A Very Merry Hockey Holiday (Assassins #6.5)

Grady didn’t say anything for a second and then said, “You’re right, and I completely understand if you don’t want to go. Do you want me to just say no now and save you the deciding?”


She chewed on her lip for a moment as she leaned against the counter. Did she go or not?

When a pair of arms wrapped around her stomach, she melted against her husband and looked at him with a small smile on her lips. Looking at her, his brows drew in and he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Grady wants to know if we are going to my dad’s wedding.”

Karson stiffened against her, and she knew the answer without his even answering her.

“No, we aren’t going,” she answered, moving her hand up to hold Karson’s face.

“Completely understandable. Don’t even know why I called, really. I knew the answer before I picked up the phone.”

She smiled. “No biggie, always good to hear from you.”

“Yeah, by the way, again, thanks for having us. It was a wonderful time.”

“It was. You guys are always welcome.”

“Thanks. Okay, well, Zander is pulling me to the garage, so I’ll call you later. Love you.”

“Love you,” she answered back before hanging up the phone. Turning in Karson’s arms, she kissed his jaw. “I love you, husband.”

He smiled as his hand traveled down her body to her ass. “I love you, wife. You okay?”

She nodded. “Of course. I didn’t want to go anyway. I don’t want to watch my dad marry someone else.”

“And because he is an asshole,” Karson added and Lacey smiled.

“That too,” she agreed, holding him closer to her. “Anyone who tries to take you away from me isn’t worth my time.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. He held her for a long time, and as she closed her eyes, she didn’t want to be anywhere but in her husband’s strong arms. Kissing his chest, she snuggled closer and just felt complete. So much had changed since she’d met him. Her life had been completely turned upside down. It used to scare her, but now, she knew there was no other way. She was meant to love Karson Jett King, and everything else just fell into place.

“My mom is driving me crazy. I wish you wouldn’t have told her that we aren’t trying but we aren’t preventing. She seriously just told me to make sure to hold your legs up after sex. It was awkward.”

Lacey giggled against his chest as she shook her head. “Your mother is a hoot.”

“No, she’s batshit crazy.”

Laughing harder now, she looked at him and couldn’t fathom how much she loved him. It was as natural as breathing, and he was everything she could ever wish for. Their first Christmas had been magnificent. They had beautiful, hot sex and then rushed downstairs where Regina was cooking a hefty breakfast. After eating with their families, they opened presents and enjoyed being together. She loved watching her nephews open presents and could honestly see a child of their own ripping paper away to find the gift that Mommy and Daddy had gotten them.

It was insane that she had been so against the idea of having her own baby before. It was the fear, but now, she wouldn’t say she wasn’t scared still, but she was open to the idea. Karson was right when he said they would raise a fighter because she was one. She had started counseling, and it was helping so much. Especially since Karson sat right next to her and held her hand as she relived all the horror the cancer brought on. They talked out everything and she felt much better. She even joined an After Breast Cancer program at the YMCA. She wished she had done it years ago, but she felt like a whole different person now that she had been getting help.

She not only felt like a better woman but also a better wife, and maybe one day, a great mom. Like her mom had been. Looking deep into Karson’s eyes, she knew that as long as she was with him, she would be the best.

Because he brought out the greatness in her.

As she did for him.



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