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The anguish on her face had him reaching up and cupping her jaw.

“He’s an eight-year-old boy. Speaking as someone who was one once, not everything he does will make sense.

Even if he wasn’t dealing with the emotional trauma of losing his parents, he would still act out once in a while. It’s the nature of the beast.”

He released a heavy sigh as he mindlessly traced her jaw with his thumb. “I hate that this happened because Finn wanted to dress up as me. People are so quick to judge these days without ever considering that there might be factors they aren’t aware of.”

“Mm-hmm.” She leaned into his palm.

“When you dream about being a professional athlete—a public figure—you never think about the fact that the fans suddenly think they own you. And social media has made people bolder. It’s like they have no filter any longer.

” He shook his head. “I’ve developed a thick skin over the years.

I can handle it. You and Finn shouldn’t have to be subject to any of the fallout, though. Some role model I’m turning out to be.”

She brought her hand up to cover his where it cradled her cheek. “This isn’t on you, either. Finn adores you.”

Her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip. His gaze immediately homed in on it. He bit back a tortured groan.

Alek no longer saw a little sister when he looked at Sheridan. What he saw was a vulnerable woman. One he desperately wanted to kiss.

“And you?” he whispered. “What do you think of me, Sheri?”

He felt as well as heard her sharp intake of breath. She dropped her hand and went to pull away. Alek placed his palm against her neck and gently propelled her forward until their foreheads touched.

“Sher—”

She pressed a finger to his lips.

“This isn’t a good idea,” she murmured.

“Give me a reason why not,” he asked before grazing his bottom teeth along her finger. She shivered. His heart raced in triumph.

“How about because you have another date with Finn’s teacher this weekend?”

This time, he let her pull away. Mostly because he felt like he’d been dumped face-first into his cold plunge, and his entire body felt numb.

Sheridan scurried from the sofa, gathering up her textbooks and her wineglass.

He managed to rake his fingers through his hair, trying to figure out how to apologize for coming on to her.

She was right. They wouldn’t work. She was still Jamie’s little sister.

Even if she is all grown up.

“Sheridan—"

“You should definitely wear your charcoal suit with your blue shirt. It really enhances the color of your eyes,” she tossed over her shoulder as she walked away. “There’s no way Miss Lane will be able to resist you.”

The following morning, Alek stumbled to the kitchen to make himself some coffee. Caffeine wasn’t normally on his diet, but given the erotic dreams that had kept him up most of the night, he was willing to make an exception.

“Sorry,” he said when he nearly collided with the subject of those erotic dreams as she was coming out of the laundry room.

Rather than the sexy beer-wench costume she’d been wearing in his late-night fantasies, Sheridan was dressed in black leggings and a teal zippered hoodie that clung to her like a second skin.

Even with much of her body covered, today’s outfit failed to douse the heat still simmering beneath Alek’s skin.

“Good morning,” she said.

It was all he could do not to roar at her.

Or throw her down on the pile of sheets on the floor and act out his dreams of the night before.

“I told you that you’re not here to do housework. The cleaning lady can change the bed linens,” he scolded her.

Sheridan sighed. “Wow, both of you are in a mood today,” she mumbled as she headed into the kitchen. “It won’t kill me to take care of mine and Finn’s laundry.”

Alek didn’t have the bandwidth to argue with her this morning. Instead, he fumbled through the coffee pods, looking for a Tim Horton dark roast that would hopefully blow away his brain fog. “Where is Finn?”

Her back was to him as she packed Finn’s lunch. “He’s rinsing off before school. There wasn’t time for a shower last night.”

He was still digging for a coffee pod when she reached over his shoulder and plucked out the dark roast. She held it up, arching an eyebrow at him. He nodded. She was putting the pod in the coffee maker when Finn wandered in. The boy stopped short when he caught sight of Alek.

Sheridan wandered over to him and handed him his lunchbox.

A whispered conversation took place. She shook her head before bending at the waist to place a soft kiss on the top of his damp hair, almost as if she was reassuring him.

Something inside Alek felt as if it cracked.

Did Finn think he was angry about last night’s incident?

“Hey, bud,” Alek said. “How about I drive you to school today?”

Finn exchanged another look with Sheridan. She nodded. The boy’s shoulders relaxed.

“Sure,” he replied unenthusiastically.

Not exactly the response Alek normally got, but he’d take it. He poured the coffee into a travel mug. “I’ll go grab my sneakers while you eat breakfast.”

“I’m not very hungry this morning.”

Now Alek was starting to worry. The kid was perpetually hungry. He met Sheridan’s eyes over Finn’s head. She offered him a dejected shrug.

“Yeah, cold cereal doesn’t sound that appealing to me, either. Did you know the chef at the training facility makes the best chocolate chip pancakes?”

Sheridan shot him a where-are-you-going-with-this look. Alek winked at her.

“What do you say to taking a mental health day today? You can come with me to morning skate, and we’ll grab some of those awesome pancakes and sausage.”

Finn’s face lit up. “Do you think they’ll have bacon?”

Alek chuckled. “Valentine will be there, so I can guarantee it.”

“Can I?” Finn asked Sheridan.

She looked from Finn to Alek. “As long as Alek squares it with Miss Lane.”

“I’m sure it won’t be a problem,” he lobbed right back.

“Yes! I’ll go get my gear.” He hurried off, leaving Alek and Sheridan on opposite sides of the kitchen, each with their arms folded across their chest. A smile danced on Sheridan’s lips, surprising him.

“He needed that today more than you know,” she said. “Thank you.”

“We have a team meeting at eleven. He can hang out in Lori’s office. Hopefully, he won’t be too bored.”

She pushed her hips away from the counter. “I’ll grab him after Pilates. There are some books he wants from the library. I’ll take him this afternoon so you can have some downtime to get ready for tonight’s game.”

“Jordan is between the pipes tonight. I have the night off.”

Sheridan looked concerned.

Alek waved her off. “That’s the normal game plan when we play back-to-back games.”

His explanation didn’t seem to placate her. “This . . . us . . . me and Finn being here. It isn’t too much, is it? We haven’t thrown you off your game, have we? Because Collin said the transfer of guardianship should be finalized by the end of the year, depending on the court schedule.”

He was across the kitchen in three long strides, pinning her in place with his palms pressed to the quartz countertop on either side of her waist.

“The agreement was you’d stay until the end of the season,” he growled at her. “End of discussion.” He lifted her chin with his finger. “Nothing about you and Finn being here is throwing me off my game. You hear me?”

She nodded slightly. Her eyes were wide, and her breathing a little fractured.

“Good,” he said, talking about more than her agreement.

He could feel her body responding to his nearness. Just like last night. She wasn’t as immune to him as she tried to appear.

Ah, the hell with it.

Alek tipped her chin up higher as he leaned closer. Before his lips could make contact, however, Finn could be heard stomping down the stairs.

“Are these the sneakers you want to wear, Alek?” he called as the rubber of his own shoes squeaked on the kitchen floor.

Sheridan quickly slipped beneath Alek’s arm. “Come on, Hattie,” she called. “It’s time for your walk. Don’t forget your manners and your inhaler, Finn. I’ll be by to pick you up after Pilates.”

She and the dog disappeared through the mudroom door.

“I’m ready when you are,” Finn was saying. “I’m suddenly really hungry.”

He wasn’t the only one.