6

Looked like he might have to reschedule a few more.

“Not good news.” His throat tightened and he inhaled slowly. “She needs surgery to repair her heart. It’s a lot for her to go through, considering… But she’s strong and we’ll get through this.”

“I’ve no doubt of that. From everything you’ve told me, you’ve raised two incredible young women.”

“Girls… They’re still children.” Lorenzo shook his head. He was being ridiculous. He cleared his throat. “No, you’re right. But sometimes it feels like they are still so young.”

“I know exactly where you’re coming from. And I wish I could say it gets easier…”

“How is Jami?”

“Doing well. Planning her wedding. Speaking to me again while constantly warning me our truce will end if I punch her fiancé again.”

Lorenzo chuckled, pouring himself a glass of scotch from the liquor cabinet before heading to his favorite chair. The antics of the Cobras might stress him out at times—it would take only one PR disaster to tank the team—but off the ice, he couldn’t help but admit the boys amused him.

“I’m not sure what they expected.” He grinned wishing he’d been there to witness the infamous moment. “Having Luke Carter blurt out that he’d gotten your daughter pregnant would drive any man to violence.”

Dean laughed, the faint sound of ice in a glass coming through the line. “Don’t bother making excuses for me. I lost control. I’m not proud of myself.”

Tipping his glass to his lips, Lorenzo smirked. “But it felt good, didn’t it.”

“Damn right it did.” Dean went quiet. “I hope you know I can handle everything here while Madison recovers. And if Mackenzie needs someone to talk to, she’s welcome to come by. I know you keep your private life separate from the game, but it might be good for her to get away for a bit. Silver spends a lot of time with the Ice Girls, most who aren’t much older than your girls.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll suggest it to her.” Lorenzo watched the light glisten off the golden liquid in his glass. When Madison had gone through cancer treatments, Mackenzie refused to leave her side. To the point that it had become unhealthy. She wouldn’t eat unless Madison could. Wouldn’t go outside.

His mother had still been alive at the time, and managed to coax her away from the hospital every few days, while he stayed with Madison.

This time Mackenzie didn’t have anyone else. She wasn’t close to anyone besides her sister. Sure, she played sports with a few girls at school, and spoke to them online, but unless Madison dragged her out to the movies or the mall, she never socialized with her peers.

Which meant, while Madison was healing, she wouldn’t go anywhere at all.

Unless…

“Now that Amia is a bit older, I assume you have a nanny, but if you ever need a babysitter, perhaps Mackenzie could do the job.” He didn’t want to use Dean’s sympathy just to find a distraction for his daughter, but this might benefit them both. “She’s amazing with children.”

“Absolutely. Silver and Landon would have to meet her first, but I don’t see them objecting. Why don’t you all come over for dinner on Saturday?”

“We would love to. Thank you.” Lorenzo set his glass on the round end table by his chair and sat forward. “Now that that’s settled, I have to say, I’m surprised you haven’t asked about the rumors that I’ll be selling the team.”

Silence. Then Dean cleared his throat. “Since you’re mentioning it, I’m assuming they’re true.”

“I have considered it, yes.”

“I see…” Dean sighed. “These things happen, but I expect we’ll discuss it once you’ve made a final decision. Until then I’m going to focus on this season so you can focus on your daughters.”

Lorenzo inclined his head, even though Dean couldn’t see him. He valued the man’s business sense—when it didn’t involve the players. And he needed him to continue doing his job as though nothing had changed.

“Thank you, I appreciate it.” He finished off his whiskey and stood, smiling as he heard baby chatter from Amia through the phone. “I’ll leave you to your little angel while I go check on both of mine.” He paused. “Please know this won’t be a rash decision. The team will be in good hands, either way.”

“I’d expect no less,” Dean replied, sounding sincere.

They hung up and Lorenzo headed downstairs to see if his daughters wanted to watch one of the old horror movies they loved so much before he closed himself away in his office to catch up on some work. He stopped in the doorway to the den, a smile tugging at his lips. Both were curled up on the plush, dark brown, U-shaped sofa, the light from the TV glowing on their sleeping faces.

For a moment, standing here, the world seemed as uncomplicated as it had been when they were children. The software company he’d built had become profitable enough to expand and, while he still worked long hours, he’d managed to do more of it from home. Be a businessman and a father who was there whenever his daughters needed him.

He was still that father, despite how involved he’d become with the team. Maybe he couldn’t magically make his baby better, but he’d be by her side through every step of her healing. Through any other challenge his daughters faced after.

Being a single parent was the most important job he’d ever have.

And no matter how proud he was of his accomplishments, he’d walk away from them all for his girls. He knew what it was like to come second to success. He’d promised himself his children would never feel that way.

No matter what life threw at them, that was a promise he’d never break.