So Ryker had that heart added and told me, “You’re going to say yes, so I went ahead and added you to my mask.”
And that was that.
And he’s right. I’m going to say yes. It’s just I wanted time for things to settle down and for me to ease into my new position in Ryker’s life. But perhaps the biggest reason I wanted just a little more time was in deference to Hensley. Ryker thought I was nuts, but I really didn’t want to rub our relationship in her face. While I wasn’t going to take a backseat, I felt it might be a little too soon with him just having received the final divorce papers a few weeks before. I wanted Hensley to have time to settle as well.
As it stands, Hensley has accepted things the way they are. She’s moved into her new home here in Raleigh and Ryker has voluntarily given her more visitation with the girls. She lives so close, in fact, the girls stay one week with her and one week with Ryker.
I still have my own house even though Ryker has asked me to move in. I just can’t do it…not until we’re married. And that’s completely in deference to the girls. I want it to be official before I become ingrained so permanently into their lives. I want my new title of stepmom to have meaning, not only to me but to the girls as well.
Who are fucking terrific, by the way.
Who would have known that I would be such a natural with kids? My dad says he knew it all along, but damn if I did. But it’s true…I’ve become very close to Violet and Ruby, and that’s merely a product of me spending so much time with their dad. I believe they’ve truly come to care for me, and even though they’re only five and seven, I believe they are intuitive little creatures and they know I make their dad happy, thus that makes them happy.
So it appears that everything is wrapping up tidily. Claude is in jail awaiting trial; I’m the general manager of the Cold Fury; I’m in love with a wonderful man who has wonderful children; and we just won the Stanley Cup championship. I suppose there’s only one more thing that could make this night better.
Ryker picks me up, his strong arms going around my waist, and raises me up so I can kiss him. I wrap my arms around his sweaty neck, and I give him the kiss of a lifetime.
“Whatcha thinking about?” he asks me as he lets my body slide back down to the carpeted ice, but keeping our fingers locked together.
“About marrying you,” I tell him simply.
“So now you’re ready?” he asks skeptically.
“Hey,” I say with a bit of a whine. “I’ve always been ready. I just didn’t think the world was ready for us. But now it is.”
“In that case,” Ryker says as he drops down on one knee in front of me. It makes me just slightly taller than him.
I’m quite sure a good chunk of the fans are watching us. That may even account for a rise in the cheers right now as the team still skates around the ice congratulating each other while we wait for the formal presentation of the Cup. But none of that matters.
It’s just me and Ryker…his eyes latched to mine.
“Gray Analise Brannon…will you do me the honor of getting on a plane with me this weekend and flying to Vegas to become my lawfully wedded wife?”
I giggle and put my hands on his shoulders. I lean in and give him a kiss and the crowd roars, so now I know they are definitely watching what’s going on.
“Ryker No Middle Name Evans,” I tell him with a grin. “I would be honored to get on a plane and fly with you this weekend to Vegas to become your lawfully wedded wife as long as we can bring Ruby and Violet with us.”
His eyebrows raise sky high. “Are you serious? I was just joking about the Vegas part.”
“Sure, why not?” I say with a shrug of my shoulders.
“Because you’re Gray Brannon, heir to a hockey empire and a princess in her own right. Shouldn’t there be like a huge white dress, fourteen bridesmaids, and something like twenty thousand dollars in white roses and canapés?”
“For some women, I guess. But I’m pretty good with us just being casual about it.”
“At the least, your dad needs to come too,” he says.
“And it would be nice to have the gang as well,” I add, referencing my new posse of friends that come courtesy of Ryker.
“So maybe we can do it in a few weeks with a bit of planning,” he says.
“I can’t believe we’re having this discussion on the ice of the arena with the Stanley Cup being wheeled out at this moment,” I tell him as I cut my eyes over to the attendants as they bring it out.
Ryker pushes up off the ground, arms around my waist, and picks me back up again. He kisses me this time deeply, and when he puts me back down, he says, “We’ll plan it out tonight, okay?”
“Okay,” I say with a grin. “Now go hang with your team so you can accept the trophy.”
Ryker grabs my hand and pulls me along the red carpet toward the Cup as he skates beside me. “Um…last I heard, you’re part of this team too. Cup is as much yours as it is mine.”
Oh, yeah…I guess that’s true. But you know, when you get caught up in the glory and romance of a man dropping to his knee in front of thousands of people to discuss marriage, little things like a national hockey championship take a bit of a backseat.
When I reach the Cup, I find my father and Frank Lessier there along with the league president. Ryker bends down, kisses me on the cheek, and releases my hand. “I love you, Gray.”