Season's Schemings (Cyclones Christmas, #1)

by Katie Bailey

“Nah. We have that win in the bag.” “Overconfident, much?” He leans forward so his face is close to mine, and he speaks in a low, gravelly voice for only me to hear. “Haven’t you heard? Confidence is sexy.” I put my hands on my hips. “And arrogance is⁠—” “Equally sexy,” he finishes for me.

“I’m a jealous man, Madelyn,” he whispers in my ear. “So you’ll be wearing my name tonight, or nobody’s.”

Why does my husband have to be so damn sexy? And why does he have to know it? I can tell that he knows how flustered I am, but he seems to take pity on me, because he simply nods. “See you tonight, Mrs. Slater.”

I love playing on home ice. And I’m very much aware that the one and only reason I’m still able to call this arena my home is sitting in the family box, cheering me on.

I crane my neck to see if I can spot the woman who made this all possible. My wife.

It also means getting to watch Maddie blush like a tomato every time I tease her. I keep reminding myself that I shouldn’t flirt with her like that, but my gosh, it’s fun to see her react to me calling her “Mrs. Slater.”

Over the last couple weeks, Maddie has made me smile a lot.

And the girl's hair. Don't get me started on her hair… it's on the couch, on the rugs, on the hardwood floors. It's like living with a shedding dog.

And sure, I pick up after her, but these little pieces of her, scattered like confetti around my apartment, feel nice and homey.

I’ve decided I quite like my temporary wife. Maybe quite a bit more than “quite” like…

There’s not a chance she’d turn up here wearing his number. His name. Wait… am I jealous right now?

Maddie holds my gaze for a few seconds, smirking. Then, she blows me a kiss, stands up and twirls around to show me that the jersey she’s wearing is, in fact, number 19 and does say Slater on the back. Brat.

“Oh, you are in for it later, missy,” I mutter as I shake my head at her. Her eyes are dancing as she looks back at me, delighted by her own joke. “Huh?” Aaron asks as I get ready to go back onto the ice for my next shift. “Err… just saying that these guys are in for it.” “Riiiight.” He sounds sarcastic AF, but still dutifully fist-bumps me with his glove.

To make a certain someone in the crowd proud that she’s wearing my damn name on her back.

“Later, Slater.” He nods at me, then at Maddie. “Later… missy.”

“I’m pretty sure he thinks we’re heading home to have some wild freaky sex.” “EXCUSE ME?!” Maddie’s face is priceless. “What?” I blink at my wife innocently. “Isn’t that what married couples do?” She gives me a little shove. “In your dreams, Slater.” “In my wildest dreams,” I confirm with a laugh, tousling her hair.

I reach for her, but she darts around the car and jumps into the passenger side, cackling like a… well, like a madwoman. My madwoman.

“Watch the road,” I chastise again. “And seriously, Seb, why do you call me Lady M?” He smirks, shoots me a side glance. “Stop changing the subject, Lady Macbeth.” My eyes widen. “Wait. You nicknamed me after a murderous villainess?!” “You were scrubbing those hands like you were trying to take your skin off, first time we met,” he replies with a laugh. “It was a natural nickname to bestow upon you.” “Well, luckily for you, I never plan to manipulate my dear husband into committing brutal atrocities against his kingdom.” “What a relief.”

Adrienne is watching him, too, I notice. And when she sees me notice this, I bravely stare her down until she looks away. Back off, HR Lady. That’s MY husband.

“You look at her like my daddy looks at my mommy. And they’re super happy together. So, I’m going to go with yes. She is lucky to be married to you.”

She pokes her tongue out at me. “No other wife would be able to plan something this amazing.” “No,” I agree softly. “She wouldn’t.”

“You are too much.” But she’s not. She’s exactly the right amount of… everything.

“You can lean on me, Maddie. I promise I’ll help you bear the weight of this.”

“Just… make it look like you’re in love with me?” she asks. I give her my best flirtatious smile—one that I’m hoping will make her smile, too. “Pretty sure I can manage that.”

