Page 75 of Pucking Sweet

“Poppy, we’re in a mop closet—”

“Well, where do you want me to sign it? You wanna go out to center ice? Hey, why don’t we head on over to the beach? That way, after I sign this, I can just walk straight into the surf and let a shark eat me!”

“Poppy—”

“Are you happy now, Mr. Everything’s A Big Joke?” I scribble my signature on the form with my finger and tap “save,” showing him the proof. “It’s done. I’ll send you a copy and keep a copy for my records.”

He rubs the back of his neck, looking almost sheepish. “Come on, Pop—”

“And now there’s nothing left for us to do but part ways, never to speak of our mutual mistake again,” I say over him. I feel like if I stop talking, I’ll either cry or scream. “You’re free, Lukas. You have my silence, signed in ink. Trust me, you didn’t need a signed NDA to guarantee that I’llneverspeak of what happened to anyone—”

He leans in closer, reaching out his hand as if he means to touch my shoulder. “Poppy…”

I bat him away. “And if it’s okay with you, I’ll ask that you send all future contracts to Jeff. I gave you his email in our last correspondence. I think it’s best for the health of our working relationship that we not have direct communication regarding—”

“Poppy,” he shouts, his voice so deep and loud it echoes in this small space.

I jolt. “What?”

His hands brace my shoulders now, holding me still. He looks down at me, searching my face. What is he looking for? What is he thinking? It’s impossible to know. Oh god, what is he about to say? I can’t bear him being mean right now. I’ll shatter like glass. And I cannot cry in front of this jerk. I really will have to walk into the ocean.

He lowers his face an inch, his gaze softening. His thumbs brush my shoulders. Oh god, my body is coming alive at the memory of his confident touch, his scent, his…everything.

I relax in his hold, lost in the caramel of his eyes. “What do you want from me? Please, just tell me.”

His face lowers another inch as his lips part. My heart is racing. Oh god, I think he’s going to kiss me. “Poppy…” He says my name on a sigh. “I want—”

A sharp knock at the door has us jolting apart like a pair of naughty teenagers, turning to face the open doorway. The most unexpected person is standing there.

“Colton,” I gasp, pulse pounding as his cold gaze darts between us.

Lukas dares to look a little guilty. “Hey, bud. We were just—”

“I don’t need to know,” Colton says, silencing him with a glare. He turns that hard stare on me, and I feel myself withering. “That hospital chick said you two went this way.”

Something about his tone has me stepping forward, reaching for him. “What is it?”

“I came to warn you,” he says.

I drop my hand to my sides, anxiety humming. “Warn me?”

He nods, his expression solemn. “Yeah. There’s a cute blonde over at the coffee cart chatting up some of the rookies.”

My heart freaking stops. With the way he’s looking at me right now, I know he knows exactly who she is. Apparently, he cared enough to look me up. He looked up Anderson too. Colton knows. “Just say it,” I whisper.

He holds my gaze. “It’s your sister.”

26

“Well, shit.” Lukas is still standing next to me, and we’re still in this freaking mop closet. He puts his hand on my shoulder, his expression serious. “Do you need a fast exit? We can go through the gym to the parking garage. She never has to know you were here.”

I search his face. “Why would you help me?”

“Seriously?” He turns to Colton. “Is she serious?”

“She’s serious,” Colton replies with a nod, arms crossed.

“Pop, you’re a Ray,” Lukas explains. “And that boyfriend-stealing witch is probably only here to rub your nose in it. Well, I say fuck her. Coley can get you out of here, and I’ll get the rookies to key her car.”