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Sun was streaming into his bedroom. Unlike home the sunshine offered no warmth. Kevan looked down at Hadlee sprawled across his chest. She was fucking beautiful. She had on his shirt from the day before, not a stitch of makeup, and her blonde hair was a riot of tangled waves. He probably shouldn't have pulled it free from the ponytail last night. She had stolen most of the blankets and was cocooned against him. He would never be able to sleep that wrapped but Hadlee was always cold. He needed to get up and take Deke out and get ready from practice but didn't want to disturb Hadlee. He glanced at the watch he had forgotten to take off it was only 6:30. He didn't need to be at practice for 3 hours. Kevan slid Hadlee on to his pillow and climbed out of the bed. Hadlee murmured something then burrowed into the pillows. Kevan closed the blinds in the bedroom after he got dressed. He slipped out of the room without waking Hadlee.

Deke was dancing around inside his crate. Kevan opened the crate and let him loose. The pup ran all over the living room and kitchen. He finally flopped down outside the bedroom door. "She's asleep lil man." Deke came over and sat down beside Kevan's feet in the kitchen as if he understood that Kevan was his only human. Kevan grabbed a premade protein drink from the fridge so the blender wouldn't disturb Hadlee. After downing the drink and wrestling Deke into his harness. He propped a note up on the counter so Hadlee would know where they were. He carried Deke to the elevator. Kevan spent the elevator ride explaining to Deke that he was going to run today. Kevan nearly laughed because it was as if Deke looked at him to say yeah right. Kevin waved at Greg on his and Deke's way out of the building. He placed the pup on his feet. Kevan walked him to the dog park down the street. By the time they made the 3 minute walk the pup was exhausted. Kevan shook his head. They needed a bigger dog that could run and keep up with him. Maybe if they moved to the suburbs he could get a shepherd or border collie. Kevan let the brake on Deke's leash go. The pup was exploring the park until he came flying back at Kevan due to a mini pin invading his territory. He might as well just let Hadlee buy him a sweater and keep him on the couch. Kevan walked a few laps around the dog park with Deke. Obviously running wasn't in the pups DNA. They made it one block away from the building when Deke gave up and laid down. Kevan scooped him up and jogged the rest of the way to the building. So much for a pre-skate run.

"How he do today?" asked Greg looking at the furball. Deke was tucked up against Kevan like a football. A fuzzy football with its tongue lolled out.

"I don't think he is going to set any land speed records. And he is afraid of mini pins and poodles. So I guess he will be Hadlee's baby. I'm foreseeing UK clothing in his future." Kevan smiled as Deke huffed "I know buddy I tried. I think you are destined to be a lap dog."

"At least Miss Hadlee won't be lonely." replied Greg.

"Nope" replied Kevan "But I really hate for lil man here to get lost in one of those giant purses."

"No Legally Blonde for Deke" asked Greg. Kevan started laughing.

"Hadlee would kick your ass" stated Kevin "She gets compared to Elle Woods all the time. Except it's all KY blue instead of pink."

"Our secret sir" answered Greg "It's 7:45. Is skate optional?"

"No better take him up and get ready."

Kevan and the pup disappeared into the elevator. The apartment was silent. His note was still on the counter. He was glad she was getting some sleep. He put Deke on the floor and let him go. Now he ran around like a crazy dog and barked. "No Bark" instructed Kevan. The little dog flopped down outside the bedroom door. He turned on the Keurig so the water could heat. He managed to make Hadlee and decent Cafe Mocha. Kevan ventured into the bedroom. He sat the coffee on his bed side table. Hadlee was buried in a mound of blankets. Deke was prancing round his feet. Kevan sat the pup up on the bed. He stood back to watch the shenanigans. Deke started doing his bouncing barking thing. Hadlee stirred. She then lifted the edge of the duvet and Deke climbed under the blankets with Hadlee. His little head poked out within seconds he was snoring beside Hadlee. Kevan laughed out loud they had him trained he put Deke exactly where they both wanted him.

Hadlee's blonde head popped out of the duvet. She cracked her eyes open and looked up at Kevan. Her hand found Deke's little fuzzy body and she stroked the tiny pup. "Aww Deke's a good boy snuggling and going back to sleep" she cooed at the furball. She eyeballed Kevan again. "What's with the shirt and socks Miller?" Kevan never really got dressed unless they were leaving the house. Even at the rink he tended not to wear the long sleeve base layers all the other guys wore.

"Some of us have been up for hours and been on a walk" replied Kevan nodding at the coffee on the nightstand "I think that is right." Hadlee picked Deke up and placed him on her pillow. She stretched across the bed to retrieve the coffee. His shirt rode up and made Kevan want to crawl into the bed with her. "Oh no Mr. Miller. I see that look it's game day. No messing with hockey juju."

