Kayleigh was holding Brad's hand as he navigated their way out of the club. Hadlee's birthday party had been a huge success. Hadlee was surprised and it was more obvious than ever that Kevan was crazy over Hadlee. He had enlisted the girls to make sure everything was perfect. Then again Brad had made sure her evening was perfect as well. Kayleigh leaned over and casually kissed Brad's cheek. She knew that his idea of a good time didn't include country music or all three of the girls fawning over country stars.

"What was that for?" Brad asked as the VIP doorman hailed them a cab. He kissed her mouth before she had a chance to answer. She gasped and Brad's tongue rasped at hers. Kayleigh wrapped her arms around his neck. She was quickly losing herself in Brad's kiss.

"Holy hell, Kayleigh" catcalled West "I expect shit like this from Caro." She sighed but didn't move her face or arms. She felt the blush start creeping from her toes to the top of her head. Brad kissed her softly.

"Any chance if we ignore them they will just go away?" Brad asked with his forehead against hers.

"Not a chance in hell" replied West smiling at the little guy. Kayleigh sighed and took Brad's hand. She leveled her best mad Southern belle glare at West. Ash busted out laughing. Court looked like he was debating between grabbing Kayleigh and climbing the nearest skyscraper or just choking Marchand.

"Marchand, what are you 5'6" asked West.

"Be nice" yelled Kayleigh. West laughed even harder. He walked over to the couple and looked down at them.

"I am being nice. He is still breathing. First he's all over the internet kissing Had, then he is with you. I can however promise that if he flits over Caro I will do bodily harm." explained West

"Fuck off" replied Brad. Kayleigh knew that look and it was never good. Anytime he got in trouble on the ice it was immediate proceeded by that smirk on his face right now. Plus he had quite a bit of booze in him. "Listen I get it. I have 2 sisters. If a guy like me was with either one I would want to crack skulls. I love Hadlee Belle to death. She had no fucking clue who we were. When she found out who we were it didn't fucking matter. She called us a boy band then turned and started screaming at UK's offensive line. That makes her just North of fucking amazing. Yes, I kissed her that night but it was no different than Kayleigh or Caroline kissing one of you all. And I would like to point out that neither me or Dougie have been dicks about it. "

"Brad" said Kayleigh trying to diffuse the situation.

"Nah let him talk Kayleigh Jo" called Ash. Kayleigh knew Ash would intervene. But Brad getting into any type of altercation would be headline news in Boston.

"I get that it looks horrible. I might have teased Kevan about wanting Hadlee but it was just to watch his reaction. He loves her. Whether or not he has the balls to do something about it remains to be seen. I can however say that Kayleigh is amazingly perfect. I really have no idea what she is doing with an asshole like me. Trust me someone reminds me of this fact daily. My teammates are just waiting for me to fuck this up so they can say that they told me. There is a fucking locker room pool about how soon I will fuck this up. Hell there are even odds on how I will fuck it up. Cheat on her, drunken public shenanigans, or just being my charming self. So really I don't need your help to fuck this up West!"

West, Court, and Ash all stood in front of Marchand absolutely speechless. Kayleigh wrapped both of her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder. "You are not going to fuck this up, I won't let you." Kayleigh kissed him. She then wheeled around and stared at all 3 Reynolds' brothers. Court knew that look. It took a lot to make her mad but when it happened it was Hiroshima all over. She walked towards West in a blur of lace and cowboy boots.

"Y'all do not get to treat him like that" she stated eerily calm "He has been nothing but good to me and Hadlee. Brad makes me happy." Court looked at her face he knew she was moments from tears. He also knew enough about Marchand to know that if one tear fell that he would go Lil Ball of Hate on West's dumb ass.

"That's all I have ever wanted for you Kayleigh Jo" said Court.

"You don't have a big brother to watch over you" replied Ash "You are always gonna be the that tiny girl Hadlee brought home from cheer camp. Same with Caroline. We love you as much as Had. We just wanted to make sure he is on the up and up."

Kayleigh was still had her finger in the middle of West chest. Marchand was standing behind her looking like there might be a line brawl at any moment. West threw his arms around Kayleigh. He was whispering in her ear. "I had to make sure Kayleigh Jo. For Court's sake he needed to see that you wanted to be with Marchand. He needs to go back to Kentucky and move on. Yes, I am an asshole."

