Page 11 of Pucking Fate

This version of Christian makes it all so hard to stay wary of him—the one who acts so charming, sweet, and utterly devoted to Finley. It makes me question all the doubts and fears that kept me from telling Christian he’s a father.

Maybe…maybe I was wrong to think he wouldn’t care about Finley, wouldn’t love him, just because he didn’t love me.

Five years ago, I didn’t think he was capable of loving anyone but himself.

That’s why this version of him scares me the most. I was stupid to fall for it, to think he was mine when he so easily walked away when I needed his help to decide what to do.

And I know he’s not really changed in the dating department, not after how he treated Elle…

But still, I want this warm, loving Christian to be real, for Finley’s sake.

If I’m wrong, though, and he hurts my son in any way, I will kick his big, athletic ass.

“Mommy, can me and Christian play hockey in the backyard?” Finley asks me when Christian finally lowers him back to the ground.

He calls it hockey even though it’s a modified field hockey version with sticks, a plastic ball, and two goals.

“That’s fine with me, but you should ask Christian first.”

My son, our son, tips his head back and blinks his big, brown eyes at his hero, making Christian laugh.

“Hell yes, we can play hockey,” the playboy says with a grin before quickly eying me. “I mean, heck yes. Do you have two sticks?”

“My Uncle Preston has lots of hockey sticks! I use his instead of the other weird looking field hockey ones! He let me keep some when he moved out, but I still miss him.”

Christian again looks to me, and I know I’m not going to like what he’s about to say to Finley. “Then you and your mom should definitely come visit me in Greensboro…”

“That’s where Uncle Preston moved!” Finley remarks excitedly.

“I know. He came to see me just yesterday. We’re going to both play for the Bobcats this season.”

Finley scowls at me as if angry at me for withholding this information. “Mommy, I don’t have a Bobcats jersey with Uncle Preston’s number on it! You don’t either.”

“I’m sure he’ll give us one when the season starts,” I tell him.

“Until then, you’ll just have to wear mine, right?” Christian says with a smile that Finley returns with a nod. Glancing back at me, he adds, “I could hook you up with one, too, Maya. I’ve always wanted to see you in one of my jerseys.”

“Finley, why don’t you go find those hockey sticks?” I suggest, wanting to buy myself another moment to talk to his father. I have no doubt that if the playboy imagined me in his jersey, then that’sallI’m wearing. Or maybe that’s wishful thinking.

“I’ll be right back!” Finley yells as he runs off to his room.

“New rules: Don’t put ideas in his head about moving to Greensboro and forget about me wearing anything of yours,” I warn him.

“I didn’t say anything about moving,” the jackass replies, still smiling like a smug fool. “I just said you should both come visit me in Greensboro.”

“Same thing. He’s upset enough as it is that Preston moved out.”

Finally, Christian’s perpetual smile slips. “Finley’s lived with Preston his whole life, hasn’t he?”

“Yes. The move…it’s been a big change. One he’s still really upset about.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m here to take his mind off Preston moving, isn’t it?” Again, he flashes me his panty-dropping smirk that I wish had never worked on me. Unfortunately, though, I can feel my comfortable cotton briefs inching down my hips even before the handsome bastard says, “I don’t just want to see Finley this summer. I want to see you too.”

He wants to see me too? I try not to read too much into that statement, but it’s impossible.

Christian’s tongue wets his lips in that awkward yet sexy way he used to do when he wasn’t sure what to say. “So, if I get a hotel room nearby, could I come over every day?”

“Every day?”

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