Chapter 8
DANIEL
“It’s two in the morning, Roman.” I scrub a hand over my face. Opening one, I rub the inside corner of the other.
“I have to go, and I don’t want to go outside alone.”
“I don’t blame you, kid.” New place to get used to, unfamiliar landscape, and it’s pitch-black inside this house and out. I flip the covers off and set my feet on the wood floors. “You sure this can’t wait?”
“I’m sure.”
“When you gotta go, you gotta go, so let’s go.
” I stand, taking his hand and leading him from my bedroom down the hall through the living room to the front door.
Unlocking it, we step out onto the large deck and walk to the corner.
I release his hand. “Aim for the dirt.” I give him privacy by turning my back.
The moon reflects off the water, providing plenty of light out from under the trees, but it’s dark where we are due to the coverage. My eyes have adjusted, but I don’t hear anything coming from my son. I look back over my shoulder and see him standing there. “What’s up?”
He looks from the ground to me with a grimace. “I can’t do number two off the deck, Daddy.”
“You need to do number two?” I try to pull back my shock so I don’t shame him, but this is an issue.
“Yeah.”
I look in the direction of Summer’s house, but it’s too far to see from here.
“Is it an emergency or can it wait until morning?” There was a Buc-ee’s fifteen, twenty minutes off the highway.
Give another ten to fifteen minutes to get to the highway.
Doing that would be better than bothering Summer and her family at this hour.
“I need to go.”
If it did take thirty-five minutes to get there, we’d probably be twenty minutes too late. No way is he going to make it that long in the car. “Let me get dressed, and you put some shoes on.”
Three minutes later, we’re loading into the car, and I’m backing out. I say, “Everyone is sleeping, so be very quiet when we get there, Roman.”
“I will.”
Other than my headlights, there are no lights to guide our way.
Until their porch light pulls us toward the house like a beacon in the night.
I park in the distance so the engine or tires on the gravel don’t wake anyone.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I hate doing it, but when nature calls, so do I.
One ring.
Two rings.
Three.
Four . . .
“Hello?”
“Summer, it’s Daniel.” It’s two in the morning, so when there’s no reply, I add, “The tenant from next door.”
“Oh. Um. Hi.” Her voice is rusty as her breathing lightens from when she first answered. “What’s going on?”
I latch my seat belt. Roman does the same as we prepare to dash inside to take care of business. “I hate waking you, but my son needs the bathroom. He says he can’t wait for morning.”
There’s a longer pause this time. “You’re guys.”
Logic would reason we had options at the cottage, but not this time. “It’s number two.”
“Meet me at the front door.” She hangs up so fast that I’m left still holding my phone to my ear.
I pop the door. “Hurry, buddy.”
The screen door is already opening when we approach the porch, and she greets us with a welcoming smile like we didn’t just wake her in the middle of the night to use her bathroom. “Not sure if I should say good morning or good night.”
Grinning, I walk up behind Roman. “We seem to be caught in between.”
Dressed in a loose pajama top that hits her midsection with straps over her shoulders and shorts with a blue bow in the front, Summer smiles at him and nods toward the inside of the house. “You know where it is.”
He runs past her while I remain on the porch. “Sorry about this.”
“It’s okay.”
Running my hand over the back of my neck, I’m disappointed I didn’t figure out a better situation for my son. “It’s really not. Not to you or him. We can’t stay at the cottage. I’ll make different arrangements in the morning.”
She quietly closes the screen door behind her and moves to the railing to look out into the dark. “You know what they . . .”
“No, what do they say?” I move across the large porch to a wicker loveseat parked there and sit. Since I’m not sure how long this is going to take, I might as well make myself at home.
“It’s all fun and games until someone needs to go number two.” She laughs too loud for this hour before she clamps a hand over her mouth.
Not sure if she’s goofy from being woken up or delirious, but I chuckle. “I’m pretty sure that’s not a saying.”
