Playing for Keeps/Body Check (Rules of the Game) (21 page)

The crowd began to chant, Mighty Quinn! Mighty Quinn! While Mia and Elena clasped hands. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

In the midst of all the excitement, Mia realized she didn’t want to live without him. He was her guy, and she loved him.

Twenty five seconds left.

Crowd on their feet once again, face-off to the right of Quinn's net.

Once again, Greg Vail easily won the face-off, and skated through the crowd of younger opposing players.
 

He seemed propelled by a super skating power, and wove his way through the opposing defensemen, straight for the net.

Fifteen seconds left, then ten, then five…

Vail skated up ice, dropped the puck to Piersson, who was all alone after faking out the opposing defenseman, and headed for the net, wound up for a slap shot, but it was a deke.
 
He changed to a powerful wrist shot, let it go with three seconds left…two...one…

The puck went between the legs of the goaltender.
 
Red light.

Goal. The Thunder had pulled out the victory at the buzzer.

To say the arena rocked, literally, was an understatement.

The team mobbed Piersson then surrounded Quinn. If not for his monumental save moments before, the Thunder would not have won the game.

Confetti fell from the rafters as the entire team gathered to center ice, and as one, raised their sticks to salute the crowd, as was their tradition after a winning home game.

Mia and Elena cheered and applauded their heroes. Mia watched as Quinn saluted the crowd then turned toward her. Mia couldn’t stop her tears as he raised his stick to her. She waved back, and blew him a kiss. Even now after their break up, he still saluted her, still loved her. Mia felt ashamed of how she'd treated him, and realized she should have trusted him more.

She knew now what she had to do.
 
She loved him, wanted to be with him, and she would make it right between them.

After she and Elena parted ways after the game, Mia, her decision made, headed in the direction of the locker room.

She had something to say to Quinn, and now was the time.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her. Quinn expelled the breath he was holding, and walked toward her.

She was wearing his jersey, a black turtleneck shirt underneath it. Black leggings and knee high boots caressed her shapely calves.

Her hair was casual, waves hugging her shoulders, no make-up.

She was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen.

And he was nuts about her.

He tightened his tie with shaking fingers then drew his hands through his still damp hair, and cleared his throat.

What if she had come to end it once and for all with him? For the first time in his life, Quinn wasn't sure about anything. And if she came back to him, he swore he'd never take anything for granted again.

Did she come to see him here, at the arena, because she just wanted it all over with?

Well, he wasn’t going to let it happen.

He loved her and he knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that she loved him.

These past few weeks had been hell, and this nonsense had gone on long enough.

Time to start their lives.

"Hi." She walked toward him, then stopped and looked up, met his gaze, and her eyes sparkled with something akin to a smile.

Quinn nodded and returned her smile. "Hi. Can we go somewhere and talk in private? There are things I have to tell you and things you should know."

"No.
 
What I have to say can be said right here."

"Before you say anything, Mia, you need to know that …"

She interrupted.
 
"Just let me say what I came to say."

"Sure, go ahead, ladies first."

The arena was empty now. All the players, coaches and spectators had gone. The lights were dim, except for the illumination of the ice.

He couldn’t bear it if she told him they were over.
 

"Ok," he said taking one step forward so he could take in her scent, so he could be close to her. He wanted to touch her. So he did.

His large hand cupped her cheek and chin. "Mia, baby…."

"I'm so sorry, Quinn, so sorry, please try to forgive me."

Her tears broke his heart.
 
He pulled her into his arms. "Don't cry Mia, mine, please I can't stand when you cry. I was wrong. Please forgive me for rushing you, for pressuring you. Take all the time you need."

Mia just looked at him and smiled.

Quinn looked a little insulted. "Aren't you going to tell me I wasn't a jerk?"

"No. You pretty much did a stupid thing," she laughed through her tears. "And I hope you never do it again."

He swiped her tears away with his thumbs. "Then, we're ok?"

Mia smiled, kissed him, then leaned back.

"I don’t know. You're the one who dumped me, Rafferty."

Quinn closed his eyes tight. "I just wanted you so bad. I still do, sweetheart. That will never change."

 
"Ask me again, Q," she rasped, as she gripped the hand that caressed her face. "Ask me."

He frowned at first, not understanding what exactly she was asking. Then it dawned on him. She smiled through the tears as his other hand touched her face. "Mia Sinclair, I'm wild about you. Would you please do me the honor of being my wife?"

She nodded and dug in her pocket and drew out the little black velvet box. "I'd like to wear my ring now."

He opened the box with shaking hands, and placed the large solitaire diamond on her finger.

Mia stared at the ring for a long time, then lifted her eyes to him, eyes filled with love and happiness. He saw his future there. "It's absolutely gorgeous and I promise to wear it forever."

Quinn lifted her, twirled her around to the sound of her happy laughter. "You'd better."
 

She put her arms around him, brought him closer to her.
 
"I'm crazy about you too, Rafferty. I love you so much."

"Well it took you long enough to realize it. I told you I knew."

Quinn loved the feel of her buried in his arms.
 
"Yes, and you're oh so humble about it too."

He shrugged and took her hand. "We've got a lot of talking to do. First, will you take a ride to Staten Island with me? I want to show you something."

"What is it?"

"Our future."

She nodded. "Lead the way, Mighty Quinn. After that, maybe we can go to your place and, um, talk wedding plans, maybe talk about a June date."

He took her hand in his, kissed her fingers, then took her in his arms. "That's my girl."

THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A New York Native, Heather Peters has been a hopeless romantic ever since discovering Kathleen Woodiwiss in the 70's, she's been reading and writing romance ever since.

She tried her hand at writing fan-fiction in the early 90's and liked it so much, she decided to write a full length novel. Six published contemporary romance e-books later, Heather is forever a romance junkie.

At the moment her passions include: her new Kindle, 80's music, cooking, her garden, dancing, good friends, and two amazing grandchildren.

Heather loves to hear from her readers. Please contact her at
 
[email protected] and check out her website heatherpeters.yolasite.com and her blog at bodaciousbabesbookbuds.blogspot.com.

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