The Puck Charmer

by Cathryn Fox

  She shakes her head, like she’s unable to process what I just said. “What are you talking about? Why would you meet her?”

  “I’m kind of driving you around, remember? I’m responsible for you for twenty-four hours remember.”

  I expect a fight, but instead she rolls one shoulder and says, “If being responsible means you’re going to feed me, then I’m agreeing. I’m starving.”

  “We might have a problem. I sort of don’t have any groceries. That’s what I was doing when I hit you.” I pull my cell phone from my pocket. “But I’m a problem solver, so tell me, what’s your favorite take out in this one-horse town.”

  “It’s funny you put it like that. I was thinking the same thing earlier today.”

  “It’s a nice town, though. I can see why you like living here.”

  She nods, but I get the sense there is more going on with her.

  I run through a list of food choices. “Pizza, Chinese, Thai, seafood?”

  “What do you like?” she asks.

  I rub my stomach. “I like food, Alyssa. All food.”

  “Well, Benny’s is known for their ribs, and mac and cheese.”

  “You had me at ribs.” I do a fast Google search and pull up their menu.

  “I’ll go splits on it with you.”

  I gesture toward the fridge as I punch in our order. “Grab me a beer and we’ll call it even. There’s red and white wine too. Like I said, Tyler keeps this place stocked for his family.”

  “Beer is good for me. Oh, and they don’t do delivery. We’ll have to go pick it up.”

  “I’ll go.” I double check the order. “Okay, any other requests?”

  “Apple pie.” She moans, and I seriously wish she hadn’t. The sound teases my dick, and while I want her in my bed—hello, I’m a twenty-seven-year-old guy—I also don’t want her in my bed. I’m not sure how to explain it, and I don’t even know if it makes sense, but she’s different, and I just want to be with her.

  “You got it,” I say. I finish punching in the order, check the pick-up time and shove my phone into my pocket.

  “I’m splitting it with you,” she says.

  I wag my eyebrows playfully. “Or…you could find another way to pay me back.”

  Her eyes narrow in on me, and I can only imagine what she’s thinking—that what I want in return is sexual. “What are you suggesting?”

  “Get our laundry going while I run out.”

  Wait, is that disappointment on her face? There’s a definite pull between us, and an undeniable attraction, but she doesn’t strike me as the kind of girl to jump into bed with a guy, and with her I don’t want to be that guy.

  Which is all kinds of fucked up, because I am that guy.

  “Of course.” She looks around. “Just point me in the right direction.”

  After I show her where the washer and dryer are, I grab her keys from the counter and toss her a grin. “You’re not going to report your vehicle stolen, are you?” I tease.

  “Are you bringing back food?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then no.”

  I laugh at that, liking her sense of humor.

  “Feel free to make yourself at home, Alyssa. I shouldn’t be long.”

  “I think Captain Jack here and I are going to walk the grounds, have a look around and find the perfect spot to plant a burning bush.” She drops to her knees. “How do you like that idea?” she asks the dog, and he licks her face.

  “Dude,” she says. “You have to buy me dinner first.” As soon as the words leave her mouth, her gaze jerks to mine.

  There’s nothing I can do to stop my mouth from twitching. “Ah, so that’s what it takes for a kiss. Well then, I’ll hurry back with your dinner.”

  “I didn’t…I wasn’t…”

  I tug on my ball cap, not wanting any of the locals to identify me. “Oh, but you did,” I tease and she lifts Jack’s bone and aims it my way. I dart outside and laugh at the sound of the bone hitting the door behind me.

  I start her truck and head to town. I pass by my car, which is still in the same spot. I could call a truck to tow it back to me, since I don’t want Alyssa driving just yet, but I’m pretty sure it’s secure overnight in this town.

  I park behind it and head to Benny’s to pick up our order. The girl behind the counter eyes me, like she’s trying to place me, so I tug my hat down a bit more. She goes to the back and comes out with a big brown paper bag.

