Page 26 of Puck Shy

“You said you hate your job, that money is tight. Are both of those things true?”

I hesitate for a moment but quickly realize lying to him would be useless. “Yes,” I answer. “Those things are true.”

“Then work for me.”

I can’t help it—I laugh. “Doing what?”

“I remember Leo telling me you do social media. My publicist has been bugging me for ages to get a person to deal with my personal socials, but I haven’t trusted anyone enough to let them into my life. Especially with everything going on with Leo.”

“And you trust me enough to do it?”

“Of course, I do. You remember what happened on Valentine’s Day, right?”

I actually blush a little. “And that makes you trust me how?”

“You didn’t go around spreading to the press that Lucas McKnight was at a Valentine’s Day sex party, did you?”

“Of course not.”

“Plus, in a non-gross way, you’re family. I trust you.”

“Okay, that is kind of gross.”

He sticks his tongue out at me like a big dork, and I can’t help but laugh.

“In all seriousness, I need your help. I know you’re a fan. I’m assuming you know hockey inside and out. You can come to all my games, take pictures and videos. Give the people what they want, and have fun while you’re at it.”

I swallow hard, only slightly embarrassed he acknowledged he knows I’m a fan. Even though I knew he’d heard that from Riley, it’s nice that he’s not weirded out by it. And I can’t deny his offer excites me. “You want me to come to all of your games?”

He must be able to hear the thrill in my voice because he smirks. “Of course. The team will love having a pretty mug around, too.”

“Yours is prettier than mine.”

He rolls his eyes. “I think they’d disagree.”

“But why would I work for you? That means we’ll be around each other all the time.”

He runs his hand over his chin, white teeth almost glinting in the daylight streaming through the windows. “Then you’ve figured out one of my motives.”

“Lucas…”

“Stevie.”

I sigh. “Then I don’t think—”

He grabs my hand again. “We’ll just be friends, I swear. You need a better job. I need a social media person who I want to be around. Bonus is we get to know each other.”

“There can’t be sex involved, then. There just can’t be, Lucas.”

He studies me then smiles again. So wide I think his face might fall off. “So you’re considering the job offer?”

I exhale and cross my arms over my chest. “You’re really annoying, you know that?”

“I’ve been told that a time or two.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath. Am I really considering this? It would be insane. He clearly offered me the job so that he could have his way, but at the same time, I really do need the money. And free hockey tickets? This is like my dream job on a silver platter. Little Stevie is dancing, and I feel like I’m going to pee my pants. Or shit my brains out with how nervous this whole thing makes me.

“I have to think about it,” I say.

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