Page 5 of Lucky Shot (Moonshot Hockey #1)

“You two have met?” he asks, still not looking at me but in my general direction. He comes to stand between us.

“Yes,” she says at the same time I say, “No.”

Her cheeks flush as she gives me a look that screams “go to hell” even as she somehow smiles politely.

“We had a run-in at the airport,” she tells my dad.

Then to me, “I’m Ruby. Sorry about that and the babbling.

I realize joking about possible homicide with a stranger was probably awkward.

More so when she shows up at your house.

I’m not a serial killer, I promise. And I know I’m early.

I thought it would take me longer to get my rental car and drive here. ”

Early?

“It’s no problem at all,” Dad says, recovering from her incessant babbling quicker than me. “I was just about to head down to the cabin and double-check that everything was ready.”

“Oh. I can come back later if you prefer,” she offers quickly.

Cabin? Come back later?

“No, no. It’s fine, darling.”

She grins, looking instantly relieved. “Thank you. I’m anxious to see it. It looks like an absolute dream in the pictures.”

“What’s going on?” I finally ask since it seems no one is going to tell me willingly and I can’t make heads nor tails from their conversation. Why the hell is this woman in our house and what does the cabin have to do with it?

Her brows knit together as she aims another annoyed look my way that I’m positive I’m mirroring back to her. Although in my case it isn’t personal. Whereas I’m pretty sure it is for her.

“I’m Ruby Madison,” she introduces herself again as if it should mean something to me.

My expression undoubtedly reads: “And that’s supposed to mean something to me because???” but I say nothing.

Ruby Madison has long red hair that hangs in soft waves around her face and past her shoulders.

She’s somewhere around my age, maybe a little younger.

Blue eyes, fair skin, and a heart-shaped face.

She’s dressed in a top that only covers about four inches of her torso, cutting across the top of her generous tits and above her belly button.

Her full lips part as if she wants to say something, but no words come out. She glances at my dad like she hopes he can clear things up.

He does, but I’m not at all prepared for what he says. “Ruby is going to be staying in the cabin for a few weeks. She’s an author from Arizona.”

I feel both brows lift. What in the actual hell is happening? It’s like every piece of information is more confusing instead of less.

I’m forgotten as he turns his attention back to Ruby.

“There’s a separate driveway where you can park, that way you can come and go as you please, but we’ll go out the back way so you can enjoy the lake view. It’s gorgeous today. The water is sparkling just for your arrival.” He gives her a friendly wink.

She beams back at him.

“Can I take your luggage?” He tips his head toward the yellow backpack.

Her gaze flits to me and the blush on her face creeps down her neck as if she’s embarrassed about our earlier run-in. I wonder which part she’s reeling about. Nearly running me over? Narrowly avoiding dropping her backpack on my foot? Babbling on about dead bodies and true-crime plotlines?

“Oh, uh, no, I’ve got it,” she says finally, gripping the strap of her backpack a little tighter. To be honest I’m impressed she’s been carrying it around all day. The thing must weigh forty pounds.

“Okay. The steps off the back deck might be a little tricky. Nick, can you grab that roller bag and follow us down?”

It must be shock that has me acting as her bag boy instead of demanding he tell me what the hell is going on. He rented out the cabin? I gave it to him so technically it’s his to do with whatever he wants, but he knows I always intended it to be a place for him, not a goddamn Airbnb.

“This is gorgeous.” Ruby lifts her chin, taking in the space around her as she follows my dad through the house to the back sliding glass doors. She glances back at me. “Do you live here too?”

“This is Nicky’s house.” Dad raises his voice but doesn’t look back as he speaks. “He lets me freeload. Penance for all the late nights I stayed up worrying about him when he was a teenager.”

I don’t manage to hide the annoyance in my expression before Ruby catches it. She smiles. “You’re his son?”

“Yes,” I say, then mutter to myself, “Unfortunately.”

Because whatever is going on here is undoubtedly going to be a huge pain in my ass. I don’t want some stranger living in the cabin next door, especially one that seems so…

I’m still trying to put my finger on the right adjective to describe Ruby as I heft her roller bag down the steps. She walks slowly, taking in the view with a delighted squeal.

“Oh my gosh! It’s even better than the pictures.”

Dad stops and lets her soak it all in. A pleased smile dances on his face. It’s almost enough to smooth my irritation at being blindsided. I want my dad to be happy and if the cabin doesn’t do that then we’ll just have to figure out something else. He’s been through enough.

Ruby’s hair lifts and falls around her shoulders as the wind blows off the lake. A delicate gold chain with a four-leaf clover charm hangs around her neck and catches the sunlight. She looks so carefree and happy, like life hasn’t worn her down and put lines on her face yet.

Her obvious excitement has me taking in the view, wondering how she must see it.

It’s easy to take it for granted now, but I spent years working for this.

Mountains in the distance, the lake stretched out for miles in either direction.

The first thing I do every morning is walk out here. It never fails to center me.

The only house close enough to see is the cabin.

It sits about a hundred yards to the right with pine trees that run along the property line, giving it some semblance of privacy.

Privacy that I thought would be nice for my dad, but now realize will be paramount for me since we’re renting it out to a complete stranger.

Once she’s had her fill of the view, Ruby starts moving again. There’s a pep in her step and an obvious glee the closer we get.

The cabin is fifteen hundred square feet.

Two bedrooms, one bath, with an updated kitchen, and windows that look out toward the lake.

My favorite feature is the wraparound porch we’re standing on.

I pictured Dad sitting out here with his morning coffee and Aidan running over to see him after breakfast.

“It’s perfect!” she exclaims as we walk up to the front door. Her irritation at me seems completely forgotten as she turns in a circle, grinning from ear to ear.

She hasn’t even seen the inside, so her words feel at the very least premature and at the worst—wrong. Just… so wrong . Because absolutely nothing about this scenario is perfect. Not even close.