Page 60 of Power Forward

“It’s okay—” I stutter.

“No. She knows that’s not how she asks for things.”

She sticks out her bottom lip and lets out an almighty sigh like she’s just worked a seventy-two-hour shift. “Can I have some, please?”

“That’s better.”

“I’ll get these.” I glance over to Jackson, looking for his approval.

He shakes his head. “No, I can’t let you do that. They’re twelve dollars for some pancakes.”

“Jackson,” I scoff. “I earned eight million a year. I’m pretty sure I can buy your kids some pancakes.”

We end up in a stare-off as he has an internal war with himself, but eventually, he caves with a sigh. “Okay, but only this once.”

“Noted.” I wink, but hopefully, this won’t be the first and last time we get to spend the day together like this.

Like a family.

I order three trays of the mini pancakes with strawberries and melted milk chocolate. We find a table to sit and eat next to some outdoor heaters, and the warmth is an instant relief. I slide the tray in front of her, and Isabela beams up at me. Her soft “thank you” makes me want to run back to the stall and buy her twelve more.

“These are so good. Thanks, Hayden,” Ryan says between bites. Somehow, he’s managed to get chocolate all around his mouth.

“So good you had to shove your face in them?” I tease.

Sighing, Jackson picks up a napkin and hands it over to Ryan.

“Jesus, can’t take you anywhere,” he murmurs, causing Ryan to laugh.

I dig my fork into a juicy strawberry and mini pancake, making sure to get plenty of chocolate, and then I hold it out in front of Jackson. His blue eyes sparkle as he eyes the food, then back at me.

“What?” he asks.

“Try it.” I edge the fork forward. “Tell me how good it is.”

The tip of his tongue darts out to wet his bottom lip, and then he leans forward and opens his mouth. Just as he’s about to take a bite, I raise my hand and get chocolate on his nose. Both kids burst into giggles, and I grin wickedly.

“You sh—” he curses, but I cut him off before he can finish.

“Hey, the kids are present. You’ve gotta be nice to me.”

His eyes darken with heat. He grips his hand around my wrist and brings the fork to his mouth. Keeping his eyeslocked on mine, he wraps his lips around the fork and pulls the food into his mouth.

“Mmm,” he moans while he chews. “So good.”

“You’ve still got some…” I motion to my nose with my fingers.

“Daddy,” Isabela giggles. “You got chocolate on your face.”

With a roll of his eyes, he picks up a napkin and wipes it off, but the corner of his lips is tilted up.

“That was funny,” Ryan chuckles, and I lean over the table to give him a high five.

Jackson and I finish our tray in a more civilized manner. There are no more chocolate incidents, but he doesn’t stop with the heated glances and brushing of his knee against mine under the table. Ryan fills me in on how his hockey training is going, and once the kids have finished and their faces have been cleaned up of chocolate, we make our way around the rest of the market.

When we line up for the specialty hot chocolates that come in souvenir mugs, his hand finds the base of my spine beneath my coat. I lean back into him, loving the warmth of his hand over my sweater.

“What can I get for you?” the woman asks when it’s our turn.

---