  “Thanks,” I say, her eyes roaming my face. I get out of there before she recognizes me, and jump in the truck, strangely excited to get back to Tyler’s place, strangely excited to know Alyssa is there waiting for me.

  Makeup-free Alyssa with the cute freckles, gorgeous red hair pulled back in a ponytail, and coveralls that hide her body. A sweet, girl next door type who insisted on splitting the cost of dinner, didn’t want to exchange insurance papers, and has no idea how sexy she is, and is not trying to impress me.

  There’s nothing I can do to wipe the smile from my face as I park and hurry to the front door. I push it open, and call out, “Food’s here.”

  My voice is met with silence, so I close the door with my foot and head to the kitchen. I drop the food on the table, when outside I hear Alyssa’s voice and I follow the sound. I catch her in the pool, swimming the length and talking to Jack, who’s watching from the edge. She reaches the shallow end and stands, wearing nothing but my T-shirt. She wrings out the hem around her knees as the rest clings to her soft curves and round breasts, and messes with my ability to think clearly. My God, I’m just as bad as Captain Jack. We’re both watching with our tongues out. When one working brain cell kicks in, there is only one thought rattling around in my lust-filled head.

  I like everything about this woman.

  5

  Alyssa

  I gasp when I turn and find Alek standing there, staring at me with heat and hunger. I fold my hands over my chest, and dip lower into the water. But I have to say, I kind of like the way he’s looking at me. When he suggested I do the laundry I thought for sure he wasn’t interested in me, and while I don’t want him to be, nothing could ever develop between us, there is a part of me that wants to stop being a rule follower, and just have a good goddamn time with a hot guy for once in my life.

  “I didn’t hear you come back,” I say.

  “Sorry,” he says. His chest is rising and falling quicker, and I’d have to be a fool not to understand why. I’m in this pool in his shirt. My breasts aren’t huge, but I could hold my own in a wet-T-shirt contest, and the man obviously likes what he sees. I like what I see, too.

  “Did you find Benny’s okay?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  I glance at his empty hands. “You got the food?”

  “Yes.”

  “I should get out now,” I say, more of a statement than a question.

  “Yes.”

  I can’t help but laugh as I take the three steps until I’m standing on the pool walkway, soaking wet and dripping on the tiles. Any other time, any other man, I’d cover myself, feel embarrassed about my near naked state, but the fact that I’m not, the fact that I’m actually standing here, letting him look is fill, is completely uncharacteristic of me. I mean, I hardly know the guy. What is it about him that makes me want to leap out of my comfort zone?

  “Can you say more than one word?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  I laugh, hardly able to believe I’ve reduced this smoking hot guy—who could have any girl in the world and probably has had many—to one syllable sentences. I like it. A lot.

  “Can you toss me the towel?”

  He reaches for the towel and brings it to me. I wrap it around myself. “I really hope you don’t mind me jumping in. Captain Jack and I were playing and it looked so refreshing.”

  “Don’t mind at all.”

  I put my hand on his chest, and his warmth curls through my blood. Am I purposely flirting with him, teasing him? Yeah, I think I am. “Ah th
ere you go, you can talk in full sentences.” I look past his shoulders. “Now where is all that yummy food?”

  “Inside,” he says and follows me in. Captain Jack traipses in behind us, and starts sniffing and drooling at the delicious aromas filling the kitchen. He’s not the only one. I breathe in all the delicious smells, and glance over at the bags. “How much did you buy?”

  “Like one of everything.”

  “A big ego and a big appetite,” I tease.

  “I have a big everything.”

  He’s grinning at me, and before I can stop myself, my gaze drifts down to take in the bulge behind his zipper. Dear God, what am I doing? He clears his throat.

  “I think you need to get changed, Alyssa. Put on something dry.”

  His eyes are blazing hot and lock on mine. “Yeah, why?”

  “I’m going to be honest with you here. You’re giving me a hard on.”

