Laces and Lace (Assassins #6) (63 page)

There wasn’t a moment when he wasn’t kissing her, touching her, or just being near her. When she glanced outside to check on the guys, he met her gaze and she knew that he was thinking of her. He tried to talk to her dad, and even though it didn’t work, he didn’t let it bother him; he kept smiling. He and Grady were best friends again, and it was beautiful seeing him with her nephews. He was so loving and attentive to the kids and it killed her inside.

Since yesterday when they had talked about her keeping the doctor thing a secret, she kept thinking about the kid issue. She really needed to talk to him about that, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She didn’t doubt that it would go to hell, and then they would be trying to figure out how to get back from it. It was inevitable, and she knew she couldn’t wait much longer to tell him. He loved her and she loved him; they’d work it out.

Together.

She hoped.

“Best damn dinner I’ve ever had, sweetheart. Good job,” Karl said, rubbing his belly, demanding Lacey’s attention. “Got yourself a winner, son.”

Lacey beamed as Karson grinned. “Yeah, she’s a keeper.”

Everyone smiled and then Nate said, “Your mother would be proud, Lacey. That was a beautiful dinner.”

Pride warmed Lacey’s chest as she leaned into Karson. Meeting his gaze, she kissed his lips and knew exactly what she was thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Karson.

Karson felt like he had just said goodbye to the Martins, but that was two weeks ago, and, unfortunately, he was already back in their presence. At first he wasn’t looking forward to coming back to Chicago—he wasn’t fond of this place—but he was surprised when he found himself having fun off the ice. He thought this trip would be crappy since her dad would surely be around twenty-four-seven, and he was, but Karson just ignored him. There was something about helping Lacey hand out gift bags to breast cancer survivors that made dealing with Nate Martin worth it.

Watching Lacey in her element had to be like watching him in his. She was so caring, so spectacular as she talked to each woman about her struggles and tribulations. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. The annual Lacey’s Lace Foundation Drive was everything Karson had always imagined it to be and was glad to be there to witness it. The women were inspirational, but his wife was an angel. Everyone loved her almost as much as he did, and he was lucky to be able to come to such an event.

But his in-laws, yeah, they still hated him.

Everyone was all smiles until they realized that Karson was standing in the doorway. Then just as quickly as their grins came, the look of distaste replaced it.

With his lip curling up, Nate asked, “You brought him?”

Lacey rolled her eyes. “Well, yeah, he’s playing tonight, and he wanted to be here for the drive.”

“Why?” Sabrina sneered. “You don’t even care.”

“Actually he does, and please don’t talk to him like that,” Lacey demanded. “He has been amazing. The ladies eat him up.”

She grinned back at him and he smiled. The women had eaten him up, and he had to admit he enjoyed the attention, but the best part was the way Lacey would hold his hand and introduce him to everyone.

“This is my amazing husband, Karson King. He plays for the Assassins, ugh, I know, but it’s okay because he is the best. So I’ll cheer for his team,” she would say with a wink before cuddling into his side.

He felt so good as everyone gushed over how happy she looked and how perfect they were together. It was a good day, even with Rachel sending him looks of pure hatred. He didn’t care. Lacey was his main concern.

“She’s right, Sabrina, that was rude. We are sorry, princess,” Nate said and Karson had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Meeting his gaze, Nate said, “Thank you for coming and supporting Lacey.”

“I’m lucky to experience this. It’s amazing.”

“Yeah, he’s been great. Too bad he couldn’t do that when we had the cancer scare,” Rachel said as she came up to the group.

“I told you I didn’t tell him. Stop trying to make him feel like crap for that,” Lacey snapped, her brows drawn in. “I’m lucky to have him.”

“No baby, I’m lucky,” Karson said, kissing the spot on her brow that was furrowed. “And as much as I want to stay and enjoy you guys’ company, I gotta go. We have meetings.”

She turned to face him, and he didn’t miss the relief on everyone’s face.

Assholes. Thank God, Lacey wasn’t staying there long.

Snaking her arms around his waist, she smiled up at him. “Sure. I’ll be at the game.”

“In an Assassins jersey?” he asked with a wink and her face reddened.

“You suck,” she muttered, but he leaned in close, kissing her jaw.

Then he whispered, “You know it turns me on seeing you in my number. Just think of the things I can suck.” She gasped against his ear, and he grinned as he pulled back. “Now be a good girl and wear your man’s number.”

Making a face, she shook her head. “Okay. I’ll be in a damn Assassins jersey.”

“That’s just wrong,” Rachel said with a shake of her head. “Your team is the Hawks.”

Without even leaving Karson’s gaze, she said, “No, it’s the Assassins.”

“She’s married to an Assassins player. She really has no choice in the matter,” Nate said, but Karson could hear the venom in his voice. He was pissed his “princess” had come over to the good side.

“See, he’s coming around,” she whispered, kissing his lips.

“Sure,” he laughed and she rolled her eyes.

“Anyway, you’re leaving afterward, right?”

“Yeah, but you’ll meet me right in the bar of the hotel?” he asked, wishing like hell her family would disappear so he could love on his wife.

