Page 41 of Keeping it Real

He went upstairs to check on Finn.As expected, Hattie lay across the end of the bed, standing guard over her charge.She opened one eye at Alek’s approach, watching carefully as Alek adjusted the blankets bunched up around Finn’s waist.

A photo on the nightstand caught his eye.It was Finn with his father.The two of them shared identical smiles.He glanced around, checking for more pictures.The photo of Alek, Madison, and Jamie that he remembered seeing hanging in Barn Burner was propped up on the small table Sheridan had converted into a makeshift homework desk.As far as he could tell, there weren’t any of Finn and Madison in the room.He recalled his mom always complaining that she was never in the pictures because she was always taking them.Likely that was also the case here.

He gently grazed his palm over Finn’s soft hair before turning to leave.Hattie approved of the gesture with a single wag of her tail.It was hard to imagine her attacking anyone like the dog who bit his sister all those years ago.But if someone dared to touch Finn ...

“Good dog,” he whispered.

Hattie was already snoring when Alek closed the door.He headed back downstairs.Sheridan stirred on the couch.

“Hey,” he said softly, sitting down near her feet.

“Hey.”Her bedroom voice had all his nerve endings standing at attention.Among other things.He grabbed one of the blankets off the back of the sofa and covered his lap under the guise of warming her feet.

“Looks like you encountered more tricks than treats tonight,” he said.

She covered her face with her hands and groaned.“I’m so sorry.”

Her words stoked his anger.He reached over and pried her hands away from her face.

“Do not even dare to apologize,” he snapped.“Not everything is your fault.”He dragged in a breath.“People can be assholes.Things got out of hand, that’s all.”

Sheridan sat up facing him.She brushed the hair off her face before pulling her knees up in front of her and resting her chin on them.“But they shouldn’t have gotten out of hand.Finn has never done anything like that before.”

The anguish on her face had him reaching up and cupping her jaw.“He’s an eight-year-old boy.Speaking as someone who was one once, not everything he does will make sense.Even if he wasn’t dealing with the emotional trauma of losing his parents, he would still act out once in a while.It’s the nature of the beast.”

He released a heavy sigh as he mindlessly traced her jaw with his thumb.“I hate that this happened because Finn wanted to dress up as me.People are so quick to judge these days without ever considering that there might be factors they aren’t aware of.”

“Mm-hmm.”She leaned into his palm.

“When you dream about being a professional athlete—a public figure—you never think about the fact that the fans suddenly think they own you.And social media has made people bolder.It’s like they have no filter any longer.”He shook his head.“I’ve developed a thick skin over the years.I can handle it.You and Finn shouldn’t have to be subject to any of the fallout, though.Some role model I’m turning out to be.”

She brought her hand up to cover his where it cradled her cheek.“This isn’t on you, either.Finn adores you.”

Her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip.His gaze immediately homed in on it.He bit back a tortured groan.

Alek no longer saw a little sister when he looked at Sheridan.What he saw was a vulnerable woman.One he desperately wanted to kiss.

“And you?”he whispered.“What do you think of me, Sheri?”

He felt as well as heard her sharp intake of breath.She dropped her hand and went to pull away.Alek placed his palm against her neck and gently propelled her forward until their foreheads touched.

“Sher—”

She pressed a finger to his lips.

“This isn’t a good idea,” she murmured.

“Give me a reason why not,” he asked before grazing his bottom teeth along her finger.She shivered.His heart raced in triumph.

“How about because you have another date with Finn’s teacher this weekend?”

This time, he let her pull away.Mostly because he felt like he’d been dumped face-first into his cold plunge, and his entire body felt numb.Sheridan scurried from the sofa, gathering up her textbooks and her wineglass.He managed to rake his fingers through his hair, trying to figure out how to apologize for coming on to her.She was right.They wouldn’t work.She was still Jamie’s little sister.

Even if she is all grown up.

“Sheridan—"

“You should definitely wear your charcoal suit with your blue shirt.It really enhances the color of your eyes,” she tossed over her shoulder as she walked away.“There’s no way Miss Lane will be able to resist you.”

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