“You’re probably right.” Her smile is softer in the moonlight.
Not surprised, since she was sleeping five minutes ago, but there’s something different about not only that but also her body language.
She’s relaxed with her hair hanging down from the elastic earlier, a thin strap straying toward the edge of her shoulder, and her ankles crossed as she rests against the railing.
It’s her tipped nipples pressing against the lightweight fabric that draws my eyes.
I’m such a bastard. I didn’t wake her up to ogle her, but here I am.
I look away, though it’s hard to do. She’s relaxed, and it’s good to see. No rules or things she needs to get off her chest. Now I’m thinking about her nipples again, and I know I did the right thing by looking away. For her, not myself.
And I’m really starting to think she might not know who I am, that I play pro hockey, or even that I’m famous. I shouldn’t find that as appealing as I do, but to know she’s treating me how she is because of me being me instead of the league MVP is so fucking attractive.
Scraping my fingers through my hair, I look over at my car, needing somewhere for my eyes to land other than on her. “Sorry he’s taking so long.”
“It’s okay.” She pushes off and comes to sit next to me.
Tugging on a loose thread at the bottom of her pajama shorts, she says, “The offer still stands.” Her tone is as casual as we are, but I know there’s a lot behind the words.
She may be more at ease at 2 a.m., but I have a feeling her mind is still always spinning.
Glancing at the house, I say, “You have a full house. We would only be in the way.”
She brings her legs to her chest and loops her arms around them. “We have a guest room downstairs. It will only be for a few nights.” When her eyes find mine, what little light is out here is captured inside. “It really wouldn’t be any trouble at all.”
I could say no, take the burden off her and out of the mix, but I promised Roman time away from the city and fans barging in anytime we go somewhere together. “I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere that’s as quiet as it is here.”
“When I return from the city, my ears ring for a day or two after.”
“Yeah, I get that. This is nice, and Roman is having a good time.” I rest my arms on my knees and look at her out of the corner of my eye. “You sure about that offer?”
“One hundred percent.”
I nod. “We’ll accept.”
Standing, she says, “How about you stay the rest of tonight? The guest room is ready, and we can make a pallet for Roman to sleep on.” Stopping shy of the door, she thumbs over her shoulder. “I can head in ahead to make sure you have everything you’ll need.”
“You don’t have to do anything special.” I stand, tucking my hands in my pockets. “We can just dive in and fall asleep fast. It’s a skill Roman inherited from me.”
“All done.” Roman pushes the screen door open and is about to let it slam behind him when he walks out.
I fly forward and catch it before it startles the whole house awake.
Summer’s hand is over her chest like she’s trying to keep her heart from leaping out of her chest. “All good,” I say, almost grinning as much as I do when I score a goal.
Nothing touches that high. Other than holding my son for the first time, but that’s a matter of the heart.
“Thank goodness. That would not have been good.” She lowers her hand and comes closer, not enough to touch but to stand together as if we’re suddenly a united front.
I look at Roman. “We’re going to stay here tonight.” The joy in his smile is a good sign. He likes Summer. He’s not the only one.
“Do we get to sleep in Summer’s room?”
My eyes go wide and dart to Summer as I chuckle under my breath. “That would be fun.” She seems unfazed until a laugh escapes. Indifference isn’t something she can pull off. Scooting him inside, I whisper, “We’re going to share a room downstairs tonight.”
Toeing the floor, he huffs. “Oh, man.”
“Are you already sick of me, kid?”
“No, but Summer has a tire swing.”
She shrugs. “It’s true. That automatically gives me bonus fun points.”
Ruffling his hair, I say, “Well, I can’t compete with that, but I can promise that swing will be out there in the morning. But right now, we need sleep.”
Summer leads us to a room off the entry and opens the door.
We all walk into the bright white room with yellow trim and curtains featuring suns.
Colorful pillows cover the top half of the bed and catch Roman when he dives in.
