Blades of Glory (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 4)

Fallon scoffs. “No, since the owner won’t sign the contract to sell my stuff down here.”

Mom laughs. “Lower your price, and I will.”

“It’s the same as upstairs.”

“Yeah, and we drink for free down here.”

Everyone laughs as Mom and Fallon share grins, and I shake my head. Those two. I look at Aiden to find he is watching me. I furrow my brow, but before I can ask why he is staring at me, he says, “You’re beautiful.”

My face breaks into a grin and I kiss his chin, but then Owen calls out, “Okay, stop making out and toast us before Mom notices the beer in my hand.”

“Owen Michael!”

Before I can say it, Evan asks, “Man, why are you dumb?”

Again, the laughter is in abundance as my mom takes the beer from my brother and gives it to my dad, who is now double-fisting. He just grins as he holds out both beers to us, and I smile widely. I love him so much. I look back at Aiden, and he urges me on. “Go on. You have more to say.”

I beam at him since I know what he is referring to as I step out of his arms. “Wasn’t that a blast!” Everyone agrees with hoots and cheers. I grin at the crowd that is my family; they aren’t all by blood, but they are family by heart. “I am so thankful for all of you. This was a dream come true for Aiden—he’s always wanted to play against his favorite players, which is all of you. Watching it from my point of view was probably just as great as it was for him.” Aiden cups the back of my neck, and I look up at him. “When we planned this, at first, it was only for us. We wanted to celebrate our love of hockey and each other, but then it turned into something more.”

I pull my gaze from his and look out into the crowd just as one of my assistants comes to me with a huge white cardboard check. “I’m sure everyone noticed that the second and third tiers were full of fans who bought tickets to come. We raised over $80,000 today between ticket sales and puck sales,” I say, taking the check. “As we all know, one of our own is fighting an opponent she’s already beaten once before. Lacey King owns an amazing lingerie business that sells intimates to breast cancer survivors to help them realize that, no matter what, they are sexy too. I am proud of Lacey and the business she owns, and we want to donate all the proceeds from tonight’s game to the Lacey’s Lace Foundation to give fighters and survivors confidence.”

I look to Lacey as she covers her mouth with her hand. “No way.”

“Yes way,” I say as I come toward her, handing her the check. “It’s fake, but it’s good for pictures.”

When the tears start to fall down her face, we embrace. “You don’t know how much this will help so many women.”

I kiss her cheek. “In case you need the reminder, we are all behind you, we are all proud of you, and we are ready to help in this fight with you.”

Her watery eyes meet mine, and we share a smile. I hand her the check, and we take a picture before I walk back over to Aiden, my own eyes swimming in tears. I take my wine back from him as I look out at everyone again as his arms pull me close to his body. “Aiden and I have grown up under the guidance and the example all of you have shown us. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I’m sure Aiden agrees with me when I say the Assassins’ village is the best village ever.”

Aiden kisses my temple before he nods. “The best.”

“We are thankful for each of you and thank you so much for coming. It means the world to us that you want to celebrate our love by hitting each other and trying to score on one another.”

Everyone laughs as Lucas calls out, “We were some real Blades of Glory out there.”

Dad laughs. “I’m sure we would have done better as ice skaters than hockey players.”

Mom smacks him playfully. “I think you all looked great out there.”

“You did,” Aiden says. “Gave us a run for our money, for sure. I am overwhelmed by all the emotions I had from when I was a kid watching you guys play and knowing I got to play against you. This was one of the best days of my life, but in no time, I’ll be marrying this gorgeous woman in my arms.”

I look up at him, tipping up my lips as I gaze into his gray eyes. “I love you, Shelli. So much. And I can’t thank you enough for this moment. It was a great day.”