"But you're our asshole" she said smiling at West " you know that the entire Bruins family say the same thing about Brad." Kayleigh was beaming at Brad. She flew out of West's arms to Brad. Before anything else could be said the doorman told them the cab was there. It was one of the minivan cabs.

"Do guys want a ride to Hadlee's place" asked Brad. Kayleigh was proud of him. It was clearly a peace offering.

"Yeah" said West

Kayleigh crawled into the cab followed by Marchand and the boys. She climbed into the very back seat and Brad followed. West climbed in beside Brad and Kayleigh. She was sitting in between the Brad and Marchand. Kayleigh had scooted over against Marchand. Their hands were intertwined in his lap. Brad gave the taxi the address for Hadlee's and his place. It only took about 10 minutes to get between the club and Hadlee's. The boy were exiting the van. West turned and looked at Brad.

"Take care of her" said West handing the cabbie a fifty before leaving. Brad protested him paying for the cab. "Nah I got it man. Kayleigh Jo brunch at 11:30 am. Don't miss out on Hadlee's brunch because I was a dick."

"We'll be there" she said nodding at Brad. West shook his head. Kayleigh and the biggest asshole in the NHL was something he needed to wrap his brain around. He knew by just looking at her she loved Marchand. She had looked at Court like that. Why did that seem like eons ago. "Nite Bibbiddi" he called as he slid the taxi door closed. He heard them both call out goodbye. Court was standing outside the building leaned up against the front door smoking.

"You do realize that no matter how small he is that he plays pro hockey and knows how to fight." stated Court.

"Like you didn't want to know his intentions with Kayleigh" replied West

"Yeah, but I wouldn't hurt her to find out" snarled Court

"Because you are so fucking great at not hurting her" West was now toe to toe with Court. " I owe you an ass kicking over that anyway. But you were hid out in the sandbox. You could have at least had the decency to tell her why you disappeared."

"Fuck off little bro" Court took the last drag of the cigarette he was smoking.

"Both of you fuck off" yelled Ash "Get inside we have a 12 hour drive tomorrow and I don't
want you all bitching because you fought."

Brad was quiet. Kayleigh could tell he was contemplating something. "Think I can get in on that dating pool" she joked.

"Just asked Campbell. All you need is $100 bucks and a number" snarked Brad. She pulled a pen and a piece of paper out of her purse. Kayleigh drew and infinity symbol on the paper. She folded the piece of paper and 2 $50s together and handed it to Brad.

"Give him that" she replied. Brad opened the piece of paper. He turned the paper up and looked at the number 8.

"8 minutes, 8 days, 8 months, or 8 years." he asked dejectedly.

Kayleigh turned the paper back sideways. "It's an infinity symbol. I don't care what they say Bradley Keith. It's up to us to make it." He opened his wallet and stuck the piece of paper in it. He handed her the dollar bills back. She looked at him oddly.

"Fuck their pool" he said crashing his mouth against hers "I'm keeping it." Brad pulled Kayleigh onto his lap. He cradled her against him and kissed her. When she was breathless they pulled apart.

"Kayleigh Jo, eh?" asked Brad smiling at her. Kayleigh realized she had been so mad at the boys that she hadn't even noticed they had outed her middle name.

"Yes, it's very redneck" said Kayleigh. Brad kissed the side of her neck. "Looks fine to me."
The cab came to stop in front of his building. He tipped the driver another $20 and climbed out behind Kayleigh.

Kayleigh sat down on the couch and pulled her boots off. She sat them by the end table. Brad laughed out loud when he saw her socks. They were camo and pink. "Nice socks."

"Don't make fun" said Kayleigh "My daddy bought me these Browning socks." She pointed to the little deer symbol on the socks. "They match my hunting gear."

"You hunt?" he asked taking in the little lace dress and socks.

"I hunt with a camera" she replied. Brad smiled at her and pulled her up from the couch.

"You will love Nova Scotia" he said "Maybe we can get up there for Christmas." Kayleigh nodded. Then promptly yawned. "I'm boring" he asked.

"Nope just a long day. Someone woke me up wanting to tell Hadlee Happy Birthday at dawn."

