Page 55 of Justice for Puck Bunnies

“They sent me home.”

Vin tosses his hair out of his face and runs his eyes over me in my apron and leggings. I’m not dressed sexy in the least, I never even changed after work, but his attention still sends a thrill through me.

Maybe I’ll never get used to this. No matter how many times he gives me his attention, being around Bobby Vinson still leaves me at least a little starstruck and nervous.

Which is exactly why I’m baking the cookies.

“They tell you why they sent you home?” he asks.

“She said they overstaffed.”

“Have they ever done that before?”

“No.”

His lips tighten into a worried grimace.

“Yep, that’s how I feel too,” I say.

“You seem to be coping with it.” He approaches the ingredients splayed across the countertop. “This looks like... cookies?”

“Right in one, tendy.”

“Oh, before I forget—do we have some clear packing tape somewhere?”

“Yeah. I’ll throw it in your bag.”

“Thanks. The guys were kept back but should be along soon. Tell me about the cookies.”

I suck in a breath to fortify my resolve and then attempt to expel my anxiety on the breath out.

“We need to practice,” I say.

“We need to practice?”

“Yes. We.”

“You mean being around each other.”

“Yes.”

He tilts his head and delivers this grin that in any other circumstance would leave me panting on the floor.

“What?”

“That’s why I was looking for you. You take every public opportunity to let Mason grope you. The guys are still giving Trick shit for getting his neck scratched to hell. If we want this to be believable, the two of us need to put on a show too.”

“And you have some idea how to do that.”

“Not how, but where. There’s a fundraiser and meet-and-greet with sponsors coming up. Everyone’s allowed a date. I thought you could be mine.”

My grin matches his. “So you’re saying we have the perfect opportunity to sell our relationship and drive your captain up the wall.”

“Exactly.”

“Conniving. I like it.”

“I have my moments. What are the cookies for?”

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