Page 42 of Keeping it Real

The following morning,Alek stumbled to the kitchen to make himself some coffee.Caffeine wasn’t normally on his diet, but given the erotic dreams that had kept him up most of the night, he was willing to make an exception.

“Sorry,” he said when he nearly collided with the subject of those erotic dreams as she was coming out of the laundry room.

Rather than the sexy beer-wench costume she’d been wearing in his late-night fantasies, Sheridan was dressed in black leggings and a teal zippered hoodie that clung to her like a second skin.Even with much of her body covered, today’s outfit failed to douse the heat still simmering beneath Alek’s skin.

“Good morning,” she said.

It was all he could do not to roar at her.

Or throw her down on the pile of sheets on the floor and act out his dreams of the night before.

“I told you that you’re not here to do housework.The cleaning lady can change the bed linens,” he scolded her.

Sheridan sighed.“Wow, both of you are in a mood today,” she mumbled as she headed into the kitchen.“It won’t kill me to take care of mine and Finn’s laundry.”

Alek didn’t have the bandwidth to argue with her this morning.Instead, he fumbled through the coffee pods, looking for a Tim Horton dark roast that would hopefully blow away his brain fog.“Where is Finn?”

Her back was to him as she packed Finn’s lunch.“He’s rinsing off before school.There wasn’t time for a shower last night.”

He was still digging for a coffee pod when she reached over his shoulder and plucked out the dark roast.She held it up, arching an eyebrow at him.He nodded.She was putting the pod in the coffee maker when Finn wandered in.The boy stopped short when he caught sight of Alek.

Sheridan wandered over to him and handed him his lunchbox.A whispered conversation took place.She shook her head before bending at the waist to place a soft kiss on the top of his damp hair, almost as if she was reassuring him.Something inside Alek felt as if it cracked.Did Finn think he was angry about last night’s incident?

“Hey, bud,” Alek said.“How about I drive you to school today?”

Finn exchanged another look with Sheridan.She nodded.The boy’s shoulders relaxed.

“Sure,” he replied unenthusiastically.

Not exactly the response Alek normally got, but he’d take it.He poured the coffee into a travel mug.“I’ll go grab my sneakers while you eat breakfast.”

“I’m not very hungry this morning.”

Now Alek was starting to worry.The kid was perpetually hungry.He met Sheridan’s eyes over Finn’s head.She offered him a dejected shrug.

“Yeah, cold cereal doesn’t sound that appealing to me, either.Did you know the chef at the training facility makes the best chocolate chip pancakes?”

Sheridan shot him a where-are-you-going-with-this look.Alek winked at her.

“What do you say to taking a mental health day today?You can come with me to morning skate, and we’ll grab some of those awesome pancakes and sausage.”

Finn’s face lit up.“Do you think they’ll have bacon?”

Alek chuckled.“Valentine will be there, so I can guarantee it.”

“Can I?”Finn asked Sheridan.

She looked from Finn to Alek.“As long as Alek squares it with Miss Lane.”

“I’m sure it won’t be a problem,” he lobbed right back.

“Yes!I’ll go get my gear.”He hurried off, leaving Alek and Sheridan on opposite sides of the kitchen, each with their arms folded across their chest.A smile danced on Sheridan’s lips, surprising him.

“He needed that today more than you know,” she said.“Thank you.”

“We have a team meeting at eleven.He can hang out in Lori’s office.Hopefully, he won’t be too bored.”

She pushed her hips away from the counter.“I’ll grab him after Pilates.There are some books he wants from the library.I’ll take him this afternoon so you can have some downtime to get ready for tonight’s game.”

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