Page 27 of Just my Puck (Love & Laughter #1)

LUCY

A ccepting his words as something I can deal with, I keep eating, and watching the beautiful sunset over the sea.

“I’ve been talking to Steele a bit lately,” Jason says after a few minutes. “I care about him a lot, and I know you do too. I’m not really sure what he is thinking about this whole thing. Has he said much to you about it?” He looks at me expectantly, and my heart pounds in my chest.

Taking a deep breath, considering it for a moment before I smile and shake my head. “Not really. I guess he means separately, but then he told me about his family, and maybe he means together…”

“He told you about his family?” He seems surprised.

“Yeah. More power to her, I say.”

He chuckles. “No doubt. Would you consider that?”

“The three of us together? I’m still trying to wrap my head around dating him and then maybe dating you.”

“Fair enough. There’s no rush. We can figure this out as we go.”

We finish eating, the relief of his words washing over me. There is no pressure here, which is great because I panic under pressure and would probably do or say something I regret.

He takes my hand in his and gives it a gentle squeeze before he links our fingers together. “Is this okay?”

“Yes.”

“Your face will be splashed across the internet tomorrow with even more rife speculation.” He is serious, which confuses me.

“There’s no one here looking at us.” I glance around to make sure.

He smiles sadly. “See that blue car over there? There are two of them from IceBuzz staring at us. The man walking his dog on the beach, I think he works for the Coe Bay blog, and that guy over there lurking behind the burger van? Yeah, he’s from WebNewsTonight.

And I’m pretty sure the suspicious-looking dude in the black Range Rover parked up over there is a P.I.

hired by the team to watch my every move. ”

“What?” I splutter, trying not to look where he’s indicated with his head. Yanking my hand out of his, he stares at me, his eyes narrowed.

“It bothers you? The press?”

“Not really. I’m thinking about you.”

“It doesn’t bother you?” His eyes widen again in surprise.

Shaking my head, I smile. “No, because I know what this is and don’t care what anyone else thinks.”

“What is this then?”

“A perfect first date.”

His gaze is slightly seductive, heating my already warm ass from the car’s hood. “Do you know what I do on first dates, Lucy?”

“Well, I know it’s not blow jobs,” I snort, unable to help the giggle that erupts.

“This.” He turns his body into mine and grasps my chin lightly.

Leaning in, he presses his lips to mine in a sweet kiss that sends a tingle all the way up my body from my toes to my head. The slow sweep of his tongue is delicious, coaxing me to part my lips and allow him to deepen the kiss. He is a superb kisser, but I guess he’s had lots of practice.

He ends it before I’m ready, my hand part-way up to his face to cup it and really lean into him.

A soft smirk plays on his lips as I drop my hand again and fist it in my lap. “I’m really enjoying this time with you, Lucy. You are very different from every other girl I’ve been with.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Biting my lip as I wait for his answer, he gives me that smoldering gaze that sends a thrill down my spine.

“Oh, very good. You see me, don’t you, princess?”

“What do you mean?”

He sighs and looks over the water, leaning back against the car and taking my hand again. “You see me, Jason. Not the Storm or the famous hockey player. Just me. It has been a really long time since I could be myself around a girl and drop the facade of being the superstar playboy.”

His tone is so melancholy that I feel sad for him. “It must be a lonely life.”

“Oh, you have no idea. Swann really fucked me over. It’s scarred me deeply and made me very wary of who I let in.”

“Swann…” It’s the second time I’ve heard that name recently.

“My ex. We were together for a long time, but then she broke it off and did a tell-all about me and our relationship. It wasn’t nice.”

“What? That’s disgusting,” I spit out, hating this woman already. “Why would she do that?”

“Money? Her fifteen minutes? Who knows, and who cares? My point is that I already know you aren’t like that. You don’t care about the fame or the money or dating a hockey player. It’s refreshing and so nice to be able to relax.”

Squeezing his hand so he will face me, I reach out and cup my hand around the back of his neck. “You’re right. I don’t care about any of those things. You don’t ever have to worry about me telling secrets because that isn’t me.”

“I know, and that’s just one of many reasons why I’m falling hard for you, princess.”

“Oh?” I breathe out, surprised by his admission.

He lets out a soft laugh. “Yeah. I’m surprised too.

But I need to take this slow.” His expression turns serious.

“Whatever is brewing here, I don’t want to go at breakneck speed to get to the finish line.

I know you and Steele are moving quicker than you probably expected.

But I don’t want that unless it’s natural and it happens. Is that okay with you?”

