Page 79 of Hometown Heart

He laughed softly. "Professional hazard. Night baker's brain doesn't shut off easily."

"Regretting the café abandonment yet?"

"Strangely, no." He propped himself up on one elbow, studying my face in the dim light. "I should be tallying up everything that could go wrong in my absence. Instead, I'm—"

"What?"

"Happy," he said.

I pulled him down for another kiss. "Good. That was the general goal of this getaway."

"Very goal-oriented, aren't you?"

We drifted into comfortable silence, the only sounds the occasional pop from the dying fire below and the whisper of wind in the pines outside. Silas's breathing eventually deepened, his body growing heavier against mine as sleep claimed him.

I remained awake a while longer, thinking about all of the different sensations—the weight of his arm across my chest, the tickle of his beard against my shoulder, and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. After months of careful distance and measured interactions, the sudden abundance of contact was overwhelming in the best possible way.

Chapter twenty

Jack

The locker room door banged open with the force of a cannon blast as the Whistleport junior hockey team spilled into the arena lobby. They were still in uniform, sweat-damp hair sticking up at odd angles, faces flushed from exertion and ecstasy. Cody was at the center of the jubilant swarm, his jersey untucked and his smile so bright it would have been visible from the lighthouse.

I stood against the wall, alternating between nodding at the congratulations from other parents and watching my son bask in the glory of his game-winning goal. He pantomimed the shot again for Tyler's mom, arms windmilling as he described every microsecond of the play that had clinched Whistleport's spot in the championship tournament.

"That's the fourth time he's told that story," I murmured, unable to keep the pride from my voice.

"And I bet it gets more impressive with each retelling," Silas replied, his shoulder brushing mine as we leaned against the cinderblock wall. I shook my head. Four months ago, he'd been the new kid—uncertain and out of place. Now he stoodsurrounded by teammates who treated him like he'd been born wearing Whistleport blue.

"Dad! Dad!" Cody's voice carried over the crowd. He weaved through the forest of adults, dragging Tyler in his wake. "Coach Rory says my goal is going on the highlight reel for the banquet!"

"Absolutely deserves to be there," I agreed, reaching out to ruffle his damp hair.

"And Tyler's pass—that was the real MVP move," Cody added, bumping his friend's shoulder. "Thread-the-needle perfect."

Tyler beamed, his freckles more pronounced against his flushed cheeks. "Couldn't have done it without that decoy move you pulled. That defenseman bit so hard he practically ate ice."

"You played it perfectly, kid," Silas laughed, his usual careful reserve softening around the edges. "Left that goalie guessing until the last second."

Cody's grin somehow managed to widen further. "You were watching? I thought you never came to games."

"That seems to be changing," Silas replied with a wink. "Can't miss seeing Whistleport's future hockey legend in action."

"They'll be talking about that goal for years," I said. "The shot that sent us to the championship."

Cody's face took on an expression I recognized—suppressed excitement mingled with dawning comprehension of his achievement. It was the same look he'd worn when he'd mastered riding his bike without training wheels and later when he'd read his first chapter book solo. My heart swelled at being here to witness another of those moments.

"Mr. St. Pierre!" Coach Rory appeared, clipboard tucked under one arm. He clapped me on the shoulder. "That boy of yours has quite the hockey IQ. That feint right before the shot? Textbook perfect execution."

"Thanks," I said. "Though I can't take any credit for his talent. That's all him."

"Nurture matters as much as nature in this sport," Rory countered. "And speaking of nurture—" He turned to Silas with raised eyebrows. "Don't think I didn't notice you in the stands. Twice in one season? The world truly is full of wonders."

Silas shook his head, amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. "Maybe I'm just expanding my interests beyond coffee beans and pastry ratios."

"Or maybe you've got extra motivation these days," Rory suggested, his knowing look shifting between Silas and me.

Before either of us could respond, Brooks appeared, navigating the crowd with the ease of a local celebrity. "There's the man of the hour!" he announced, presenting Cody with a puck. "Game winner. Thought you might want this for your collection."

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