“I didn’t get yelled at.”
I fought a laugh.
Mimi craned her neck to scan the stands. “Where’s Mommy?”
“She went to the store. I’m taking you home and staying for supper.”
Then she grinned that sweet, hopeful, girlish smile that owned me. “Yay! Then I can make you cookies.”
“Do you need me to help you out of your gear?”
“I’m not a baby.”
Okay then.
She reached the mats and disappeared.
I figured I was in for a wait, so I watched the next group take the ice. Girls, probably in the 14U bracket. I’d read up on the girls’ hockey program, and the only difference I saw between it and boys’ hockey was the “no checking” rule at all age levels. Gabi skated two laps with them before issuing instructions. The students collectively groaned, and she wore that evil “I’m torturing you for your own good” look that I’d seen on dozens of coaches over the years. I wasn’t surprised when she stopped in front of me.
“Is this your group?”
“I’m the assistant. The head coach is out on maternity leave until the season officially starts, so I’m basically running this group.” She kept her focus on the ice when she asked, “Why didn’t you tell Coach Dyklar who you are?”
“I did. I’m Mimi’s dad.”
“Come on, Lund. Humbleness doesn’t suit you given the career you’ve had.”
“Me bragging about accomplishments in my former pro career isn’t going to make him a better coach. He’s a know-nothing with a Napoleon complex that he lords over the youngest kids and their parents. I hate that he is the first contact a lot of these players will have with the world of hockey. There are so many good men and women who love teaching and coaching. They should be a kid’s first coach. That’s where they’ll learn love of the game, respect for the rules and teamwork.”
That outburst earned me a genuine smile from Crabby Gabi. “I couldn’t agree more. And that accurate assassination of his supposed character makes me rethink my initial opinion of you.”
“Which was what?”
“That you’re an entitled a-hole who throws around your name and money to get things done your way.”
“By all means, Gabi, don’t hold back on how you really feel,” I said dryly.
She blushed, but she didn’t apologize.
“Look, I’m entitled. I know that. But rehab forced me to deal with my issues, so I can state with pride that I am no longer a drunken a-hole throwing anything around.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Rehab isn’t mentioned anywhere in your bio. Is it recent?”
“It’s been three years. So fair warning not to invite me out for a drink.”
“I doubt your wife would be happy if I did that.”
I didn’t correct her mistaken impression that Lucy and I were married. “You’re probably right.”
“Anyway, I didn’t come over here to go all fangirl on you. In fact, I wanted to apologize for my a-hole behavior.”
“Apology accepted. I won’t secretly call you Crabby Gabi behind your back, and you won’t make assumptions about me based on my name, deal?”
“Deal.”
Then I offered my hand. “I’m Jaxson Lund. You can call me Jax.”
She slapped my hand and snorted. “Gabriella Welk. I go by Gabi.”
“Welk? As in . . . Lawrence Welk?”
“Yeah. He and my great-grandpa were cousins. I never met him.”
“You’re from North Dakota?”
“Yessir. University of North Dakota grad.”
I groaned. “No way is a former Fighting Sioux player teaching my kid.”
“Says the dude whose college mascot is a bucktoothed rat,” Gabi retorted.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Nor was I surprised that she knew I’d attended University of Minnesota. “Go torture your team, North Dakota. A couple of them are gossiping instead of skating.”
She whirled around and zipped across the ice.
As much as I wanted to watch Gabi’s coaching style, I had to meet Mimi out front.
Ten minutes later she appeared, dragging her equipment bag behind her.
The girl didn’t protest that she “wasn’t a baby” when I carried her equipment bag.
Mimi wasn’t talkative at all in the car. I’d expected a million questions, but she just stared out the window.
I didn’t push. She’d talk on her own time frame.
She did pay attention when I drove into the parking garage and not the visitor’s lot. “Uh, you’ll get in trouble if you park in somebody’s spot.”
“It’ll be okay. Trust me.” With all that had gone on in Mimi’s life, had she forgotten I’d be moving into this building?
When we reached the apartment, Mimi burst through the door, calling out for her mom. For a moment I remained frozen in the doorframe, wondering what it’d be like to have this life. A family meal every night. Helping Mimi with homework or cleaning up the kitchen because it was my turn. My gaze homed in on the wreckage that Mimi had left—her coat, shoes, backpack strewn across the floor. At my place I insisted Mimi pick up after herself. Here, she existed in the familiar chaos she created because it was home. Would she ever consider being with me . . . home?
That’s how Lucy caught me, staring at the messy foyer with jealousy and melancholy.
“Jax? Is everything all right?”
I gave myself a mental shake and realized I hadn’t even closed the door. “Yeah. Sorry. I was a little lost in thought.”
“About?” she asked, reaching around behind me to shut the door.
“About when to show Mimi where I’ll—and she’ll—be living.”
Lucy didn’t point out that Mimi would only be living there part time. “Dinner still needs to simmer another thirty minutes. Should we all head up there to take a look?”
“Sounds great.”
