Page 92 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

She laughs, touching my arm. What I said wasn’t in the least bit funny. Maybe this woman is drunk.

“I’m sure Maya wasn’t exaggerating. She’s a good judge of character.”

I have no comment on that. I scan the room again, hoping to come up with an excuse to walk away from Amelia. I finally see a familiar face in the crowd—June, and she doesn’t look happy. She takes her phone out, and a moment later, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Hell, why didn’t I think about asking for assistance via text?

“Excuse me,” I tell Amelia as I fish my phone from my pocket.

JUNE: Do you need rescue or…

ME: Help me, please.

I put the phone away and smile tightly. Now that I know rescue is on the way, I can try harder to be pleasant. “How do you know Maya?”

Amelia laughs. “We’re besties from college, remember?”

Fuck. I forgot or, more accurately, wasn’t paying attention at all. “Right.”

“Maya did mention you were a bit… distracted. I guess you save all your concentration for games, right?”

“Uh…”

June arrives just in time, and the relief I feel is immense. I’ve always hated the hockey mating games, and it’s much worse when I don’t need to participate but I have to pretend I’m available.

“Hey, Lachy. I got you a beer.” June offers me a bottle.

“Thank you, lass.”

“No problem.” June turns to Amelia. “Hi, I’m June. Jake’s girlfriend.”

“Oh, hi. I’m Amelia, Maya’s best friend from college. Nice to meet you.”

“Ditto.” June replies in an uncharacteristically cold tone, then she hooks her arm with mine and says, “I have to steal Lachy for a moment.”

Amelia’s expression falls. “Oh… okay. I hope to talk to you later, Lachy.”

My response is another tight smile before June steers me away from Amelia as fast as she can, and after a moment, I chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” she grits out.

“You, lass. I love seeing this side of you.”

She stops and looks at me. “What side?”

The defiant way June stares at me and her irresistible pout do my head in. Before I stop to think, I take charge and guide her deeper into the house. I’ve been here enough times to know where to go.

“Lachy, where are we going?”

“Somewhere quiet.”

I open the door to Malcolm’s office. It’s more a man cave than anything else. There’s a desk, laptop, and other office items, but there's also a pool table, wet bar, massive flat-screen TV, and most important, the leather couch.

I close the door behind me, then pivot to June, pinning her against the door with my body.

“Lachy, what are you doing?” she breathes out.

“One kiss wasn’t enough, lass. I need more.” I cut off her reply with my tongue. She doesn’t fight me; instead, she grabs my arms and digs her fingers into them. Her tongue tastes sweet,like strawberries, making me even hungrier for her. Using my leg, I nudge hers apart.

“Lachy... we could get caught.”

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