Page 3 of Montana Guardian

I’m acting like she’s even interested in dating a retired hockey player who doesn’t have one long-term relationship to his name. For all I know, she could already have a boyfriend.

Wouldn’t he be here supporting her family, though?

There are plenty of men stationed around Paige, but none of them appear to bewithher and Levi.

Maybe I’ll ask Samantha if she knows anything about Paige's love life.

Samantha Manning grew up here and is an honorary member of the Heirs of Guardian Valley Club since falling for an actual heir to the deceased Dell Foster’s billions. It’s his company’s fault that Brooke and I’s parents are gone—a crash of Foster’s private company jet two decades ago.

He’s the reason I’m even in Guardian Valley after retiring. Because a stipulation of his will is living in Guardian Valley for one year. I could’ve stayed in a cabin on Serenity Ranch like some of the other heirs, but I prefer living in town, closer to the high school and ice rink.

If you ask Samantha about Paige, then all of the heirs will learn of your interest, including Brooke.

My sister will end up pestering me with questions, but it’ll be worth it to know if Paige is single—to see if I’ve got a shot with the curvy beauty.

***

I glide across the empty ice after practice, determined to keep my skills sharp rather than slacking off now that I’m not playing professionally. Samantha’s confirmation that Paige isn’t seeing anyone has been burning a hole in my mind for the past three days, so the chance to let off some steam by racing across the ice and slamming pucks into the net is a necessary outlet.

A door opening and closing echoes in the arena. No one should be here. The custodian already said goodbye and asked me to remember to shut off the lights when I was done.

As I skate to center ice, the intruder slowly comes into view—the object of my thoughts, Paige Hornby. She’s dressed for the wintry weather outside in a thick coat, knit beanie, and calve-conforming boots that lead to thick, jean-clad thighs.

“Can I help you?” I ask, glancing behind her to see if her brothers are in tow, but it looks like she’s alone.

Paige yelps and jumps backward before her gaze finds mine and squints. “Coach Stanley? What are you still doing here?”

“Call me Ryan, and I could ask you the same thing. I thought you’d be home by now with the boys.”

“Gage forgot his algebra book.” The book in question rests on the bleacher her brother occupied while waiting to be picked up after practice.

“So, you jimmied the locks to break in for it? Should I notify law enforcement?”

She laughs, and a ray of light sparks down my spine at the bright sound. The momentary amusement relieves the lines of stress I've noticed outline her face. They don’t detract from her attractiveness, but they definitely concern me.

I don’t like the idea of her burdened with worry.

I don’t like it at all.

Maybe you should do something about it.

After all, she’s Gage and Levi’s guardian, but maybe I could behers…

CHAPTER THREE

PAIGE

“It’s the setup for a perfect date…”

“Don’t call the cops yet. I have a key,” I explain, grabbing my brother’s forgotten algebra book off the bleacher. “I worked here during high school to subsidize Gage’s extra lessons with a trainer. My boss forgot to collect it, and it’s just kind of hung out on an old key ring since then.”

Growing up, our family was solidly middle class, and my parents contributed to Gage’s hockey dreams at first—mostly to get him out of the house, I assume—but paying for someone to spend one-on-one time teaching my brother was a no-go.

And now that our mom and dad have basically ditched us for their hippie dreams, even more of Gage’s hockey costs have fallen on me. That’s why I applied for one of the team scholarships for him. My teacher’s salary doesn’t cut it when I have all the other expenses associated with raising two boys alone.

“Does that mean you know how to skate?” Ryan asks, changing the subject.

The man has no right looking as good as he does after hours of hockey practice. Disheveled with his finger-combed hair and wrinkled long-sleeved tee, he eclipses most men of myacquaintance—not that many could compare to one of Guardian Valley’s most-sought after bachelors.

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