“You’re right. I have nothing to worry about. What harm could dinner actually do? It’s not like I invited him to sleep over or something.”
“Sleep over? What are you, twelve?”
Cierra was right—I was acting like a naïve little girl.
Chapter 3
Stormi
About twelve years later
Wrestling my suitcase through the door, I kicked the bag into the foyer.
Home at last.
Covering the Stanley Cup playoffs had been incredible, but there was nothing like coming home from being on the road.
Walking into the dining room, I was greeted by a gorgeous bouquet of long stem white roses with a note sitting next to them.
Welcome home, beautiful.
Happy anniversary.
Meet me where it all began at six.
There’s one more surprise for you in the bedroom.
Have a glass of wine, get ready, and I’ll see you tonight.
I love you,
Cason
Hurriedly,I burst through our master bedroom door to find a garment box on the bed. The smell of sweet perfume permeated the space as I ripped at the red bow. There was a bright blue long-sleeved dress with a simple gold necklace and matching heels just waiting for me to put them on. Leave it to my husband to be the romantic one first. Cason was much better at the mushy stuff than I was, but I had one ace in my back pocket that was sure to be a showstopper.
There was no time to waste. In rapid succession, I showered, styled my hair, smeared on makeup, and called a cab. I had already been running late when I arrived home, but it was nothing Cason wasn’t used to. The long travel days and inevitable complications that came with both of our jobs made the time we got to spend together that much sweeter, but it was also mildly frustrating.
Butterflies crashed in my stomach as I walked into The Tippler. No matter how long Cason and I were together, every time we were reunited, I got excitedly nervous to be with him again.
As our eyes me, he scrambled to his feet.
I ran into his arms as he scooped me up and kissed me like it had been a lifetime since we’d last seen one another.
“God, you’re stunning,” he said breathlessly, setting me down to lead me to our usual table—the same one I had interviewed him at all those years ago.
“You clean up well yourself. I must say, you’re one sexy hockey recruiter.” I gave him a coy wink before taking a sip of my usual drink.
“Happy anniversary, baby.” He raised his glass to mine as a crooked smile took over his chiseled face.
“Ten years of marital bliss—how is that even possible?” Time had really flown by. It felt like only yesterday I was shaking, asking him questions about his knee injury.
“Because you’re perfect, sweetheart.” And there it was, the sweetest words coming from a man who held my heart so tenderly in his hands.
“How did it go in Austin?” I questioned, scanning the food menu.
Cason shook his head. “First rule, remember?”
I rolled my eyes. “No work talk on date nights.”