Page 137 of Goaltender Interference

Ooof. He was gonna feel that tomorrow.

He patted Honey, rubbing her nose in thanks for not flipping him off and killing him or prematurely ending his hockey career. She was definitely getting some alfalfa cubes for a treat.

“Yeah, that was great,” Nolan said. “I’m glad we finally got to go. Evie’s been talking about it forever.”

“She has,” Connor agreed. “And I’m glad we could all go too.”

Nolan gave him a fleeting smile, then ducked his head to remove the horse’s saddle.

“Okay, everyone,” Connor called out. He carefully looped the reins to the hitching post nearby. “Let’s get these horses unsaddled and brushed.”

He winced when he realized he was doing what Viv had found so annoying earlier, trying to keep everyone on track. He hadn’t been trying to captain them but he could see how it might come across that way. He didn’t ride a lot with the girls—frankly, it was hell on his hips—but he’d gone often enough to know the drill and everyone seemed to have it under control. Jesse was keeping an eye on Evie and Viv had Maura taken care of, so Connor and Nolan dealt with their own horses.

Connor unbuckled the strap and lifted off the saddle and blanket, chuckling as the horse let out a big sigh. “I know, girl,” he said, patting her flank. “I was a lot to carry around.”

Jesse, passing by with Evie’s saddle, shot him a grin.

Connor grinned back. He couldn’t help it. Not when Jesse looked at him like that.

Part of the reason Connor had taken up the rear was because watching Jesse trail ride was incredibly arousing. He had a perfect seat, with a straight but relaxed posture. And the way heposted … rising and falling in the English-style saddle like he’d been born to do it.

Damn, it was hot.

It turned out, Jesse had essentially been born into it. His mother was an accomplished dressage rider and he’d learned from her.

But Connor’s sanity had only been able to stand so much of watching Jesse before he blurted out Jesse needed to ridehimso he’d fallen back to the rear of the group so he didn’t accidentally out himself and their relationship.

Not to mention gross out his kids and piss off his ex-wife.

Connor carried the saddle into the stable, setting it in its designated place and grabbing a brush. He let his mind wander again while he brushed Honey.

After the family brunch last weekend, he and Jesse had started having sex again. Connor was weak—he could admit that—and no matter how tangled up he felt about his feelings for Jesse, there was no point in denying himself.

Not when they both still wanted it.

Hedidfeel a little guilty, because lying by omission was still a sin, even if it wasn’t as serious as some of the others out there. Then again, like he’d told Jesse a while ago, he was having sex with men. Or, one man anyway. The Catholic Church certainly frowned on that more than him not confessing his feelings to that man.

When Connor wasn’t worrying about his son or how the Harriers were doing—not well, they’d dropped three straight games in a row now—he was thinking about his conversation with Kelly at the pub.

Worrying about that too, if he was being honest. Hedidwant to be honest with Jesse. But a part of him was afraid that if he was, he’d wind up fucking things up even worse.

Honey whickered softly and he absently patted her neck, using the other hand to smooth the brush over her back, dust and hair hanging suspended in the afternoon sun like confetti before floating lazily to the ground.

By the time Connor finished brushing the horse, the girls were only half-done with theirs. He helped them finish, then put the horses in their stalls and made sure they had food and water, all under the supervision of the stable staff.

Connor was about to herd everyone along to the vehicles so they could have a late lunch when Maura tugged on his sleeve. “Daddy? Can we play on the swings before we go home?”

The boarding stables were located on the outskirts of Boston and there was a cute little playground on the grounds nearby.

Connor glanced at Viv to see what she thought.

She shrugged. “Why not? I need to talk to your dad for a few minutes anyway.”

Maura immediately ran across the grass, leaves crunching under her feet, but Evie frowned, glancing between her parents.

“Go on,” Connor encouraged. “We’ll be right here if you need us.”

“I can watch the girls, if you’d like,” Jesse said. He looked at Viv, clearly knowing she’d be the deciding factor.

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