That made her chuckle. And that made me pinch her ass.
 
 “Hatch!” With her accent, it sounded like Haa-itch.
 
 “That’s what you get for your sass, Sunshine.”
 
 “I think I can handle any punishment you dish out.”
 
 And then I kissed her, loving how connected I felt to this person I had wanted nothing to do with for so long. Now she was here—and I had no intention of letting her go.
 
 My mission, if I chose to accept it: give this woman the best night of her life.
 
 A slow build, just how she liked it, each thrust deeper than the last, each stroke bringing me closer to release and to something else. Something indefinable.
 
 Something so special I wasn’t sure it was real.
 
 Chapter Twenty-One
 
 Hatch
 
 * * *
 
 I woke to the sound of my phone buzzing and the unease of an empty bed. I assumed Summer had gone up to the house to start breakfast, but first I would have to deal with the Kershaw Kinder text thread, already in full flow.
 
 Conor
 
 I can’t believe Jason is moving to the Rebels before me!
 
 Landon
 
 You already have a job, dickhead.
 
 Conor
 
 But they were supposed to hold the Kershaw legacy slot open for me.
 
 Despite Conor already being contracted to start with the Detroit Motors in the fall, I was willing to bet someone at the Rebels was thinking of a way to get him to Chicago. Gotta keep the Kershaw money machine pumping.
 
 Addy
 
 You don’t play the same position. They need another D-man, so that’s Jason.
 
 Conor
 
 But they don’t even know if Dad’s staying on. Unless they do. Has Dad already decided?
 
 Me
 
 Not that I know of. But you could ask. You live in the same house as him.
 
 Conor
 
 Addy, what does Lars know?
 
 Addy
 
 Nothing. Dad’s still weighing his options. I think it’s great Uncle J will be back in Chicago.
 
 Conor