Sin Bin

by Maureen Smith

  “Voila,” he declared.

  Cam clapped and cheered.

  Meadow rolled her eyes.

  Logan rose to his feet and gave her a smug smirk.

  “Showoff,” she grumbled.

  “Hater,” he retorted.

  She playfully huffed and rolled her eyes again.

  Logan helped Cameron off the bench, holding him steady as he wobbled on his skates. “You good, champ?”

  Cam bobbed his head and gave a thumbs-up.

  Meadow could see several other boys watching enviously as Logan gripped Cam’s shoulder and gave him a few last-minute pointers. Cam gazed up at him with such implicit trust and admiration, her heart swelled and a lump formed in her throat.

  Once Logan finished his pep talk, he double-checked the chin strap on Cam’s helmet and made sure the rest of his gear was secure. Then he grinned in satisfaction and slapped Cam on the helmet. “Let’s do this.”

  “Let’s do this!” Cam roared.

  “Whoa,” Meadow laughed, shaking her head in amazement. “Who are you and what have you done with my sweet little cousin?”

  Logan grinned. “Leave him be, woman. He’s unleashing his inner beast.”

  “Inner beast? He’s five.” As Cam clomped off toward the ice, Meadow called after him, “Good luck, Bear!”

  She could feel everyone staring at her and Logan as they joined the other parents in the stands. Several people had their phones out, openly snapping pictures and recording them as they took their seats. The dads were grinning idiotically, clearly itching to come sit with Logan. More than a few moms were applying lipstick and checking their reflections in compact mirrors, probably wishing they’d gotten dolled up before leaving the house that morning.

  One particular white woman was giving Meadow and Logan a nasty glare, disapproval radiating from her in toxic waves.

  Meadow swallowed uncomfortably and looked away, her stomach knotting with tension.

  Ever attuned to her moods, Logan frowned at her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” she mumbled.

  He turned his head in the direction she’d been looking. Narrowing his eyes, he stared the woman down until she dropped her gaze to her lap and clamped her lips together.

  Turning away in disgust, Logan put his arm around Meadow’s shoulders, nestling her into his side and kissing the top of her head. “Don’t let her get to you,” he murmured. “We’re here for Cameron. Fuck that broad and anyone like her.”

  Meadow nodded. “You’re right. She’s not important.”

  “Damn straight.” Logan trailed soft kisses from her temple to her ear. “If you wanna give her a coronary, feel free to stick your tongue down my throat anytime.”

  That got a choked laugh out of her. “I’ll do no such thing!”

  He grinned against her ear. “If you change your mind…”

  “I won’t. Not here, anyway.” Grinning, she put the hateful woman out of her mind and focused her attention on the pint-size skaters warming up on the ice.

  “Aww, look at them,” she cooed. “They’re so tiny!”

  “Look who’s talking,” Logan teased, tugging on her ponytail. “In five years or less, Jupe, those boys are gonna tower over you.”

  “Shut up,” she laughed, punching his arm.

  Once tryouts started, she instantly turned into a bundle of nerves. Logan also got super serious, swiveling his baseball cap backwards and leaning forward with his elbows on his thighs, his dark eyes tracking Cam around the ice.

  Meadow imagined him watching their son with the same focused intensity, analyzing every move and shouting encouragements. The very thought of it sent a spear of longing through her heart.

  Logan glanced over and caught her staring at him. “What?”

  “Nothing.” She quickly returned her attention to the ice as the young players ran through their drills.

  Cam was clearly following Logan’s instructions, hustling to the front of every line and skating his little heart out. Meadow was so proud she could barely sit still. She took out her phone and started recording so she could send the video to her aunt.

  When Cam scored a goal during the scrimmage, she and Logan cheered excitedly and jumped up and down, hugging each other. Cam looked up into the stands and waved at them, beaming from ear to ear.

  “Oh crap,” Meadow giggled into Logan’s chest. “We’re not supposed to be cheering, remember?”

