Page 39 of Tricky Puck

“I was wondering how many yawns it would take for you to catch on.”

He chuckles low, his breath raising the hairs at my temple, making me shiver with the intimacy.

“Take me home.”

He raises one brow and stares at me long and hard until I get what I said.

“I mean, take me to your home. Oops. Freudian slip.” I pretend it’s nothing, joking it away.

“I’ll take you home. We’ll get your car in the morning.”

I raise my brows at him.

“So you can get right to bed.” He smiles unapologetically, and I’m not sure if he’s promising me a good night’s sleep or another wild night of hockey-boy sex. Also, I’m not sure which I’m hoping for.

He pushes his chair back and stands, the first one at the table to call it a night, and then sweeps me into his arms like he’s enjoying this arrangement. As we say our good-nights, mixed feelings swirl endlessly in my tired state, but he’s so sure and solid, and we’re convincing his friends that this is real as they tell me they’ll see me again soon, and it’s so wonderful to meet me and see Link with me. Except we’re supposed to be convincing his friends we’re for real, right?

Are we faking it to please our grandmas, or do we have real chemistry?

And what if it’s both? How much hot water would that put me in the day after Christmas?

Thirteen

LINK

We get out of the elevator on the top floor, and though it’s only five stories up, she blows out a whistle.

“Private elevator? I should have guessed you’d live in a penthouse.”

“Not too tired for sarcasm,” I say.

She pulls away from me and walks across the room to the floor to ceiling window overlooking the harbor. I don’t bother pointing out that if this was New York, I wouldn’t be able to afford a harbor view.

“Nice view.” I join her to watch the lights twinkle off the water in the small harbor.

“I like it.” Opening the door I take her out to the balcony with a hand on her lower back. Touching her is tricky since I promised myself I’d let her sleep and at least try not to further complicate our… situation. I can’t call it a relationship.

Breathing in the cool salty night air gives me the fortitude I’ll need to make that happen.

She shudders and wraps her arms around herself as she stares at the dark sky.

“Let’s go inside and I’ll show you around.”

“I’ve never seen so many stars.” She looks up at me. “Your place will have to be draped in gold to beat the view from your balcony.”

“I thought you said you weren’t impressed with money.”

“No more than the average girl.” She yawns half way through her smile as I slide the door closed behind us.

“This is the living room.” I point to my right. “There’s the dining room. Follow me to the kitchen.”

“I can see it from here you know.” She follows me in spite of her sass and we head for the large island and then turn left. The kitchen is huge and the sink has a window overlooking the yacht club and bay beyond.

“A person might think you were a cook if she didn’t know better.” She runs her hand over the marble countertops and stands in front of the sink gazing out the window. “Okay. I’m impressed. A corner unit.” She yawns again.

I laugh. “I can see how impressed you are. I guess it’s time to show you to the bedroom.” I take her hand and lead her down a hall past a half bath and a small office to my bedroom.

“You only have one bedroom?”