Page 43 of One Kind Goal

He scanned the wall more, his gaze catching on a picture of a man in what appeared to be black combat gear. The picture had been torn from a magazine and the signature Austin Rayhill was scrawled across it.

“He’s got a place right here in Maplehaven,” a voice said beside him. “Married a local chick who’s a friend of mine.”

Sawyer regarded the friendly face of the man leaning against the wall now.

“I gave him his pizza for free if he autographed that for me.” He pointed to Austin’s picture.

“Do you have a similar offer for professional hockey players?” Sawyer glanced around, but no other patrons or employees were in the immediate area. He only had to lift his baseball hat a few inches before the man’s eyes registered Sawyer’s identity.

“It’s nice to meet you, Sawyer Lundin, center forward for the RI Anchors.” He kept his voice respectfully low. “I’m Kyle Lennings, owner of this fine establishment and a huge hockey fan.”

He gestured for Sawyer to follow him toward a door to the far right of the take-out area. Kyle opened the door to a small but tidy office. “I have a sports mag in here somewhere that I’m sure you’re in.” He shifted some things on a shelf under the room’s only window. “What brings you to Maplehaven? Didn’t I hear you got injured?”

Sawyer held up his casted arm. “Yeah. I’m off the ice for a few weeks.”

“And kicking back in Vermont while on the mend?” Kyle held up a magazine in victory and flipped through it. “Good idea. The air around here has a healing effect.” The man spoke as if he’d experienced Vermont’s healing powers himself.

“Yeah, that’s the plan,” Sawyer said.

“Cool.” Kyle found the picture and carefully ripped it out. He plunked down a black marker then angled his hands at the photo. “Free pizza awaits, Mr. Lundin.”

Sawyer signed his name. “You don’t have to give me my pizza for free.” He was more than happy to support local businesses.

Kyle put up his hands then picked up the autographed picture. “Nope. A deal is a deal.” He led Sawyer out of the office and stopped at the take-out counter where Sawyer’s order was waiting. “No charge for this one, Wes.”

“Got it, Boss.” The kid slid the food boxes toward Sawyer. “Enjoy.”

“Thanks.” He picked up the food. “Thanks to you too. It was nice to meet you, Kyle.”

“Likewise. I hope you stop in again while you’re in town.” Kyle walked him toward the exit. “Now skedaddle before I hang this autograph on the wall and fans amass.”

Normally, Sawyer loved when fans amassed, but with Nia outside in the SUV, he couldn’t risk it. With a nod to Kyle, he left.

When he got into the SUV, Morgan took the food from him.

“Your brother’s picture is in there,” he said.

“I was just texting with him,” she said. “He’s in Maplehaven with his wife and has invited us over tomorrow. We don’t have to go though, if you don’t want to.”

Sawyer started the SUV. “Why would I not want to go?” Did she not want him to meet her brother? She hadn’t minded when he’d briefly met her sisters at that New York club.

“Because Austin is guaranteed to go all Big Brother on you,” she said, puffing out a breath.

“If that’s all it is, I can handle an overprotective brother.” Sawyer glanced at a still sleeping Nia in the back seat before reversing out of the parking spot.

“What else would it be?” Morgan asked.

“Maybe you didn’t want me to meet more of your family.”

Morgan was quiet for long enough that he took his gaze off the road for minute to look at her.

“I will admit to not making a habit of purposely introducing guys to my family,” she said. “Especially to Austin.” She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “But I would like to think you and I are more than sex.”

“I would like you to think that,” Sawyer said. “It’s what I think too. We spent all day together with no sex and I still enjoyed every minute with you.”

Morgan put her hand atop his on the center console, her fingers sliding between his that poked from the cast. “I enjoyed every minute with you too.” She peeked in the back. “With both of you.”

He squeezed her fingers then brought her hand up to his mouth to kiss it. “So we’ll put Big Brother Interrogation on tomorrow’s to-do list?”