The next two weeks were busy. The Sidewinders had lost in the second round of the playoffs so Toli and their half-brother, Vlad, were both around. Spending time with his brothers and their wives and children was nice, but Sergei was starting to feel the itch to find his own space. He’d been in limbo since leaving Boston in late February and now that it was June he needed to start organizing his life. It would be hockey season again before he knew it and his first priority had to be a home and a schedule for Niko. He needed to find an agency that would give him options for a nanny because he had no doubt it would be difficult to find a good one. He’d been lucky in Boston since he and Tatiana had already employed a part-time nanny who’d been willing to go full-time. She couldn’t leave Boston, though, so he would be starting over.

He wanted to stay with Toli, Tessa, and the kids, but it would only postpone the inevitable. Much as it pained him, he needed to head home in a few days. Anchorage might not be where he wanted to be, but it was where he had to be, and he’d make it work one way or another.

His phone rang, startling him out of his dark thoughts, and he was surprised to see Aaron Ferrar’s name on the caller ID. Aaron was the starting goalie in Anchorage and they hadn’t really had a chance to get to know each other because Aaron had been out with a broken hand since Sergei had been traded there.

“Hey, Aaron.” He wasn’t even sure how Aaron had gotten his number, though he assumed it was on the player information lists they all got.

“Hey, Sergei. How’s it goin’?”

“Pretty good. I’ve been in Vegas with my brother and family, soaking up the sunshine before I head back up north.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was calling about.” Aaron paused. “I don’t know if you heard, but I’m in the middle of a divorce and trying to unload my house. Jake said you might be interested. It’s not too big, but not small, and doesn’t need any work. I’m not interested in making much profit; I just want out so I can give her half the money and move on.”

“Oh, uh…” Sergei hadn’t been prepared for something like this.

“No pressure, man. I thought I’d text you some pictures and stuff. It’s four bedrooms, three baths, with a basement I converted into a workout room and a hot tub in the screened-in porch.”

He gave a few more details and when he told Sergei the price, Sergei was surprised again; he’d done some research and prices were a lot higher for the kind of space Aaron was talking about. “That’s all you want for it?”

Aaron chuckled. “Like I said—the less I sell it for, the less she gets, and that’s all I care about.”

“Doesn’t she have a say in the selling price and such?”

Aaron took a breath. “She’s in prison awaiting trial and needs every penny she can get her hands on for legal fees.”

“Oh.” Sergei was taken aback, but it occurred to him the details didn’t matter. If the house was relatively clean and passed inspection, what did he care what it looked like? He needed a place fast and this was a steal, even without looking at it.

“If you’re not interested, it’s no problem. I just—”

“No, I’m interested.” Sergei gave Toli a nod as he came into the room. “I’d just like to see some pictures, set up some kind of inspection.”

“I can email you all the pictures I took and specs of the house. If you’re interested, you can hire someone to handle the details. I really don’t care as long as I can pay off the mortgage and walk away with what I put down on it. We’ve had it a little over two years.”

“Send me the stuff and let’s talk again later,” Sergei said.

After exchanging email addresses, they hung up and Sergei poured himself another cup of coffee as he filled Toli in on the conversation.

“You’re just going to buy it sight unseen?” Toli asked.

Sergei shrugged. “I’m going to see pictures and I’ll hire an inspector to head over there, but yeah, why not? Niko and I need a place right away and the price is definitely right.”

“I guess as long as you have it inspected…”

“I have to go, Toli.” Sergei gave his older brother a smile. “I love being here but I need to get Niko settled. I have to find a nanny, a preschool or a daycare… I have a lot to do. I sold almost all our furniture when I left Boston, so I don’t even own a bed anymore. I kept Niko’s stuff, and all our personal stuff, but I didn’t move furniture all the way to Alaska. It was just too overwhelming.”

“I know, but I have an idea that might help not just you, but someone else we know as well.”

“Oh?” Sergei looked up.

“Why don’t you hire Dani to be Niko’s nanny for the rest of the summer, until she leaves for Colorado?”

Sergei’s gut reaction was to say yes, but his brain kicked in a second later, making him shake his head. “Even if this was a good idea—and I don’t think it is—what’s in it for her?”

“Change of scenery and she adores Niko. Why not let her take care of him while you get settled? She can probably help you set up a new house, she’d be tough on potential nannies since she’s attached to Niko, and, frankly, I think it would be good for both of you.”

Sergei scowled. “Bro, if you’re trying to play matchmaker—”

“What’s wrong with her?” Toli demanded. “Smart, beautiful, a nice girl—”

“That’s the problem,” Sergei muttered. “I’m not looking for a girlfriend, and if she’s a nice girl, she’s looking for more than an occasional roll in the sack. Not to mention, she’s practically still a kid.”

“She’s graduated from college.” Toli shook his head. “Don’t make excuses.”

“She’s not my type.”

Toli laughed. “Why? Because she’s tall, blond and probably smarter than you?”

Sergei scowled; Toli had just described Tatiana as well as Dani.

“Fine, maybe she’s not potential wife material, but she’s perfect nanny and friend material. She’ll help you, you’ll help her financially, and it’ll be good for both of you to step out of your comfort zones. Zakk says she doesn’t do much other than hockey.”

Sergei tried to think of a protest but nothing reasonable came to mind. She was smart, capable, and in a perfect position to help him. She also knew Niko and the boy adored her, which was a plus. And damn if he didn’t want to be alone up there. If he didn’t have Niko, it would’ve been different. Sex and female companionship had never been a problem for him and there were plenty of guys on the team who went out drinking regularly. Though he tended to avoid that during hockey season, he allowed himself to let loose now and again. Having Niko meant one-night stands had to be minimal and drinking with the guys nonexistent. Which left him with nothing to do and no one to do it with. Not in Anchorage, anyway.

“I can see the wheels turning a hundred miles per hour.” Toli chuckled. “What’s the hesitation?”

“The truth?” Sergei eyed him.

“Of course.”

“She’s beautiful, young, and single. How would that look to people?”

“You going to harm her in some way?”

Sergei made a face. “Of course not.”

“Then who cares? Zakk would take your word for it, and I know you better than that, so who else matters?”

“Her reputation matters. If she’s going to be working for an NHL team in the future, living with me without being in a relationship might look bad if word got out.”

“You’re both adults and she’s a strong, professional woman who’s perfectly capable of defending herself against any of that. Besides, if she’s really not your type, since you’ll have live-in help with Niko, you’re most likely going to be hittin’ the puck bunnies hard and that’ll stop any rumors about the two of you.”

“Already did that in Boston. I’m over it.”

“Really?” Toli’s eyebrows lifted, his eyes glinting mischievously. “Then you’re ready to find a nice woman to spend time with?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“You’re already over one-night stands… What else is there? If you say abstaining, I’m going to punch you in the dick.”

Sergei snorted out a laugh. “Thanks.”

“So, what’s the problem? Obviously you’re not going to replace Tatiana, but she’s gone and you’re still alive. You’re only thirty-three. You can’t make me believe you want to be alone.”

“No.” Sergei fidgeted. “It’s just, you know, guilt.”

“You didn’t kill her. She put herself in front of that bullet to protect you and Nikolai. I refuse to believe she did that so you would spend the rest of your life alone, mourning her and feeling guilty for wanting to start living again.”

“No. That’s not who she was.” Sergei sighed. “I know it’s time, I’ve just forgotten how.”

“No, you haven’t.” Toli grinned. “It’s just like a one-night stand, except with a woman you like and maybe no sex the first night.”

They laughed together.

“You think there are single women in Anchorage?”

“There have to be, no?”

“I hope so.”