Filthy Secret

Sawyer had to be dreaming. It certainly explained how he’d felt so comfortable talking to Jo that he’d blabbed about his TBI and all the rehab he’d done after moving to Remington. It definitely

explained how she’d grabbed his hand, turning to lift that gorgeous, bow- shaped mouth to his in a kiss he’d wanted since the second he’d clapped eyes on her last night. But now he was being rudely awakened, dumped back to reality by someone standing behind Jo, and he opened his eyes, fully prepared to tell whoever it was to move along.

But as recognition struck, he arched a brow, letting the edges of his mouth kick up as he gently spun Jo so they were side by side. “Jesus, Donnelly. I should’ve known.”

His buddy, Finn-who, funny enough, had been the guy who’d helped Sawyer get acquainted with the ice in the first place-cracked a smile that bordered on a smirk. “I saw you on my way out from practice and thought I’d throw on my skates and say hi. Didn’t realize I’d interrupt.”

Sawyer ran a hand over the back of his neck, stowing the thought of the kiss away for later. “No worries. This is Jo Rossi. Jo, this is my friend, Finn Donnelly.”

Jo’s eyes went round with surprise. “Finn Donnelly. As in, the superstar center for the Charlotte Rogues, part of the team that’s won back-to-back championships. That Finn Donnelly?”

Finn laughed. “Well, I kind of prefer to think of myself as just a guy who likes to play a little hockey now and then. Oh, and also the guy who taught this upstanding gentleman how to skate last year.”

“Holy shit.” Jo turned toward Sawyer. “Finn Donnelly taught you how to skate?”

Sawyer couldn’t help it. He grinned. “You want a real surprise? You’re wearing his wife’s skates right now.”

Jo blinked down at her feet, wobbling a little in the process. “Seriously?”

“She’ll be happy they’re going to good use,” Finn said.

“How’s January doing?” Sawyer asked. She’d made it partway through her second trimester before working behind the bar at the Crooked Angel had become too much for her, especially since her day job was running the day-to-day office operations at Station Seventeen. Sawyer missed her bubbly personality and meticulous organizational skills. In that order.

Finn’s face lit up, and man, even Sawyer could see how far gone for January the guy was. “She’s good. Pretty excited to finally meet the babies next month. We both are.”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“I bet. Tell her we miss her at the restaurant.”

“Will do. Well, I don’t want to keep you. Jo, it was great to meet you.

You’re here for a few weeks, right?”

Jo blinked, and damn it, that’s what Sawyer got for telling January about his date with Jo. “I am.”

“Feel free to hang onto the skates until you head home. This guy has come a long way since he and I first started lessons. There’s no one better to show you the ropes.”

The words sent a pang of surprise through Sawyer, and he lifted his chin in both a wordless thanks and see ya later. Jo murmured a goodbye, and as soon as Finn was out of earshot, she turned to hit Sawyer with a brows-up stare.

“You are full of surprises,” she said, pushing off to skate around the perimeter of the rink again. She was holding her own on her skates-he’d meant it when he’d said she was far better at it than he’d been right out of the gate-but still, he grabbed her hand and held on.

“Is that a good thing?”

Jo squeezed his fingers, and damn, how could she be so sexy and sweet at the same time? “That’s a good thing.”

“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about me. Tell me about you,” Sawyer said.

“Well, you already know about the not-exactly-famous thing. I put my full-time acting career on hold when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, Mikayla.”

Jo stared at her skates for a second too long, telling Sawyer there was more to that story than she wanted to let out. But that was fine. He was a patient guy, and getting pushy-even though he was curious as hell- wouldn’t make her do anything other than clam up.

But then her face brightened as she said, “She’s five. As sappy as it sounds, she’s totally the light of my life.”

“That doesn’t sound sappy at all,” Sawyer said. “I mean, I’m not a parent, but isn’t that how it’s supposed to work when you have kids?”

“Things don’t always pan out the way they’re supposed to,” Jo pointed out. “Yes, I have a great kid who I love more than anything. The happily ever after with her father? That was definitely never a thing.”

Sawyer trod carefully. “That must’ve made things harder.” He’d been single-parented by his old man after his mom had decided to run off with one of the bouncers from his father’s bar. Sawyer hadn’t heard from her in decades, and didn’t particularly want to.

“For a little while,” Jo admitted. “But even though we were a terrible couple, we are weirdly great at co-parenting. Mikayla’s well-cared for by both of us. My ex gets to sleep around as he sees fit. Everyone’s happy.”

“What about you?”

A little crease appeared between her dark brows. “What about me?” “Are you happy?” Sawyer asked.

“Yes and no,” Jo said. Her expression made it obvious that she was surprised to have admitted it out loud. But, to his surprise, she lowered her guard and kept talking. “You know the show Way Back When?”