Page 22 of The Big Puck

The untrustworthy slimeball was choosing to be his best, most polite self.

Me: I’ll mail it priority tomorrow.

Moe: No. I don’t trust the mail. Can you bring it home on your next visit?

Me: Sure. Not sure when that will be.

It takes a long time for him to reply, and I watch the three dots bubble off and on for what seems like forever. I’m almost ready to shove my phone in the charming nightstand drawer when his text pops up.

Moe: I’ll come up and get it.

Shit. I don’t waste time thinking about my response. I tell him what I’m thinking, like I wish he would have done before betraying me, before fooling around. My fingers type fast.

Me: You sure those rumors about your engagement aren’t true?

Shit. Should I… No. I don’t want to take the words back even if I could. I shut my phone because I don’t want to see his answer or even know if he has one.

No matter how much our history and families pointed us that way, I was never meant to be with him. We were friends, and our chemistry was never more than lukewarm at best. So why am I so hurt?

Because we were best friends, and now, we’re so absolutely not. Because he absolutely betrayed me and my trust and humiliated me in front of our community—or would have if I gave a shit.

But I don’t. Do I? If not, then why did I head north for a fresh start?

Falling back onto my pillow with my eyes wide open, I’m thinking I need a shot of whiskey to get some sleep when the baby monitor makes a sound.

I spring from bed without thinking and dash for the nursery.

Scooping up Krissy, I wait for Spence to wander in half-asleep. After a few seconds of pacing around and whispering in her ear, Krissy falls back asleep. There’s no sign of Spencer.

This removes any residual uneasiness about my decision to live-in with my hunky boss and my uneasiness about relying on my restraint to keep things cool between us because he was right. He really does need someone to be available at night, even when he’s home. More importantly, Krissy needs me.

Besides, even if Moe wants to get his family heirloom back, his threat to come up here and get it was surely an empty one.

Chapter 9

SPENCER

The smell of fresh coffee wakes me, and I inhale the scent of heaven as it wafts up to my room. Rolling out of bed, I don’t give myself a chance to enjoy the reprieve of one less chore. It’s fucking early, but the team is showing up for our first full practice this morning, and I want to be ready for them.

Showered, if not shaven, I come down the back stairs directly into the old-fashioned kitchen to see Lainey there with a cup of coffee in one hand and Krissy draped over her shoulder. She’s wearing a blue-striped polo dress with a white collar and looks like she’s about to hop onto the deck of a sailboat any minute with her boat shoes. I suppress a smile and manage not to shake my head.

She grins and heads straight for me, instantly raising my pulse rate. “Here, why don’t you hold Krissy, and I’ll get you some coffee and breakfast.”

I take Krissy and hug the baby to my chest in relief, breathing in her baby scent and relaxing. The fact that I’ll miss her warmth and miss caring for her today registers. She’s only been mine for a couple of weeks, but I’ve grown accustomed to her needing me even as I’ve floundered with what to do with her and worry about doing everything wrong.

“Are you a pancake or waffle guy?” Lainey asks in a bright voice as she places a griddle I know I don’t own on the stove.

“No time for breakfast. I’ll catch some food at the rink.”

“Oh, that’s right. You all have a kitchen to feed the hungry team, don’t you? You can at least take some coffee.” She pours the coffee, and I look for signs of disappointment, but all I see is relentless cheer. She hands me the coffee in a covered thermal cup with a Whalers logo. “It’s black.”

“Thank you. How’d you know I take it black?”

“A wild hunch.” She smirks, and the twinkle in her big blue eyes could blind an eagle, much less a guy like me. I stifle the urge to pull out my sunglasses. I take a sip of my coffee and put it down on the table as I walk in a circle with Krissy and listen to her make sounds.

Then I hand her back to Lainey. “I need to get going. Text if you need anything.” I pull out my wallet and remove an extra credit card I never use. “Use this if you need to buy anything for Krissy or the house.”

“Wow. Aren’t you worried I’m going to rob you blind?” There’s a small dimple in her right cheek, and I stare at it for a beat too long until it disappears.