Page 76 of Goaltender Interference

Before Connor pulled away, he whispered, “I think we should celebrate when we get home.”

As Jesse waited as patiently as he could for the hugs and helmet bonks from his teammates to end, he counted down the seconds until he could find out exactly what Connor had in mind for them.

Whatever it was, he knew it would be good.

A win and the promise of some great sex later? Oh yeah, Jesse was having a damn good night.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“Don’t go, Daddy,” Maura wailed later that week, clinging to Connor’s neck.

Jesse’s heart broke a little at the agonized look on Connor’s face. He glanced over at Viv to see her wincing too.

“Is it always like this?” Jesse asked her quietly.

She shook her head. “No, but the first road trip of the season can be rough.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

She shot him a skeptical glance. “No. Why would there be?”

Jesse shrugged. “Dunno. Just wanted to help if I could. I like the kids and …”

He hated how helpless he felt. Hated how helpless Connor looked.

“They like you too,” Viv said, studying his face. “They won’t stop talking about you. Apparently, you make thebestoatmeal.”

Jesse grinned.

He’d finally gotten the hang of the gas burner and hadn’t scorched the milk and made a mess of the stovetop since the first time. The same couldn’t necessarily be said for all of his cooking. He and Connor had gotten distracted one night when the kids were gone and supper had gotten burned badly enough they’d had to order takeout.

But otherwise, he was doing well.

“It’s the dried cherries,” Jesse explained. “My mom started putting them in because I hate raisins. They’re anti-inflammatory too, so that’s nice for my recovery.”

“Interesting.”

“Maura,” Connor said a little more firmly. “You need to go with your mother. I have a flight to catch.”

Connor walked over, disentangled Maura’s arms from around his neck, then carefully deposited her in her mother’s arms. She buried her face against Viv’s neck and sobbed.

Connor sighed heavily, rubbing her back. “I’m sorry, sweet pea. You know I love you but this is my job. I will call you tonight before bed, okay?”

“You promise?” She lifted a tear-stained, snotty face and looked at him through big watery eyes.

“I promise,” he said firmly. “Wild buffalo couldn’t stop me.”

She let out a hiccupping laugh. “’kay.”

Connor hugged Evie as well, who looked sad but like she was trying to be brave. She hugged Jesse too, then followed her mother toward the door.

They were halfway through it when Maura wiggled in Viv’s arms. “Put me down! I wanna hug Jesse too!”

Viv sighed but set her down and she ran over to Jesse. When he crouched down, she threw her arms around his neck. He wasn’t sure if this was a stalling tactic or if she’d actually miss him when he was gone, but he hugged her tightly anyway, because he was definitely going to miss her.

All of the kids, actually.

“How about this?” Jesse asked quietly when he pulled back. “I’ll bring you home something from the trip.”

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