The Puck Charmer

by Cathryn Fox

  “I get that. I really do. But you wrote on your bucket list that you wanted to travel, see the world and live in a big city, preferably somewhere warmer than Vermont in the winter.”

  I roll my eyes to make light of it. “I also wrote that I wanted to have sex in a limo in New York, and I don’t see that ever happening. I was a kid, Alek. Full of idyllic ideas.”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugs a broad shoulder. “I don’t think you should let go of your dreams.”

  I stare at the man I barely know, and see the truth in what he’s saying. “Tell me more about your bucket list,” I say.

  “I’d love to cage dive with sharks, and maybe drive a race car on a track.” His eyes go big. “Oh, and maybe bull riding.”

  I laugh. “I’m sensing a theme here. I think you’re a bit of an adrenaline junkie.”

  “So you’ve never seen the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean?” he says, glancing at my list.

  “Nope, I want to put my feet in both of them.”

  “How about a road trip?” he says.

  “In Moxie, or in your car which is still parked on Main Street.”

  “Good point,” he says and stares at one of his meatballs like he has something on his mind. I want to ask, but close my mouth, hoping I didn’t embarrass him by mentioning his broken-down car.

  “Have you thought about what you’re going to get Kaylee for her birthday?” I ask, changing the subject.

  “No, but my buddy Jonah and his wife Quinn have a kid. I’ll give him a call. They were actually thinking about taking a drive up to visit me here.”

  “That will be nice.”

  He nods, like he’s not so certain it will be.

  “Sounds like you have great friends.”

  “I do. But like my parents, they’re on my case too. Always trying to set me up and marry me off. Christ, my buddy Kane had this whole scheme to get our other friend Rider and this girl together. I was in the middle of it and didn’t know.”

  “How could you not know it?”

  “No one decided to tell me they were using me as a pawn, and I ended up punching my buddy Rider.” He shakes his head and laughs. “Never mind, it’s a long story.”

  “Did Rider and the girl end up together?”

  “Yup. They’re talking marriage and kids down the road. I hope they have a girl.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “Boys are a handful,” he says, like he knows a thing or two about that. I grin, thinking he and his brother must have been rowdy. “Jonah’s son, Scotty, is four and nothing can slow him down. You’ll see.”

  “I’m not so sure about that. We only agreed on five days, remember?”

  “I remember,” he says, and for a second I wonder if that’s disappointment I hear in his voice.

  “I’m sure Captain Jack will love to have a four-year-old around,” I say. “Sounds like they both have the same amount of energy.” I finish my last meatball and glance outside. The rain is still falling. I sigh.

  “Don’t like the rain?”

  “I love when it rains,” I say, “But it sort of interferes with my job.”

  He frowns. “Yeah, I guess it would, and six months of winter probably doesn’t help either.”

  “You’re right about that. I love what I do, but unfortunately, the climate here prevents me from doing it all year round.” He goes quiet, like he’s mulling that over, and I stand to take my dishes to the sink.

  I grab a plastic container and fill it with a portion of food for my grandmother. As I do that, Alek jumps up and starts the dishes.

  “You don’t have to do that,” I tell him.

  “Oh, is there something else you’d rather I do?”

  I grin at him. “Plenty of things.” I hold the container up. “I have to get to the nursing home. Can I take a rain check?”

  “Good thing it’s raining,” he says.

  “If it wasn’t?”

  “Wouldn’t matter, I’m still going to strip you naked tonight and have my way with you.”

  “Actually, you’re not,” I say, and his brow furrows. I poke him in the chest. “I’m going to strip you naked and have my way with you.”

  “Fuck,” he murmurs.

  “Yeah, exactly.”

  10

  Alek

  Alyssa and I have been hanging out for three days now. Three fun days working together, and three fun nights falling into bed together. Come Friday, her time is up with me. Only problem is, the more time I spend around her, the more I want to extend the five-day limit. Maybe I should rear-end her again. Jesus, what am I saying and for fuck’s sake I need to stop thinking about her perfect, heart-shaped ass.

