The Playmaker (Fire on Ice) (20 page)

“I’ll be right back.”

She hopped from the bed and hurried into the bathroom. She was back in a few seconds. She placed her head on my chest and snaked her legs around mine.

There was no place else I would rather be than having my princess in my arms.

***

Buzzing.

I awoke to the sound of a cell phone buzzing. It was Taylor’s. I gently stroked her back to see if I could wake her.

“Kian?” She blinked a few times, trying to get the sleep from her eyes. “What time is it?”

“Eight.”

“Is that my phone?”

“Yeah.”

She heaved a sigh. “I hope it’s not my mom and dad. I was so excited about being here, I forgot to phone them when we arrived. Maybe they’re worried.”

She hopped from the bed and I watched as she glided, still naked and sexy as hell, over to her phone which she had placed on the desk.

When she looked at the screen, she frowned. “It’s not my mom and dad. I should still call them though.”

“Who is it?” I asked. I was getting a little anxious. Who would be phoning at eight in the morning?

She held up a finger and answered the call. “This is Taylor.”

“Officer Moore,” she said for my benefit. She glanced over at me and shrugged.

After a series of “Yes” and “I understand” and “Thank you” she ended the call.

“What was that all about,” I asked anxiously.

She hopped back into the bed and took my hand. She had a glint in her eyes. What could Officer Moore possibly have said to her?

“Blake pled guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence. Probably five to seven years. I won’t have to testify. He’s going to prison. And I finally feel free.”

I grabbed Taylor and gave her a big hug.

“Why do you think he plead guilty?” I asked.

“You know how my parents finally got sick of my sister not finishing school and told her they were done. She finally had to take responsibility and graduate. Maybe his mom and dad were finally done with him, too.”

“It’s possible.”

“Speaking of m
y sister. I wonder how her sex-capades with Rob turned out.”

“How do you know she and Rob hooked up?”

She laughed. “You’re kidding, right? This is Zelda we’re talking about. There is no way that guy is anywhere but in her bed right now.”

I pulled her on top of me. “Well you’ve got me in your bed right now. Care for an encore performance?”

Taylor smiled and her eyes flickered with desire. “My sister did say not to wake her up until noon.”  

Epilogue

Taylor

Two Years Later

I’m not sure why I was so nervous. It’s not like I hadn’t been to a graduation ceremony before. High school, college and now my Master’s degree.

All of the graduates seated in my row stood and one by one we made our way to the stage. I marched up the small set of stairs and handed my card to the reader.

“Taylor Thompson Kavanagh, Master of Social Work.”

There was applause on the far side of the auditorium, where my family was seated.

I made my way across the stage and took my diploma from the dean of the school, as she shook my hand.

I finished my internship with a crisis counseling agency. They offered me a full-time job but I wasn’t sure that’s exactly what I wanted to do. It was a high stress position and I knew Kian was eager to start a family. How did I know? Because he mentioned going off birth control practically every day. Not that I wasn’t a little excited about the possibility, too.

I knew at least part of it was Kian’s competitive nature. Runt phoned and told him that Shawna was pregnant with their second. Maybe he wanted to play catch up.

My parents and sister were waiting with a giant bouquet of white roses.

“We’re so proud of you,” my dad said as he gave me hug. My mom followed with another hug.

“Does this mean I have to get a Master’s degree?” my sister asked.

My mom, dad and I all said “No” in unison.

Kian was standing behind my mom and dad. Once they were finished with their congratulations, he stepped up and took me into his arms. “I have the most beautiful and brilliant wife on the planet. I’ve never felt more proud in my life.”

“Never?” I asked skeptically. “Not even when your team won the Stanley Cup?”

He shook his head.

“I’m not sure I believe you but I appreciate the sentiment,” I replied.

He leaned close to my ear and whispered. “It’s the truth.”

Then he kissed me. And even in the graduation crowd, I was lost in my husband’s passion for me.

My sister’s cough brought me back to reality. “The two of you make me sick.”

I frowned. “Like you and Rob don’t make me sick—all the time.”

“When will he be back from Singapore?” Kian asked.

“Three days, twelve hours and thirty-nine minutes, assuming his flight is on time.”

“I noticed your new watch,” I teased.

My sister glanced at her wrist. “Rob got it for me.”

“I figured that.”

“We made dinner reservations for seven o’clock,” my mom said. “Do you want to meet in the hotel lobby? We can walk from there.”

“Great,” Kian said. “That will give me some time to show Taylor her graduation present.”

“Where in the world are you taking me?” I asked as drove past the street where we bought our first house.

“You’ll see,” Kian said.

“Is it bigger than a bread box?” I asked.

“And how big is a bread box?” Kian asked.

I laughed. “I have no idea. It’s just an expression.”

“It’s much bigger than a loaf of bread,” Kian teased as he put on the turn signal and we pulled into
a fairly new and bustling strip mall.

He drove over to
a free-standing building, a dance studio, which looked like it was out of business. He parked the car and hopped out. I followed, still not sure what we were doing here.

“This is it,” Kian said. “Well, it will be. It’s your graduation present.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The dance studio went out of business, so I purchased the building for you. To open a self-defense school. I’m working with an accountant to get all of the business details arranged for you. It’s still a work in progress but it’s all yours.”

I was speechless. “How did you know this is what I wanted?”

Kian laughed. “You’ve only mentioned the possibility of ha
ving your own self-defense school three hundred and fifty two times.”

“I did? And you kept count?”

He nodded.

“I can’t believe this.” I felt like I was still in shock.

“Do you like it?” Kian looked worried.

“It’s possibility the most amazing thing ever.”

“More amazing than our wedding in Kauai?” He teased.

“It’s possibility the second most amazing thing ever,” I co
rrected. “But what about your sports bar? You’ve been saving for it for years.”

“We have plenty of money for both. Besides, I’m planning on playing hockey for a few more years. That will give you plenty of time to get this business up and running before we take on the sports bar.”

I put my arms around my husband’s neck. “Thank you. Do you have any idea how much I love you?”

He smiled. “I have an idea.”

“You and only you,” I said.

“Now and always,” he added.

I kissed him. “Now can I see my building?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Resources

RAINN
(Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) – the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

National Sexual Assault Hotline
– free and confidential help for sexual assault victims and their friends and families.

Krav
Maga Worldwide
– the largest reality-based self-defense organization in the world and industry leader in
Krav Maga-based self-defense, fitness, and fighting.

About the Author

Dakota Madison has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books. When she's not at her computer creating spicy new romances, Dakota is traveling to exotic locales or spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

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