Face-Off (15 page)

“I
HAVEN'T BEEN THIS
nervous since… Oh, hell, since you were a rookie,” Samantha said to Jarrad. They were in the VIP box with plush seats offering a perfect view of the ice where Taylor McBride was about to make his debut appearance as an NHL rookie. None of them were sitting in those plush seats.

And the delectable array of food and drink set out was going untouched.

“I don't think I was this nervous when I was a rookie,” Jarrad agreed.

“I'm not nervous,” Becky said. To her shock, she wasn't, either. “Taylor was born to do this, just like you were. He's been training and dreaming of this day since he first stole a pair of your old skates and toddled onto the frozen pond and fell on his face.”

Jarrad laughed. “He told you that story, huh?” He leaned his forearms against the rail and stared out at the blank white ice the way a sea captain stares out into the sea. “You're right, Becky. Even if he falls flat on his face tonight, he's still living the dream.”

Sierra put a hand on his shoulder, the diamond from her engagement ring sparkling in the light, and Jarrad's much
bigger hand automatically settled atop hers. “I know how much you both wanted to play in the league together. I'm sorry.”

Jarrad turned to her and kissed her swiftly. “Honestly, I'm not. He's spent enough of his life in my shadow. This is his time. Soon nobody will be referring to Taylor as my little brother. They'll be talking about me as the brother of Taylor McBride.”

Becky knew that the two brothers had spent some hours the night before talking about the game and reminiscing about their childhood on the ice. Taylor had told her that Jarrad had given him the best advice a former NHL star could give a rookie. “Everybody's going to be watching you. Don't try to be a hero on your first time out there, don't do anything stupid and you'll be fine.”

“Five minutes to game. I need something to pass the time. Anybody got a deck of cards?” Jarrad asked.

Samantha and Greg exchanged glances. She spoke up. “No, but I've got some news that should take your mind off Taylor.”

“I doubt it,” but he turned and gave his sister his full attention anyway.

So did Becky and Sierra. Greg pretty much always gave Sam his full attention so that didn't count. With a flick of her long, dark hair, Sam said, “We're inviting you all to our wedding.”

Even though they'd declared their love in public, Sam and Greg had been pretty tight-lipped about their engagement. Greg refused even to call it an engagement and though he continued to wear Sam's school ring on his finger, she didn't have a diamond of her own. Becky had noticed and had hoped that everything would work out okay for these two strong-willed, stubborn people.

Seemed as if she'd worried for nothing.

“'Bout time,” Jarrad said, echoing her thoughts. “And don't forget Sierra and I are getting married next spring. Don't mess that up, will you?”

“Not at all,” Greg said. “We're getting married next month. In Hawaii. We booked everything. A great resort, a minister and we're keeping the guest list to family and a few really close friends. All you guys have to do is show up.”

“Hawaii? Wow. But what about Taylor?” Becky had to ask.

“Don't worry. We've worked the wedding dates around his schedule.”

“But Sam doesn't even have an engagement ring.” Becky felt she should bring it up. She liked traditions and Greg and Samantha seemed to be messing with a lot of them.

Greg made a rude sound. “This woman's only getting one more ring from me. Last time I gave her an engagement ring it didn't go so well.”

“Oh, shush up,” Sam said to her beloved. Then she turned to Becky. “I'm having one ring, but it's gorgeous. We designed it ourselves.” She shrugged. “Seemed appropriate.”

“Two McBride weddings in a year.” Jarrad glanced at Becky with one of his way too good-looking smiles. “What would be totally cool is a hat trick.”

Every eye in the VIP box turned her way, but luckily she could hear a commotion behind her. “Shhh,” Becky said. “The players are coming on the ice.” And she couldn't have been happier for the interruption. Then she turned, her heart in her mouth as she watched the players skate onto the frozen surface. When Taylor made his entrance, their VIP box cheered loudly, and they weren't alone. He was already a popular rookie; between the family
connection with Jarrad and his own charm, people wanted him to do well. No one more than Becky.

He acknowledged the crowd as though he'd been doing it forever, then turned and faced their box. He raised a hand to his family, palm flat and fingers slightly spread, and Becky felt her heart turn over. She lifted her hand and mirrored the gesture.

They weren't ready to share their love with the world—or their families—quite yet. But they were talking already about their futures, fitting their careers around their personal life, where they'd live, how many kids they wanted. She'd even caught Taylor eyeing trays of engagement rings when he thought she wasn't looking. Becky liked the sound of a wedding hat trick.

She liked it very much.