  As I drive us home from work—she’s given up fighting me on the matter, and yes, I like taking care of her—I take in the streaks of mud on her face. It’s been drizzling for the last three days, making work difficult, but we were able to finish off Mrs. Henderson’s backyard. Alyssa was a little quiet as we completed the job today, and I’m pretty sure it has to do with the fact that she doesn’t have any more big jobs lined up.

  “I was talking to Tyler today,” I say. “He called while you were talking with Mrs. Henderson.”

  She casts me a sideways glance. “How’s his vacation going?”

  “Good.” I chuckle. “But he did complain about his nagging sisters, and how they’re trying to set him up with every single girl in their contact list. I’m glad it’s him and not me,” I say, and she smiles at me but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

  “How long is he gone again?” she asks.

  “Three weeks.”

  She turns and stares out the front window. “So you’re leaving then, after three weeks,” she says, and that’s when I realize it’s not something we ever talked about.

  “I might stay longer. I’m not sure. I do have to go back to Boston for Kaylee’s party. Which reminds me of a couple things. One, I’d like to go to the city this weekend to get her a present, and two, my buddy Jonah texted and he and his family have decided to come up next weekend.”

  “Oh, that’s nice,” she says and looks at her hands.

  “Any chance you can come to the city with me this weekend and help?” I do have to get Kaylee a present, but I have ulterior motives that I’m not about to divulge. No, she doesn’t need to know what I have planned and I seriously can’t wait to see her face when she finds out. “I know nothing about girls.”

  She grins. “I wouldn’t say that.”

  I reach across the seat and capture her hand. “Will you come?”

  “With the landscaping job complete, and just a few other contracts that aren’t too big, I have some free time. We can take my truck if you want.”

  “I have something else in mind,” I say. “Do you think your grandmother would miss you if we didn’t get back in time for visiting hours?”

  The freckles on her nose pinch together as she makes a face. “I think she’d be okay with that. I’ll have one of her friends check in and read to her. I’ll let her know tonight. She’s really enjoying your visits too, you know. It’s funny how she thinks she knows you.”

  Nope, not funny at all.

  “I like visiting her too,” I say, although the more time I spend with her, the more I think she does know who I am.

  “What about Captain Jack, though?”

  “Covered. Tyler told me to check in with his neighbor. They have kids and they love the dog, so they won’t mind taking care of him for the night.”

  “For the night?”

  “Yeah, I mean, they’ll feed him and walk him.” Way to almost let the cat out of the bag, dude. I never was very good at keeping secrets, yet here I am keeping a whopper of a one from her, and I fucking hate everything about that. If I tell her now will it ruin this between us? Will she end up hating me? I’m not sure that’s a risk I want to take. My buddy Jamie is the risk taker, not me. As I think about him it brings a smile to my face. I’m so happy he finally found love and a home with Fallon. “I still want you to t
ake me fishing,” I say, wanting to change the subject.

  “You really want to learn?” she asks, like she can’t wrap her mind around that.

  “Well yeah. I mean I’ve been spin fishing before, just never fly fishing. I’m not afraid of worms if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  She laughs at me. “We don’t use worms. We bait the fish with artificial flies that’s why it’s called fly fishing.”

  “As long as we catch some big trout, I don’t care what we use as bait. I’m looking forward to learning all your tricks and techniques, and frying those fish on the barbecue.”

  “It’s the least I can do after you helping me with my landscaping.”

  “Speaking of landscaping. I mentioned your burning bush to Tyler.”

  She gives me the side eye like she’s not sure whether this conversation has gone south or not. “Ah, okay…”

  I pull into Tyler’s driveway and kill the ignition. “He was all over the idea. In fact, he was hoping you could redesign his yard, front and back. He wants to hire you, and said he’s been meaning to get some work done, he’s just been busy.”

