Page 46 of Never You

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Discussing the safety of my General Manager’s niece is not what I expected to be doing today when I woke up this morning.

“Mr. Pearce? Hi.” I wait for him to say anything, with the phone pressed against my ear, my chest still tight from the freak moment that sassy blonde just gave me.

Who gets out of the car on the fucking interstate?

“Look Jensen, I don’t know what you’re doing—”

“Nothing, sir,” I interrupt before his authority-filled voice does the same with me.

“I wasn’t finished.” The force in his voice shuts me up, and I clench my jaw. “Don’t bullshit me with some kind of fairytale about your girlfriend and you, or how you need my niece to fix whatever mess you made of your life. I know you’ve always had a thing for her. I’m not stupid, and I also don’t care. But if I find out you’re using her in any kind of way, I’m going to make life in the NHL real hard for you. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.” He pauses. “Is she giving you hell?”

I think back about my confusing morning, a smile slipping in place. “More than you know.”

“She’s good at that.” His amusement is audible, and my pulse simmers down a little at his calm tone.

“Don’t I know it.”

“Listen, since you decided to hijack her trip back home, I’m holding you responsible for her wellbeing. You have her home by three on Friday. In one piece and happy. Got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

The satisfaction is crawling into his voice while I wait until he’s finished. “Who’s driving?”

“Rae is, sir. She won’t let us drive.” I crunch my molars together.

“Put her back on the phone.”

“Yes, sir.” I hate the way he’s talking to me, and if he was anyone else, I’d tell him to go fuck himself. He can be my boss, but no one bosses me around like that unless you share my last name. But I know that picture will get Rae a lot of questions when she arrives back home, and I don’t want to make it any worse by picking a fight with her uncle. Even if the dick is only eleven years older than I am.

I walk back to the car, pulling the driver’s side open. Rae turns to me, a frown pulling on her forehead. Without saying a word, I hand her the phone, and she swiftly grabs it from my fingers. Her fingers graze mine, and our gazes lock when a spark flies through our hands.

I have got to stop doing that.

“Yeah?” she asks, a little reluctant while her bright eyes never leave mine, making my heart rate speed up a little. “What?! No!”

Her tone is stubborn, and I do my best to hide the amused grin that’s lurking in the corner of my mouth. I love it when she’s feisty and fired up.

“That’s ridiculous. I’m fine, Johnny!” She lets out a deep grunt, rolling her eyes, then exhaling loudly.

“I hate you right now,” she huffs, directing her scowl toward me.

I have no clue if she’s talking to me or to Johnny, but something tells me it’s the smartest thing to shut up while I stand in the open door as the tension wraps around us like a thick curtain. Our gazes stay sealed with the sound of cars rushing by, reminding me we are on the side of the damn interstate, yet I’m unable to break our connection.

“You’ve put it in my name.”

Pause.

“Fuck you, Johnny.”

Pause.

“Whatever.”

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