Page 70 of Her Puck Daddies
No word from Barb. No update from security. Not even a check-in from the coach. The waiting gnaws at me, dragging every hour into something unbearable, stretching the worry into something I can’t escape.
***
I finally get to see the men I’ve missed more than I thought I would. All of us have been trying to follow the rules and avoidbeing seen together in public. But they can't avoid their massages for too long if they want to play well.
My heart skips a beat at the thought of Levi coming in for his appointment. The second he walks through my office door, I can feel it. His frustration mirrors my own. His eyes are stormy, his jaw tight, his whole body coiled with tension.
But before either of us says a word, he steps forward and pulls me into a warm hug. It’s unexpected, but exactly what I need. His strong arms wrap around me, holding me together for just a moment before sitting on the massage table.
“We’ve moved some cash around so we can have it available if the worst-case scenario plays out,” he half-growls, but I’m already shaking my head, the weight of the situation crashing down on me again.
“They haven’t tracked down my ex?” I ask, my voice quiet but sharp. “I found a camera in my purse. I even handed it over to Barb and security. Are you telling me it didn’t help?”
Levi takes my hand, making it clear that a regular appointment is the last thing on either of our minds today. His touch is reassuring, but his irritation is unmistakable. “Sven’s been keeping me and Eric up to date on everything, but he didn’t say anything about that.”
They haven’t managed to connect it back to Dean, which means I’ve failed. The nagging thought creeps in. Could I be wrong? Could this really be someone else’s doing? Someone completely unrelated just trying to profit from my misery? It can’t be, though. They wouldn’t have access to my purse.
Before I can stop my thoughts from spiraling, my emotions crash over me. I promised myself I wouldn’t break down again in front of these men, but I lose it anyway. And Levi doesn’t hesitate. He pulls me into his arms again, tighter this time, like he’s trying to shield me from everything. For the next few minutes, he just holds me. No words. No questions. Just warmth, strength, and the quiet comfort of his presence. His shirt and sleeve soak with my tears, but he doesn’t let go.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter between sniffles. “I’m such a fucking basket case.”
His hand brushes a few strands of hair from my face, his touch comforting. His gaze softens, something deeper in it than what we’ve shared before. “You’re not. Anyone who’s been through what you have and still finds a way forward is brave for taking that step and strong for surviving it.”
“And you’re a demon in the sack,” he adds, a teasing grin tugging at his lips.
I playfully swat his arm, a small laugh slipping through. “I am not a demon.”
“Demoness, then,” he chuckles, leaning in to kiss the tip of my nose. “I love that about you. Everything about you really.”
Something about the tenderness in his voice, the way he looks at me—playful, yet softer than I’ve ever seen—completely unravels me. It tightens my throat, makes my chest ache in a way I don’t know how to process. The tears spill freely now, but Levi’s hands are there, his thumbs wiping them away before they can fall too far, his touch comforting, like he’s done this a hundred times before.
Like he’d do it a hundred times more.
“I love your feistiness,” he whispers.
“Only that? What about the rest of me?”
“Oh, I love all of that, too,” he chuckles.
And then he leans in, his lips meeting mine—tender, slow, and full of promise. Levi doesn’t just kiss me. He cherishes me, pouring every ounce of emotion he feels into this kiss, as if he’s trying to show me how much he cares without saying a single word. His hands cradle my face, his thumbs brushing across my cheeks as if I’m something fragile, precious. For a moment, the worldoutside the kiss, the fear, the uncertainty, the chaos, ceases to exist.
It’s just us.
When he pulls away, his forehead rests against mine, his breath warm. His voice, thick with emotion, rumbles in the quiet of the room. “We’ll figure this out, Ava. I swear it.”
My name on his lips sounds like an anchor, and I lean into the feeling, repeating his words in my head.
Keeping an eye on the clock, he reluctantly stands to leave, his fingers trailing down my arm before he finally lets go, leaving me breathless, my heart pounding, and my lips still tingling from his touch.
But before I can gather myself, a sharp knock at the door pulls me back to reality. Standing there, flanked by two unfamiliar men in uniform, is Barb. She looks at me with a level gaze.
“Ava,” she says, her tone calm but serious. “This is Henrich and Barrett, members of our security team. They believe they’ve found a way to confirm that the culprit is indeed your ex.”
Chapter 24
AVA
Afew months ago—hell, even a week ago—I never would’ve imagined I’d be willing to endanger myself like this. But now, I’m the one who might be able to pull this off. After Leighton gave me an update on her restraining order and some digging on her brother’s end, we uncovered that Dean hasn’t been at Effortless Massage and Tranquility Center in weeks.