Mimi sauntered into the foyer eating a carton of yogurt. “What sounds great?”
“We’re going up to see our new apartment,” I said to her.
Her gaze moved between us. “Mommy is coming too?”
“Of course I am. Finish your snack and we’ll go.”
While we waited for Mimi to return, I dug out my keys and started spinning them around my finger.
Lucy’s hand curled around mine and stopped the jingling. “What’s with the nerves today, sport?”
I could’ve tossed out a half-assed half-truth, but I didn’t. “I want her to like it. I want her to feel like it’s her home too, and not just Daddy’s place where she stays sometimes.”
First her face showed surprise, followed by another reaction I hadn’t seen before—a sheen to her eyes that had me backtracking. “Shit. Sorry. I didn’t—”
“Stop.” She moved in and set her hand on my chest. “You’re doing everything right, Jax. She’ll get there, okay? She likes being with you. This move is a good thing because it proves you are settling in.”
“Okay, I’m ready!” Mimi announced.
Lucy and I broke apart. “Let’s go.”
My heart swelled when Mimi reached for my hand as we headed down the hallway. Then she stopped. “We’re going the wrong way. The elevators are at that end.”
“That’s the first part of the surprise.” I held open the plastic curtain that shielded the construction debris, and Mimi and Lucy stepped through.
Lucy gasped. “Is that . . . ?”
“A private elevator? Why yes it is.”
Mimi bounced on her toes. “It’s just like the Barbie DreamHouse!”
I chuckled. “I don’t know about that, but since your apartment is the last one on this end of the building, I had it installed so you’ll be able to leave your mom’s apartment and take this elevator directly to my floor anytime you want.”
“That is so cool! Mommy, isn’t that so cool?”
“It’s pretty unbelievable.”
My gaze snared Lucy’s. “Safety first with her. Always. No one else has access to this elevator. It’s coded so Mimi’s key will only take her to the top floor. And back down to this floor.”
“You had an elevator installed to go between just three floors?”
“It goes down to the first level of the parking garage. The original building schematics left enough space to have two sets of elevators on each floor, so it wasn’t as big a deal to put an elevator in since the shaft existed and we didn’t have to create access to every floor.”
“Can we go up now?” Mimi demanded.
“Yep. Poke the button.”
She did and the door opened.
We stepped inside and I hit door close.
Tight fit. The car could hold maybe two more small people. “Okay, Meems. Poke the button for the fourteenth floor.”
Lucy murmured, “You’re not calling it the penthouse?”
I tugged on her hair and murmured back, “Sassy.”
“Daddy, we’re not moving.”
I held an infrared device in front of her. “Put this on the keypad and then hit the button for the fourteenth floor.”
A green light flashed and we started to move. “My key and your mom’s key allow access to the top floor, your floor and the garage.”
“I get a key?” Lucy said with surprise.
“Of course. You can come up anytime you want.”
She frowned at me. “But what if you’re—”
“I’ve got nothing to hide, Lucy. My partying days are behind me. I don’t want anyone but my family in the home I share with our daughter.”
That’s when Lucy truly understood the message I’d been trying to relay to her. Her eyes widened. “Jax.”
“You will never have to worry about walking in on some of the situations you were subjected to in the past. I promise.”
The doors opened and Mimi sprinted out.
Lucy and I stared at each other.
“I know my promises probably don’t mean shit, so here’s the honest-to-god truth: I haven’t been with a woman since I sobered up.”
Her jaw dropped. “That’s been over three years.”
I said nothing.
“Why?”
“Because meaningless hookups nearly destroyed me. They definitely destroyed everything that mattered to me.”
Those beautiful brown eyes searched mine intently.
I wanted to ask her what she was looking for, but Mimi released a happy squeal and I walked toward her.
Thirteen
LUCY
Jax hadn’t been with a woman in three years.
Holy shit.
As I tried to wrap my head around that and his confession about one-night stands, the elevator door started to close on me, prompting me to move.
Plastic sheeting hung everywhere. As I headed toward the sound of their voices, mysterious crunching noises sounded beneath my feet. I glanced down and saw the flooring hadn’t been put in yet. Weird. From what I could see this place was still several weeks from move-in ready.
I ducked between two sheets of plastic and found myself in an enormous room. A bank of windows spread along one entire side, providing an unobstructed view of the city. A double-sided glass fireplace served as a breaking point between this room—I assumed the living room—and the kitchen.
Walking into that kitchen was like stepping into a kitchen showcase magazine. A marble-topped island anchored the center of the space in a modified U shape with enough seating around the eat-in bar for at least a dozen people. On the backside of the island was a huge farm-style sink and food prep area. Stainless steel appliances gleamed amidst the coffee-colored cabinetry. The marble countertops were stunning with the craziest pattern of brown, black and flecks of vivid blue that I’d ever seen. That pop of color tied in the front panel of the island—the same blue as in the marble—painted such a high gloss I suspected I could see my reflection in it.
“Holy moly, Jax. I don’t even know what to say. This place is breathtaking.”
