The sigh of relief that was visible even with Ben in the way was all Doug needed to see to know she really didn’t want to get married. It stung a little, but he was a big boy and knew what rejection felt like.

  “What if I want to get married?”

  The question came as Doug was getting ready to turn back to the pancakes. They were going to burn if he didn’t see to them, so he only paused for a second while he tried to figure out her words. He’d seen the relief that said no, which made it hard to believe she actually wanted to get married.

  “But you don’t, and I totally understand that. It’s not something that’s rushed, and saying we’re going to get married now would definitely be rushing.”

  “So? I heard Ben tell you I was crying. I’m sure you thought it had to do with everything else going on, but it didn’t.” She paused before continuing.

  It was a conversation Doug wanted to watch her face during, so he hurried to pile breakfast on a plate before he turned around. Something about the smile on her face frightened him. She’d rarely had a moment to smile since they’d been together, and he was pretty sure it was the first honest one he’d seen. It somehow made her green eyes even brighter.

  “I don’t know that I’ve ever known love before. What I had with Tommy wasn’t love, and it’s taken a while to figure that out, because I never had anything to compare it to, at least not when it comes to another adult.” She squeezed Ben to reiterate she knew the love of a mother and child.

  “I know what it’s supposed to feel like now. The crushing feeling in your chest when you think about losing that person, instead of praying it would happen. The emotions that well up inside of you when you spend the night sitting in their arms, not even saying a word. I’ve never felt those things before. You make me feel them.”

  Doug took a second to process the words. They were everything he dreamed of hearing, but it was difficult to believe he really was. Talk about emotions welling up inside, his heart pounded loudly in his ears as it tried to jump out of his chest.

  “You’re not just saying that stuff because you feel obligated?”

  He’d watched her eyes and they weren’t the same as when she tried to offer her body as payment. They held some fear, but mostly they were wide and looking forward, not directional-wise, more like sense of time. He could see she was tired of looking over her shoulder and living only half a life. It was a lot to read into a simple look, but like a movie, he could see the beginning and middle. They just needed to make an end.

  “I thought I’d give you one more chance to realize what you were signing up for. I’ve been a single mother for a while now, I have a mess of student loans, a lease on my house that isn’t up for almost of year, a crazy ex who wants me back, or to kill me, and most days I feel like I belong in a room alongside the patients at the job I no longer have.”

  Doug showed every one of his teeth as he smiled and made his way over to the center island. “And I still love you. Let’s get this little guy fed, and then we can start talking about what tomorrow brings for us.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Are you sure you want to do that?” the nice man in a black suit asked Lizzie before he looked over at Doug with his mouth hanging open. Lizzie wondered if she needed to rethink the nice part.

  When she’d been introduced to James, she got the lawyer vibe from him immediately. She didn’t know exactly what it was. With his salt and pepper hair, the gold wire framed glasses and the expensive looking suit, he basically melded together every attorney she’d met or seen on TV.

  “I hope you don’t give me that look when I make my request,” Doug said as he reached over and grabbed Lizzie’s hand.

  She wasn’t sure what request he was talking about, but the lawyer started to worry her. Doug evidently used him for his own will, so he’d recommended he take care of Lizzie’s. It made sense to her, and even though they’d talked about getting married, she needed to get things rolling on making sure Ben was safe.

  “I can only imagine what you’re going to say.” The lawyer sighed while he shook his head. “Can I ask how long you’ve known each other?”

  “Does that matter as far as making him Ben’s guardian? I was under the assumption I could name anyone I wanted.”

  “And you can, as long as they’re legal age and a reasonable choice. I can’t say I’d recommend someone serving time in prison or with certain health concerns, but I’m not sure I’d recommend Doug either.”

  Lizzie glanced over at the man who was evidently ill-fit to take care of her son. He rolled his eyes and squeezed her hand.

  “I’ve maintained the whole time that it’s up to you. Maybe if we head to a jewelry store after this and get a ring to put on your finger, people won’t question your decision.”

  “So you’re getting married?” James asked before Lizzie could reply to Doug.

  “Eventually. We have to wait until the police catch her homicidal ex-husband, but we’ve pretty much got the whole wedding planned.”

  That was the truth, but Lizzie had purposefully just mentioned wanting to get Doug added to a will as guardian and not the reasons behind it. She didn’t want to see the shocked look on the person’s face sitting across from her. Telling him what she’d wanted had practically given him a heart attack, bringing up Tommy only added to what she was sure consisted of some major heart palpations.

  “Excuse me? Was that meant sarcastically? I’m still caught up on the fact that you claim you’re getting married. I know it’s the offseason, but I follow hockey news closely and no one has mentioned you even dating someone.”

  “In other words you haven’t talked to your brother-in-law since this weekend. Maybe we should just invite you to the team barbecues so you don’t feel left out.”

  Lizzie was getting lost in the conversation. She glanced over her shoulder to see if maybe someone was taping them for some kind of TV drama, because that’s what it felt like to her. Unless there was a hidden camera in the bookshelf full of thick codes of law, the strange conversation was really happening.

