There's a commotion over near the bar that's tended by two people, dressed in crisp white shirts and red and green plaid bow ties. They'll mix any cocktail you can imagine and the liquor is flowing freely. As is the army of taxis waiting outside to act as designated drivers, all paid for, of course, by Mr. Brannon himself.
I see a large crowd of teammates and their respective partners engulfing Garrett and Olivia. It takes me all of two seconds to see by the wide smile on her face, the even wider smile on Garrett's and the way she holds her left hand out for inspection to all who will look, that an engagement has happened.
Nice.
Very nice.
I'd like to see the same happen in my life, but I have to wonder if it will occur. So far, Vale has been cagey and secretive as to her immediate future plans, but I'm committed to working on her. It is, after all, true love.
I walk over to the crowd, push my way in, and clap Garrett on the back. "Looks like congratulations are in order, man."
"She said yes," he says, completely drunk on love and excitement.
Olivia presents her left hand. "Behold the power of love."
I take her hand, pull the ring up for inspection, and say dryly, "I would have thought he'd get you a bigger rock."
Olivia snorts and pulls her hand away, putting it up in front of her face to examine it closely. "It's the most beautiful ring ever."
"It's three fucking carats," Garrett grumbles, and I laugh, clapping him on the shoulder again.
"You did good," I praise him. "She's a lucky girl."
"I'm the lucky one," he says as his arm goes around her, pulling her in. She rests that left hand on his stomach, the ring glinting and sparkling prettily.
"Is Vale coming?" Olivia asks.
I shake my head and try not to sound like a baby. "She's flying in tomorrow. Wanted to spend Christmas eve with her dad."
"How long will she stay?" Garrett asks.
"A week, and then she has to start her new job," I say, even as I fight against the downward pull of my lips in dismay. It's still a sore spot that she insisted on heading to Columbus. She said she had to go where the opportunity was, and right now, she needed a job. Didn't matter that I offered to support her. Told her she could move in with me and that I'd take care of her.
She just rolled her eyes at me as if that was the most stupid suggestion in the world, but then mollified me somewhat when she said, "Just until their season ends, then I'll try to find something in the Raleigh area."
Which was a good bet that she would. With three major NCAA universities, all abounding with excellent collegiate athletic programs, she was bound to find something good. It's just...I want her fucking here, now. It's funny, once I opened myself up and received the powerful gift of her love, I've found myself swimming in misery with this long-distance shit. Can't fucking stand it.
A clinking on a glass gets our attention and I turn to see Brian Brannon standing at the head of the large, open living room with vaulted ceiling. He gives a few more raps on the crystal glass of champagne with his Stanley Cup commemorative ring, and it makes me want one of those suckers on my finger badly. I think we've got a great shot this year.
"If I can have everyone's attention," he says loudly, and the last of the chatter dies down. Waiters circulate with trays of champagne, and I take one along with Garrett and Olivia.
Once everyone has a glass in hand, he says, "I just want to thank everyone for coming. Fellowship and camaraderie are important in this organization, and this time of the year is most excellent to celebrate those friendships. I understand we have some good news tonight...looks like our own Garrett and Olivia have gotten engaged. Let's wish the happy couple well."
Everyone cheers, hoots, and hollers. Olivia blushes prettily and Garrett puffs his chest out.
When the well wishes die down, Brian continues. "We have some more exciting news," he says as he turns to look at his daughter, Gray, standing beside him. She stands next to her husband, Ryker, who has his arm wrapped around her waist.
"Gray and Ryker have generously given me permission to make an absolute fool of myself tonight, so without further ado..."
And here, Brian turns to his daughter and places a hand on her stomach. His voice is completely choked up when he says, "It appears these two are going to make all my dreams come true and give me a grandchild. The baby is due in May."
Gasps of surprise and delight tumble forth from many a mouth. People call out congratulations and raise their champagne glasses, as Brian kisses Gray on the cheek. She is beaming brighter than I think she smiled this past summer when the Cold Fury hoisted the Cup. My eyes catch Ryker's and I raise my glass, giving him a meaningful nod of happiness for the dude.
And even though I couldn't be more happy for Garrett, Olivia, Ryker, and Gray, it makes it painfully obvious how lacking my own love life is right at this moment. My girlfriend...my lover...the woman who I love more than life itself and who should be with me at this moment, is sitting fifteen hundred miles away in Sydney. I feel like a whiny brat, so I take a deep sip of champagne and figure I'll get drunk tonight because tomorrow it will be all better. I'll be wrapped up in some Vale Campbell, and that will be bliss. We haven't seen each other since I left Sydney ten days ago, and the first thing I'm going to do when I get her alone is strip her naked, take my mouth and--
More clinking on the crystal glass and Brian Brannon is getting everyone's attention again. The chatter dies once more and everyone stares at him with happy smiles fueled by Veuve Clicquot bubbles.