"Come on let's you in bed." Brad held her hand as he navigated through the dark apartment. He threw the switch in his room. Brad dug out a Moncton Wildcats t-shirt and handed it Kayleigh. She took the shirt without looking at it. She disappeared into the bathroom to change. While she was getting ready for bed he stripped down to his boxer briefs and laid on the bed. He was looking at pictures from the concert on instagram and twitter. He was starting to read his email when she came back into the room.

Kayleigh had looked at the shirt and originally thought it was a Lucic shirt. It was number 17. But she read the back and it said Marchand.

"We were both wildcats" said Kayleigh crawling into the bed with Brad.

"Yeah" he replied "I thought you might like that one." She nodded. Kayleigh yawned again. Brad hit the remote and turned off the lights. Kayleigh wiggled around until she found the spot she wanted to be in. She was laying on her side on his chest. She was absently stroking her hand down his torso. He kissed the top of her head. She tipped her head up and kissed his full mouth. He rolled towards her.

The touch of his mouth sent shock wave through her body. The kiss started out slow but soon picked up speed and heat. His tongue stabbed into her mouth, twisting and tangling with hers before luring Kayleigh's into his mouth, where he sucked on it greedily. Brad's hands fisted in her hair. She ran her hands over his sides then his back, trying to pull him closer. Her nails raked his skin and she felt him shiver against her as he deepened the kiss even further.

Brad's hands were holding her head still, he broke the kiss. He stared down at Kayleigh then groaned and kissed her again. As his tongue thrust into her mouth she purred, letting him know how much she liked it. Kayleigh felt his body shudder violently before he ripped his mouth from hers. He kissed her gently a few times. Brad then snuggled her up against him again. His arms went around her.

"Brad" Kayleigh said quietly he could hear the question in her voice. He kissed the back of her head.

"Let's go to sleep Kayleigh." he replied "We have all day tomorrow after Hadlee's brothers leave. Right now I just want to hold you. We leave Monday morning for Detroit. It will be an entire week of napping and sleeping alone." Kayleigh wasn't just another lay to him. He knew he needed to prove it to her and most of all himself. She turned over his arms and faced him. She kissed him again and burrowed her head into his shoulder.

"They're wrong Brad. I will be waiting for you when you get home from this road trip. And the next one after that." she said into his neck.

"I hope so" he replied rubbing her back. For the first time in forever he dreaded going on the road to play hockey. He loved hockey. His whole world had centered around hockey, partying because he was a hockey player, and fucking random girls because of hockey. "I'm done fucking up." Brad turned her so she was spooned up against him. "Don't let me fuck it up." He kissed her shoulder.

They laid in his bed tangled up in each other. Kayleigh was stroking the arm wrapped around her. He was extremely tense. The longer they laid together the more he relaxed. She felt the tension release from his body when he finally fell asleep. Her brain swirled around all the thing he had said to the boys. She wanted to cry but knew it wouldn't help. She laid there listening to him breathe. Kayleigh watched the clock. An hour had passed. She couldn't fall asleep. She managed to free herself from Brad's grasp. She pulled the steel gray comforter up over his body. She didn't want to wake him. She looked at him for a few minutes. He looked more like a little boy than the brash hockey player everyone knew. Kayleigh could love this Brad and she might even like the Lil Ball of Hate. She shut the bedroom door.

Kayleigh flipped on the light over Brad's sink. His kitchen was an industrial wonder. But she'd almost bet that nothing had been prepared in the kitchen short of warming things in the microwave. Perhaps his mom or sisters cooked when they were down. She went into the pantry and looked around. Kayleigh grabbed the peanut butter, sugar, and a chocolate bar. She dug around in the fridge and came out with a few eggs. She preheated the oven.
Kayleigh rummaged through the cabinet and managed to find a mixing bowl and 2 cookie sheets that appeared to have never been used. She combined all the ingredients in the bowl then added the chocolate that she chopped. Kayleigh dropped spoonfuls of the dough out on the cookie sheets. She slid them in the oven then loaded the dishes in the dishwasher. She set the timer on her phone and settled in on Brad's couch. She powered up the TV. She cruised channels before settling on Designing Women. It was one of her favorite shows. In fact she had named the bakery after the design firm on the show. Even had quotes from the show on her walls. The entire apartment was starting to smell like peanut butter. She was laughing at Susan on the TV when the timer went off. She pulled the cookies out of the oven. She headed back to the television while they cooled.

