Power Play (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 2)

I look up from my phone, and Shelli is flushed red with anger. “What the hell? Wasn’t he single for, like, months after his fiancée split?”

“Over a year,” I confirm. “It bothers me she said that. It isn’t as if he loved me right from the rip. It was a good month in before things got serious.”

“Exactly. I think that’s bullshit.”

“Without being emotional, I think your sister may be right. But what is he saying?” Mom asks, and I bite my lip.

“He was super upset with her, but they talked yesterday and he feels she’ll come around. He says it doesn’t matter what she thinks, he loves me, but I don’t want him to resent me if she does hate me and he chooses me.”

“I agree,” my mom says, holding my gaze with her concerned one. “Do you think he will resent you?”

“I don’t want to think he will, but I also don’t want this to come between us. I’ll give her another chance, but I won’t back down.”

Shelli makes a face. “Or you coot-punch her.”

“Shelli Grace!”

“What? Mom, for real, that was rude. Posey doesn’t deserve that.”

Mom agrees. “You’re right, but this woman is trying to protect her son, and I can’t fault her for it. I wouldn’t have handled the situation that way, but not everyone was raised like y’all or me.” She cups my face, rubbing her thumbs along my jaw. “You handled yourself perfectly, and I’m so proud of you. You really are shaping up to be an incredible woman, Posey Rose.”

My face warms. “I learned from some incredible women growing up.”

She winks at me. “I think you should give her another chance. I think now that she knows you aren’t backing down, she’ll treat you differently.”

“I hope so,” I answer, but Shelli shakes her head.

“I still vote to coot-punch her.”

I grin. “If she says he’s only Mom’s employee and not good enough to be with me again, I just might.”

Shelli’s eyes widen. “She said that?”

“She did. To him. I was appalled.”

But then, like a lightbulb clicking on, I realize what I just said. I think Shelli does the moment I do, because her eyes widen even more than before as her gaze moves to my mom. I feel my mom’s eyes on me as she asks, “‘Only an employee’?”

I press my lips together and inhale through my nose. “I’m going to go lie down.”

“Good plan,” Shelli says, but I’m stupid if I think I was getting away.

“As in, one of my hockey players? Or my staff?”

I swallow nervously as Shelli shakes her head. “Wow, you threw yourself under the bus with that one.”

“I know. Help me,” I beg, but there is no helping me.

“Posey Rose. Answer me.”

I close my eyes, dropping my head to the bar. “I don’t want to tell you, Mom.”

I’m met with silence for a beat. “It’s a hockey player.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’m not ready to tell you. I don’t want Daddy knowing until after the wedding. I don’t want to mess with the angina—”

“It’s Boon Hoenes,” Mom says then, and I go slack against the bar. “Isn’t it?”

How in the world? “Mom…”

“Posey,” she says sternly. “Is it Boon Hoenes?”

I stand up and look over at her. “Please don’t say anything. We don’t want anyone thinking I’m treating him differently or I’m favoring him.”

“Wow,” she says slowly. “I knew you were either in love with him or hated him. Fine line, I guess,” she says, shaking her head. “You’re so hard on him, but then the way you two look at each other… I knew something was there, but I didn’t think you would act on it.”

“I know it’s not professional, but he’s amazing, Mom. I love him so much,” I stress, swallowing hard. “He really is good to me and so kind.”

“He’s wonderful,” she agrees. “I adore him. He’s always been a solid player and a kind guy. Like I said, I see the way he looks at you. I’m just stunned you chose him. He doesn’t seem very boyfriend material.”

I nod quickly. “I know. He wasn’t. But he says I just happened. I don’t know, Mom, but he’s so romantic. So sweet. We danced in Target, like you and Dad do.”

Her eyes soften as a grin pulls at her lips.

“He feeds me carbs. He holds me when I don’t feel well. Mom, he tells me at every turn that I am beautiful. He calls me ‘lovely.’ He—”

“Posey, baby,” she says, interrupting me. “You don’t have to sell him to me. If you love him, I love him.”

I don’t know why, but emotion chokes me as I stare into her green eyes. They’re so full of love and support, I’m completely overwhelmed. This woman would die for me, and like she always has, she loves me. She’ll love hard until the day she dies, and I can’t believe I got lucky enough to have her as my mom. Soon, it’s too much to handle, and big fat tears roll down my face.