So I decide to tell her something to take her mind off it. “I got the signed divorce papers yesterday.”

Her head swivels fast. “You did?”

“It’s official. I’m a free man.”

Gray snickers and takes a sip of beer. After she swallows, she says, “You are most definitely not a free man.”

“Is that right?” I tease.

I expect her to laugh but her eyes go serious, her voice sounding smaller than I’ve ever heard it. “I almost gave you up to Hensley.”

“You what?” I ask with astonishment.

She nods, drops her gaze to her lap. “She came to see me Monday. I got the entire history of your marriage and your relationship with her. She had photos. Lots and lots of photos. She played my heart very well, Ryker. I was ready to back out and let her have you.”

“She couldn’t have had me,” I say with a chastising tone. “Why would you even think that?”

Gray shrugs and looks up at me. “Because I love you and I know how easy it is to love you. And you two have kids together, and she talked about second chances, and…it was just really good what she said. Now that I think about it, your ex-wife should be a lawyer.”

“Forget that,” I say impatiently. “So, she played you but you ultimately didn’t take the bait. What happened?”

“Oh, that,” she says with a twinkle in her eye. “She threatened to out us.”

“Oh, no she didn’t,” I say with a shake of my head. “Wrong move.”

Gray leans over and kisses me on the cheek. “You know me so well.”

“I definitely know that you are not a person that takes threats well.” The gravity in my voice alerts her to the fact that I’m still very much wigged out by what happened with Claude. “You told a knife-wielding lunatic to go fuck himself.”

“I knew you were just moments away from kicking the door in,” she says lightly, and lays a hand on my leg. She squeezes it reassuringly and then gives it a pat. “It’s all done, baby. I’m fine and we’re together.”

“I’m so going to give Hensley a piece of my mind—”

“Don’t,” Gray says, her voice whisper soft. “Let’s let it all go and just start fresh from right here.”

Her eyes are so full of expectancy and hope. So happy and contented. I have no choice but to reach my hand over, cup her jaw, and pull her to me. I give her a slow kiss and then look her in the eye. “Okay. Fresh start. From right now.”

Gray pulls away as soon as we hear the SportsCenter theme song and her hand goes to mine, clasping it tightly.

The reporter comes on, places an elbow on the desk, and leans in slightly toward the camera. “Interesting news in the world of hockey tonight. The league’s first female general manager, Gray Brannon, made headlines when she made a very public declaration that she has a relationship with one of her players.”

The feed cuts to video of Gray standing at the glass, holding her sign up. “Already, social media has blown up with an outcry for her resignation, citing a serious conflict of interest.”

Gray’s hand squeezes mine harder. I lean over and kiss her on the temple.

The feed then cuts to video of me kissing Gray on the ice during the TV timeout. “Immediately following the game, both Gray and Brian Brannon presented themselves to reporters for questions, and made a very surprising announcement.”

The feed then cuts to a close-up of Gray with perhaps a dozen microphones all shoved under her chin. Flashes from cameras play across her beautiful face like lightning strikes.

“I would like to let the public know that as of seven P.M. tonight, right before the game started, I handed in my offer of resignation as general manager to the Cold Fury. This was done with the knowledge and approval of my father, Brian Brannon. Obviously, I recognize the conflict of interest that has arisen by me having a personal relationship with one of my players, although I would like to state for the record that at no time did I have a relationship with Ryker Evans prior to December of last year. Still, going forward with an inevitable offer to extend his contract, I know that I cannot continue to serve in my power as general manager without approval from the executive board. Until such time, Frank Lessier will be managing the organization.”

Gray steps back with a placid smile on her face, while Brian Brannon moves forward. Reporters hurl questions left and right and he raises a hand that commands utter silence. “I won’t be taking questions tonight, although I just wanted to make a statement of my own. Gray offered her resignation with my approval, as we don’t ever want there to be a hint of impropriety with how we handle player relationships. I would also like the public to know that Ryker Evans has previously offered to retire from the team so as to remove the conflict, but Gray wouldn’t let him do that.”

My head jerks as I look over at Gray, but she doesn’t take her eyes from the screen. This press conference was done while I was getting showered after the game, and while Gray had since filled me in on what she was doing, these words by Brian Brannon are an absolute shocker to me.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever been more proud of my daughter than I am at this moment. All she ever wanted from the time she was a little girl was to be involved with hockey. Seeing her take the reins of the organization was what I thought was the proudest moment of my life. I was wrong. Today is the proudest, as I watch her stand up and sacrifice all that she ever desired for the simple prospect of love.”