  Her mouth falls open. “Are you serious?”

  “Yeah, very.” I wave my hand. “This is your new playground.”

  With eyes as big as hockey pucks, she glances around the yard and says, “I can’t believe this. The contract will go a long way in paying…”

  Her voice falls off and she looks away like she’s said too much. But I understand. She’s responsible for her grandmother’s care and bills. I don’t say anything, though. I don’t want to embarrass her.

  “So what do you think?”

  “I think I have a ton of ideas,” she says, the joy back on her face. “Right over there, I think we could put some evergreens, and right there, I’d love to see rhododendrons. I can sketch it all out first.”

  “I’m sure that won’t be necessary. But if you want, you can.”

  She turns back to me, her eyes so soft and so goddamn warm my heart pounds a little fast. It’s insane how much I like doing things for her. Probably because she asks for nothing.

  She puts her hand on mine. “You were so sweet to recommend my services, Alek.”

  I tap the steering wheel with my free hand. “It’s possible I have ulterior motives.”

  “Oh,” she asks, her brows lifting, a knowing gleam in her eyes.

  I give a casual shrug, not wanting to scare her off, or for her to think I want more here, because I don’t. Fuck, all I can hope for is that this thing between us ends amicably, and when I leave—with Alyssa never really knowing who I was—I can only hope we both have fun, and hold on to a few fond memories of this summer fling. Only problem is, it doesn’t feel like my true identity is a harmless omission anymore. It feels like deception, and this is a girl who appreciates honesty. I guess I never expected this to get so complicated. Unease unfurls in my gut, and I draw in a fast breath to pull myself together.

  Fuck me.

  “I was thinking, maybe you might want to hang out longer, while you’re working on Tyler’s place.”

  “You want to extend the five days?” she asks, and licks her lips. My cock twitches.

  “It’s been kind of fun, don’t you think?”

  Her eyes glaze over a bit, and she tugs at her bottom lip with her teeth. Damn she’s sexy.

  “Oh, I think.”

  “So that’s a yes?”

  She looks around, like she’s considering it. “Does Tyler really want his yard done? He really said that to you?”

  “He knew who you were the second I mentioned your name.” Her gaze flies back to me, and I hold my hand up. “Scout’s honor.”

  She chuckles. “Were you really a scout?”

  “No, but I ate a brownie once.”

  “Oh my God,” she says, her laugh deep and throaty as she gets out of the truck. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  “What?” I say, unable to hide my smirk, as I circle the truck to meet her. “Don’t you like brownies?”

  “Yeah, the chocolate kind, but that’s not what you’re talking about.” She pokes my chest, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Who was she?” she asks.

  “Her name was Tori Boyd.” I slide my hand around her waist, and back her up until she’s pressed against the hood of her truck. I spread her legs with my knee, and settle in close.

  “Sounds made up,” she says, her voice a little breathless as I brush the streak of mud from her cheek. She rests her hands on my chest and splays her fingers.

  I bring one hand to my mouth and kiss her fingertips, slowly, then press a soft kiss to her wrist. A quiver goes through her as she melts under my touch. “She was big into the girl scout’s organization. Went all the way through the ranks,” I say.

  “All the way, huh?” she teases.

  “She was a seventeen-year-old scout when we met. Man, you should have seen her in that uniform.” I make a low whistling noise, and Alyssa shakes her head at me. “I was a seventeen-year-old asshole with one thing on his mind.”

  “I can just imagine.” Her hands slide around my back, and she moves her hips, her sweet sex torturing my growing dick. “Actually, I don’t think you’ve changed much over the years.”

  “You’re not wrong, but the arrangement was mutual. I helped her get her de-flowering badge, and I—”

  One hand goes up in the air to stop me. “I know what you got out of it.” She rolls her eyes and feigns exasperation. “You don’t have to spell it out.”

  “Speaking of spelling it out. That’s when I learned the alphabet…with my tongue.”