  He laughed against her hair. “Our boy looks good!” he exclaimed like a proud papa. “He’s definitely gonna make the team.”

  Meadow grinned up at him. “I hope you’re right.”

  “I am. Trust me.”

  * * *

  The man knew what he was talking about.

  At the end of tryouts, Cam was selected for the top team. He was ecstatic, leaping up and down and pumping his fists in the air. Logan gave him a high five followed by a bear hug. Meadow squeezed him tight and smothered his face with kisses until he squirmed out of her grasp and dashed off to celebrate with his buddy who’d also made the cut.

  While Logan chatted with the starstruck coaches, Meadow texted her aunt and left her a voicemail message, squealing the good news.

  When it was time to leave, Logan scooped Cam up and swung the laughing boy onto his shoulders, making him the envy of every kid in the building.

  They headed back to the house, where Meadow gave Cam a quick bath and changed his clothes, smiling as he chattered exuberantly about tryouts. When they emerged from his room, Logan was waiting on the living room couch.

  “I have something for you.” He handed Cam a gift-wrapped present. It was really long with a huge gold ribbon tied around it.

  Cam’s eyes widened with curiosity. “What is it?”

  Logan smiled. “Open it and find out.”

  Cam tore off the black wrapping paper and yelled ecstatically when he saw an autographed hockey stick.

  “It’s signed by me and my teammates,” Logan told him.

  “No way! The whole team?”

  “Yup. The whole team.”

  Cam squealed, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets as he reverently examined the signatures.

  Meadow beamed at Logan, her heart expanding to twice its size.

  He affectionately ruffled Cam’s hair. “Congratulations on making the team, champ. We’re all very proud of you.”

  Cam threw his arms around Logan’s neck and whispered fiercely, “You’re the best!”

  Logan’s expression softened as he hugged the boy back. When his eyes met Meadow’s, she mouthed earnestly, You’re my hero!

  He smiled and winked.

  They took Cam out to celebrate at one of those popular family entertainment centers. They gorged on gooey pepperoni pizza and had a blast bowling, rock climbing, riding bumper cars and playing laser tag. Logan crushed them at Skee-Ball and Super Shot and every other arcade game they played. His diabolical laughter taunted them as he racked up a ton of prize tickets, which he graciously handed right over to Cam.

  Every time he was bombarded by excited fans, Cam would break into a huge grin, his little chest puffing out with pride. He loved watching other children go crazy over Logan, loved the envious stares he received when he bragged about them hanging out together.

  After a dizzying three hours, Meadow needed a break from the fun and games. So she found an empty table, plopped down and pulled out her phone. Aunt Rosalie had responded to her messages, texting a string of heart-eyes emojis and promising to call when she got a chance. The dramatic police standoff had entered its seventh hour and showed no signs of ending, so she was stuck in Breckenridge for the foreseeable future.

  Meadow squeaked in surprise when Logan lifted her out of the chair and sat down with her on his lap, his arms wrapped around her waist.

  “So this is where you snuck off to,” he teased, his lips brushing her ear. “What’s the matter? You can’t hang?”

  She grinned. “I’m just taking a breather. I don’t have as muc
h stamina as you, Mr. Hockey.”

  “I beg to differ,” he purred lasciviously. “Ain’t a damn thing wrong with your stamina.”

  She let out a shivery laugh, her nipples peaking against her bra. When he started sucking her earlobe, hot tingles rushed to her core.

  “Stop that,” she chided breathlessly. “We’re in public. Surrounded by children.”

  “Uh-huh. Speaking of children,” he drawled, “still think you can handle having six?”

  “Umm…”

  He dug his fingers into her ribs, making her squeal with laughter. He laughed too, holding her closer as she leaned back against him, tilting her head to the side while he nuzzled her neck.

  “To answer your question, yes, I can handle six children.”

  “So you still want that many?”

  “I do.” She smiled. “I love kids.”

  His lips curved against her skin. “I think you’d make an amazing hockey mom.”