“That’s the plan,” she said with a nod, and he actually felt okay about leaving this time. She seemed ready for it, even though he knew neither of them really was. He would only be gone for a couple days, but still, he didn’t want to leave her. She was leaving the following day, but he didn’t trust Nate not to try to talk her into staying. He may be trying to act like all was well and forgiven, but Karson didn’t miss the way Nate looked at him or the way he didn’t even say goodbye after Thanksgiving. He’d kissed Lacey and left, no word to him or his family. Which was understandable, but he wasn’t on the road to accepting Karson anytime soon.

Karson knew this. Lacey was still in delusional land about it. She really thought he was coming around, but Karson couldn’t disagree more. Cuddling into her, he said, “What time is your flight tomorrow?”

“Four.”

“Why don’t you just stay until Karson gets home?” Rachel asked.

“Yeah, honey, no reason to be home alone,” Nate said just like Karson knew he would, but he didn’t say a word. It was Lacey’s decision, not his.

“Um, I don’t know. I have things I need to do at the house, and I think I’m having lunch with his boss on Monday,” she said with a shrug. “I’ll be back in a couple weeks.”

Karson’s heart pounded with pride as he dropped his mouth to hers. Kissing her long and hard, he didn’t care that he had onlookers. His baby was going to their home and she was adjusting.

What more could he ask for?

He could ask for a damn win, that’s what he could ask for.

Karson couldn’t believe they lost the game in overtime, but what was worse was the look of pure satisfaction when he saw Lacey at the hotel bar. Glaring, he wanted to enjoy the picture-perfect view she was creating, but it was hard. Even with her sporting his jersey, it sliding off her shoulder as she wore a pair of jeans and boots up to her knees, he couldn’t miss the grin on her face. Her hair was in a braid along her shoulder with a purple knit cap angled off to the side. Her eyes were bright with purple eye junk, but that grin told him she was a little too happy they lost.

“Shouldn’t you be upset I lost?” he asked as she entered his arms, squeezing her arms around him.

“You see, what had happened was,” she started, laughing, and his furrow deepened, but she just giggled. “I was cheering for you guys. It’s not my fault your team lost.”

“You’re a horrible hockey wife, woman,” he teased and she laughed as she kissed his chin.

“Sorry, I bleed Blackhawks’ red and black.”

“You need to change that,” he said, squeezing her ass. “But we shouldn’t have lost.”

“Nope, it was Shea’s fault. He let that dude deke him,” she said with a shake of her head.

Karson nodded. She was right, but he wasn’t going to admit it. “Whatever,” he said and then he waggled his eyebrows. “Wanna go in the bathroom for a quickie?”

She giggled, her face reddening. “As fun as that sounds, my dad and Sabrina are waiting to have drinks. Plus, I gave it to you earlier.”

His grin dropped. “Ugh, why are they here?” he whined and she sent him a look.

“He wants to send you off! He’s trying, Karson.”

He grumbled as she dragged him to where Nate and Sabrina sat, Nate looking like a high-rolling businessman and Sabrina like his trophy wife.

Weren’t they adorable?

Not.

“Great game,” Nate said with a grin as Karson lowered himself down into the seat. As his gaze met Nate’s, he not only wanted to gouge the guy’s eyeballs out but he had never wanted to skip out on drinks as badly as he did right then. Thankfully though, it was only an hour before Lacey started yawning.

“You tired, baby?” he asked, rubbing her back as she nodded.

“Yeah, dead on my feet, but I don’t want to leave you yet,” she pouted and he smiled.

“We should be heading out soon,” he said, reassuring her so she would leave. He knew they’d had a long day; he, too, was beyond tired. There was a pillow and a blanket with his name on it.

“Yeah, I’ll wait,” she said, leaning against him, but he wasn’t having that.

“No, come on. I’ll walk out and get you a cab,” he said, standing up.

They said their goodbyes to Nate, and Karson was glad to be rid of him as he walked Lacey to the front. With her tucked into the crook of his arm, he kissed her temple before asking a bellman for a taxi.

“I can manage to stay, just let me lean on you,” she said, cuddling into him.

“No, go on home and sleep. Call me in the morning.”

“I don’t want to leave yet,” she complained and he smiled.

“Only five days, not long at all,” he said, kissing her again. She achieved a smile as the bellman came back to tell them he had a cab for her. After turning Lacey in his arms, Karson’s mouth came down on hers, kissing her with all the love in the world. As her fingers snaked up his chest, resting at the base of his neck, his tongue moved with hers and he hoped she realized how much he was going to miss her.

As they parted, he kissed her lips a few more times before smiling against them. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you too. Have a safe trip,” she said and he saw the tears in her eyes.

“No crying,” he managed to say around the lump in his throat.

“Not possible,” she said as they started to fall. “I hate being without you.”

“I know, me too,” he said with a nod. Kissing her nose, he wiped away her tears before kissing her lips. “Off you go. I’ll see you in a couple days. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

She nodded, stepping back out of his arms. “I miss you.”

“I miss you more,” he promised and then she slowly disappeared out the doors. Standing there, he watched through the glass doors as she got into the cab and then she was gone. Feeling incomplete, he started back for the bar and soon fell into step with Shea.