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Hadlee was still asleep when Kevan woke from their nap. She had apparently decided sometime during the nap, that she would forgo her pillow and just sleep on him. He couldn't possibly get out of the bed without waking Hadlee. He wanted to laugh. Hadlee was murmuring in her sleep. Even resting she wasn't quiet. He could totally understand her and the squirrel being friends. Hadlee was Kevan's polar opposite. She was bright and loud, and he was quiet and generally subdued. He could watch her and be entertained for hours. He smoothed her blonde hair back from her face. Hadlee moved her face into his touch. He smiled down at her.

"I finally figured out how to keep you from sneaking out of bed."

"I don't sneak out of the bed" he replied "I just wake up way earlier than you."

"Well, the temp in the bed drops 20 degree when you leave." pouted Hadlee "So, I decided if I laid on the heat source I would stay warm, and get to snuggle on my favorite set of abs."

"That so babe?" asked Miller laughing at her.

"I'm a problem solver, Miller." she answered as she moved so she was face to face with Kevan "Plus, if we are actually in the bed at the same time, I can kiss you good luck before the game." Hadlee gave him a smacking kiss on the jaw. He growled at her.

"You're a tease, Hadlee Belle."


"Maybe, but you love me anyway." she sassed. Hadlee ended up underneath Kevan looking up at him. He grabbed her arms and pulled them up over her head. He leaned in and kissed her mouth. She wiggled trying to free her arms. Hadlee laughed and tried to move Kevan off of her. "No fair, you are way bigger than me." Kevan kissed her again. He bit down on her bottom lip. "Ow, Miller" Kevan laughed and soothed the bite with tongue. Sweet kisses revved into bone melting kisses. Kevan let go of her arms and levered off the bed.

"Got to get ready babe" said Kevan striding toward the bathroom.

"I think I hate game days!" yelled Hadlee. She heard him laugh as the shower started up "You are mean, Kevan Michael Miller. I'm going to mismatch your suit and you won't even notice."

"Or you could come get in the shower with me" he called.

"No way!" she called back "Not messing with the hockey juju." She heard his rumbling laugh. Hadlee let Deke out of his crate. He followed her back into the bedroom. Hadlee sat him on the bed while she dug through Kevan's closet. She found his navy suit and the blue checked shirt she liked with it. Hadlee was sitting in the floor digging in his ties, when Kevan peered into the closet. He raised an eyebrow.

"Dirty play, Miller" said Hadlee. Kevan was currently wrapped in a towel. Hadlee was contemplating violating the no sex on game day rule, or at least tracing the path of that last water droplet before it hit the towel.

"I'll be back tomorrow night."

"I'm making Caro stay here with me and maybe Dani Grace. Since, McQuaid is abandoning her too." said Hadlee holding up the light blue tie in victory. "We are getting you a tie organization system!" Kevan dropped the towel and grabbed his boxers. Hadlee gave him the evil eye as she walked past him.

Kevan smack her booty as she walked by. She jumped. "I have a tie organization system. I have you, babe." he replied as he leaned in and kissed her.

"Damn straight" she called over her shoulder. She retrieved Deke and headed to the kitchen. "I'm going to fix you something to eat."

"I can grab something" he said pulling on ball shorts and a tee "You don't have to cook again."

"I'm not. I fixed extra this afternoon." she replied "I'm just warming it up."

Kevan came into the kitchen and scooped Deke up off the floor. "I'll take him out" said Kevan "Then you won't have to when I'm gone."

"You're a good daddy, Miller" laughed Hadlee over her shoulder.

"Our kids are going to be way tougher than this dog, Hadlee Belle." replied Kevan sliding his feet into his flip flops. Deke growled at Kevan.

"You're gonna give him a complex" said Hadlee coming over to scratch the little dogs head. "You're daddy thinks everyone needs to kick ass on the ice. Some of us are just meant to be cute, and kick ass using our brains." Hadlee kissed Deke then Kevan. "Love you boys! Be careful, and don't pick up any stray bitches."

Kevan just smiled at Hadlee. She never ceased to amaze him. Kevan knew he needed to get ready for the game, so he didn't even bother with trying to get Deke to walk. He just tucked him under his arm like a football. A tiny furry football, that was currently chewing on his shirt sleeve. Kevan tapped his nose and told him no. Deke actually looked offended. He gave Kevan a look that said, I'm telling. Kevan waved to Greg and jogged out of the front door. A few minutes later Kevan and Deke returned to the lobby. Kevan stopped and made sure the arrangements for the girls getting to the arena were taken care of. Greg assured him he would take care of the girls and Deke. Kevan tried to tip Greg. He refused.

"Mr. Miller" called Greg "You do realize that Miss Hadlee and the girls are the most exciting part of most of my days. I enjoy all of them."

"They keep us all on our toes." replied Kevan. Deke barked. "You too, little man."

Kevan sat Deke down and headed to the kitchen. He found a plate full of pasta, veggies, and shrimp with a bottle of water. There was a post it that said "Eat me." Kevan laughed. The smell of limes, sugar, and coconut wafted through the apartment, his girl was in the tub. Kevan ate standing up at the sink.

"Sit at the counter Miller" she called from the bathroom "Act civilized" she admonished.

"You love me the way I am" said Miller sitting on the counter with his plate. Hadlee came out of the bathroom wearing her tiny Millertime tank and matching panties. Kevan quirked an eyebrow at her. She gave him her best, client needs to follow my orders look.