Kevan stalked towards the bed where Hadlee was now sitting with her legs crossed drinking coffee. He leaned over and kissed her mouth. "My juju is just fine." he replied kissing her again "How do you drink that it's pure sugar and caffeine. She smiled at him. Her Cali boy was a bit of a health nut and took clean eating to an entirely new level 6 days a week.

"You run on weird green plants and supplements. I run on sugar and caffeine." she said kissing his scruffy jaw "want me to make breakfast?" He shook his head. "Kevan Michael Miller protein shakes are not food."

"I'll eat after practice." he replied "I promise carbs and everything." He pulled his shirt up and showed her his abs "I'm not wasting away Hadlee Belle."

Hadlee's phone chirped. She crawled across the bed towards her nightstand. Kevan groaned. "Where are your panties?"

"Not sure they survived" she laughed grabbing the phone. She pulled the blankets up around her. Kevan pouted. "That's what you get for flashing me your abs when I can't expend any of your energy." She looked at the message on her phone. It was a group text to KK, herself, Desi, and Jami from Caro wanting to get brunch at the little cafe near her office. She saw all the affirmative responses. She said she would meet them there as well. Hadlee climbed out of the bed.

"I am going to meet all the girls for brunch" she said as she head to the bathroom. Kevan didn't have time to reply before his shirt hit him in the face. He heard the door shut. He stood there holding his shirt. Deke growled from the edge of the bed.

"I know buddy" he said picking Deke up "I'm stuck out here too." He and the pup went into the kitchen. He heard her music and a few minutes later he could smell the lime beachy scent he associated with her wafting through his apartment.

"Hey Miller" she called through the apartment.

Kevan came into the bathroom and found her sitting in the tub in a pile of bubbles trying to work a brush through her hair. Her hair resembled that scene in Frozen where the princess was startled awake.

"What the hell did you do to my hair?" she asked making no progress on tangled mess.

"Me" he said feigning innocence. "I just pulled the ponytail holder out. I think all your moving about messed with your flow Babe."

"I still blame you" she pouted as the brush got stuck "I may have to call Caroline for re-enforcements." Kevan came towards the tub. "Back it up Miller we have no time for your tub shenanigans on a game day."

"Best behavior I swear" he said kicking off his socks. "Scoot over." Hadlee scooted to the far side of the tub. Kevan stood in the tub then sat against the wall of the tub behind her on the ledge. He held out his hand. "Give me the brush" he instructed. Hadlee looked at him skeptically. "I'll be careful" he said "You know I would never hurt you on purpose." She handed him the brush. "Give me one of your band things. He stared at the band for a second. "Okay better plan you pull half of it up in one your knots." She pulled the top layers up and secured them.

"You're going to be late." she said as he began brushing through her tatted hair.

"Nah" he said "I don't have to be there until 9:30. It's 8:00. As long as I leave by 8:45 I will be fine. And if I am late they will get over it. I am never late."

"No not going to be late for anything on a game day." she replied "Plus you are going to smell like bath and body works with your legs dangling in here."

"Don't care." he answered "Helping my girl out trumps getting teased by hockey goons. Plus any of them would probably gladly switch me places." Kevan moved on to the next section of hair. He was carefully brushing out the ends before running the brush through the length. Hadlee sat with her arms wrapped around her knees as he brushed. Soon the bottom layer was finished. He pulled the band out of the top layer. He started in the same manner until he had brushed all the tangles out of her hair. It was a frizzy mess but she could run her hands through it. "Lean back" he instructed as he wet her hair with the hand nozzle. He soaked her hair.

"What are you doing Miller" she asked as he moved around behind her.

"Be still Hadlee" he ordered. Hadlee sat still while he lathered up her hair. He worked the shampoo through her hair. He rinsed the shampoo out of her hair. He stood up and looked at his watch. His shorts were wet and if he didn't hurry he would actually be late. He climbed out of the tub and lean in for a kiss. He handed her the conditioner. "Sorry babe, got to run. I'll make it up to you. I'll be home by 1 for a nap."

Hadlee stared after Kevan. He never failed to surprise her. No one in their right mind would think the Bruins rugged defensemen could also be a shampoo boy. Deke yipped from beside the tub. Since the night he fell in he no longer climbed on the ledge. "I know your daddy confuses me too." she said to the pup. She worked the conditioner into her hair and let it sit. She wondered where in the world he learned to brush and shampoo women's hair. She knew from pictures that his hair had never gotten long enough to get tangled. Curiouser and Curiouser. Kevan Miller, the enigma.

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Notes