The Enforcer (40 page)

When Lacey opened the box, her eyes went wide. She had never seen anything as beautiful as the necklace inside. It was a thick silver chain with a dozen or so diamonds creating a V and an oblong ruby dangling from the end. She allowed Jody to put it on her and peeked down into her cape to see that the ruby rested right at the tip of her cleavage. Wow.

“I don’t know what to say. Jody, it’s exquisite. Thank you so much, but you didn’t have to do that. You don’t need to buy me expensive jewels; I’m already yours.”

“I know I don’t, Lace. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I want to. You don’t expect anything from me, and I know that you don’t care about my money. I love making you smile like that. Do you really like it? We can return it and buy something …”

Lacey stopped him by putting her lips on his. “I love it, Jody. Thank you for picking it out for me. It’s perfect.”

When they got to the hotel where the party was being held, Lacey felt her nerves go on alert. She was worried about Jody’s reaction to her dress. “Um, Jody, maybe I should warn you. My dress is a bit skimpy. But Zoe made me try it on, and when I did, all I could think about was how much I thought you might like it on me. I didn’t think enough about what other people would see. I don’t really care about that, but I know you …”

Jody took a page from her book and placed his lips on hers this time to quiet her. “Lace … Angel, it’s okay. I’ll be good, I promise. I am proud to have you on my arm. Let them look, let them all look and be jealous of what is mine.”

His? Hmmm, yeah, okay. His.
“Then let’s go.”

Jody took her hand in his, anticipation etched on his face. He couldn’t wait to see what she had on under that cape. When they reached the coatroom, Jody held her cape and let her untie it. As it slipped off, he inhaled sharply. “Holy hell, Lace.” He could certainly tell that she wore no panties with the dress. It
just
covered her backside. With his voice hoarse, he commanded, “Turn around.” When he saw the front, he thought he might hyperventilate.

Lacey was holding her breath. This was it. Would he embrace it or make a scene? “Well? God, tell me what you’re thinking.”

“Lace, I’m thinking I’m the luckiest guy in the room. I can’t say the looks you’ll get won’t bother me, but damn honey.
I
get to take you home with me. You take my breath away, Angel.” Putting his hand on the small of her back, he led her into the banquet room.

Lacey did indeed get quite a few looks, and even though Jody glowered at each and every one (including the females), he didn’t say a word. She was extremely proud of him and couldn’t wait to reward him on the way home.

As soon as the door was shut in the limo, Jody pulled her onto his lap and slipped his hand inside her dress to cup her breast. With his lips against hers, he murmured, “Been wanting to do that all night.”

Lacey threaded her fingers through his hair and held him close as he replaced his hand with his mouth and lapped at her. “God, that feels so good.” Tugging on him, she led him to her other one. “Here, too … yes!”

Jody was too hot and bothered from watching her walk around in that dress all night, half hoping her breasts would slip out, to partake in a lot of foreplay. He reached down and freed himself from his pants as he slid his hand up Lacey’s dress to make sure she was ready for him.

Lacey thought she’d spontaneously combust when she felt Jody’s finger slip inside of her. Letting out a gasp, she flung her leg over his lap and impaled herself on him in one quick motion.

“Fuck, Lace, yeah, that’s it.” He peeled her dress away, fully revealing her beautiful breasts for him to feast upon. As soon as he took her nipple into his mouth, he felt her muscles squeeze him. Riding him faster, she had him panting and straining not to come. It felt so good. Biting down not so gently on her nipple, Lacey squeezed around him as she came. He wanted it to last longer for him, but when she leaned down and sucked on his tongue, he lost his battle. He bellowed her name as he came deep inside her.

They stayed in that position for a few minutes as their breathing slowed. Putting his forehead against hers, he told her how much he loved being with her. “I don’t know how to describe what I feel. It’s like wherever we are, when I’m with you, I feel like I’m home.”

Lacey felt a tear slip down her cheek as this hard, sometimes ungraceful, man bared his soul to her. “I’m the lucky one. You are everything I could ever hope to find in a man. You’re the best of the best and I’m so lucky to have you." Lacey didn’t think she would ever forget that moment.