  I chuckle, but do love that he’s being straight forward, and there is so much tension between us, sparking off the kitchen appliances, denying it would be pointless.

  “You change, and I’ll dish up the food.”

  I walk from the room and dash upstairs to pull on a dry T-shirt, and tug the sweats back on. I make a quick trip to the laundry room and toss our clothes into the dryer. In the kitchen, Alek is nursing a beer, and the sight of him swallowing a mouthful gives me pause. My nipples tighten, as I imagine those lips wrapped around them, pulling on my peaked buds the way he’s pulling on that beer. He sets it down when he sees me.

  “Drink?” he asks.

  “I’m a lightweight and I don’t want to be tipsy when I visit Grandma.”

  “Sounds reasonable.”

  “This looks amazing.” I sit across from him and look at the pile of food on my plate. “I’ll never finish this.”

  “Just eat what you want.”

  I dig into the macaroni and cheese and don’t miss the way Alek is squirming in his chair when I give a long, appreciative moan. I do it again with the ribs. When the hell did I become such a tease, but more importantly, am I doing it because I want something to happen between us?

  Yeah, I think I am.

  Get it, gurl.

  Okay, who’s voice was that and where did it come from? I chuckle and Alek’s head lifts.

  “What’s funny?”

  “When did you arrive in town?” I glance around the immaculate home. “Just today, or are you a neat freak?”

  He laughs. “Last night, actually.”

  I nod. “How long are you staying?”

  He glances at his food and puts his fork down, like he’s suddenly lost his appetite. What did I say?

  “You don’t have to answer,” I say. If he wants to keep things impersonal, I can too.

  “No, it’s just that I have to be back in Boston in a couple of weeks for Kaylee’s birthday.”

  This time it’s my appetite falling off the cliff. “Oh, your girlfriend?” I ask causally as I fork coleslaw into my mouth. Wait why is he grinning at me like that.

  “You sound jealous.”

  I make a ridiculous snorting sound. “That’s crazy. I don’t even know you.”

  Oh, but you want to, Alyssa.

  There’s that weird voice again.

  “Kaylee is my four-year-old niece, going on sixteen and I have no idea what to get her. She kind of has everything.”

  “She sounds like a handful.”

  “Oh, she is, but she’s so sweet.”

  “Why don’t you want to go back, then?”

  He groans. “My folks. They’re going to be on my case if I show up alone. Like I said, they want me settled and giving them grandkids.”

  “Ah, I get it.” Marrying and having kids is not on his bucket list. I’m not sure if it’s on mine either. The only eligible men in this town are scooting around in electric wheelchairs, or are sporting canes.

  “For the record, Aly, I don’t have a girlfriend.”

  It’s a shocker really, considering how good looking he is, but looks aren’t everything. Truthfully, I could see him being single if he was a complete jerk, but I’m not seeing that side to him either. Maybe he was hurt in the past and is off relationships.

  “So this bucket list of yours,” he says. “What else is on it?” I study his face, as he nibbles on a juicy rib.

  “It’s a big one. It’s all written in my journal at home. Do you have one?”

  “Actually, no. I never really think that far ahead into the future.”

  “There are so many places I want to see.”

  “Can I read the list?”

  I shake my head. “It’s kind of private, and you’ll probably think some of the things are stupid.”

  “It’s nice to see you have a high opinion of me,” he teases with a smirk.

  “That’s not what I mean. You actually seem really nice.” I glance at the food. “I’m being treated like a queen here, and after you helping me today, I feel like I owe you.”

  “You’re under my forty-eight-hour watch, remember.”

  “Forty-eight? You said twenty-four.”

  “You’re misremembering,” he says, but we both know I’m not. He touches his head. “That’s likely from the bump. I might have to up the watch to seventy-two.” I’m about to protest when he says, “So what did you write that I would think is stupid? Swimming with dolphins?”

  “Do you think that’s stupid?”

