“Oh my God, if it isn’t Cannon Price,” one of the women said, looking me up and down with a wide smile.
These were Detroit girls. I scanned over their faces, noting a few wives of the Red Wings players, and more than a few bunnies that must have elevated themselves if they were traveling with the team.
I gave them a nod and grimaced as a tall brunette swayed her way over to me. Her arms were covered in colorful tats, and her nose was pierced with a single stud. I knew her, but couldn’t remember how. Fuck. Tiffany? Taylor? Tina? What was her name? Thank God I’d never fucked her because I wasn’t inviting that drama into my life.
“I came all the way to see you,” she purred, staring at me like I was lunch.
“Then I hope you enjoyed the game.”
The elevator dinged, but I couldn’t see past the Red Wings women.
“Oh come on, Cannon. You said you’d never be interested while I was dating Ambrose, and now I’m not.” She held out her hands like she was serving something…serving herself. “So when my friends demanded a girls’ trip, I figured you’d be my reward.”
Tanya. That was her name. She’d been the on-again, off-again girlfriend of one of the guys who’d been called up from the minors, and from what I’d read, he’d gone right back down at the end of last season.
“Sorry. Not interested.”
Her face fell. “I’m sorry?”
“Not sure if you’ve heard, but Cannon here got married,” Sterling thumbed my direction. “I, however, am single and absolutely available to reward you.”
Had to give it to the kid. He had balls.
Tanya glanced him over, then arched a sculpted brow at me. “No fucking way are you married. I’ve never seen you with the same woman twice.”
“Then you haven’t seen him lately,” Sterling chimed in.
I held up my left hand, and her eyes fell to the ring, widening as she took it in.
The crowd of women parted slightly, and Persephone emerged. Her little kitten heels did jack and shit for her height, but she still turned every woman’s head as she came my way.
“There you are!” she said with a grin. “You were amazing!”
She flew into my arms, and I caught her easily, lifting her against me as my hand splayed over the number on her back. I squeezed my eyes shut and breathed in her apple blossom scent, feeling that ache in my chest transform into a fucking glow as she kissed me quickly.
I opened my eyes to see Tanya staring at Persephone’s back. I lowered my wife carefully, and she tucked into my side, turning a ready, kind smile on Tanya.
“Oh, hello! I’m so sorry, was I interrupting something?” She glanced between us.
“Persephone, this is Tanya. She dated one of the players when I was with Detroit.” I kept my arm comfortably locked around Persephone’s waist, careful not to let my bag fall on her. “Tanya, this is my wife, Persephone.”
“It’s lovely to meet you.” Persephone offered her hand, and Tanya took it, shaking it awkwardly.
“You’re…his wife?” She stared openly at Persephone.
“Yep!”
“But…you’re not his type.” Her brow furrowed.
Rage simmered in my blood, but Persephone patted my chest. “To tell you the truth, he’s not mine, either, but the man literally swept me off my feet a couple of years ago, and the rest is history!”
I stifled a laugh at how she’d twisted our first encounter, and managed a nod. “True. And once she fell for me, I couldn’t resist her.”
Tanya’s jaw dropped. “You’re really, honestly married. The two of you.” She glanced between us.
“They are. I was there,” Sterling assured her. “It was a beautiful, impulsive, almost drunk-on-joy ceremony, and I was the best man.”
I turned my head slowly to raise my eyebrows at him. “You are not the best man.”
“I feel like there’s room for negotiation.”
“A nice little girl like you ended up with…Cannon Price. Oh honey, do you know what you’ve gotten yourself into?” Tanya’s voice dripped with fake sympathy.
If Persephone was right, and women gossiped about the bedroom habits of men, then I had no doubt she’d heard some of those stories back in Detroit, when I hadn’t been selective about the women I’d taken to bed.
“Oh, I know exactly what I’ve gotten myself into. Don’t you worry.” Persephone scrunched her nose in a way that told me she was geared up for battle, southern belle style.
“Was it the money?” Tanya questioned. “Or the sex?”
My eyes narrowed.
“Absolutely not! I have more money than I’ll ever be able to spend in a lifetime, bless your little heart.” Persephone smiled at Tanya and rested her hand just above her breasts. “I honestly can’t tell you why I decided to marry him. That’s all a blur, really. But my God, did I win the husband jackpot or what? I mean, I absolutely adore everything about the man, and he’s just the most loyal, protective, sweetest, most attentive husband a girl could ask for, but I have to admit, that dick sure is a great bonus!”
Tanya’s jaw dropped.
Sterling sputtered.
I flat-out laughed. “And on that note, I’m afraid we have to be going.” I scooped up Persephone and hoisted her over the shoulder that wasn’t carrying my bag, then splayed my hand over her ass to steady her as I turned around to head back down the hall.
“I hope you have a lovely trip!” Persephone called back at Tanya.
“I should spank you,” I muttered up at my wife, still grinning from ear to ear.
“Mmmm….yes, please.” A passing mirror showed that she was wiggling her fingers in goodbye at Tanya as we walked away.
My little kitten had out her tigress claws.
“You are so fucking hardcore,” Sterling said up at my wife.
“A girl’s gotta mark her territory,” she answered. “Now, you might have to move a little faster, Cannon, or we’ll miss our dinner reservations.”
“We have dinner reservations?” I cringed. All I wanted to do was get my wife alone.
“At the most exclusive spot in town,” she assured me.
“Sounds perfect,” I lied.
An hour later, I pulled onto a stretch of road that had been marked as private property, following the directions of my wife.
“Turn here,” she instructed as the grass became taller and the terrain unmistakably sandy. I did as she instructed, then parked where the pavement ended. We met in front of the Hummer, and she took my hand, a gesture that had become so normal I’d almost forgotten what it was like to not hold her hand.
She led me down a sandy path, and I was glad I’d ditched my suit coat in the car since she still wore her jeans and jersey. Where the fuck was this restaurant?
We crested the small dune, and the Atlantic appeared before us in all her evening glory. On the stretch of beach in front of us, there was a small gazebo with a table and chairs.
“What did you do?” I asked Persephone softly.
She gave me an impish smile. “Follow me.”
We made our way down the dune and across the sand as a woman emerged from the gazebo.
“It’s all as you requested, Miss Van—” She shook her head. “Mrs. Price.”