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So Ryker had that heart added and toldto say yes, so I went ahead and added you toto say yes It’s just I wanted tis to settle down and for me to ease into est reason I wanted just a little ht I was nuts, but I really didn’t want to rub our relationship in her face While I wasn’t going to take a backseat, I felt itreceived the final divorce papers a feeeks before I wanted Hensley to have time to settle as well

As it stands, Hensley has accepted things the way they are She’s h and Ryker has voluntarily given her irls She lives so close, in fact, the girls stay one ith her and one ith Ryker

I still have h Ryker has asked me to move in I just can’t do it…not until we’re irls I want it to be official before I becorained so permanently into their lives I want , not only toterrific, by the way

Who would have known that I would be such a natural with kids? My dad says he knew it all along, but damn if I did But it’s true…I’ve become very close to Violet and Ruby, and that’sso much time with their dad I believe they’ve truly coh they’re only five and seven, I believe they are intuitive little creatures and they know I make their dad happy, thus thatup tidily Claude is in jail awaiting trial; I’er of the Cold Fury; I’m in love with a wonderful man who has wonderful children; and we just won the Stanley Cup cha that couldar around my waist, and raises me up so I can kiss hiive hi about?" he asks me as he letsour fingers locked together

"Aboutyou," I tell him simply

"So now you’re ready?" he asks skeptically

"Hey," I say with a bit of a whine "I’ve always been ready I just didn’t think the world was ready for us But now it is"

"In that case," Ryker says as he drops down on one knee in front of htly taller than hi us That ht now as the tea each other while ait for the formal presentation of the Cup But none of that matters

It’s just me and Ryker…his eyes latched to etting on a plane with as to becole and put ive him a kiss and the crowd roars, so now I know they are definitely watching what’s going on

"Ryker No Middle Naet on a plane and fly with you this weekend to Vegas to beco Ruby and Violet with us"

His eyebrows raise sky high "Are you serious? I was just joking about the Vegas part"

"Sure, why not?" I say with a shrug of my shoulders

"Because you’re Gray Brannon, heir to a hockey eht Shouldn’t there be like a huge white dress, fourteen brides like twenty thousand dollars in white roses and canapés?"

"For so casual about it"

"At the least, your dad needs to co as well," I add, referencing my new posse of friends that come courtesy of Ryker

"So ," he says

"I can’t believe we’re having this discussion on the ice of the arena with the Stanley Cup being wheeled out at this moment," I tell hi it out

Ryker pushes up off the ground, arain He kisses me this time deeply, and when he puts ht, okay?"

"Okay," I say with a grin "Now go hang with your tearabsthe red carpet toward the Cup as he skates beside me "Um…last I heard, you’re part of this teauess that’s true But you knohen you get caught up in the glory and ro to his knee in front of thousands of people to discuss s like a national hockey championship take a bit of a backseat

When I reach the Cup, I find ue president Ryker bends down, kisses me on the cheek, and releases my hand "I love you, Gray"