Patient. He could be patient. Although he was all pumped and jumpy with adrenaline, not only from the game but also from Lovey’s appearance with that poster, nearly sending him to his knees on the ice. Which would have been embarrassing.

He hurried through the now nearly empty concourse, skipping the escalator for the stairs, which he took two at time. He saw her standing near an entrance, wearing a black Aces hoodie, skinny jeans, and Converse sneakers, looking almost like one of the kids who’d been banging on the glass during the warm-up. She was still holding the crazy poster, rolled up under her arm.

She saw him approach and took a couple of steps toward him. He nearly ran at her, eating up the floor in long strides. He stopped right in front of her and drank in the sight of her beautiful face, her green-and-gold eyes, golden freckles, pretty mouth, her shimmery red-gold hair hanging in waves around her shoulders. “Fuck, Lovey.”

Then he couldn’t stop himself from grabbing her. The poster fell to the floor with a hollow bounce as he crushed her up against him, one hand sliding into her hair and pressing her face against his chest. He breathed in through his nose, eyes closed, working for control. She smelled like cupcakes.

His bathroom had been bare and empty the last few days. No bottles of scented shower gel, no pink shavers and poufy scrubbers. He hated it.

He missed her like hell.

“What happened?” he growled. “Why? Why’d you do that?”

“I’ve been so stupid,” she mumbled into his chest. “I needed some way to really show you…I mean it. In front of fifty thousand people.”

He laughed. “The arena only holds twenty thousand, and it was the warm-up. There weren’t even twenty thousand people there.”

“Shut up. You know what I mean.”

“Yeah. Fuck, yeah.”

He let her head go and framed her face with both hands. “I love you too.”

Her bottom lip quivered and her eyes got shiny. “Thank God.”

He smiled and rubbed her lip with his thumb. “Were you worried?”

“Yes. I…I hurt you.” She blinked. “Duncan told me you loved me. He said I hurt you. I felt horrible. It hurt me to think about that. And I realized…I love you too. But I wasn’t sure if you’d forgive me.”

“Aw, baby. I’ve been thinking too this week. Thinking that maybe I let you down. Figuring that you’re worth fighting for. Figuring out a way to have another chance with you. To do better.”

“You didn’t let me down.” She frowned. “How could you say that?”

“Can we talk more later? I have a bunch of guests in the suite I need to go say hi to and get some pictures taken with.”

“Oh. Of course!”

“Come with me. It’ll be fun.”

“Is that okay?”

“Sure. It’s my suite.”

He took her hand and led the way. He was pretty sure he’d never done that—held her hand. It was nice.

She rocked in the suite with the kids. He knew she would. She smiled and charmed them all, helped with pictures and autographs, heard some of their stories. He always got so much from these times, and he did tonight too, but had to selfishly admit he wanted to be done and out of there so he could be with Lovey. But he saw she was getting something out of it too, and so were the kids. So he could wait.

“We’ll go to your place,” he decreed after. “I want to see it. Plus we’ll have privacy.”

“It’s not anything special. I haven’t had a chance to do much with it, and it’s too crowded with all my furniture.”

“Is there a bed?”

“Um…well, it’s on its side against the wall. I’ve been sleeping on my couch.”

He shot her a horrified look. “That’s no good.”

“We can get the bed down, but there won’t be room to move.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

She gave him directions. He found a parking spot on the street, then set his hand on the small of her back as she led the way into the building and to her third-floor apartment.

He looked around once inside. Duncan hadn’t been lying. It was painfully small. Of course, after his spacious condo, anything would be, but seriously…a studio? It didn’t even have a bedroom.

“I’m going to paint this weekend,” she said. “So I haven’t put anything on the walls yet.”

She bit her lip and lowered her chin.

“It’s nice, Lovey. Just small.”

“I’m getting a futon. I picked it out and it’s being delivered this weekend too. I sold the couch. They’re coming to get it tomorrow. But I’m probably going to have to pay someone to take the bed away.”

“We’ll take it back to Army’s place. He can store it in that bedroom for you.”

“Oh. That would be great.”

“I’ll help you tomorrow.”

“Well, I need the bed for one more night after they take the couch.” She sighed. “This has all been a lot of work. But it’s my place. Um. Have a seat.” She gestured to the couch, the mattress wedged on its side against the wall behind it.

He took off his suit jacket and draped it over an armchair and loosened his tie as he sat. As she went to sit, he pulled her onto his lap, tucking her in against him. Perfect. She fit perfect.

“You moved out early.”

“Yeah. I didn’t think I should stay. I’d made such a mess of everything.”

“I told you before, it wasn’t all your fault.”

“It was. Like Duncan said…what Lovey wants, Lovey gets. I didn’t think of the consequences. I just went after what I wanted—which was you—thinking we would just have some fun. I knew you were worried about Duncan finding out, but I did it anyway. And then when it happened, he found out, you guys were fighting and…and hurting each other. I was so afraid I’d wrecked your friendship.”

“Nah. We’re good.”

“I got that from Duncan. Thank God. But he made me think about some things.” She peeked up at him from under her eyelashes. “I heard you talking to Duncan that night. After you fought.”

He frowned. “You did?”

“Yeah. I went to put some clothes on, but I heard you telling him you were serious about me. I stopped outside and eavesdropped. Which I guess is a bad thing to do, but I was…paralyzed. I thought we were fooling around and having fun. I didn’t realize how serious things had gotten. That scared the crap out of me. I’m not ready to settle down.”

“No?” His body tensed. What did that mean, exactly? She was in love with him, but…?

“I mean, I wasn’t ready.” Her smile held a hint of uncertainty. “I didn’t think I was. Crap. When Richard told me he wanted to get married and have babies right away, I panicked. No way in hell was I ready for that. The truth is…he was just the wrong guy. Because…not that I’m asking you to marry me, or anything…but I could see myself settling down with you. After I really thought about it. After I was missing you like crazy.”

“Missed you too.” He cleared his throat. “I’m not asking you to marry me either…yet…but I’m kinda glad to hear that.”

She smiled, that luminous, warm smile that melted him every time. “So I was freaked-out, thinking I never should have slept with you, I’d ruined everything. And I had to move out. I’m so sorry, Marc.” She touched his face. “I realized Duncan was right. I do have to grow up. And I guess I am spoiled. I was attracted to you. I wanted you. I wasn’t thinking about your relationship with Duncan.”

“Hey.” His arms tightened around her. “You are grown up. And you’re not spoiled. You’ve showed us that with how hard you’ve worked at your business. You don’t manipulate to get your way. You just have this way about you…that makes everyone want to give you whatever you want. I saw it with Army the day you arrived. I’ve seen it with almost everyone you meet. I’ve felt it myself. You’re just…special.”

She blinked at him, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly. “Oh wow.” She swallowed. “You do love me.”

He grinned. “You didn’t believe me?”

“I did, but…” Her voice choked up. “I was thinking about what love is. And how I could just be myself with you and let you know the real, goofy, messed-up me, and you still liked me. But really, you love me, and that’s even better. I’m babbling like an idiot.”