Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
I squirm in my seat as I feel the craving. My body is literally craving him.
Images of that magical night come flashing back into my mind. The sexy grunts in my ear, the tremendous weight of him on my body, the blissful feeling of him pushing between my legs and sliding into me.
“Can we get another soft pretzel?” Lucas asks, yanking me out of my sensual fog.
“Huh? No, we already had one.”
“Please?”
“Okay, fine,” I say as I wave the guy over. This is a night that neither of us will ever forget. Might as well go all out.
I pay the outrageous price, break off half the pretzel, and give Lucas the other half.
Harris keeps his protective eyes on us until the coach waves him back into the game. He leaps over the boards and the crowd groans now that the hat trick star is back on the ice.
He winks at me as he skates by.
“Mommy, why are you so red?” Lucas asks as he looks up at me.
“It’s uh, the pretzel.”
“Oh.”
We both watch as Harris bodychecks a bigger guy into the glass and kicks the puck to his teammate.
I keep thinking back to this afternoon when I was watching Lucas and Harris talking on the couch. I didn’t know whether to cry or smile or be happy or terrified. It was a lot of emotion to deal with. I’m still trying to sort it all out.
I never really thought about how much Lucas would benefit from having a father in his life. It was something I never let myself think. I always pushed it away. I buried it deep and let the daily chaos of my job, my bills, single parenting, dirty laundry, and stacks of dishes wash over it. I let my mind stay occupied with the daily grind and didn’t give any oxygen to thoughts like that.
I figured Lucas could get his male role models from his uncles—my brothers, Ryan and Marc. But Marc was always busy with his own three girls and Ryan has always been a bit of a dolt. He’s hardly someone I want my son looking up to.
But seeing him sitting there with Harris, with his father… It was a massive wake-up call. He needs a male presence in his life.
And so do I.
“It’s over?” Lucas asks when the buzzer goes off.
The crowd is groaning unhappily as they shuffle to the exits.
“It’s over,” I say sadly. This is the only game Harris is playing in Kansas City this season, so I don’t know when the next time we’ll be able to see him play will be.
Harris breaks away from the celebrating pack of Hyenas and skates over.
“Are you going to wait by the locker room?” he asks through the glass. He looks so hopeful. It’s heartwarming to see.
I smile and nod at him. How can I not?
“We’ll be there.”
“I’ll be quick!” He gives Lucas a fist bump through the glass then gives me a devastatingly sexy smile before he hurries away, darting past everyone and into the back.
He gave us special passes that let us wait outside the locker room with the agents, sports reporters, and other family members.
It’s way past Lucas’ bedtime, but he’s wide awake with all of the excitement.
He’s looking around at everything in awe. I’m just staring at the door, waiting for it to open with my stomach in knots.
I’m wondering what’s going to happen. Is Harris going to say goodbye, and that’s it? Does he fly back to San Antonio tonight and I’m left with a brokenhearted young boy who doesn’t understand why his father is not returning his calls?
Or, does everything change in a different way?
Do all of our dreams come true?
Keep yourself grounded, girl. Lucas is going to need you to keep your head on straight. We both need it.
I take a deep breath as the door opens.
“Dad!” Lucas shouts as Harris walks out in a suit. God, he’s gorgeous.
Lucas runs under the rope and leaps into Harris’ arms. They both look so happy as he picks him up and they squeeze each other tight.
Stay grounded. Stay grounded.
I smile tightly as I walk over.
“Hello, Fiona,” he says in that deep sexy voice that always manages to send tingles rippling down my skin. “Did you enjoy the game?”
“It was so fun!” Lucas answers for me. My heart squeezes when I see the way he’s looking at his father. He’s looking at him like he can’t believe he’s there.
“Harris!” a reporter calls out as the swarm of them start butting their way over and crowding around the boys. Harris holds Lucas protectively in his arms. “Three goals! When was the last time you had a hat trick?”
“A long time,” Harris says with a laugh as about six microphones are shoved into his face.
“What changed?” one of them asks.
“I got a good luck charm,” he says with a smile as he looks at his son. “Two of them.”