Page 100 of Puck Love

“She was naked?” She closes her eyes. “If she hadn’t shown up today, would you have toldme?”

“I don’t . . . know. There’s nothing to tell. She wanted me, I wanted you, so I turned her away. I was miserable. You’d just pushed me away,and—”

“So, this is myfault?”

“No, Stella, come on. I’m fucking crazy about you. You think I want to tell you this? You think I want her to be here? If I could take away that look on your face, I would. But I don’t want us to have any secrets. I already went two months without you. I’m fucking crazy about you. I’ve never said that to anyone, I’ve never wanted to, but the second you crashed your damn SUV into my mountain I fell head over heels inlove.”

“Oh god, I want to hate you so much right now, but I can’t.” She sobs. “I pushed you away. That was myfault.”

“No, baby. I never should have thrown that stupid party. I just . . . I didn’t want any secrets between us. I’ll go ask everyone toleave.”

“No! You can’t throw people out on Christmas. This is my first year hosting, and everyone is going to sit down and damn well enjoyit.”

I laugh and cup her face, kissing away her tears. “I’m sorry I made youcry.”

“I’m sorry I pushed you away and made you throw a party where some hockey hooker broke into your room and tried to suck youoff.”

I chuckle. “Sounds like a smash-hitsong.”

“Oh, I’ve got fodder for years since I met you. I’ll never be blockedagain.”

“I am sorry,” I saysincerely.

“It’s okay. I’m glad you told me. I mean, it hurts like a bitch, and I may kill Eli for bringing herhere. . .”

“You and me both, but he didn’t know. I never said a word to anyone, and it’ll never happen again. I promise youthat.”

“I know.” She nods and wraps her arms around me. “Because if it does, you’ll never see meagain.”

I pull her close and press a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ll never break your heart like that, Stella.” I won’t. I don’t know if my words will convince her of that, but my actions will. She’ll see that I’m not interested in anyoneelse.

When we return to the dining room, Torres and Rookie are already chowing down on the food and Lana is guzzling back another glass ofwine.

“Jesus Christ, you carved theturkey?”

Torres stops with the fork halfway to his lips. “No.”

“You’re all fuckinganimals.”

“Um, Van,” Stella says. “My chef does that forme.”

“Oh.” I scrub my beard. It’s getting itchy, despite using those expensive-as-fuck oils Eli got me hooked on. I still can’t wait until the season ends and I can shave the goddamn thing off. “Well, would it have killed you bastards towait?”

“Sorry,” Rookie says around a mouthful of food and sets his fork down on theplate.

Eli and Veronica come in from outside, and she glances guiltily around the room. “I’m just going to takeoff.”

“No,” Stella says, and everyone in the room—myself included—swivels their head toward her. “Van told me about the two of you. I don’t like it, but I can’t control the fact that he has a past. We all do . . . well, except me,because. . .”

“You were a virgin until my man Van here, right?” Torres grins around a mouthful ofturkey.

“Um . . .”

“Shut the fuck up,” I whisper-yell toTorres.

“You should stay,” Stella says ignoring the question. “No one should be alone onChristmas.”

“I don’t want to make it any moreawkward.”