  Her stomach flip-flopped. She tried to wet her lips as her mouth went suddenly dry. “Do you, um, want your kids to play hockey?”

  “Maybe not all six. I’d be happy with one or two.” He paused. “Three would be good.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “You’re gonna be such an intense hockey dad, Logan.”

  He chuckled. “That’s probably a safe assumption.”

  An elderly white woman approached, blue eyes twinkling behind a pair of bifocals. “Your little boy is so adorable. I don’t care what people say. Beautiful families like yours are a real blessing.”

  Meadow blushed. “Oh, we’re n—”

  “Thank you for your kind words, ma’am.” Logan kissed Meadow’s cheek and flashed a big grin at the woman. “We’re very happy together, as you can probably tell.”

  “I certainly can.” She beamed at them. “God bless you both.”

  “Same to you,” they chorused.

  As the old woman shuffled away, Meadow shook her head at Logan. “Why didn’t you let me correct her assumption?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t see the harm in being mistaken for a family.” He tightened his arms around her, whispering into her hair, “Maybe someday we will be.”

  Her heart turned over. She pretended not to hear the last part.

  They fell into a contented silence, watching Cam dart around the arcade with his new pack of friends.

  They left about an hour later, arms loaded with all the toys and trinkets Cam had selected. As they drove out of the parking lot, he let out the happiest sigh and declared, “This was the best day ever!”

  Logan and Meadow shared a tender smile.

  The next time they glanced in the backseat, Cam was knocked out, his head lolling back and his mouth hanging open. They both laughed.

  When they arrived at the house, Logan got out and helped her down, then opened the back door. Her heart melted as she watched him unbuckle Cam from his seat and gently lift him out of the truck. He tucked the sleeping boy against his broad chest and smiled at Meadow.

  With her ovaries quaking, she gathered as many toys as she could and followed Logan up the walk. She unlocked the front door and led the way to Cam’s hockey-themed bedroom. When Logan laid him down on the bed, he mumbled sleepily but didn’t wake up.

  Logan kissed the top of his head and whispered, “Goodnight, champ.” Then he stepped back and winked at Meadow. “I’ll get the rest of his bounty from the truck.”

  She grinned and mouthed a thank-you. While he was gone, she carefully undressed Cam and put on his pajamas. Then she tucked him in, kissed his forehead and whispered tenderly, “Sweet dreams, Bear.”

  She turned as Logan slipped back into the room and added the rest of Cam’s prizes to the pile in the corner. When the little boy stirred and mumbled something like “Hockey stick,” Logan grabbed the autographed hockey stick he’d given him and brought it over to the bed. Without opening his eyes, Cam hugged the stick like a teddy bear and drifted back off to dreamland.

  After exchanging a wide grin with Logan, Meadow turned off the puck-shaped bedside lamp and tiptoed from the room, quietly shutting the door behind them.

  “He really wore himself out today,” she joked, starting down the hallway with Logan. “He could probably sleep through a tornado right now.”

  “Good,” Logan said with a lecherous grin. “That means he won’t hear you screaming my name through the walls.”

  She laughed as he pulled her into his arms. “How can you possibly be up for sex after the exhausting day we had?”

  His brow furrowed. “Is that a serious question? When am I not up for sex with you?”

  “Good point.” She grinned, looping her arms around his neck. “I feel like a naughty teenager sneaking a boy into the house while my parents are away.”

  His eyes gleamed. “Naughty works for me.”

  “I bet it does.” She sucked his bottom lip, feeling him shiver before she stepped back with a mysterious smile. “Let me show you something.”

  “Your bedroom?” he asked hopefully.

  “Uh-uh. Not yet.” She took his hand and led him out the back door, tossing a mischievous grin over her shoulder. “Race you to the tree house!”

  He laughed as she took off running across the large yard. He gave chase, making her squeal excitedly and run faster. He could have easily overtaken her in a single bound. But he let her beat him to the tree house, playfully swatting her backside as she clambered up the rustic spiral staircase.