Brad woke up alone in his bed. He glanced at the clock beside his bed. It was a little past 8 am. They didn't have to be at brunch until 11:30. He couldn't imagine her leaving without telling him. But then again maybe all his shit was too much. Brad opened the bedroom door and the entire house smelled like peanut butter. He went into the kitchen and saw peanut butter chocolate chip cookies on pans. He noticed the dishwasher had been set on delay. He took the cookies off the pan and threw them on a plate. He managed to only break 2 of them. He put the pans in the dishwasher. He heard the TV on in the next room. Kayleigh was sitting up in the corner of his couch asleep with his Bruins throw wrapped around her.

"Babe" he said shaking her gently "Come back to bed." She didn't really stir. Brad sat down on the couch beside her and pulled her up against his chest. He managed to get the blanket around both of them without waking Kayleigh up. He was looking for the remote when he heard the lady on the television answer the phone Sugarbaker's. He sat watching the television show. One episode went off and second began. The show was an episode about an old lady named Bernice who's daughter was trying to put her in a nursing home. The ladies were trying to keep her out of the home. He recognized one of the quotes from Kayleigh's bakery wall about the South being proud of their crazies. He laughed. Kayleigh looked up at him. He smiled down at her.

"That's my favorite episode." she said cuddling into him "It's true. When you come down to Georgia you meet all of them. Good, bad, southern oddity, and plain crazy. But they are my crazy."

"You want to take a Canadian boy down south" he asked teasing her "I'm not sure I'll fit in."

"Of course you will. You are my crazy too." she replied "You might hear whispers of that's Kayleigh's Yankee boyfriend."

"Surely they won't think I play baseball" asked Brad.

"Brad half my family hasn't recognized the civil war is over. My granny still refers to it as the war of Northern Aggression." she giggled "It's kind of like Dukes of Hazzard meets Gone With the Wind." He was looking at her with such a serious expression that she couldn't keep the joke going. "I'm teasing." Brad released the breath he was holding. "But I am sure they will have lots of questions about Canada."

"I will answer them. But I don't know why they call Canadian bacon Canadian." he laughed "and as far as I know there isn't a maple syrup reservoir anywhere in Canada." Kayleigh was giggling. Then jumped up and ran in the kitchen.

"I thought I had forgot about the cookies." she said looking around. "I just sat down to let them cool."

"I took them off the pans and put them on a plate. I put the pans in the dishwasher." he replied. Kayleigh stopped the dishwasher and retrieved the pans and put them in the sink. "Brad sheet pans warp in the dishwasher."

"K" he replied then asked what a sheet pan was. Kayleigh laughed. "I'm kind of tragic in the kitchen. I was shocked you found cookie stuff."

"I bake when I can't sleep" she replied "Or when I am nervous. Or anxious. Or working"

Brad snagged a cookie from the plate. He could get used to there being cookies, cupcakes, and things in the house. Then again he would have to live on a the treadmill or run with Millsy's psycho ass. "If we break them up in bowl and pour milk over them I can count them as cereal, eh?"

Kayleigh laughed out loud. "Nice try Marchand. You get a few cookies. I'm gonna pack them up and send them with Ash and the boys for the drive home." Brad pouted and stuck out his bottom lip. Kayleigh promptly kissed the pout away. "I can make you more. Or let you pick something else you want."

"Anything I want" he asked wiggling his eyebrows.

"Yep" said Kayleigh as he pulled her up against his body. Kayleigh stroked a finger over his Cup tattoo. "But first we need to head to my apartment and let me get clothes for brunch. Somehow I don't think your t-shirt and my boots are appropriate."

"Do I get to see you wear the shirt and your boots" he asked. She kissed him a darted away from him.

"Only on the drive to my place" she said as she headed to his room "Come on we need pants." He pulled the shirt she was wearing up.

"I disagree. You don't need pants." he smirked with both hands cupping her ass. Kayleigh smacked his hands away. Brad laughed as he scooped her up and tossed her on the bed. He covered her body with his "I vote we hang out here in my bed and you raid my sister's closet in their bedroom. It's full of things I buy for them when they are here. They leave half of it here. Plus there is a suitcase full of comfy clothes. Not to mention a wad of make-up and shit in their bathroom."