Jody was nervous as hell. It was the day before Christmas, and they had a one o’clock game. He had spoken to everyone he needed to, and got permission to propose to Lacey on the ice before the game. It had taken him weeks to figure out exactly how he wanted to do it, and the whole team was in on it. Lacey understood how much a part of him the team was. They were like an extended family. He spent more time with the team than with anyone else, especially during a long travel period.

Jody
did
realize that they’d only known each other for a little over four months, but he wanted her to know that she was it for him. He was willing to give her a long engagement so that she didn’t feel rushed. Hell, they could be engaged for years if that was what she needed, but he wanted his ring on her finger. It was his way of saying, ‘Back off, she’s taken.’

Jody also put a lot of time into picking the perfect ring for her. He knew she wasn’t flashy, and she tended to like old-fashioned things opposed to super modern. He picked out a solitaire diamond ring. It was a three-quarter carat square cut diamond surrounded by tiny emeralds, since green was her favorite color. He also bought her earrings to match. It was gratifying to him to buy her pretty things, and he hoped the diamond wasn’t too big for her tastes.

As usual, the whole gang went to the game. Zoe was there with Aidan and Gary, along with Gary’s brother, Zach. Gary thought Zoe and Zach might hit it off. Zach was a couple years younger than Zoe, but their personalities fit.

Zoe made sure they weren’t able to get the Scorpions’ suite, so they could get a block of tickets in the section where the Zamboni came out. There was less traffic there, as the rows were two by two, with a single seat in front of those rows, with easy access to the ice. That’s where she was putting Lacey. Zoe was in on the whole proposal, and she could not have been happier for her.

After the National Anthem was sung, there was an announcement.

“Would the person in row number eight, seat number one, please make your way to a staff member for a special Christmas gift from the Scorpions?”

Zoe exclaimed, “Oh my God, Lacey! That’s you! Go!”

Lacey looked down at her seat.
Oh no, I am not going down to the ice!

Zoe poked and prodded her until she got up. “All right, fine. Stop that! I’m going!”

Lacey made her way down to the security guard that was beckoning to her. When she reached him, he opened the door by the cameraman, which would give her access to the carpet that was still on the ice for the anthem singer.

Lacey walked out toward the announcer, and he turned her toward the camera, her back to the rest of the ice. “What’s your name?”

“Lacey Benoit.” Oh, she hated being in front of all of these people. The arena held almost twenty thousand!

“Well, Lacey, today’s your lucky day. This year we have a very special gift.” The crowd broke out into applause, and she heard a chorus of “Aww.” She tried to turn around, but the interviewer grabbed her arm.

“If you could have any gift today, what would it be?”

Lacey joked, “World peace?” The crowd gave her a laugh and then turned serious again. The next voice she heard was Jody’s.

“Lace … Angel. Don’t turn around yet, please. I have some things to say.”

Lacey was dying. What the hell was he doing?

“Angel, I love you, and I’m not afraid to tell you in front of all of these people. As a matter of fact, I’m proud. You have made me a better man. I can’t think of one single thing in my life that has made me happier than the first time you told me you loved me. I told you once before that wherever I was with you felt like home, but it’s more than that.
You
are home.” Jody’s voice cracked with emotion. “I know you hate being the center of attention, but I have to ask you something important. You know that this hockey team is a part of my family. I spend most of my time with them, so I guess
we
really have a question for you… Lacey Benoit, will you marry us?”

Lacey covered her face with her hands as the announcer turned her around. When she lifted her hands, the entire team was on the ice, on one knee, with Jody right before her.

With tears running unchecked down her face, Lacey simply nodded. “I’ll take you all, but I’m going home with Jody every night, so I hope that’s okay.” Lacey went down on her knees and kissed Jody until she was breathless. “I love you, Jody LaGrange.”

They were playing the Sharks again and Lacey asked, “As an engagement gift, let me have two minutes alone with Dick, will you?” The crowd went wild at Lacey’s request to even things with Grayson.

Lacey took a good look at the ring Jody was holding out to her and squealed, “Holy shit!”

Jody whispered, “We’re still on the microphone, Lace.”

“Sorry. This is the first good look I’ve gotten of the ring. Holy cow, it’s gorgeous. Thank you! Now give it to me, I’m never taking it off!” With a chuckle, Jody placed the ring on her finger, never having been happier.