Page 50 of Pucks and Coffee

“No jacket?”

“No jacket.” I huff.

I know he’s dying behind me, wanting to say more. And honestly, I dare him to.

Because I’m ready to snap, and he doesn’t want me hollering at him when I’m horny and annoyed.

* * *

I hadn’t expected the gender reveal party to be at an outdoor rink.

On the way here, Coleson told me that Maverick Evangelina and his wife, Nora, met on a sheet of ice back in Minnesota when they were in high school. Not only are they finding out what their baby is on a sheet of ice, but they also got married on one too. It’s sweet, and I’m excited to meet everyone. That is, until we arrive and Coleson becomes rigid at the sight of his teammates. I groan inwardly as I watch him walk around the SUV, his shoulders back, his jaw tight, such stiffness in his gait. I hate that this happens to him, and I need to know why. How is he not relaxed even a bit from our kiss? I feel great, and my lips are still tingling.

God, he’s a pain.

My door opens, and he holds out his hand to me. I don’t take it, instead asking, “What’s wrong?”

Looking me dead in my eyes, he lies, “Nothing.”

“I know something’s wrong,” I insist, holding his gaze. “You’re all stiff and have this annoyed ‘I don’t want to be here’ look. If you didn’t want to come, why are we here?”

His eyes narrow just slightly. “Because I want everyone to know about you, and it’ll be good PR.”

I know this, so I’m unsure why that bothers me. It’s as if I forgot this was a fake marriage and I’m only here to make him look good. Surely I didn’t forget that… “Well, looking pissed off will make people think you don’t like me. Is that how you want this to go?”

“You know it isn’t.”

“Then stop,” I demand. “We’re here together, we enjoy each other’s company, and if you didn’t look so angry, people would like you more.”

He huffs at that. “No one here likes me.”

“I do,” I say with a smile, and I can tell he’s fighting back his own smile. His dimples flash, even without the grin, and Lord, if he isn’t a terribly cute pain in my ass. I reach out, threading my fingers through his. I pull him to me, thankful for the height of the truck so that our heads are even. I capture his lips with more force than I intended, but I can’t help how much I love kissing him. He melts against me, his hands coming to cup the sides of my ass, digging his fingers into my flesh as he steps between my legs. My dress gives him resistance for all of two seconds before I hike it up so I can bring him in closer. He comes willingly. I run my fingers along his chest, up his shoulders, and around his neck. I nibble on his bottom lip, and when he smiles against my lips, I smile back until our eyes meet. I kiss his top lip and then whisper, “I like you, Coleson. Even though you’re messy and drive me crazy daily.”

His dimples shine. “I wouldn’t want to be here if it weren’t for you,” he says softly, and then his jaw tightens. “And I don’t mean that like I’m only here to show you off, because I am. But you make it better. You make it doable. I sound stupid,” he groans, and I laugh.

“I know what you mean,” I say, amused. I could tease, but I know he’s nervous. “I won’t leave your side.”

He swallows, his eyes burning into mine. “They might say really awful things about me.”

“And I’ll correct them.”

He squeezes my ass. “I don’t deserve you.”

I grin up at him. “But you got me.” I push him back, much to his surprise, and take his hand in mine. “Now, come on. I want to show off my husband.”

As I jump out of the car with the gift for Maverick and Nora in hand, I don’t give him a chance to protest.

I’m going to show him that, together, we can do anything.

CHAPTER 27

Coleson

Of course I married a walking ray of sunshine.

After her little stunt in the truck, I’m no longer dreading hanging out with my teammates or even wanting to leave after dropping off the gift.

Like I had planned.

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