Page 97 of Slapshot Bride

Quinn nudges me. “He’s been watching you a lot.”

“He has?”

“Yeah. Every three minutes. Clockwork. It's disgusting. But I like it!” She claps her hands and giggles.

I laugh. Emma doesn't stir.

The sun goes down.

Someone lights a fire pit. Another brings blankets out. Quinn shifts to sit closer, throws a blanket over my legs and Emma’s, and settles her chin on her hand, watching the yard.

Her eyes land on Wyatt.

They stay there a beat too long.

I don’t say anything, but I know what watching a man for four seconds looks like, and I know what pretending not to be doing it looks like even better.

I look across the fire.

Easton is looking at us.

At me, with Emma asleep against my shoulder, and Quinn beside me with the blanket on our legs and her eyes still on Wyatt and the firelight on all of us.

He's looking at the three of us with an expression that I have not seen on his face before, an open, reverent look. When our eyes meet, he quickly looks away.

My heart skips, and I look away too.

Emma sighs in her sleep.

Quinn shifts her chin on her hand.

I close my eyes and exhale. The realization hits me.

I like it here. I like the company of Easton’s people, and I want to stay.

19

EASTON

In Love with Riley Brooks

Riley is quiet in the car for the first ten minutes.

Occasionally, I steal glances, and it’s like she’s deep in thought, processing the entire evening.

The road down from Coach’s is winding and slow, and the moon is up. Riley has one leg tucked under her in the passenger seat, and she’s twisting her fingers, tangling them in the hem of her top.

It’s the small habit she does when she’s thinking of something.

“Wanna talk about what’s circling that pretty head?” I ask, unable to help myself.

Her eyes find mine, and a gorgeous smile blooms on her face. I smile too.

I saw the way she was with everyone. Especially Emma and Quinn. I got the small satisfaction of watching her get comfortable with the people I call family.

She’s settling into my world. And I like it.

God, I love it.