“You’re asking me if I’m okay with not sleeping with you on the second date?” I ask, the smirk twitching at my mouth as I say the words.

He chuckles. “I am, and I need an answer.”

“I am more than okay with that. I’m more of a tenth-date sex kind of girl. Well, usually unless I’m confronted with gigantic ice hockey players with monster cocks and hearts of gold.”

He snickers but then sobers up. “And that just makes me fall even harder.”

“So what will we do on our second date then?”

He shrugs. “I dunno. If you’re a really good girl, I might tell you about my tragic childhood.”

His words are said in jest, but I can see his pain, and it pierces my heart, opening it up that bit wider to accept him.

“Whenever you’re ready,” I murmur, leaning in to boldly kiss him, knowing we are being watched. It was different when he made the move. He wanted it. Now, I’m taking a risk that he will push me away.

He doesn’t. If anything, he drags me closer to him, running his hand under my dress, along my outer thigh before he stops and rests it there, meaning what he said about not rushing things.

“Maybe date number five,” he murmurs against my mouth, resting his hand possessively on the back of my neck. “Steele really likes you. He is a possessive asshole when he wants to be. Are you okay with being possessed, princess?”

“By him, yes. Are you possessive, Jason?”

“Do you want me to be?”

“Why do you always answer a question with a question?”

“Deflection. Master at it.”

“You don’t need to deflect with me.”

“I know. Hard habit to break.” He pulls away and goes back to staring over the sea. “I have an obsessive nature. Most professional athletes do; it’s born into them to be the best no matter what.”

“That doesn’t really answer my question.”

“It does, and it doesn’t.”

When he says no more, I leave it.

Taking a deep breath, feeling a sense of peace and contentment wash over me, I’m thankful for this moment, thankful for Jason and thankful for Steele.

Jason turns into me again to kiss me, and I respond eagerly, my heart racing with excitement.

Softly at first, his lips meet mine in a gentle caress before deepening the kiss.

The heat rises in my cheeks as our tongues intertwine, and my head spins with the intensity of the moment. I’m filled with a sense of longing and desire as his fingers trail up my bare arms, causing me to shiver with anticipation.

As we finally pull away, I catch my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. I look up at him with a hunger in my eyes that he can’t help but match, and in that moment, everything else fades away.

Before I can respond, my phone rings, breaking the moment.

When I pull it out of my bag, I’m more than shocked to see Mae’s name come up on the screen. Seeing my frown and about to return my phone to my bag, Jason asks, “Everything okay?”

“It’s my friend Mae who I’ve discovered recently is actually an awful friend to me. I’m not sure I want to answer.”

“Might as well. You can always hang up if she’s being a dick.”

Giggling at his bluntness, I agree. “Yeah, you’re right.” I answer it. “Hey, Mae,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Lucy, oh my god, I’m so sorry,” she says quickly.

“I really wanted to talk and apologize for not calling you sooner. We should’ve come over to you at the hockey game last night, but we were surprised to see you with that girl.

We didn’t know what to make of it because you never said you had another friend, you know? ”

Blinking as her words bounce around my head, I try to make sense of it.

Never said I had another friend?

What the actual fuck?

“Can we meet up? Lunch tomorrow?” she rambles on.

Hesitating because I really have no idea what’s going on right now, I lock gazes with Jason. He raises an eyebrow in a query as he can’t hear the other side of the conversation, not that I’m saying much on this side for him to hear either.

“Okay,” I say softly. “It’s my day off tomorrow.”

“Great!” she chirps, her tone changing instantly now that she’s gotten her own way. “Embargo at 12?”

“Sure,” I murmur.

She disconnects without another word, and as I hang up the phone, Jason looks at me with concern in his eyes.

“Is everything okay?” he asks.

“Not really,” I reply honestly. “I have no idea what that was all about. She never calls me. Something weird is up.”

He nods in understanding and takes my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m here for you if you need me,” he says softly.

Smiling as I brush off this feeling that something very strange is going on, I say, “Thanks, but I’m okay. But if you ever need to talk, you can to me.”

He nods slowly, but I’m not sure he trusts me enough to open up to me yet.

There is absolutely no way I’m walking away from him now, though. This may have started as something a little one-sided on his part, and I only gave him a chance because Steele asked me to, but all that has changed with this one simple date.

This one simple date that was perfect until Mae ruined it with her phone call. Whatever she wants tomorrow, she can say her piece, and then I’m leaving. I don’t need her in my life anymore, and it feels good to finally know that for sure.