  Dark lashes fall over lust-infused eyes. “You are so bad, but ah, yeah, I’m kind of glad you learned that.”

  I chuckle, loving her sexy reactions. Honestly, I have never been so comfortable with a woman, so at ease that it makes talking about anything and nothing as natural as breathing. I barely know her, yet I’m completely spellbound.

  Her tongue snakes out to wet her dry lips and all I can think about is rehydrating myself with the sweetness between her legs and pleasuring her until she’s screaming my name.

  “What would you say if I had one of those uniforms in my closet?” she asks.

  My breath stalls in my lungs and my cock rockets to life. “I’d say get back in the truck, we’re going for a drive.”

  Her chuckle massages my balls. “It would be far too small for me now.”

  “Even better.”

  “What is it with guys and uniforms?” She rolls her eyes, but it’s her grin that fucks me over. Man, I really like this girl. So strong, so independent, so fucking sweet—inside and out.

  “How old were you when you lost your virginity?” I ask, and press kisses to her cheeks, nose and lips.

  She sighs as I lightly brush my mouth over hers, a feathery light caress. “Seventeen, too.”

  “Was it with the douche?”

  “Yeah, he was kind of my one and only.”

  I pull back. “No shit.”

  “Yeah.”

  Catching me by surprise, she goes up on her toes and presses her lips to mine for a long, affectionate kiss. Her mouth lingers as her eyes fall shut, reducing me to that hormonal seventeen-year-old again, and all thoughts of her ex evaporate from my mind. I open my mouth for her tongue and she slides it in. Desire surges through me, the only thing that matters is this woman and what she does to me.

  “Mmm,” she moans into my mouth. “This is much better than talking about the past, isn’t it?”

  I drag her closer, until her soft body is flush with mine, and run my hands down her back until I’m cupping her sweet ass, and hating the clothes that are separating us. Her nipples scrape against my chest as we practically dry hump against her vehicle.

  “We could talk about all the things I’m going to do to you once I get you inside,” I say.

  She chuckles into my mouth. “Like feed the dog, cook dinner, and get ready to go see Grandma.”

  I break the kiss, and my eyes t
ravel down the length of her as I think about the best way to get her out of her coveralls. “It’s like we’re an old married couple,” I murmur and my heart leaps at the thought. But the funny thing is, I’m not exactly frightened by it this time.

  “I never knew playing house could be so fun,” she says, a fast reminder that we’re not really a couple with a future.

  Is that what I want?

  Fuck, even if I did, once she found out that I’d been keeping my identity from her, she’d send me packing.

  A car drives by and she backs up. “We’d better get inside before we get arrested for public indecency. You’re leaving in a couple of weeks, but I have to live in this town.”

  I give her ass a slap to set her into motion, and the little squeal that follows makes me smile. “You really are an ass man, aren’t you?” she teases.

  “Yup, not about to deny it.” She hurries ahead of me, giving an extra little shake to her backside. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  She glances at me over her shoulder and blinks innocently, but I know better. “Me? Nothing at all.”

  “Do you have any idea what it does to me when you shake your ass like that?”

  Her grin is sexy and playful when she asks, “Does it make you want to help me earn my rear end-deflowering badge?”

  Jesus. Fuck.

  She did not just say that.

  11

  Alyssa

  “No way!”

  “You like?” Alek asks me.

  I step into the three-car garage attached to Tyler’s mansion, and take in the two shiny sports vehicles that look like they’ve never been driven. I don’t know much about fancy cars, but it’s easy to tell these ones are top of the line and I’m not sure I’m comfortable driving in one to the city. What if we get in a fender bender? There’s a lot of elderly people in this town and getting to the highway could be hazardous.

  I glance over my shoulder and find Alek watching me. “Tyler doesn’t mind you using one?”

  “Nope. He insisted.” He presses the fob in his hand and the gray Mercedes beeps. “Hop in.”