  “No, I think it’s inhumane. We shouldn’t be harnessing mammals for our enjoyment. I’m sorry if that offends you, Alyssa. I’m not going to go into a debate on it, or delete anyone from my social media because they have differing opinions, but it’s just how I feel.”

  My heart does a little happy dance, and I really like how honest he is. That’s so important to me, especially after my ex hid the fact for months that he was planning to stay in New York after college. I thought we were going to do long term. I should have known better. As a computer scientist, there’s little to no work for him in this town, so why would he come back?

  Oh, maybe because I was here.

  But you’re not enough to keep anyone around, Alyssa.

  “I agree with you, Alek. I think it’s cruel to keep them in an enclosure and make them perform.”

  “We agree on something anyway,” he mumbles.

  I laugh, knowing he’s talking about his self-imposed doctor duties of watching over me. “I think we can both agree this food is awesome.”

  “Yup, and don’t think this change of subject is getting you off the hook. I eventually want to hear all the stupid things on your list,” he says. “Also, you have more food on your face than in your stomach.”

  My eyes go wide. “I do not.”

  He makes an exasperated face. “You’re a hot mess, Alyssa. Go look in the mirror.”

  Still not sure I believe him, I say, “You have sauce on your face too. Right here.” I reach across the table, and swipe his face, but when I do, he captures my hand. He glances at the sauce on my finger.

  “So I do.” My heart jumps into my throat when he takes my finger and puts it in his mouth, moaning as he tastes the sauce—or maybe it’s because he’s tasting me.

  Holy hell.

  A storm of need roils through me as we stare at one another, and I’m pretty sure neither one of us are breathing. His touch lights up my body, awakens every sleeping desire in me. Jesus, I’m pretty sure no man, not even my ex, has ever looked at me the way Alek is right now, and I’m also sure I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want him.

  Captain Jack barks, no doubt confused by all the sexual tension, and I pull my hand back. I grab one of the napkins from the stack and wipe my mouth.

  “So…uh,” he begins and clears his throat. “You have to visit your grandmother?”

  “She’ll be expecting me,” I say and wondering if he’s thinking the same thing I am. We blow her off, and head right upstairs so I can blow something else off.

  Good Lord, girl, who are you?

  �
��Then we don’t want to disappoint her,” he says.

  “You really don’t have to go.”

  “You keep saying.”

  “And you keep ignoring.”

  He leans toward me. “Alyssa, I’d like to drive you to your grandmother’s and I’d love to meet the woman who raised you to be such an…”

  I arch a brow as he looks up and to the left, like he’s searching for the right word.

  “Amazing woman,” I supply.

  “I was thinking more along the lines of a stubborn, pain in the ass, ornery…”

  “Ornery. Are you like a hundred? Even my grandmother doesn’t say ornery.”

  “Well, if the shoe fits.”

  “Speaking of shoes. We’ll need to stop at my place before heading to the nursing home. I can’t wear my rubber boots in there.”

  “We’ll.” He points a finger back and forth between us. “As in you and me?”

  “Yes, Alek, you can come. I want you to meet her now. When my hair turns gray after twenty-four hours, this way my grandmother will understand Why.”

  He laughs, and I love this sound as it trickles through me. When was the last time I had such a fun and easy conversation with a guy? “You mean ninety-six hours, and I love the color of your hair by the way.” His compliment silences me, as he stands and eyes my plate. “Did you have enough?”

  “More than enough. Do you think I could give Captain Jack the meat from a rib?”

  “That would only make you his very best friend, and we can all use a friend, right?”

  He’s right. We could all use a friend, and I’m pretty sure I made a very good one today. Tonight, however—and this is so not like me—I might want to change that relationship to friends with benefits.

  6

  Alek

  “Just up ahead, take a right.”

  I flick on my signal light and take the turn. Alyssa leans into me—back in her clean overalls—and I catch the scent of her skin. Still lightly soapy from her earlier shower, despite her swim in the pool.

  “That’s my parking spot right there,” she says, and I ease Moxie into the big spot that also accommodates the trailer.