Vesper’s POV
The first time I heard Sunny laugh, it felt like sunlight breaking through a storm cloud.
The second time, it happened because Jaxon Laurent had somehow convinced her that hockey was the greatest invention in human history.
I stood on the back patio holding two glasses of lemonade while watching the pair of them in the yard.
Over the last few days, Jaxon had built a small hockey goal near the edge of the lawn.
Calling it “small” was generous.
The thing looked sturdier than some professional equipment I’d seen on television.
Sunny stood a few feet away, gripping a child-sized hockey stick while Jaxon crouched beside her, explaining something with exaggerated seriousness.
“No mercy,” he told her.
Sunny giggled.
“No mercy?” she repeated.
“No mercy.”
”But you’re bigger.”
”That’s exactly why you should show me no mercy.”
I rolled my eyes, and Jaxon looked over immediately.
“There she is, the ever-dramatic one.”
”You mean the responsible adult?” I offered.
“I was going to say the woman who keeps judging me.”
”That’s because I have standards.”
Sunny laughed again, and the sound was becoming more frequent now.
Each time it happened, a little of the tightness around my heart eased.
I walked across the grass and handed Jaxon his lemonade.
He took it without looking away from Sunny.
“Thank you, little wife.”
I narrowed my eyes, and he grinned.
The title had become his favorite method of harassment.
The worst part was that he’d started saying it so naturally that sometimes it caught me off guard.
Sunny pointed toward the goal.
“Again.”
Jaxon immediately set his drink down.
“See?
She likes me more.”
”She’s six, Jaxon, stop thinking way above yourself just because you spoil her with gifts.”
”She’s already making excellent decisions but choosing me.” He winked, and I scoffed.
“Your ego is exhausting.”
”It keeps me warm and fluffy at night, though.”
Sunny looked between us warily.
“Do you always do this?”
I blinked.
“Do what?”
She pointed at both of us.
“This….
talks a lot like this.”
Jaxon didn’t even hesitate.
“Oh dear, you mean Flirt.”I nearly choked on my lemonade, and Sunny burst into laughter, but Jaxon looked entirely too pleased with himself.
“You’re impossible, stop saying that to her.”
The annoying thing was that he looked good when he was happy, not the headline or celebrity type of good; he’s more relaxed. Find the original chapter at g.com.
The sharp edges disappeared whenever he was with Sunny.
It made him harder to dismiss, and that’s a dangerous development all around.
Sunny suddenly thrust the hockey stick toward me.
“Your turn.”
”Oh, absolutely not.”
”Your turn,” she repeated.
I looked at Jaxon for support, and naturally, I received none.
“She’s right, don’t be boring.”
”Traitor.”
He accepted the stick from Sunny before stepping closer.
“You’ve never played?”
”No.”
”I’m such a genius, it shows on you.”
I stared at him as he smiled innocently, but I hated that smile.
Sunny folded her arms.
“Play already.”
Apparently, I was being bullied by a six-year-old and a professional athlete, which isn’t that wonderful.
I accepted the stick.
“Fine, but if I break something, I’m blaming both of you.”
Jaxon moved behind me before I could protest.
Immediately, every coherent thought abandoned the ship.
His hand settled over mine on the stick.
The other adjusted my grip.
The summer breeze should have cooled the sudden warmth rushing into my face.
It didn’t.
“Relax your shoulders, we’re not in the bedroom yet.” He whispered, and I swallowed hard, ignoring the tremor in his voice.
“I’m relaxed.”
”You look like you’re preparing for combat.”
”I might be, and stop whispering in my ears!” A low laugh sounded near my ear.
“See?
That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
I became painfully aware of the fact that there was almost no space between us.
His chest brushed my shoulder when he shifted.
The scent of soap and fresh-cut grass clung to him, and annoyingly enough, he was still laughing.
Jaxon reached around me again, adjusting my hands, and the movement brought him even closer.
“Try not to attack the equipment.”
”No promises.”
”That’s my girl.”
My grip slipped instantly, and the grin in his voice was unmistakable.
Sunny covered her mouth to hide a giggle.
Even she was enjoying this as I turned my head slightly.
Big mistake.
Jaxon’s face was suddenly much closer than I’d anticipated, close enough to see the faint scar near his jaw, enough to notice the amusement dancing in his eyes. New chapters come out on NovelPing first.
For one brief second, neither of us spoke, then he tilted his head.
“See?”
”What?”
”You forgot how angry you were.”
Heat rushed straight into my cheeks, and I immediately shoved my elbow backward.
Unfortunately, he anticipated it; his honesty was infuriating.
Sunny finally managed to score a goal while we were arguing and immediately celebrated like she’d won a championship.
Both of us turned toward her, and the moment broke naturally.
For the next hour, the three of us stayed outside.
Sunny talked more than she had all week; she laughed, ran across the yard, and demanded rematches.
At one point, she even ordered Jaxon to sit on the grass because she claimed his height gave him an unfair advantage.
To my complete shock, he obeyed.
Seeing a six-foot-something hockey player being bossed around by a child half his size should not have been as entertaining as it was.
Yet somehow it was.
By late afternoon, Sunny finally disappeared inside with one of the house staff for a snack.
The sudden quiet felt strange after all the laughter.
I picked up the abandoned lemonade glasses while Jaxon gathered the hockey equipment.
For a few moments, neither of us spoke.
Then he glanced toward the house.
“She’s doing better.”
The teasing had disappeared from his voice, and I followed his gaze.
Sunny’s small silhouette was visible through the kitchen windows.
“She is.”
A lump formed unexpectedly in my throat.
A few weeks ago, I wasn’t even sure I’d get custody now that she was here.
Slowly becoming herself again.
I swallowed hard.
“Thank you.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Jaxon looked surprised.
“You thanking me?”
”Don’t get used to it, asshole.”
”Too late.” His smile softened, and it’s not cocky.
The look unsettled me far more than the teasing ever had.
Because it felt real.
Before I could think too much about it, a voice suddenly echoed across the yard.