"Not what I had in mind when I said eat at the counter" she replied snagging her phone from the counter "But, yes I love you, caveman tendencies and all." Hadlee headed back to the bathroom. He heard one of her country boys blaring from the speakers. Kevan finished his dinner and put the plate in the dishwasher.

Kevan wanted to head into the bathroom and watch Hadlee soak in his huge tub, but knew that the chance of him making it to the arena on time would greatly decrease. Kevan dressed in the suit Hadlee had laid out for him. The guys liked to tease him about how much better dressed he was since he was with Hadlee. Kevan didn't think it was that bad, but Brad liked to point out how lucky he was. Kevan walked into the bathroom holding his tie "Babe, are you gonna tie my tie or do you want me to do it?"

Hadlee was sprawled out in the tub shaving her legs. He was always amazed that someone so tiny had such long legs. Hadlee rinsed and started the tub draining. "I'll tie it. Toss me a towel." Kevan laid his tie on the counter and walked over to the tub with a large black towel. He held it out and wrapped her in the towel. "I can dry myself" laughed Hadlee.

"True" replied Kevan "But, I enjoy doing it." Hadlee secured her towel and climbed on the bathroom vanity.

"Let's get you presentable"

"I'm not that bad" said Kevan.

"Nope, I like that you are scruffy and in a suit. It's the best of both worlds." Hadlee looped his tie around his neck. She made short work of tying the tie. She smoothed it in place. "Now go kick ass, and no fighting with the other boys."

"I'll do my best, Hadlee Belle" he replied as he leaned in and kissed her "Love you. See you after the game." He kissed her soundly before heading out of the bathroom. "Play nice with the other wives and girlfriends." he called "Try to keep Caro from starting any brawls. Stay with Britt. Have fun."

"Yes, Daddy" she sassed.

Kevan stuck his head back in the bathroom door. He smirked at her "We'll address that when I get back from teambuilding."

"Can't wait, Miller. Love you!" she called through the apartment. She heard the door click closed. She looked down at Deke "Just you and me, buddy. I guess we need to get used to it boy." She cuddled the little dog in her lap. "We'll be fine." Hadlee didn't know why but she felt like crying. Hadlee shook it off and started doing her hair and make-up. She was fully engaged in a conversation with Deke when she heard the door open.

"Honey, I am home!" called Caro from the living room.

"Bathroom!" yelled Hadlee. Caroline came into her line of vision in a gold tank, black leather leggings, and black booties. "Damn Caroline. Full battle armor." Caroline laughed. "Higher the hair closer to God?" teased Hadlee.

"I figure they need to know who they are dealing with" laughed Caroline. Dani Grace joined them in the bathroom. She looked like a 50's pinup of a hockey girlfriend. "Plus, I brought back up."

"You look like an extra from Grease" said Hadlee "I love it." Caroline started fussing with Hadlee's hair. While Dani Grace sat on Kevan's vanity.

"So, who is this handsome fellow?" asked Dani Grace snagging Deke from Hadlee.

"Deke" said Hadlee petting his nose.

"Like Wake?" asked Dani Grace

"No, as in faking out a goalie" said Caroline "But, I thought Demon Deacons as well." She had quit fussing with Hadlee's hair and had started on her makeup.

"Oh" laughed Dani Grace "I guess I need to figure this hockey stuff out."

"Nah" said Hadlee "We're faking it! But, we are picking it up slowly. Bradley Keith is an excellent teacher, but Dougie probably has more patience. Main thing you need to know is that Adam is a defense guy. Keeps the puck clear of the goal and protects the other guys. Oh and he might throw down and fight. Quaider is damn hot when he gets all ornery."

"Well, I happen to think he is damn hot all the time" replied Dani Grace.

"I hear all about Tall, Hot, and Sweaty" quizzed Caroline "What's up with Quaider?"

"I wouldn't know" answered Dani Grace "We've kissed and snuggled that's it."

"Aww! McQuaid really likes you" said Hadlee tearing up.

"And the boys in that apartment are slow as hell" explained Caroline "Dougie drove me crazy. It took Reilly a year to man up."

"Caroline, he was trying not to get her in trouble."

"He was being a big baby!" said Caroline applying mascara to Hadlee's lashes.

"Dougie's right Caroline"

"About what?" asked Caroline

"You need to go back to school and become a stylist." said Hadlee "You are happier doing this than teaching or bartending. Plus, I always look awesome."

"I'm looking at it" answered Caroline "But, I want to pay for it on my own. I don't want Dougie to do it."

"So, I can loan you the money" asked Hadlee "You can pay me back with no interest!"

"I hate you" said Caroline.

"I love you too, Bitch" replied Hadlee "Now, figure out who I write a check to"

"Makes me wish I lived closer" said Dani Grace "New York is big and a little lonely."

"You can come down anytime you want" invited Hadlee "You can crash with one of us. Or Quaider." Dani Grace laughed. Hadlee headed into their room and pulled her favorite jeans from the closet. She pulled them on. They were uncomfortably tight. Hadlee tossed them on the chair and grabbed her favorite black leggings. She topped those with a soft slouchy black sweater. She pulled on open toed black booties.

"Really Had? Open toe at a hockey game?" asked Caroline

"Says the girl who teased her hair within an inch of it's life." sassed Hadlee "Gotta show'em"

"Damn straight" laughed Caroline.

"Well these girls aren't ready for a full fledged Southern invasion." said Dani Grace " I guess we'll break them in right."

"Absolutely" giggled Hadlee. She couldn't wait for the rest of the girls to arrive. She wanted to get to the arena. The sooner the game, the sooner the team building, the sooner Kevan would be home.

Notes