Page 94 of One Kind Goal

“And we love being with her,” Sawyer said. “We would never do anything to intentionally harm Nia, Carina. What happened last night was—”

“An accident,” Carina finished. “An accident, completely out of your control.” She gestured to Alan’s phone resting on the man’s knee. “And your people have done an impressive job of flipping the script and protecting Nia’s identity.”

Sawyer’s body relaxed beside her and Morgan desperately wanted to put her arms around him. Her arms, however, were still full of one little girl.

“I can keep Nia away from hockey games if that’s your condition, Carina,” Sawyer said. “I want to be able to see her regularly though. I want to be her father.”

“Hockey is your life, Sawyer,” Carina said. “It’s a huge part of who you are.” She smiled a little. “Besides, somewhere along Route 91, while Nia was crying, she wailed about wanting to play hockey like her daddy.”

Sawyer let out a shuddery chuckle. “She did demonstrate an aptitude for skating.”

“She’s a lot like you,” Carina said. “Charismatic, talented, fun-seeking . . .” She gestured to Alan’s phone again. “Capable of catching the public’s attention.”

“Photogenic,” Morgan added, looking down at the angel asleep in her lap then at the god kneeling beside her.

Nia wiggled against Morgan’s thighs as if she were trying to get comfortable.

“I think she needs her bed,” Morgan said, not wanting to relinquish the child, but her body was cramping in this position.

“I’ll take her up,” Alan volunteered as he stood.

Morgan allowed the man to get his arms under Nia, but the moment he lifted, Nia’s eyes shot open and she cried again.

“He’s taking you to bed,” Sawyer said, quickly rising to his feet. “You’re exhausted.” He dropped a kiss to her forehead. “We’ll see each other again. I promise.”

Nia was clearly too tired to talk by this point, and Alan headed for the stairs.

“I love you, Daddy,” Nia called from the hallway.

“I love you too, Nia-bunny.” Sawyer used the sleeve of his jacket to wipe at his eyes then he leveled his gaze on Carina. “Tell me we can work something out. Something that lets Nia get the best of both of us.”

“I want that too, Sawyer.” Carina stood and smoothed the wrinkles in her shirt. “I’ll call my lawyer tomorrow morning and get the wheels in motion for joint custody.”

He sifted out a breath and Morgan rubbed his back. “Thank you.”

With an invite to come back tomorrow to see Nia, Sawyer and Morgan left Carina’s and headed for Sawyer’s SUV. Before they reached it, however, Sawyer grabbed Morgan’s arm and turned her to face him.

“I never should have left Vermont without talking to you first,” he said. “But I needed to be doing something active to get Nia back. I’m sorry.”

Morgan rose to her tiptoes and pressed her lips to Sawyer’s cheek. “You get to leave me behind like that once, Mr. Center Forward. Do it again, and you’re in the penalty box, got it?”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Got it. Say you’ll come to my house in Bristol. I want to stay local until Carina and I figure out custody, but I need you near me tonight, Morgan.”

“I need me near you too, Sawyer.” She kissed him again, this time on the lips, then tugged him to the SUV.

They got into the vehicle and Sawyer drove them to his Rhode Island home. Morgan was impressed with the house, but it clearly was a bachelor’s place, lacking in personal details and not enriching for a child.

“I’ve lived here for ten years,” Sawyer said as they stood in his kitchen which was full of cold stainless steel. “But I haven’t really lived here. I’m on the road a lot and when I am here, it’s just me. There’s never been a reason to do more with it.” He turned in a circle. “I have a place in Colorado too, near my mom and sister, which has this same vibe. This . . . not-homey vibe.”

“I could help you make this more homey,” Morgan volunteered. “For Nia.”

Sawyer shook his head. “I think it might be better to start over.” He turned to face her. “Start over with a cozy place.”

“In the mountains maybe?” Morgan asked hopefully.

He opened his arms to her. When she stepped into his embrace, nestling herself under his chin and resting her head against his chest, he said, “In the mountains definitely. With you, baby, if you want that too.”

“I want that too.” She squeezed her arms around his waist. “I want that so much.”