  “Sorry this is ending up weird,” Doug said, drawing her eyes to him. He seemed calm, so she tried to copy him. It wasn’t easy since they hadn’t just walked in and signed some papers, like she assumed they would. “You met said brother-in-law a couple days ago. James is married to Klinger’s sister, and apparently he doesn’t like being left out of all the latest gossip.”

  “Hey, I’m not that bad. I just like living vicariously through you guys and I’m usually not surprised when I hear someone’s getting married. Am I wrong in thinking this is a little sudden?”

  At least Lizzie understood a little more about why Doug had brought her to that particular lawyer. The guy had stars in his eyes when it came to Doug, and probably all of his teammates, so Doug didn’t even have to make an appointment. He’d called while she was getting a quick shower, but she imagined the conversation was pretty much Doug saying he was planning on stopping by.

  “What this is, and how sudden it is, isn’t anyone’s business. Can you fill out the piece of paper so we can get on with the adjustments I need to make to my will?”

  As a spectator, Lizzie’s neck was starting to get sore from all the back and forth. Her eyes weren’t sure where to go after Doug’s words. She expected James to say something, but she wanted Doug to explain what he had planned. He hadn’t mentioned anything about making changes when they’d talked about getting hers made up.

  “Don’t you think you should wait to make those changes until after the wedding? Obviously you can come back in and get it changed if things don’t work out, but your will is already one of the longest I’ve seen.”

  There were zero votes of confidence coming from the other side of the black metal desk. He didn’t have half the story and he was already counting Lizzie out. She knew she wasn’t a catch, especially coming equipped with the little boy sitting in her lap, but it depressed her to hear someone who’d just met her basically voice his disapproval.

  “Are you going to get to the point when you ask if she’s knocked up? I didn’t ask you how you conned Kelly into marrying you, so why don’t you do what we came here for?” Doug sounded impatient. He rubbed his thumb against the top of Lizzie’s hand, and she got the feeling he was trying to keep from strangling the lawyer.

  “Are you sure we shouldn’t go somewhere else?” Lizzie was tired of the banter. Part of her hoped it was a game they played, but until she knew for sure, it was uncomfortable being in the same room with them.

  “Now there’s an idea. Maybe I should take my law needs somewhere else.”

  James immediately pulled some papers out of a folder and grabbed a pen. “Don’t start talking all crazy. I’m just trying to look out for you.”

  “By dipping your nose where it doesn’t belong. You know I’m private when it comes to my relationships, which is why the little birdie who tells you about the rest of the team hasn’t had much to tell you about me. Now, what do you need to ease my fiancé’s concerns?”

  It was funny hearing that word. Things didn’t feel real, but then they hadn’t felt real for a long time.

  James walked them through the process, and made sure all the signatures were in place. Lizzie hugged Ben close to her and kissed both of his cheeks, which he quickly wiped off. He didn’t understand how happy signing a simple paper had made his mother feel.

  “Yuck.”

  “Come on, buddy, it’s not that bad.” Doug tried to help, but Lizzie knew without even seeing the look Ben gave him that her son was doubtful.

  “Before we get into the merits of kissing, let’s talk about what you want to change about your will.”

  Lizzie didn’t think they were really heading down that road, but she was ready to finish up and go back to Doug’s house. She didn’t think Tommy would do anything while they were speaking to a lawyer, but she also refused to put anything past him. Driving around was when she was most agitated. She’d stared at the side mirror almost the whole way.

  “I don’t think it will be too difficult. I want to change the percent going to my parents to twenty-five and leave the other twenty-five to Lizzie.”

  “What?” Lizzie obviously wasn’t thinking straight to realize that was where he was going with the will change. “I don’t know what that equates to be, but I’m sure you don’t need to add me to your will.”

  Doug continued whatever was on his mind, like Lizzie hadn’t said a word. “She also gets the house, any belongings inside of it and the car. To make sure Ben’s not left out, let’s leave him the house in Minnesota. That way he has somewhere to run to when his mom is still trying to give him kisses when he’s thirty.”

  James hurried to scribble everything down on a piece of paper, all the while shaking his head. Lizzie couldn’t help doing the same thing as far as her head went. She didn’t know what the twenty-percent was, but he’d already told her the car was worth over a hundred thousand dollars and the house had to be close to a million. She was just guessing as far as the house was concerned.

  “You can’t do that, Doug. I didn’t say I’d marry you because I thought it’d help make my way into your will.” Lizzie felt the need to stand so she could pace around the room, but she wasn’t sure her legs would hold her.

  “I’m aware of that. We came here because you wanted to plan for the future in case something happens to you, and it seems like a logical thing for me to do the same. There’s obviously insurance policies that I’ll have you added as a benefactor, but since we’re here, it makes sense to take care of this part.”

  Lizzie wanted to mention she had absolutely nothing to give back to him, but she didn’t feel comfortable talking about that in front of James. They hadn’t gone into actual financials when it came to her will. She asked to leave anything she owned to Ben, even if there wasn’t anything to leave, and made Doug the executor as Ben would be in his care.

  “Don’t give me that look. What you’re leaving me is worth more than any of my investments.”

