Page 48 of The Big Puck

We get to my bedroom, and I close the door firmly behind us. She wastes no time, and I watch her undress, slowly, tauntingly. My heart thuds, but not because I’m excited, because I’m all wound up with tension thinking about Krissy in the next room.

And thinking about Lainey upstairs. Fuck.

“Aren’t you going to undress, honey? It’s been a while since I’ve played with your hockey stick.” She approaches me wearing nothing but a lacy bra and panties, looking gorgeous, but my dick barely moves.

She unbuttons my shirt and slides it down my arms, and I help, discarding it. Then she unbuckles my belt, and I watch her, wondering when my desire will kick in and override my reluctance.

As she’s unbuttoning my pants, I hear Krissy make a sound on the baby monitor, loud and clear. The volume is usually turned low, but I’d turned it up earlier, not sure why. I stiffen, everything stiffens except my fucking dick. Shonda turns in the direction of the monitor.

“What’s that sound?”

“It’s the baby monitor. Krissy is fussing.” I take her hands from my pants and back up.

“Let the nanny get her.” She reaches for my cock and finds it at half-mast. Her hand freezes. “What the fuck, Spencer?”

“I need to go to Krissy. She needs a bottle.”

Shonda studies me, shocked and then angry. I stare back at her, buttoning my pants and gaining confidence in my decision. It’s the right one.

She takes a step back. “This is ridiculous. Go. Go ahead to your baby. I’m sleeping in the guest room.” She turns abruptly, grabbing her things, and relief loosens my tension. I’m a little sad, sorry for disappointing her, but it can’t be avoided. I can’t pretend.

Then I walk out of my bedroom and head straight for Krissy’s room.

Chapter 18

SPENCER

Krissy is crying in a full-blown meltdown by the time I reach her and lift her from the crib. Her diaper is dry, so I hold her close, ready to take her downstairs, whispering soothing words in her ears. Just as I’m leaving, Lainey appears in the doorway, and I stop short before we collide.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were here,” she says in a whisper. “I heard her and came down as quickly as I could.” She’s wrapping her robe around her like she’s hiding from me, but I can see the shape of her body clearly the way the robe molds around her.

Now, my dick decides to come to life. Jesus.

“I heard her, too.” I stand, rocking back and forth, and Krissy quiets in my arms.

“I’m sorry you had to get up. You have company…” She trails off awkwardly, pushing her sleep-mussed hair from her face, but the curls keep falling back in her eye, and I don’t think I’ve seen anyone look sexier in my life. Shit.

“Not an issue.” I heave a breath and put her mind at ease. “Shonda is staying in the guest room.”

“Oh.” Her face changes from anxious to relieved in a blink, and I struggle to keep from smiling. “Spence, we need to talk. I need to talk,” she whispers, and I hear the distress in her voice. Of course. Because we kissed, crossed a line we shouldn’t have, and we need to work together to live in the same house. Or at least I hope she stays. Shit.

I nod. “You’re right. I know we do, Lainey. But this isn’t the time.” I glance at the door.

“I know.” She nods. “I get that. Do you want me to take Krissy downstairs for her bottle?”

“No, I’ve got this. Thank you.” I want to say how sorry I am for the kiss, for inviting Shonda here—though I’m not exactly sure why I’m sorry about that, because there’s nothing between Lainey and me—there can’t be—so I don’t owe her anything, certainly not fidelity. It’s not like I… But it is. I kissed her, and then I kissed another woman a minute later, and that’s just rude if nothing else.

She backs out of the room and mouths good night, and I’m left to my own devices as I take Krissy down to the kitchen to feed her while I contemplate Lainey asleep in her bed.

* * *

The next morning, I get up early, not that I had a good night’s sleep but because I gave up trying. It’s a big day, and I’m going to need to rely on coffee to get me through it, along with game day adrenaline, even though I’m not playing. Checking the guest room quickly, I find Shonda still asleep, wearing her eye mask, so I don’t wake her. When I get to the kitchen, I’ll write her a note.

But when I get to the kitchen, Lainey is there, holding Krissy on one hip and holding a cup of coffee out to me with her other hand.

“A peace offering,” she says.

“You don’t owe me—”