on the counter, and slip into the bathtub behind her. It’s a tight squeeze, but we make it work, and in only seconds, she’s back in my arms, exactly where she belongs.

50

HAILEE

“You need to go,” I say after Hayden has climbed on top of me, where I’m still lounging in bed, having watched him get dressed and ready to head out for their final exhibition road game.

I’m not heading out with them this time, and as much as I’m looking forward to getting caught up on everything I’ve let slip since Hayden entered my life, I’m going to miss the hell out of him.

It’s only two nights. It’s ridiculous. He’ll be away for much longer stretches once the regular season starts. It’s something I’m going to have to get used to. As much as I might want to find excuses to travel with them every time, it’s just not necessary. I have more than enough things to attend to.

“I know. I just want another kiss.”

The giggle that erupts from me when he starts pouting would make the old me cringe.

I sound like an excited, love-sick teenage girl, and I’m finding it hard to care.

I’m happy. So freaking happy.

Stretching up, I give him a chaste kiss on his cheek and smile when he frowns at me.

“I’d expect that from my grandma. I want a proper kiss. One that I won’t be able to stop thinking about. One that will have me hard and desperate for you when I’m lonely in bed tonight.”

“You won’t be lonely. You room with Brody.”

He quirks a brow.

“I’ll be lonely.”

“Aw, poor baby,” I tease.

“Can I FaceTime you?” he asks, nudging my nose with his.

“Yeah, of course. I’ll just be working.”

A smile twitches at his lips as something flickers in his eyes, but the second his lips capture mine, I forget all about it.

“Hayden,” I moan when he finally pulls away.

My heart is racing and my temperature soaring.

Maybe he could be just a few minutes late.