I let him out and refilled his water dish. I’d gotten the extra-large water bowl in stainless steel so that the dog wouldn’t run out. He hadn’t—both it and his food dish were half full. The big guy was just bored. I hummed as I pulled out cheese and berries, laying them on a plate along with a variety of whole grain crackers and some nuts. I wasn’t winning any plating contests, but that wasn’t the point. Ida Jane and I needed to eat. Then, we needed to exercise her dog.
And after that? I’d take my wife back to bed.
* * *
“I can’t believe I overslept,”Ida Jane groaned the next morning. She was sipping the mocha I made her as she brushed her hair. She’d dressed in a blue, white, and green dress that swished around her calves and little black shoes she called ballet flats. She’d thrown a white cardigan over her purse.
“Where’s Blade’s leash? Are you sure Olive won’t mind him joining me?”
“Yes, I already talked to her about him.”
“Some of my kids might be frightened. He’s huge.”
“True. So, you’ll get to reassure them and show them that not all big creatures are scary.”
She clucked her tongue. “As if it’s that easy….”
“Would you rather have the security guard?”
She grimaced. “Fine. I’ll figure it out with Blade and the kids. Oh, wait! I need to change the sheets! Our room smells like sex—”
I preened because she was correct, and I fucking loved it.
“You will be late, krasivaya. After practice, I’ll change the sheets.”
“But I need to check the guest room to make sure it’s clean. My parents will be staying there—”
I took her mostly-empty coffee mug from her hand and kissed her. I pulled back hastily but my dick had already gotten some fun ideas.
Later.
Right now, Ida Jane needed to get to work, and I needed to get to practice.
“Out the door. Now. Blade, come.”
Blade was almost too big for the back of my Mercedes and had to hunch to get into the small space. That was a concern I’d deal with promptly.
Ida Jane grabbed her things, continuing to worry out loud.
“I’ve kept my house clean for years, Ida Jane. I promise, I won’t embarrass you.”
She grumbled a little even as she nodded. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. It’s my responsibility.”
She frowned. “Wait. You don’t have a maid service?”
I shook my head. “And I prefer to do my grocery shopping and cooking. Now, I can use the delivery service for the groceries, which I prefer. It’s weird to take selfies with fans while trying to pick out a ripe melon.”
She giggled and Blade shoved his nose through the space between the seats. Ida Jane idly scratched between his ears.
“My brother, Amos—he’s the one who’s planning to go pro next year—talks about how he’s going to have a housekeeper and all these other services as soon as he signs a contract.”
I frowned. “I lived in a small apartment in Detroit near the rink. It was easy to clean myself. I spoke little English then, my first year, so I didn’t go out often. Not until I felt comfortable understanding the fans and my teammates. I pretty much just slept, ate, studied English, and played hockey.”
Until I let one of my teammates talk me into going to that party. Nope. Not mentioning that to Ida Jane. Shit, I shouldn’t have brought up Detroit at all.
“That sounds lonely,” Ida Jane said. I couldn’t see her face well with Blade’s muzzle between us, but I heard the sympathy in her voice.