"I need a shower" replied Kayleigh "and clean underwear."

"Nope, you can shower with me and go commando." he said kissing the side of her neck. He grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it up and off her body "This is dirty." Kayleigh laughed. She was laying on the bed beneath him a pair of tiny white boy shorts. "For fucks sake Kayleigh is that all you had on under that dress."

"Nope I have a bra that matches these panties" replied Kayleigh "I'll go get it." She tried to squirm away from Brad. His body was pressing into her into the mattress. "No way Kayleigh Jo." he said rocking his hips into hers. "You aren't getting away from me again. Sneak out of bed to make cookies."

"You like cookies" smiled Kayleigh. Brad was kissing his way down her neck to her breasts. He kissed the slopes of her breasts.

"Like you more" he said as he lazily tongued her nipples. Kayleigh hissed. He pulled each nipple into his mouth. They hardened under his touch. "way better than cookies." Kayleigh thrust her hands into his hair to hold him close. Brad heard her phone chirp. It was the alarm they had set so they wouldn't be late to brunch. He ignored the obnoxious thing and sucked on her coral nipples. Brad levered up off the bed and grabbed Kayleigh. He threw her over his shoulder and smacked her on her ass.

"Bradley Keith Marchand" she yelled "What are you doing?"

Brad started the shower in the master bath with the hand not currently on Kayleigh's ass. He stepped into the shower with her on his shoulder. The semi warm water ran down her body causing her to shiver. Brad sat her on her feet under the now warm spray. There were multiple shower heads spraying them. Kayleigh squealed as he pushed her up against the cold tile wall.

"Aw Kayleigh babe those are wet." laughed Brad pulling her underwear off her body. His wet briefs joined hers in a soggy heap on the floor of the shower. He stuck his head under the shower head and soaked his hair. He shoved his hand through the wet locks and pushed them back. Kayleigh was sure she looked like a drowned rat. Somehow he just got hotter. Kayleigh watch drops of water roll off his shoulder, over his pecs, and run down his abs. She contemplated tracing her tongue down the path of the water.

Brad's mouth descended on hers. His tongue opened the seam of her lips. His hand found her clit. She moaned into his mouth. Kayleigh ran her hand down his wet body and stroked his wet cock. Their hands were all over each other. This wasn't slow and sweet. This was quick and dirty. Well as dirty as it could be in the shower. Brad growled at her and pressed her wet body up against the glass wall. Her nipples beaded at the contact with the cool glass. Brad had his fingers inside her body and his thumb working her. She was close to coming from that alone. Too many different sensations. Brad kissed her wet shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her waist and arched her ass out towards him. She felt him enter her in one fluid motion. Kayleigh cried out. Brad moved his hands up to caress her breasts as he rocked himself in and out of her body. His hands slid from her breast to her hips. He then dropped a hand to that tight bundle of nerves. Between his deep thrusts and his hot wet hand on her clit Kayleigh was panting his name. Brad was kissing her throat. He captured her mouth just as she screamed. Brad continued to plunge into her body as a second wave rocked her. Brad came and flattened her against the glass. He was pressing small kisses against her back. He pulled her back under the spray. She shivered again. He pulled the band from her hair and tossed it in the shower floor. He lathered up her hair and rinsed it. She still felt boneless as he washed her all over. Kayleigh started to return the favor but he pushed her out of the shower. He kissed her before declaring "We won't make it to brunch." He stuck his head back out of the shower and was watching her wrap herself in a towel hanging on the towel rack. Hell of a view. "There is a blow drier under the sink in the girls bathroom."

Brad finished his shower. He wrapped himself in a towel and went in search of Kayleigh. He found her sitting in his sisters bathroom wrapped in a towel. She was blow drying her hair. He dug through the drawers and found a sports bra and pair of matching under armor girls briefs both still had tags on them. He managed to find a light weight cream colored sweater and khaki leggings. He knew his sister had a denim shirt that went with this outfit. He managed to find it in the closet. He threw the clothes on the bed. He heard the drier stop. "Kayleigh I left clothes on the bed." he called as he went to his room.

Twenty minutes later they were in the car on the way to brunch. Kayleigh was holding the cookies in a container on her lap. Brad smiled and laughed.

"What" asked Kayleigh.

"They can totally have the cookies" he smirked.

Notes