  He climbed after her, whistling in appreciation. “Very nice.”

  She grinned down at him. “Stop ogling my ass.”

  “Like that’s ever gonna happen,” he retorted with a laugh. “But I was actually talking about the tree house. This has to be the most tricked-out one I’ve ever seen.”

  “I know, right? It was built by Aunt Rosalie’s architect friend. I think she wanted to compensate for moving Cam into a smaller house after the divorce.”

  “Really?” Logan was surprised. “I like her house. It’s warm and cozy. Homey and inviting.”

  “That’s what I always tell her,” Meadow said.

  The staircase led right to the tree house’s front door, which opened into a comfortable living space that included sleeping quarters, a play area and a reading nook. There was also a deck on the roof, the perfect spot for stargazing.

  “Wow.” Logan looked around in amazement. “Nice man cave. Lucky Cam.”

  Meadow grinned. Though the space was roomy, Logan was so big and brawny that he looked like a giant invading a hobbit house.

  “Let’s go up to the deck,” she suggested.

  They climbed a ladder to the rooftop and sat down on the deck, their legs dangling over the edge. The house backed up to a beautiful greenbelt where deer could often be spotted passing through.

  “This is awesome,” Logan said appreciatively, wrapping his arm around Meadow’s shoulders. She rested her head against his chest and laid her hand on his stomach, sighing contentedly as the warm night curled around them.

  He nuzzled her hair. “So it’s okay if I stay over?”

  She grinned. “If I say no, will you leave without a fuss?”

  “Probably not.”

  She giggled. “I didn’t think so. And of course you can stay over. I missed you while you were in Dallas. We have to make up for lost time.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” he murmured, his hand stroking up and down her arm.

  A soft, dreamy smile bloomed across her face as they sat gazing up at the night sky. It was a perfectly clear evening, no clouds to obscure the brilliant array of twinkling stars.

  “So many stars,” Logan marveled.

  Meadow sighed. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

  “They are.” His voice held a grin. “But their beauty—”

  “Don’t say it.”

  “—pales in comparison to yours.”

  She threw back her head and laughed, howling to the heavens.

  Logan’s chest rumbled with an answe
ring chuckle.

  “I told you not to say it!” Meadow chortled, slapping his thigh and shaking her head. “You’re the suavest guy I’ve ever met, Logan. But not even you can pull off a corny line like that.”

  He chuckled. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  “But that’s the thing! You knew it was corny and you said it anyway!”

  “And I’d do it again just to hear that intoxicating laugh of yours. It melts me every single time.”

  At those words, her panties practically disintegrated.

  When she turned her head to gaze back at him, he cupped the side of her face in his palm and slowly lowered his mouth to hers. She sighed softly as he kissed her with exquisite tenderness, making her eyes sting from the sweet ache of it.

  “I love you,” he whispered into the kiss.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered back.

  His arm banded around her waist, pulling her onto his lap as he drank her in, exploring her mouth with his tongue as her heart beat wildly against his.

  “Oh, baby,” he breathed. “I’m so glad we found each other again. So damn glad.”

  “So am I,” she whispered fiercely. “You just don’t know how much.”

  His arms tightened around her as if he were trying to absorb her into his body. Maybe he was. Maybe he sensed the fragility of their relationship and was trying to hold on for as long as he could. Life had taught them that nothing good lasted forever. It was foolish to believe otherwise. They knew better.

  But kissing under that starry sky, it was hard not to believe in fate and fairy tales, in destiny and soul mates.

  It was hard not to believe in forever.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  LOGAN

  * * *

  The rebels were on a roll.

  They charged into the second round of playoffs and won the first two games against Winnipeg, beating them in decisive fashion. Now they were headed to Canada for games three and four.

  The night before they were due to leave, Logan came home from a late team workout at the arena. His body ached from his exertions on the ice. But the moment he walked through the front door and saw Jupiter, his sore muscles were instantly forgotten.