Page 23 of Keeping it Real

Of course.

He would cherish Finn because he once loved the child’s mother.She wrapped her arms around her waist to ward off the sudden chill in the air.There was no point in disillusioning Alek now.Madison was gone.And Jamie was right.There wasn’t a better role model for her nephew.What was done was done.

“Well, regardless of the reason.Thank you.”

“Sheri—”

She held up her palm to stop him.“Let’s set the record straight once and for all.I’m not your little sister.Nor am I in any way your responsibility.I’m here because whether he knows it or not, Finn needs me.”She cursed the boulder that had formed in her throat.“And I need him.”Her fingers trembled when she reached for her abandoned glass of wine and drained it.“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make sure my nephew doesn’t use up all the hot water.He tends to get in the shower and stay there.”

“So?How’d it go last night?”Gus asked from his stall the following morning.Both men were getting ready for morning skate.

“Fine.In spite of everything he’s been through, Finn is an easy kid,” Alek replied.

Sheridan, on the other hand ...

I’m not your little sister.

His body was beginning to get that message loud and clear.The suggestive way she’d spoken the words had him instantly hard.Finn wasn’t the only one who had needed a long shower before bed.Except when Alek finally crawled beneath the sheets, visions of Sheridan sipping from her wineglass kept crashing through his mind.Then he was imagining all the other things her lips might be able to do and it was back to the shower.

Gus pulled on a pair of heavily padded shorts.“Not too much disruption to your coveted personal space, I hope.”

“Nah.They travel light.Thanks to Claire already arranging a wardrobe of school uniforms for Finn, he didn’t need that much.His great-aunt is sending out some stuff he wanted from his room.”

“And the other aunt?Has she already bombarded your house with scented candles and frilly throw pillows?”

Alek scoffed at his friend.“I don’t think she’s the type.She came with less stuff than Finn.”

Something about Sheridan arriving with a backpack slung over her shoulder and a single suitcase hit Alek the wrong way.It was as if she wanted to take up as little space in the world as possible.Damn Jamie for not allowing his sister to grow and discover her own self-worth.Her own voice.Her own dreams.The asshole waited until he was dead before setting her free.

“I change jobs every six months,” she’d told him with a shrug.“Most long-term rentals have everything I need.”

Sure, but didn’t shewantfor anything?Favorite books, keepsakes, or jewelry?His sister collected so much crap for decorating her house that they needed an extra garage to store it all.Shouldn’t Sheridan want a home to nest in?

“A woman who travels light?”Gus whistled his approval.“That’s a rare woman indeed.You might want to think about holding on to her.”

Alek shot his friend a WTF look.“How many times do I have to tell you?—”

Gus held up his hands.“I know.I know.She’s practically your little sister.Got it.”

“Good.See that you keep getting it.”

Alek’s ultimatum was as much for Gus as it was for himself.Because he was beginning to realize that the only way that he would survive having Sheridan around was to keep her firmly in the little sister lane no matter how much his libido wanted him to think otherwise.

“You’ve been a very naughty boy, Bergeron,” Valentine said when he entered the dressing room as if Alek had been projecting his thoughts on the jumbotron.“I just metAuntieSheridan out there, and she is not as implied.”

Alek swore under his breath.He knew bringing them to practice this morning would be distracting, but Finn had been so eager to meet Gunner.It was a Sunday morning, and most of the guys brought their kids to hang out and watch.Plus, he wanted Sheridan and Finn to meet some friendly faces before tonight’s game.

“I didn’t imply.”Alek clipped on his leg guards with a little more force than was necessary.“You inferred.Learn the difference.”

Gus chuckled as he reached for his glove.“And ‘Auntie Sheridan’ is like a sister to him, so leave her off the list.”He shot Alek a smarmy grin.

“Oh, no need,” Valentine replied.“I’ve already found the future Mrs.Bergeron.Gunner’s entry has gone to the top of the polls.”

“Let me guess.”Gus sighed.“I’ll bet he suggested his teacher, Miss Lane.”

“Sure did.”Valentine pulled his phone from his pocket.“And I found a pic of her on the school’s website.It’s no wonder all the boys in the second grade are in love with her.”

He shoved the phone in front of Alek.The woman staring back at him was laughing at something in the distance, her amber eyes shining.A smattering of freckles across her nose made her look school-age herself.The action shot had a ponytail of strawberry blonde hair appearing to swing out behind her.

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