Page 50 of These Pucking Boys

I fish the phone out as fast as I can. My heart is stuck in my throat as I pat it dry with a towel and press the home button to unlock the screen. It works, but only for a second before the screen goes black.

“Don’t die on me, phone.”

Panicking, I grab the rice I spotted earlier. Maybe I can resuscitate my phone if I stick it in a bag filled with rice and let the grain soak up the moisture from the device. It will be a while until I can try turning on the phone again, which means I can’t reply to Jake’s message. What if he takes my radio silence as a sign I raided their apartment and took off?

Son of a bitch. Why does shit like this keep happening to me?

CHAPTER 21

LACHLAN

Jake is a pro at making people relax. It’s why he’s a bloody good captain. But his words of reassurance sound hollow to my ears, probably because I can read in his eyes that he’s also concerned about June’s lack of response.

It doesn’t escape my notice that we know nothing about her. Maybe there’s another reason her ex-boyfriend said no to her proposal and kicked her out of their apartment. June reeled me in with her sweetness and sassiness, but I’ve been fooled before. I’d hate to think I let a pretty lass wrap me around her finger so fast that I lost my sense of reason.

We’re quiet on the ride home until Ryan opens his mouth as we enter our garage. “Wouldn’t it be a kick in the nuts if we came home to find the place swept clean of anything valuable and June long gone?”

“Shut yer hole. June isn’t a thief,” I retort.

“How do you know? Maybe she’s a con artist, and that entire circus last night was part of her act.”

Jake turns to him. “That’s the stupidest thing that ever came out of your mouth. There’s no way she could have known we would see the failed proposal and ask Melissa to intervene.”

“Fine. Maybe that part was true, but then she conveniently forgets her wallet, and gets kicked out of her apartment? That could be a con.”

Jake shakes his head. “You watch way too many television shows.”

Ryan parks the car, and I’m the first one out. My pulse is accelerated, and I don’t know what’s causing it—the possibility that Ryan could be right or that something happened to June. Both scenarios are horrible, but I’d pick the first. I’d rather she be a con artist than hurt.

Stop being so bloody pessimistic.

In the elevator, Ryan pipes up again. “In case I’m wrong about my theory, have you heard from Mrs. Carpenter yet?”

“No,” Jake grumbles.

Ryan’s eyes sparkle. “June might have to spend the night with us.”

I watch him through narrowed eyes. “You don’t do repeats.”

He shrugs. “I’ll make an exception this time. It’s all about opportunity, my friend. Besides, I can’t let you two have all the fun.”

“Do you even listen to yourself when you talk? You were just saying June was a con artist,” Jake retorts.

“I said shecouldbe. Don’t twist my words.”

“Just shut up,” Jake retorts as the elevator door opens.

Ryan whistles. “What’s with him? He’s as grumpy as you are, Lachy.”

“And the common denominator is you.” I follow Jake out of the elevator.

“I’m not the cause,” he mumbles, following me.

True, Jake has been in a bad mood since speaking with Melissa alone. It can’t be because she wants June to go through media training. Something else was discussed. Bloody hell. I wonder if it’s related to Jake’s bad behavior last year. He was dubbed by the press as the most problematic player off the ice, and almost lost his position as captain.

The most mouth-watering smell hits my nose as soon as Jake opens the front door. June turns toward the entry foyer, where we all huddle together and stare at her standing in the middle of our kitchen. Her hair is up in a messy bun, and she’s wearing leggings and a T-shirt. She has zero makeup on, and the only thing on her cheek is a smear of flour. I’ve never seen a more breathtaking view.

She smiles from ear to ear, and my heart takes off. Bloody hell. I’m so fucked.

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