Page 262 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

“Fucking hell,” I mutter before inhaling a deep breath to ground myself. “What are you even doing here? You’re meant to be in New York.”

His expression morphs, his smirk dropping and sadness filling his eyes.

“What?” I ask, concern flooding through me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just…” I hold his eyes, silently begging him to explain. “I didn’t want to be there. I wanted…I wasn’t ready to put the holidays behind me, so I thought…I don’t really know what I thought, to be honest. I just didn’t want to go back yet.”

“I thought you had plans.”

“Yeah. I did.”

I narrow my eyes at him, but he refuses to give up any more than that. Something’s happened, that much is obvious. But I’m not going to force it out of him. He’ll tell me when he’s ready.

“You know we’re going to a team party,” I explain.

“Yeah, I know. I’m not asking for an invite. I can message some friends and tag along with them.”

“You can come,” Calvin suddenly says, speaking for the first time.

“N-No,” Garrett argues, but there’s no conviction in his tone. “I’m not expecting an invite. That’s not why I’m here.”

“I know you’re not. But you’re welcome to join. It’s a team party, but family is invited.”

Garrett looks from Calvin to me, as if he needs my permission to attend a party that he’s obviously desperate to go to.

“I can’t believe you cockblocked me and have now weaseled your way into our New Year’s Eve plans,” I mutter as I stalk toward my bedroom.

“Sisi, please never say cockblocked again.”

“Just think, if you were five minutes later, me saying that would be the least of your worries.”

Garrett shudders at the thought of what he could have walked into.

“I’m going to shower,” I say before marching into my bedroom and closing the door.

I desperately want Calvin to follow me and finish what we started, but I have a feeling our moment is over.

My eyes drift to my nightstand as I walk toward my bathroom, and for a few seconds, I consider pulling my vibrator out and finishing the job. But no sooner has the idea crossed my mind than my smart watch buzzes.

I lift my wrist, and a laugh bursts out of me when I read the message preview.

Calvin King of the ice Keller: Don’t even think about it…

“Holy shit, Sisi,” Garrett gasps when I step out of the bathroom just over an hour later—which is a fucking achievement, I might add—ready and raring to go.

Calvin spins around so fast, he almost falls from the island stool he’s perched on.

I swear, his eyes go so wide they’re at risk of popping right out of his head as his chin hits the floor.

He eats me up, his gaze travelling from the top of my head to the end of my toes and all the way back up again.

My silver sequined form-fitting dress glitters, sending sparks of light around my living room. I can only imagine just how sparkly it’ll be once a spotlight or two hits it.

“That dress is fucking sinful, darlin’.”

Fire licks inside me, the desire from earlier bubbling just beneath the surface. And this dress only adds to the feeling because it makes me feel incredible.

“I think I’m underdressed,” Garrett mutters, but I can’t take my eyes off Calvin to look at what he’s wearing.