Page 16 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

“Your eyes say different.”

Her cheeks blush. “I’m feeling guilty about Eros. He needs stitches.”

“Serves him right. It’ll teach him to not knock down flower vases.”

“Lachy! I can’t believe you said that.”

I laugh. “What? Someone has to tell the truth. Cats are arseholes.”

“Cats are arseholes,” Admiral repeats, making me laugh more.

“Great. Thanks a lot, Lachy.”

She starts to turn away, but I snake my arm around her waist and pull against my body. “Are you mad at me? You can’t be mad after I almost died.”

Her pretty hazel eyes widen. “You did not just try to milk that emergency landing.”

I grin, then kiss the corner of her mouth. “I’ll use all weapons at my disposal.”

“Is that so? In that case, no pie for you.”

Frowning, I ease back. “You can’t be serious.”

She flattens her lips, but she can’t hide their slight upturn. “Oh, I’m dead serious. Keep this up, and only Ryan will eat my pie.”

I narrow my eyes. “So, I’m being punished because I made Admiral curse?”

June stares at me, fighting to keep up her stern expression, but she loses the battle when I squeeze her sweet butt. Or maybe I lose the battle. She rises on her tiptoes and slants her mouth over mine. And just like that, I’m ready for round two. I now regret getting dressed.

She ends the kiss too soon and steps back. “I need to take Winston for a walk.”

“I’ll come with you. Maybe we can hit the farmer’s market.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot about the farmer’s market. I haven’t been there in a while.”

“I can’t believe we’ve never crossed paths. I try to go whenever I’m in town. Ryan loves it too.”

“It’s crazy that we used to live so close and never saw each other.”

I wonder if she used to go to the market with her bawbag ex. “Yeah, unbelievably crazy.” I eye her up and down. “You’d better get yer pretty tush back in that dress quickly before my pants come off.”

She drops her gaze to my crotch, then quickly looks up, her cheeks flushed. “From only one kiss?”

“With you, all it takes is one glance.”

CHAPTER 9

JUNE

Ipush the weird exchange with Jake to the back of my mind. I don’t want to dissect what he said. If he was serious about me moving in with them, that would be crazy, right? It doesn’t matter that I’m in love with them—the Unholy Trinity, as Melissa called them on the night I met everyone—or that Ryan reciprocates my feelings. We’re still getting to know one other, and I need my space. I need my independence.

Lachy and I drive to the farmer’s market. It isn’t far from the apartment, but it’d take too long to get there on foot. Lachy has Winston’s leash, which allows me to appreciate the view—my beautiful goalie. My heart does a somersault in my chest, and never mind the butterflies in my stomach that have not stopped fluttering their wings since we left the apartment.

Perhaps sensing my stare, Lachy turns to me and grins. It’s the smile of a man who knows he’s being checked out. I almost move closer and kiss him, but then I remember we’re out in public and I can’t show any display of affection.

“What?” he asks.

I shake my head. “It’s nothing.”

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