“I always mean what I say.” He looks down at me and gives me a goofy, soft smile. “And I might be biased, but I know that she isn’t half as great as you are. Plus, you have way better boobs.”

“Well, I’m bringing a new tradition.” Seb shoots me a cheeky grin. “Voodoo cookies for anyone who upsets my wife.”

The Great Wall of Slater. So that no mini Slaters will be made on this trip.” “Seb!”

Which, on the one hand, I get—Maddie is a knockout. But the possessive side of me wants to tell him to stop undressing my wife with his beady eyes. He had his chance with her and he blew it to smithereens.

She might be my temporary wife, but nobody messes with the people who are important to me. Ever.

I look pointedly at the little three-inch ornament in Adam’s fist. “Nope, that’s definitely Adam’s pickle.”

“Good,” I say, and I mean it. I want her brother to like me—I can already tell that he’s the only person in this family that actually seems to know Maddie.

“And he’ll talk hockey with you. He likes to watch it.” “But you don’t.” “Sure I do.” “Yeah right. Wayne Jetski ring a bell?” “Fine.” She smirks at me. “I like to watch when you’re playing.”

For the first time in forever, hockey is background noise—Maddie is my focus.

wake up to an early Christmas present in the form of a very shirtless Sebastian Slater sprawled out beside me in bed. And… wow. I must be on the nice list this year.

It’s more like an invisible string pulling me into his orbit.

But clearly, he has never tried Revenge Marriage (trademark pending).

I’d say that I never took to skiing… but it’s more like skiing never took to me.

Wow me

And I feel… like I’m on top of the world. Because I know that Seb doesn’t have a contract right now. Which means he is choosing me over snowboarding today.

“Skiing accident,” Seb told me gravely when I assessed the damage. “He may never walk again.” I grabbed the cookie, bit off the other foot, and declared, “No, he will definitely never walk again.” Seb laughed at this, and I inhaled the velvety sound, committing it to memory.

“Thank you,” I cry into his chest, any embarrassment at my display being drowned by gratitude. His hand tightens on the back of my neck, holding me ever closer. Somewhere in the far, far distance, Dot applauds. “Now, THEY would get a sign that says ‘Live, Laugh, Love.’”

But I don’t think I’ve ever been more scared or tense in my life than when I was watching Maddie open that envelope.

And all I could think was how happy I was that I’d made her happy. That I’d be happy every day to make her happy like that.

“You deserve to be celebrated, Maddie. Deserve to be praised. Deserve to have all of those people look at you and talk to you with way more respect. And I’m pulling double duty as your husband to help you get everything you deserve.”

“You’re special, Maddie.” My voice is so full of gravel, I barely recognize it. “And I’m going to do everything in my power to show you just how special you are.”

She must press the cookie a bit too hard because she mutters, “Oops, I smudged my lipstick.” I give her a heated look, and I’m gratified to see those green eyes darken once again. “That’s a look I’d like to see more often on you.”

I’m sure he’s a hot commodity.” “He is,” I say dreamily. And he’s all miney mine mine…

“I’m not going to hurt Maddie,” he tells her, his voice slightly thick. “I could never hurt Maddie.” Mom attempts another laugh, but it comes out sounding more like a cough. “You really mean that?” she taunts. “I always say what I mean, and mean what I say.”

“I was furious when I overheard your mom talking to you today. The way she puts you down makes me angry. And the way Adam walks all over you makes me wanna punch him in the face. I dunno, maybe I have anger issues.” He snorts a laugh. “But I’m so impressed by you, I can’t help but go on defense for you. I mean, you showed up for your family Christmas. You could’ve said no, told them to go screw themselves… but instead, you came.

He shoots me a devious grin. “I’m making space for a meaningful thing in my life.” My heart jumps into my throat. That face. That voice. Those words. It’s too much for a red-blooded woman to take, I tell you.

His fingertips lightly graze over the sides of my bikini bottoms, tangling in the strings, and between kisses and shallow breaths, he murmurs against my skin, “These little bows have been driving me crazy since the moment you got in here. Do you have any idea how hot you are, Maddie? You drive me wild.”