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I shrug "Wasn't interested"

"You know Lexi would move if you ith another team," she says softly "She'd never let you leave her behind"

"I know But I wouldn't want her to leave her familynot when she just found them"

Gray nods at ht"

I take another slug of beer and don't respond There's nothing more than needs to be said I love Lexi She loves her family And okayI sort of love them too, but most i for this, I couldn't deny her now Doesn't o with me, I'm sure

But for noe need to be here

"You're a really great guy," Gray says to me "My sister is lucky to have you"

"I'm the lucky one," I tell her candidly

"Lucky about what?" Lexi says as she walks into the kitchen She comes to stand beside Gray and casually drapes an arm around her sister's shoulder

I push Lexi's beer across the counter to her and answer, "Lucky to have me I think your sister kind of likes me"

Gray snorts and wrinkles her nose "You're an egotistical jackass"

"Better than an uptight windbag," I throw back at her

"Cheers," Lexi says as she holds her bottle out to ood one"

"I've been saving therin leveled at Gray, who snickers as she looks down at her watch

"Speaking of trades," Gray says all businesslike again as she pulls away frooing to iron out the Luc Fournier deal"

"Awesoh five "He'll bring some incredible depth to the team"

I have to s deeper than ever into the Brannon hockey dynasty and she knowswith depth charts, plus/s, and even how Gray's statistical enius herself, but for now, she's really enjoying learning the business

And Luc Fournier will be an aoalie Max Fournier's little brother and I'veto know him a little better once he joins our team

"Okay, kiddos," Gray says jovially "I'et home before my call I'll need to jump on my computer beforehand"

"We're going to head out too," Lexi says as Gray walks toward the living room "Be there in a minute"

When Gray is gone, Lexi turns to ot an offer from another team?"

I wince, because I didn't think she'd heard that "It wasn't that great of an offer"

She glares at me "I heard Gray say it was lucrative"

I walk around the counter toward Lexi as I mutter, "You have ears like a bat"

"Roht annoyance as I wrap my arms around her waist "You cannot make decisions about your career based on me"

I cock at eyebrow at her and wait for her to come to the conclusion on her own

"You can't," she maintains

I keep my eyebrow cocked

"You shouldn't," she insists "It's not good business"

"You're good business," I tell her as I lean my face toward hers "You're the best business I have, so my decisions will always take that into account"

"But you're turning down money--"

"To be with you, and keep you here and happy, which ently "And that is the best kind of business decision to make"

Lexi's eyes get soft and misty as she whispers, "I think my ovaries just exploded"

"Sounds li

ke a dire situation," I whisper back "Think we should go back to my house and take care of that?"

"I think that would be good"

I kiss her again, because I can and it feels good When I pull away, I put my palms to her face and hold her still "I love you"

"I love you too," she says sweetly before we head into the living roooodbyes to the family

To Shawn,

est champion from the very start

BY SAWYER BENNETT

The Cold Fury Hockey Series

Alex

Garrett