Wild Zone (Rough Riders Hockey 4)

Tate couldn’t stop smiling as he followed her out of the pantry. With his arm around her waist, he snuck in one last kiss to her neck. She giggled then stopped short and sucked back her laughter.

Oh shit.

The thought registered a split second before alarm buzzed Tate’s stomach. He looked up and found Mia standing in the kitchen, obviously looking for someone. Then he recognized the Rough Riders’ jersey in her hand, and knew she’d come looking for Olivia. But Mia’s sharp, surprised, questioning gaze held on Tate.

“Well, hi there,” Olivia moved away from Tate, going straight to the oven and pulling a tray from the rack. She smiled at Mia again, but Mia was still busy giving Tate a what-the-fuck glare. Still, Olivia said, “Mia right? Rafe’s fiancé?”

Mia turned her gaze on Olivia, seemed to assess another moment, then smiled. A little.

She was definitely not Joe.

“Yes,” Mia said, obviously unsure how to feel about this revelation.

“Hey,” Tate said, wishing he had something to hide behind to cover the hard on Olivia had kicked up in the pantry. Since he didn’t, he stuffed his hands into his pockets. “What’s up?”

Olivia used serving spoons to toss what looked and smelled like chicken wings in the sauce they’d been basting in, poured them into a dish and garnished them.

“I was just coming in to—“ Mia said.

Quinn bounced into the kitchen with empty trays in her hands and stopped beside Mia, her face bright with excitement. And she was wearing one of Mia’s jersey’s. Quinn had worn gauzy black pants and a floral tank to the party, and Mia’s design looked great on her.

“Look what Mia gave me.” Quinn held her arms out, then turned and used one hand to sweep her hair from the back, where Rough Riders was emblazoned in an arc across the shoulders. “Isn’t it adorable? She makes these. A whole line of them for the Rough Riders and she’s branching out with six more NHL teams next year. Isn’t that exciting?”

Olivia’s smile was bright and genuine. “Oh my God. That is adorable. And very exciting. Congratulations.”

Mia seemed to relax a little, which helped Tate ease back from his defense position. “Thank you.”

Olivia took the empty trays from Quinn and handed her the bowl of hors d'oeuvres, saying, “Honey lime sesame chicken wings.”

“Got it.” Quinn held Olivia’s gaze. “I thought maybe Mia’s expansion plan could help mom understand the whole big picture planning thing.”

“Ah, great idea.” Olivia nodded. “You always were the smart one.”

Quinn gave a superior smirk. “Well, one of us had to be pretty, may as well have been you.”

Since they were identical, that was freaking hilarious. Even Mia laughed and Tate felt the tension in the room ebb.

When Quinn left for the deck, Olivia told Mia, “That was sweet of you. Your whole family is so amazing.”

Mia held up the jersey in her hand. “I brought one for you, too. It’s a different style. I heard you were twins, so I figured they should be a little different.”

“Oh…” Olivia stopped what she was doing, her eyes sliding over the jersey. “Oh, Mia…” She ran her hands under the sink and dried them before touching the jersey, holding out the bottom while Mia held the top. It was one of Mia’s best selling styles and Tate knew from seeing it on models that Olivia would look sexy as hell in it. “Wow, this is, this is too nice to be considered a jersey.”

“That was the idea.”

“You make these?” Olivia met Mia’s gaze. “For a company? Or…?”

“My own company. A huge risk and even bigger leap of faith,” she darted a look at Tate, “but I think it was worth it.”

He smiled, nodded. “Agreed.”

Olivia took the jersey, holding it up. “I can’t wait to wear it.” She flashed a smile at Tate. “I’ll wear it tomorrow when Joe and I come watch you and the boys.” She hesitated and her excitement faltered. “If…that’s okay.”

Fuckin’ A. The woman kept sending him head over ass down a hill. Tate grinned. “I think that’s great.”

Olivia turned it around, looking at both sides.

Mia crossed her arms and leaned her hip against the counter, assessing them. “It has the generic Rough Riders on the back, “ she met Tate’s gaze directly, “but maybe she needs one with Donovan across the shoulders.”