  “Is there anything else you two need with me? The way you two can finish each other’s sentences and know what the other one is thinking is scaring me a little bit. I’ve been married for five years and there are times I don’t understand what my wife actually says to me, let alone what she’s thinking.”

  “Which is why I mentioned you conning her into marriage. If it makes you feel better, we’ve known each other for less than a week.” Doug got up as he spoke, taking Lizzie with him.

  Ben scrambled to hold on as he giggled after almost falling to the ground. He wouldn’t have thought it was funny if he fell and hit his head on the cream colored area rug under her feet.

  “Yeah, that makes me feel a lot better.” He didn’t hide the sarcasm in his voice. “Why don’t you two love birds get out of here and make someone else feel like they need to order flowers for their wife to make up for years of not reading her mind.”

  “You’re welcome for that. Let me just sign whatever you need and we’ll get out of your hair.” Doug had to let go of Lizzie’s hand to finish up their business, but as soon as he dropped the pen, her hand was back in his. “So, what do you think about the jewelry store idea?”

  Their arms swung as he led her down the hallway towards the front door. Lizzie was terrified of being out and about, so the idea of leisurely browsing through all the diamonds and gold wasn’t high on her to-do list.

  “If you’re serious about getting me a ring, which again I’m not asking for, could we maybe spend a little time looking online before we make any decisions? I’m feeling a little vulnerable.”

  Just making it to the door to the outside world was almost causing her to hyperventilate. Talking was a little difficult as her tongue seemed to swell in her mouth and cut off oxygen.

  “That’s a great idea. Maybe we could even convince someone they needed a nap, so we could get an hour or two of sleep in. I know for a fact you haven’t slept much in the last forty-eight hours, and I’m starting to worry you’re going to crash.”

  “I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s calling for his friend. I know we’ve kind of pushed our way into your life, but isn’t there something other than hanging out with us on your schedule?”

  During one of the many times they sat and tried to learn as much as they could about each other, Doug had mentioned having to keep in shape and weekly meetings with a coach to go through drills, even if he wasn’t playing in a game. She hadn’t seen him workout at all, unless picking Ben up and carrying him around counted, and she doubted Ben weighed a quarter of what he usually lifted.

  When they got to Doug’s car, he held the back door open for her so she could get Ben settled in. Then he went ahead and opened her door. Before she could slide in, he grabbed ahold of her waist and stared down at her.

  “A week or two off isn’t going to hurt me. And right now, I don’t want to leave you alone. You were right to think going to pick out a ring is a bad idea. It’s hard to remember we’re supposed to be watching our backs, when all I can do is think about how much I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  He glanced around their general vicinity before he leaned down to brush his lips against hers. Whether he was looking for trouble or making sure no one would snap a picture wasn’t clear, but the amount of emotion he was able to put in a simple kiss still astonished Lizzie.

  “I love you too,” she whispered as he straightened up and let her get in the car.

  “Music to my ears.” He skipped around to his side and fired it up.

  It wasn’t a long drive back to his place, but it would’ve been nice if it was somehow shorter. Lizzie was starting to get a kink in her neck from looking in the mirror and turning her head in every direction to see the parts of their surroundings the mirror didn’t show her.

  She didn’t realize the problem would come from in front of them. She’d turned to check on Ben, whose eyes were starting to look heavy. He hadn’t asked for Turtle, which was a little surprising, and good since they’d left him at home for what they thought would be a quick trip.

  “What the heck is this guy doing?” Doug’s voice gritted out.

  Lizzie turned around to find out what he was talking about, only to see a car swerving at them with very little distance between the two vehicles. The impact that focused on Doug’s side of the car was a late realization, because Lizzie couldn’t look away from the wild blue eyes staring directly at her from the driver’s side of the other car.

  “Tommy.” The name couldn’t be heard over the crunching of metal colliding together.

  Even when her body jerked forward and her seatbelt cut into her shoulder and abdomen, Lizzie didn’t understand the car had been hit. Fear was running through her whole body and shut off the processing part of her brain. As a nurse, she sort of knew she was going into shock, but there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  Once the piercing noises stopped, Lizzie realized she was being pulled out of the car. She thought she’d kept her eyes on Tommy, but there were a few moments her mind was blank.

  “I’m guessing your knight in shining armor isn’t going to be able to protect you now. I bet you didn’t think a little thing like a car crash could knock him unconscious, but if you aim it just right, you’re sure to break some bones, and if you’re really lucky, you can get some metal to break off and pierce the driver.”

  Lizzie was worried about Doug, but Ben took a little more precedent. She fought against Tommy’s hold on her to get back to the car. He’d dragged her about twenty feet away before her brain starting firing cohesive thoughts.

  “Ben,” she screamed. Tommy’s hand dug further into her arm as she pulled away from it. “I need to check on my son.”

  “Our son,” Tommy corrected. “Just because you’ve been playing house doesn’t change the fact that he’s our son. He’s fine by the way. You can think I’m a monster all you want, but I wouldn’t hurt my own son. If I thought we had time before the authorities showed up, I’d bring him along, but time is of an essence here. Plus, you and I need to have a little talk before any distractions bother us.”