Page 132 of Seal the Deal

I raise an eyebrow at him. “You’re spoiling them.”

Jake just grins, flipping another pancake. “Nothing’s too good formyfamily.”

There’s a pointedness to his words, a quiet possessiveness that makes my heart swell. He’s doing everything he can to show me he’s here—that he’s not going anywhere. That he’s ready to be whatever I need him to be. The gratitude I feel for him, it’s overwhelming.

He loves me and my kids fiercely. Even though I still house heartache, even though I have deep battle wounds. He’s tasted them, and he loves me anyway. Despite them. Like I was always meant to be his.

Meadow darts over to Jake, immediately attaching herself to his leg. He laughs, lifting her up easily with one rippling forearm, reaching for his coffee with the other.

“You’re clingy today,” he jokes, kissing her head.

My throat burns. This man. If I focus for too long on the sheer love he showers us with, I’ll lose it. So instead, I grab the coffee he poured for me, sipping it as I watch them.

For a moment, everything feels normal. Like this is just an ordinary morning. Jake with the kids, the rush of breakfast before the day begins. It’s easy to forget the shadow of last night, the weight of Alex’s sudden appearance looming over us.

I take a breath and remind myself I need to shift gears. I have a big client onboarding meeting next week, and my mind is already spinning with everything I need to do. This is a make-or-break moment for me at work, and it demands all of my focus.

Jake has practice today, and then he’s off for another week of away games tomorrow. I know he’s feeling the pressure too. The playoffs are looming, and the pressure is ramping up for him as much as it is for me.

Nina arrives a moment later, her energy filling the room as she helps get the kids ready for the day. “Morning, team! Ready to conquer the world?”

“Nearly,” I mutter, but she catches it.

“Long night?” she asks quietly.

I nod, not elaborating. She doesn’t press, but I can tell she’s reading the tension hanging in the air. Nina has been with us long enough to know when something’s off.

Jake moves beside me, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, a silent reassurance. I smile up at him, the tension easing ever so slightly under his touch.

The moment shatters as my phone buzzes on the counter and Alex’s name flashes across the screen.

I pick up the phone, stepping out of the kitchen as I open the message.

Alex: Meeting tonight to discuss the kids. 7 p.m. My hotel bar.

I stand there for a second, staring at the screen. Of course this isn’t over. Alex wouldn’t let it be that easy. And naturally, he schedules the meeting at a time that suits only him. Not even considering that 7 p.m. is dinner, bath, and bed time for his own children.

“Everything okay?” Jake’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

He’s leaning against the doorway, eyes steady but filled with concern. I hold up the phone, letting him read the message.

His expression hardens. “You’re not going alone.”

I shake my head, frowning slightly. “You’ve got away games starting tomorrow.”

He steps closer, his eyes locking on mine with that unyielding intensity I’ve come to love. “I don’t care, I’m coming with you. He’s not pulling this shit again.”

Jake wraps his arms around me, holding me close. “I’ll stay here tonight, then head to the airport in the morning. We’ll deal with Alex together.”

I lean into him, grateful for his unwavering support. “I hate this. What if this custody thing is real? What if he actually follows through?”

His arms tighten around me. “Then we fight, and we win. You’re an amazing mom, Charlie. You’ve built a beautiful life for your kids. Alex is just trying to rattle you. He won’t follow through.”

I close my eyes, letting his words sink in, but the anxiety still simmers. “I hate that he can still get to me. After everything, he can still get in my head.”

“That’s because he’s a prick who hates he's lost control of you,” Jake mumbles. “He’s all talk. But you’ve got me. And we’ve got this.”

I breathe him in, some of the tension loosening. “I love you.”

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