The party was in full swing by seven p.m.

Maybe it wasn’t a giant mansion like Gage’s or a swanky loft like Rory’s, but our new townhouse was perfect for us.

Then again, everything about being married to Pepper was perfect. And maybe it was the whole newlywed thing. Or the great sex thing. Or the infatuation that came from being utterly and completely blissed out. Either way, I’d never been more in love with the gorgeous blonde in the blue dress.

“I love you, Mrs. Gentry,” I whispered in her ear as I came up behind her.

She startled but settled into my touch.

“I love you, Mr. Gentry,” she replied, turning so I could brush a kiss across her lips.

“Happy Housewarming!” Ivy said, carrying a bottle of champagne over her head as she walked into our foyer, ending our kiss.

“Hey!” Pepper grabbed her sister into a hug. “I’m so glad you came!”

“Me, too?” Asked Coach Harris as he came in behind her.

Sure, he’d agreed to let me marry Pepper, and kept me on the Sharks, but I hadn’t given him much of a choice. I was a top goalie, my contract had been signed, and we were seated to start the Stanley Cup playoffs in three weeks.

Just like he’d forced Pepper’s hand, I’d forced his.

“Of course, Dad,” Pepper said, giving him an awkward one-armed hug.

“Gentry.”

“Coach.”

“Guess we haven’t quite reached the Dad and Son titles, yet, huh?” Ivy joked.

It fell flat as Coach and I stared at each other.

“So this is awkward,” Ivy rocked back on her heels.

“Ivy!” Hannah shouted, running into the foyer in her pink party dress.

“Hannah Banana!” Ivy answered, handing the champagne to Pepper and scooping up Hannah. “The dress is perfect on you!”

“Thank you for buying it for me.” She kicked out her feet. “Uncle Connor bought me new shoes, too!” She showed off her new pink Vaans.

“So he did,” Ivy sang with a smile. “Let’s go find him, shall we?”

“Right here,” Connor answered from the doorway.

“Seriously, do you not understand dress shoes?” she hissed, dragging Connor into the party.

“What? She said pink ballet flats. I got her pink shoes that are flat.”

“Not the same!”

They disappeared into the party, leaving the three of us in an uncomfortable silence.

“Glad to see they’re still at each other’s throats,” Pepper muttered.

“I don’t see that changing,” Coach answered, tugging on his tie.

Pepper had wanted something on the more formal side, so I’d agreed. She’d said something about showing that we were good adults. I would have rather hung out in a tee shirt, but I lived to make her happy, so my hair was tied back and my neck was strangled by Hermes silk.

“Look, I know we haven’t had a lot of heart to hearts, since…”

“Since you blackmailed me into dumping my husband?” Pepper answered with a smile.

“Hey, he wasn’t your husband at that point.”

“Semantics,” I answered. “But we get your point. And baby, he did give me permission to marry you.” I looped my arm around her waist and pulled her tight against me. In just a few hours, this house would be empty and I’d be able to slide my hands right up her thighs and taste her orgasm on my tongue.

Fuck, how long was this party?

“I did,” Coach answered. “Which is why I’m stepping the hell out of my daughters’ lives,” he laughed.

“Oh really?” Pepper teased.

“Yeah, you think I ever want Ivy coming at me married just so she can date someone?” He shook his head. “I’m glad you two are working out, but that girl is never going to settle down, and you both know it. I’d rather she date every player on the Sharks than marry the wrong guy. You, Gentry, I know are the right guy for Pepper, so don’t get all testy with me.”

Hell yes, I was.

“So, I’m saying I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have interfered or made you feel like you had to choose. And I should have done a better job balancing my obligations as a coach and my love for you as a father,” he said directly to Pepper. “I’m just glad you were both certain enough to fight for what you have.”

“Me too,” Pepper said.

“Me three.” Sure, I was pissed at the guy, but it had all been done out of a misguided sense of love.

“Forgiven?”

We nodded, and he ended the awkwardness with a smile. “Guess I’ll go check out this new house of yours.”

We stood in the foyer, and Pepper looped her arms around my neck.

“I’ll always fight for you,” she promised.

“I’ll always protect you. You and your heart,” I vowed before kissing her long and deep. Our tongues met and tangled, and it wasn’t long until I had my hands on her ass, lifting her for a better angle.

“Stop molesting your wife, Gentry! No one needs a peep show!” Lukas called out from the doorway, his arm around yet another woman.

I stared him down.

“What? Did I say it wrong?”

“Nope,” I answered, “that one you got exactly right.”

He gave me a grin and disappeared with his flavor of the evening.

“I can’t wait to get you alone later,” I growled in my wife’s ear.

My wife. Mine. She had my last name, my heart, my future, everything.

She was my everything.

“Me, either,” she said, nipping my ear. “I have to ask, though…”

“What?”

“Do you still happen to have that Iron Man costume lying around? Because I definitely have a couple fantasies to fulfill.”

Her smile was heart-stopping.

I laughed. God, this woman would keep me on my toes.

“Yeah. I think we can make that happen.”

Because I’d make her every dream come true...the same way she had mine.