He looked up at me and grinned. “Thanks. I designed the kitchen, and I cannot wait to cook in here.”
“I can’t wait either! There’s two ovens, Mommy, so I can make a whole bunch of cookies at one time.”
I noticed Jax’s pleased grin that Mimi was looking forward to cooking with him. “That is pretty cool.”
Mimi tugged on Jax’s hand. “Come on. I wanna see the rest.”
“You lead the way. I’ll let you guess which room is yours.”
We passed a formal dining room off the kitchen. Just beyond that was a theater room with seating for at least thirty. Farther down the hallway was the first bedroom—with an en suite bathroom. The next bedroom had been painted a soft pink, and Mimi squealed.
“This is my room! I just know it.”
“Yep. Check out the bathroom.”
I followed her into a dream bath, with a shower and a soaking tub. Next to the vanity was a built-in dressing table, with fancy makeup lights and crystal light fixtures. Even the knobs on the drawers were crystal.
“Daddy, I love it!”
Jax beamed when he showed Mimi the walk-in closet, roughly the size of her bedroom in our apartment.
Don’t compare. Don’t get jealous. He’s doing this out of love.
That’s when I realized I was all right with this. Maybe because Mimi wouldn’t have to go far between the princess-style opulence of this room to her cozy, funky bedroom in our apartment. She literally had the best of both worlds.
“Let’s see what’s next!” Mimi bounded out.
Jax loomed over me. “You okay with this?”
“Yes.”
“You’re sure?”
“Jax, you’ve never really had a place of your own. It’s exciting that you get to have everything you’ve ever wanted in one place.”
He looked relieved. “A decade later and you still keep me guessing on how you’ll react.”
“I will admit total jealousy of the theater room.”
“Feel free to use it anytime.” He took my hand and towed me out of the room. “I’m installing a commercial popcorn machine.”
“Of course you are.”
Mimi zipped out of the doorway ahead of us. “Another bedroom and bathroom.”
“How many bedrooms total?” I asked him.
“Five, including the master suite. Which is right here.”
My heart beat faster for some reason when we paused in front of a set of double doors.
Mimi wormed her way between us and pushed the doors open, and we stepped inside.
My first thought was: How had he known that this was my dream bedroom? The platform where the bed would sit was in the farthest corner of the room, away from the windows and access to the other features of this suite. There were no built-in dressers, so no matter how this space was decorated, it would maintain clean lines. A sitting area opened onto a balcony. The windows wrapped around the corner, providing a different view of Minneapolis.
I followed Jax through another set of double doors that separated the bathroom from the sleeping suite. First thing I noticed was the ginormous walk-in shower. Next to it was a sauna. A soaking tub was wedged in the corner with a great view. The toilet was separate with its own door, twin sinks and an even larger built-in dressing table than in Mimi’s bathroom. Which indicated that Jax hoped to have a woman sharing his life and home at some point.
But the real kicker was the his and hers walk-in closets, both with dressing “areas” in front of a gigantic mirror. In the center of the room was a built-in cabinet for accessories and jewelry. I imagined getting ready in here, Lindsey and Mimi both offering their opinions on the outfit I picked fo
r date night with Jax.
I froze. Why had my brain put me in this scene?
Because you suspect Jax had this designed with you in mind but you’re too afraid to ask.
“What do you think?” Jax asked, close enough to me that I felt his breath on my cheek.
“I love it. It’s kind of its own little retreat in this stunning place that you’d never need to retreat from.”
He chuckled.
Mimi jumped in front of us. “So is that it?”
“Milora Michelle,” I said sharply. “Rephrase that in a more polite manner.”
“Sorry.” She peered up at her father. “Is there more for us to see?”
“There’s one more area. We have to go back to the living room to get to it.”
“You lead the way this time,” Mimi said, snagging his hand.
In the foyer, we continued straight instead of hanging a left. This hallway was all storage, with sliding doors keeping everything hidden but accessible. Jax did pause and slide one door open. “Laundry area.”
The space wasn’t huge, but I’d never understood devoting a large chunk of living space to a task most people dreaded. This room had the most efficient design of any of the rooms, and my inner organizational geek rejoiced. “No doing laundry in the basement for you,” I said teasingly.
We reached a single, oversized French door. As soon as Jax opened it and we stepped outside, cold air assaulted us. Huddling together, looking across the expanse, I was stunned for what felt like the hundredth time today. What was once indoor space had become outdoor space. It was more than a rooftop garden; it was a rooftop backyard.
“Obviously this part will have to wait until spring, but I wanted us to have an outdoor space just like if we lived in a house. I’ll have to put in safety precautions because we are fourteen stories up. If there’s anything special you’d like to have up here, Meems, we’ll have time to work it into the landscaping.”
“Are you gonna put like . . . trees up here?” she asked.
“I’d like to. And there will be some grass as well as an area for me to grow herbs.”
Herbs. I tried to wrap my head around the idea of Jaxson “Stonewall” Lund snipping mint and marjoram that he’d grown himself. On the penthouse level.