Page 32 of One Kind Goal

Nia-bunny? Morgan put a hand to her chest, afraid the organ might slide right out of her over how freaking adorable father and daughter were together. She made it her mission to not only make Sawyer forget about his broken arm and not playing hockey, but to guarantee Nia had the best time ever so she’d see how wonderful her father was.

Sawyer let out a frustrated growl.

“What’s the matter?” Morgan asked as she approached them on the floor.

“I’m having trouble unzipping this snowsuit with my left hand.” He held up the puffy, purple suit.

Morgan reached for it. “Give it here.”

“Good thing she’s here, Daddy.”

“You got that right.” He pointed at the clothes everywhere. “Go find your hat and gloves then clean this up.”

Nia shot off to do as she’d been told while Morgan unzipped the snowsuit. They all made quick work of bundling up and had a good laugh at Morgan trying to fit a glove over Sawyer’s casted hand so it wouldn’t get all wet.

“I think I need to cut the elastic at the wrist part,” she said finally. “Do you mind?”

“No. I’d rather do that than have my fingers freeze and fall off.”

“Being fingerless will make hockey more challenging,” Morgan agreed as she rustled around the kitchen to find a pair of scissors and make the necessary alterations to his right glove.

“I’m hot in this snowsuit, Daddy,” Nia said.

“One more minute,” Sawyer said, “and we’ll be outside.”

“Okay.”

Morgan finally got the glove on him and she pulled his sleeve cuff over it. “There. That ought to stay on.”

“Thanks for taking care of me.”

She met his gaze, enjoying the vulnerable half-smile on his lips. Lips she wanted to ravage, but a little kid was boiling to death in a snowsuit and watching them.

“I’ll take care of you even better later,” she whispered before turning around and pulling on her own gloves. “Okay, snowbuilders, let us build!”

Morgan led them outside where Blaze trotted over, eliciting another round of squealing from Nia.

“He’s so cute, Daddy!” She let the dog slobber all over her face.

“Wow, she’s got no fear whatsoever,” Morgan said. “That dog is like twice her size too.”

“I’m certain she gets that level of bravery from me.” Sawyer puffed out his chest.

“Lucky kid.” Morgan bumped her hip against Sawyer. “She got real lucky in the DNA department.”

“Your parents did good work too.” He dropped a quick kiss on her nose while Nia was distracted by chasing Blaze through the snow around the cottage.

Morgan held up three gloved fingers. “They did good work times three with us triplets.”

“That has to be interesting to have two people in this world who look like you.”

“We’ve always had fun with it. Teachers could never tell us apart, and more than one high school boyfriend was confused.” She chuckled. “I remember this kid, Grant, going through an elaborate promposal only to have asked the wrong one of us.”

“Yikes. How did that work out?”

“For him? Not so great. He was interested in Brooke, but he asked Claire so that was the end of Brooke wanting to go to the prom with him.” She shook her head, remembering the boy’s awkwardness. “Then he asked Claire if she’d go and she nearly ripped him to shreds, telling him she was no one’s second choice. Austin was ready to flatten the kid.”

“You have any outrageous dating stories?”

She cocked an eyebrow then checked to see that Nia was throwing snowballs to Blaze who was jumping up to catch them. Snow exploded all over the dog’s reddish-brown fur, and the pooch loved it. So did the girl.

“I have a few, but . . .” She leaned in close, tugging on his jacket so he’d lower his head. “Nothing as outrageous as our scarf fun the last time we were here.”

Sawyer closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. “Did you bring them?”

“I did.”

“Carina has always said that Nia is a sound sleeper. I’ve seen it a few times myself.” He pecked her lips quickly. “Let’s hope that’s still the case because I have to touch you tonight.”

Morgan opened her mouth to issue a naughty response, but a snowball tagged the back of her jacket.

“Snowball fight!” Nia yelled.

In a matter of seconds, snow was flying everywhere while Blaze barked and kept herding the three of them together. Morgan couldn’t say she’d ever considered being cold and drenched a fun time, but today?

Well, today it totally was.