Page 37 of Heartfelt Goals

He let out a breath. “Do you want to go with me to a ‘meet the family’ sort of thing on Saturday? I have to attend, but they’re encouraging families to come too. If you don’t want to, or if you think Kendall would hate it, that’s okay.”

Her lips curled into a smile, warmth unfurling in her chest.

“I’d love to.”

“If Kendall comes, she has to keep her hatred of me contained,” he added, his voice laced with dry amusement but also something else—something cautious, uncertain. “I know she doesn’t like me, but…”

“Dustin, it’s not that.” Laurel shook her head, even though he couldn’t see her. “She’s going to be thirteen in a few months, and she doesn’t like anyone right now. I’m dreading the day she starts her period.”

“I’ll go live in a cardboard box when it happens,” he deadpanned.

A startled laugh burst from her lips, and he joined in, the shared humor easing some of the weight between them.

“It’s not that bad,” she said once the laughter subsided. “But I think she can keep it under control on Saturday. Besides, the more she’s around us and realizes that this is her new life, maybe we’ll all begin to mesh a little easier.”

“I hope so—because I really want you happy and not stuck in the middle of it, Laurel.” His voice had dropped again, softer now, almost vulnerable. “I’ve gotta go.”

She felt the conversation slipping away, the moment unraveling. “Dustin?” she blurted before he could hang up.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “For making me feel welcome. And for everything you’ve done for Kendall.”

“Of course,” he said without hesitation. “It means a lot to me to have you here.”

“Same,” she murmured, her chest tightening.

“I really have to go. Can we talk more tonight?”

“I’d like that.”

They said their goodbyes, and as she set her phone down, Laurel stared at her computer screen, the blank document waiting for her. But her mind was elsewhere, caught up in the warmth of his words, the steadiness of his presence.

And for the first time in a long time, she felt inspired as she began to type quickly, an idea forming in her mind. The words flowed as she pictured the characters in her book, the scenes unfurling, and found herself smiling with joy at the scenarios… only to jump as her alarm went off.

It was already time to get Kendall.

Clicking save, she grabbed her purse and hesitated. Dustin’s exercise mats hadn’t arrived yet, and she had to leave. Getting her shoes on, she jerked open the door and saw the box sitting there – and rolled her eyes.

No knock? Nothing?

She yanked it inside and darted toward the elevator to go pick up Kendall from school and take her shopping for a few things before meeting Dustin for dinner.

Afew hours later, Laurel and Kendall were sitting in a booth at some small restaurant looking over the menu. Thankfully, there were photos on some of the items, and she could identify a few words from high school French years ago.Poissonwas fish,pouletwas chicken,boeufwas beef, and so on… but as she looked over the menu to crane her neck once more looking for Dustin’s impending arrival – the world seemed to slow to a crawl.

She met his blue eyes and saw his slight smile as he walked toward the table – toward her – with a purpose in his step. He was hungry – and not for her. Oh gosh, she wished that was the reason he was walking to the table because he missed her. He slid into the seat beside her at the round booth and nodded to Kendall before turning to her.

“Hey,” he said simply to her, and she was melting. The warmth in his gaze, the easy way he fit beside her, even the scent of his cologne was enough to turn her into a puddle ofbeurre– or butter.

Meltedbutter.

“Hey yourself,” Laurel replied back quietly, trying to keep things nonchalant only for her to flinch as Kendall kicked her lightly under the table before rolling her eyes pointedly. She glared at her sister, who ignored her, before turning back to Dustin. “How was practice?”

“It turned out okay,” he shrugged. “I took it easy, and Larsson actually listened to a few suggestions I had today. Salas scored on me, which was no surprise. Coeur scored twice and called me “Battleship” the rest of the afternoon, talking smack.”

“Why Battleship?”

“Cause he sank the puck easily,” Dustin chuckled easily, looking almost sheepish as he turned back to Laurel. “That started all sorts of comments about how I was taking it easy on him and Boucher since we came from the same team. Acton was really irate because I blocked him.”

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