Page 13 of Icebound Hearts

“No problem.” Sawyer nods, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “I guess I’ll, uh, leave you to it.” He winces a little as he realizes how his words came out. “That’s not what I—never mind. I’ll let you unpack.”

Oh god, could this get any more awkward?

“Right.” I slip my hands into my back pockets, certain that my palms are sweating. “Thank you.”

Sawyer steps around me, heading for the door. But he pauses in the doorway, turning to look back at me. “I should be thanking you. Jake is so excited to have you here.”

I smile, tucking a wayward lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m excited too.”

He leaves the room, and as I dive into unpacking and organizing my things, I can’t help but roll my eyes at myself. I’ve never been a super awkward person or the type to get flustered easily, but I’m now two for two with my gorgeous new boss.

“You’d better find a way to get your shit together, girl,” I murmur to myself as I bury the vibrator at the very back of the top drawer in the dresser. “Or it’s gonna be a long three months.”

Chapter 5

Sawyer

It’s weird coming to the arena in the middle of the afternoon on Saturday, but I guess I shouldn’t complain about the fact that we have an early game today. It’s somewhat rare for the Aces to play in the afternoon, and equally rare that I’m in bed before midnight on a game night, so it’s a win-win.

But I’m also still not used to not having to panic about finding a sitter for Jake while I’m at the game. Granted, it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since Violet moved in, but even so, it’s going to take some time to adjust to having her there all the time. Not that I’m not grateful. It’s such a weight lifted to know that no matter what I have going on, planned or otherwise, Jake will be taken care of.

So, yeah, maybe Reese was on to something—although I know if I tell him that, it’ll go straight to his head.

I park my car in the designated area for staff and players, then head inside the arena wearing my usual pre-game suit and tie. Most of my teammates are already in the locker room gearing up when I enter, and I hurry to join them. I’m peeling off my tie when Reese strides into the locker room and catches sight of me.

“Ah, just the man I was looking for. How are things with Violet so far?” he asks with a beaming smile.

I can’t stop myself from grinning back. “Jake is head over heels with her already.”

Reese chuckles, running a hand through his blond hair. “Yeah, that sounds about right. I told you, bro, I haven’t met a person yet who can resist my sister’s charm.”

Violet’s easy smile drifts through my mind, along with the bright, airy sound of her laugh. She’s so enthusiastic about everything, and the way her eyes light up or soften as she talks to Jake is already one of my favorite things about her. She’s a great role model for him, as eager to explore the world as he is, but with a gentleness and empathy to her personality that’s just what he needs in his life. In a lot of ways, it’s hard to believe that someone so perfectly suited to spending time with my son just fell into my lap.

I haven’t thought at all about the vibrator that fell out of her bag as I was helping her unpack.

Okay, that’s a damn lie.

I’ve thought about it at least once an hour since it happened, questions that I will absolutelyneverask her filtering through my mind. How long has her dry spell been? Has it been anywhere near as long as mine? And what the hell did she mean about a bucket list?

What’sonthat bucket list?

Forcing my mind away from those thoughts for at least the dozenth time, I nod to Reese. “She and Jake have been getting along great. She’s going to be an amazing nanny for him, I can already tell.”

Maxim Federov perks up on the other side of the locker room where he’s sitting and lacing up his skates. “Wait, Violet’s in town?”

“Yeah, she’ll be here for the next few months until her new job in LA starts,” Reese explains. Then he frowns, narrowing his eyes. “But don’t go getting any ideas. You know you’re all forbidden from flirting with my sister.”

Maxim’s face flushes. “For fuck’s sake, that’s not why I?—”

“Sure it wasn’t,” Reese cuts him off with a teasing smirk, and Maxim’s face turns bright red. The rest of us laugh.

“Typical older brother behavior,” Theo says with a devious grin. “Overprotective and paranoid.”

“Hey, what can I say?” Reese holds up his hands. “We Suttons have superior genes. We’re hot commodities.”

“Bro, I don’t know if you’ve realized this, but Callie is obligated to tell you that kind of stuff,” Theo fires back, and the locker room erupts in laughter. Even Maxim is chuckling, despite his red face.

“Alright, alright. Focus up and get ready,” Noah says, raising his voice to be heard over the banter.

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