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He’d thought he had known love before, but he realized he was wrong. So wrong. What he’d felt for Madison was desire. Plain and simple teenage horniness.

As for London, she had been his ticket to companionship, respectability, and safety. He’d desired her, sure, but his pursuit of her was more about gaining a partner and a family. Achieving a rite of passage in life.

With Sheridan, he’d get all of that, along with someone who understood him. Who made him complete. Who made him want to be a better man. To be worthy of her love.

“Are you planning to stand there all night staring at me like some pervert? Or will you please come to bed and warm me up?” She watched him from behind her lashes.

A low growl of excitement escaped his throat. Alek hurried out of his clothes, stepping over them where they landed. The bed groaned when he dove onto the mattress next to her.

Her arms were around him instantly. “How’s your lip? Are you sure you’re up for this?”

Alek huffed in disdain. “Woman, I’m a professional athlete. Playing in pain is my superpower.”

He proved his point not once but twice.

Sheridan averted her face when she and Alek strolled into the breakfast room hand in hand with Finn the following morning. She wasn’t sure why she felt so shy about taking their relationship public. Everyone in the hotel was part of the Mayhem family or her family.

Finn had taken the news as if it was the natural course of things. There had been no questions about the future, thank goodness. She and Alek didn’t offer up any either. Mostly because the two of them hadn’t discussed it.

Living in the here and now was just fine with Sheridan. A commitment meant making a promise. And she wasn’t sure she could do that yet. Not without absolving herself for her actions of a decade earlier.

“Well, well, well, Finnegan Begin Again. What have we here?” Valentine stopped them in their tracks. He spoke so loudly that the room quieted around them, all eyes now focused in their direction.

“I win,” Finn announced with a toothy smile.

“Yes, you do.” Freya winked at Sheridan as everyone cheered.

Sheridan was confused. “Won what?”

“No fair,” Jensen called out from behind the buffet. “He had insider knowledge!”

She gave Alek a questioning look. “What are they talking about?”

He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her mouth. Wolf whistles and catcalls sounded throughout the room. Finn pulled free of both their hands with a disgusted groan.

“The list,” he told her when he pulled his lips away. “If I know these clowns, some wagering was going on.”

“You guessed it,” Valentine said. “Finn just won himself two hundred and fifty bucks. Minus the ten I spotted him.” He fist-bumped Finn. “Send me your handle, and I’ll Venmo you.”

Finn’s smile faded. He looked back at Sheridan. “I don’t have Venmo.”

“Don’t worry, bud.” Alek rubbed the top of Finn’s head. “I’ll collect from Twos and put it in your piggy bank.”

“I get to count it first, right?”

Everyone laughed.

“By the way,” Alek said to Finn. “Your phone was in my coat pocket. It’s charging upstairs. You’ll be able to FaceTime Hattie whenever you want today.”

“Cool!”

Finn made a beeline to the kids’ table while Alek pressed his hand to Sheridan’s lower back and guided her to where Aunt Eileen and Uncle Alan were having breakfast.

“Is that Senator Jack Dern?” Aunt Eileen jerked her chin in the direction of a table in the corner. “I thought the resort was closed to the public?”

Alek pulled out a chair for Sheridan. “He’s part of the Mayhem family now. His son, Parker, just got called up.”

The words were no sooner out of Alek’s mouth when the rookie appeared in the dining room. He started toward the table where Valentine and some of the single guys were sitting when the senator called out to him.

“Parker! Over here.”

His father’s tone implied he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Parker’s shoulders slumped somewhat before he changed course and headed to the table where his father waited. They were far enough away that it was difficult to overhear their conversation. Their body language spoke volumes, however.

Parker’s father motioned at his son’s shoulder-length dishwater-blond hair before shaking his head.

Sheridan thought the wavy locks suited Parker.

Along with his hair, his faded brown eyes and the dimple in his chin reminded her of one of the surfers she’d met while working at a small hospital in a beach town in Southern California.

Not only had the guy been easy on the eyes but he’d also been easygoing and laid back.

Too bad Parker didn’t look as relaxed right now.

Aunt Eileen tsked. “I never liked that man. Watching him browbeat his son only validates that feeling.”

The senator gestured as if he were shooting the puck with a hockey stick.

“Tell me that guy isn’t giving Junior instructions on how to handle the puck? Does he not know his kid’s a virtuoso with a damn hockey stick?” Alek stood from his chair.

Max Kellogg appeared behind him, staying Alek with a hand on his shoulder. The Mayhem’s owner was dressed in black slacks and a dark purple cashmere quarter-zip with the Mayhem emblem on the chest in gold. He had on a pair of those “dress” sneakers. Apparently, that was as casual as the guy got.

“Happy Thanksgiving, all.” He smiled broadly at Aunt Eileen. “I hear I have you to thank for most of our dessert this afternoon.”

Aunt Eileen blushed. “It’s my pleasure.”

“Well, I’m sure it will be all our pleasures.” He gestured for Alek to retake his seat. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to catch up with the senator. Enjoy your breakfast.”

They watched as the Mayhem owner dazzled his way into a chair at the senator’s table. A minute later, Parker was practically jogging over to sit with Valentine. Beside her, Alek sighed.

Sheridan arched an eyebrow at him.

Alek shook his head. “I’m not sure if that scenario is any better for the kid.”

She squeezed his hand. “He’s got you and the rest of the guys watching over him. He’ll be fine.”

He scoffed.

“Finn tells us you’ll be spending Christmas in Canada,” Uncle Alan said.

“You’re welcome to join us,” Alek offered. “My parents would love it.” He took Sheridan’s hand. “It would be fun to celebrate with all the family in one place.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his use of the word family. This was really happening. She and Alek were going to have the life she’d been dreaming of since she was sixteen.

But not without her coming clean. It would be wrong to build a life together with a lie between them. Even if it meant she risked losing him all over again. She chanced a glance at her aunt, who shot her a warning look as if she knew exactly what Sheridan was thinking.

“Alek!” Finn called before she could say anything. “Can we go swimming now?”

“Not until you’ve wiped all that chocolate off your face,” Alek teased. “Did you leave any chocolate chip pancakes for me?”

Uncle Alan rose from his seat. “I’ll take you, Finn.”

“Hurry up, Ice-Berg.” Valentine and Gus were herding all the kids in the direction of the pool. “We’re playing water polo. Lori’s daughter is talking smack. She says you won’t be able to keep the beach ball out of the net.”

Alek was out of his chair in an instant. “Challenge accepted.” He leaned down and kissed Sheridan thoroughly. “I hope you’re coming to cheer for me.”

“As long as you’re on the same team as Finn,” she teased.

“Always,” he whispered against her lips. “You, Finn, and Hattie are my team.”

Sheridan chewed on her bottom lip as she watched him walk off with Finn and Uncle Alan.

She said a silent prayer that he’d still feel that way once she came clean.