He giggles as they fall on top of him. I pull his shoes off and then return to Summer’s side.
“I have a feeling I’m not getting him out of there tonight. ”
“Do you want me to make a pallet for you?” She nudges me with her elbow. “Happy to.”
I angle my mouth closer to her ear, and whisper, “I’m still thinking about how fun it would be in your room.”
“That’s not happening.”
Watching Roman get off the bed only to jump back on it again, I laugh. “Never say never.”
Leveling me with a look that wobbles between amused and believing she can resist me, she replies, “It’s never happening, Sutton.”
I take my shirt off and toss it on a puffy chair in the corner. Why can I imagine her curled up in it reading? It would fit her just right.
“What are you doing?” she asks with her eyes glued to me when I walk to the side of the bed.
“Getting ready so you can tuck me in.”
“I want to be tucked in,” Roman says, freeing himself from the pillows, some of which go flying off the bed.
“I think your dad can tuck both of you in.”
“Boo.” Roman gives her two thumbs down. This kid is harsh.
She tilts her head, shooting me a dirty look, and then smiles when she comes to his side of the bed.
“Fine. Tuck your legs under the covers.” He does so lightning fast with a smile on his face.
Who is this guy? The little charmer. She tugs the covers to his shoulders and then leans over him with her own smile in place to whisper, “Sweet dreams.”
Turning around, she heads for the door. “See you in the morning.”
“What about me?” I ask, lying on top of the covers with my hands behind my head, ready to be tucked in.
She stops, pausing before she finally looks back.
Roman says, “Daddy needs tucking in, too.”
I owe him a snow cone for doing me the favor. “Thanks, buddy.”
Summer’s hands anchor on her hips as she stares at me with a wild debate in her eyes. She gives in and comes to my side of the bed. “Legs under the covers.”
I scramble to tuck them under. She tugs the blanket to my chest, and says, “Good night.”
Catching her arm before she leaves, I keep her close, and whisper, “Sweet dreams, Summer.”
There’s a spark in her eyes that tells me everything I need to know.
She wants me. She just doesn’t know what to think about me or what to do with me.
I’m happy not to be shoved in some dumb jock box, called a millionaire playboy, or judged by my actions on the ice rather than who I am on solid ground.
She probably hasn’t ever met a celebrity before.
Look where she lives—in the middle of nowhere.
She’s kind because of who she is, not because she feels obligated to impress the famous guy.
She taps me on the nose. “Get some rest, and I’ll see you in the morning.” I roll my head to the side to watch that ass as she walks out and shuts the door behind her. She gives good fucking exit.
My feet hang off the end, and my shoulders take up most of the mattress. It’s got to be a queen-sized bed at best, but there’s a bathroom across the hall, so I guess this is what we get for the next few days.
Roman’s head falls against my arm when he rolls to his side, facing me. “Night,” he says, already sounding like he’s on the edge of sleep.
I lean down and kiss the top of his head. “Good night. I love you.”
His arm flops onto me when I lie back again. “Love you.”
He probably fell asleep before Summer could make it back to bed. I’m stuck lying here wide awake, though, thinking about her and this mess we’ve found ourselves in with the cottage.
Getting out of the city meant getting rid of distractions and thinking about the ultimatum on the table.
The offseason will give me the clarity I need to decide which direction I’m heading—retirement or another season or more.
Coach swore to keep it under wraps and supported my decision either way, but I can’t keep him waiting much longer.
But Summer is a whole next-level distraction I didn’t see coming. Yet . . . I smirk. I need to focus on salvaging my career, not fucking the landlord. She’s not making it easy. Nothing worth the effort ever was.
I thought this would be a good break, but here I am, stuck in a small bed with my son kicking in his sleep, in a pink house with five women in a small town without so much as a stoplight.
There’s a lot on the line with my future, but all I can think about is how this summer just got a whole lot hotter.