"We have one more announcement, then we can get busy with some serious Christmas cheer and celebration," Brian says. "Like I said before, we're a family. I cherish each and every person in this room, and there isn't much I wouldn't do for the lot of you hacks."
Everyone laughs. Brian beams back at the crowd.
"So, it's with absolute pleasure that I get to spring another surprise on you. I'd like everyone to welcome back to the team Vale Campbell..."
Brian goes on to say something else, about her accepting a new job offer with the team, yada, yada, yada, but my head is turning left and right, trying to find her. He did say Vale Campbell, right?
My heart feels like it's about to jump out of my chest as I realize people are staring at me as I vainly scan the crowded room.
But then a small tap comes to my shoulder from behind me, and I whip around in a frenzy of excited expectation.
And there she is.
Gorgeously beautiful, a mischievous smile on her face. I vaguely notice her dad standing behind her.
"Hey, lover," she says as she cocks her head at me. A few people clap me on my back, voices raise in congratulations, and then the din sort of melts away as I'm staring at her in disbelief.
"You're coming back to work for the Cold Fury?" I ask, still stunned to see her standing here before me.
She steps toward me, places her hands at my hips. Smiling up at me with sparkling eyes, she chuckles. "Gray Brannon presented me with an offer I couldn't refuse."
"A big raise?" I guess.
She shakes her head. "Nope. Same salary, but merely the opportunity to be with you."
"Sounds like a good deal," I admit with a smirk as my arms wrap around her. I pull her in, squeeze the breath out of her, and then just hold her tight. My eyes slide over her head to see Dave smiling at us, and then turn toward Brian, who hands him a glass of champagne.
"When did you decide this?" I ask her, my heart now starting a steady beat of jubilation.
"A few days ago. Figured I'd surprise you."
"You're rotten," I chastise. "You could have been here this entire time."
"And ruin this surprise?" she asks as she pulls back and looks at me with mock offense.
Sliding one hand to the back of her neck, I reel her in for a kiss. It's instantly deep and slightly arousing, and I want to grab a cab right this minute and hightail it back to my house. My Christmas dreams will come fully true once I can sink down deep inside of he
r. It's been forever since we've made love, that one night in Sydney ten days ago having been spent chastely holding her all night in her bed, because...well, no sex with Dave in the house.
"I'm moving in with you," she says abruptly the minute my lips pull free from hers.
Well, duh...of course she's moving in with me. I give her a gracious smile.
"And I'll take up all of your closet space, just so you know," she adds.
Sounds fucking fantastic to me.
"And I'll probably bitch at you to keep your dirty clothes off the floor. Just in case you were wondering, that hasn't changed about me."
I laugh, give her another quick kiss, and say, "Well, just as long as you know I haven't changed either. I still throw my clothes on the floor."
"We're a match made in heaven," she quips.
"So much so that if you're going to move in with me, take up my closet space, and bitch at me like a nagging wife, we might as well go ahead and get married."
She blinks at me in surprise, the playful smile sliding off her face. "Is that a proposal?"
"Not a very good one I'm thinking," I say as I realize that was probably about as unromantic as you could be. "Perhaps I should have said--"
"I accept," she says quickly, beaming a new, refreshed, and bigger smile at me.
"You do?" I ask, stunned.
"Well, yeah," she says as her hands come to my face. She strokes my beard and gives me a tiny pat. "I mean, how could I say no...when it gives me full permission to be the nagging wife?"
And it hits me all of a sudden.
She said yes.
She's going to marry me.
Be mine forever.
And ever.
My hands shoot to her face, and I pull her in quickly for a hard kiss. I'm sealing the deal. She's laughing when I release her but I pay no mind. I call out over the noise of the crowd, and finally put my fingers in my mouth to whistle sharply. The room goes silent, and when I have everyone's attention, I call out with the biggest fucking grin on my face, "Hey everyone...I've got an announcement to make."
To Sue, Gina, Matt, Erika, and Ashleigh...my Random House Loveswept team. Never could I do this without you.
BY SAWYER BENNETT
Cold Fury Hockey Series
Alex
Garrett
Zack
Ryker
Hawke