Page 17 of Keeping it Real

Sheridan swiveled her chin back in his direction.There was no mistaking the wily smile on her face.“That’s Hat Trick.Better known as Hattie.She goes where Finn goes.”

Shit.

Five

A road signannouncing the Wisconsin border in thirty-five miles flashed by the window of the leased SUV Sheridan drove.Beside her, Finn bounced up and down in the passenger seat as if their destination was a Disney theme park and not the home of the man his father had betrayed.

Not that her nephew knew anything about that.Jamie, it seemed, had built up Alek in Finn’s mind so that he was practically one of the Avengers.No doubt her brother was living vicariously through the hockey accomplishments of his former roommate.It was also glaringly obvious that Jamie still cherished the friendship he and Alek once had despite the way their relationship imploded.

Sheridan’s stomach churned with the guilt that had been persistently gnawing at her since her brother’s death.She’d honestly thought she was doing the right thing for everyone involved all those years ago.It was true what they said about hindsight being twenty-twenty.

“I can’t believe we are almost in Milwaukee.”He gave a little whoop of excitement.

“Neither can I,” she mumbled to herself.

The past two weeks had whizzed by in a parade of blurry memories.The only part that stood out was the hundreds of times she’d asked herself why she’d agreed to this absurd plan.An entire hockey season living with the temptation that was Alek Bergeron?She needed to have her head examined.

For some reason, she seemed to be the only one who thought the situation was a disaster in the making.Aunt Eileen and Uncle Alan had practically pushed her and Finn out of town.

“We’ll pack everything up and put it into storage for the time being,” Aunt Eileen offered.“You and Finn don’t need the added emotional burden of that task.A change of scenery will do you both some good.Especially if it’s somewhere that isn’t laced with memories.”

“Aren’t you the one who said Finn’s routine shouldn’t be changed?”Sheridan had accused.

Her aunt’s replying smile was a tad patronizing.“Too late now.That horse is already out of the barn.”Her face softened.“And Finn really seems energized by this change.Isn’t it better for him to have something different to focus on right now?”

Do it for Finn.

Sheridan hated how Alek had used those simple words to manipulate her into agreeing to this scheme.He knew no scenario in this world would have her abandoning her nephew.Even worse, he had no qualms about hitting her in her weak spot.Which was how she found herself on the home stretch of a thousand-mile drive west to Wisconsin, where she was going to spend the next months carefully guarding her heart.

And my secrets.

As if sensing her unease, Hattie leaned forward from the back seat and rested her big head on Sheridan’s shoulder.Biting back a snicker, she recalled the shock on Alek’s face when he realized Finn came with a dog.His mother had quickly thrown up a smokescreen, cooing and snuggling with the big dog while Alek adopted a poker face.

“You’ve always maintained the reason you aren’t a dog person is because you’ve never really been around one,” Peri had said.“Well, here is your chance.”

Alek responded with an unintelligible grunt, likely trying to figure out a way to retract his offer to take them in.Sheridan was disappointed when he didn’t come up with one.She wasn’t surprised, though.As Jamie said, Alek was a man of honor.He’d put up with a dog invading his space if he must.

Fortunately for him, Hattie’s only care in the world was Finn’s happiness.She would be a good dog.Sheridan would also be on her best behavior.The way she figured it, sharing the same space with Alek would be a whole lot easier if there wasn’t any drama.

“It looks like both of us will be flying under the radar for a while, sweet girl,” she murmured to the dog.

“You’re going to love it, Hattie.”Finn scratched the dog behind the ear.“Alek’s house is a billion times bigger than our old one.And wait until you see the yard.It’smassive.”

“How would you know?”

“Alek gave me a tour on FaceTime.”

Of course he did.

Sheridan didn’t have the heart to take Jamie’s phone away from his son.It was paid through the end of the year, so she’d let him keep it.Not without installing a host of parental protections first, though.As far as she knew, Alek was the only person Finn used it to communicate with.

That makes one of them.

There had been a lot of details to work out between Alek and her these past two weeks.Sheridan was proud that she’d managed to keep their interactions to the digital realm.The less she heard his raspy voice or his long Os, the better.It was bad enough she couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of his arms wrapped around her at the funeral.Or the sound of his heart beating beneath the cheek she’d had pressed against his chest.

Which made her a fool.

Let me step in as your spare big brother and take care of you.

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