Page 12 of Dirty Pucker

“Well, I just called you that.”

I raise my eyebrow at her, intrigued by the determination in her voice and the teasing smile she’s giving me.

“So what’s your plan?” I ask. “How are you gonna make everyone see that I’m not the brawling asshole they’ve known me as for the past several years, but actually a teddy bear?”

Smiling, she leans down, grabs her purse, then stands up. “Come with me.”

Chapter 5

Ingrid

Ibite back a grin as I look at Del sitting on a chair in one of the playrooms of our local humane society, covered in kittens.

Two fluffy black cats snooze on his lap. A gray cat climbs up his shoulder. An orange tabby is sitting on his other shoulder, batting at the buttons on his shirt. A black-and-white kitten lays across his foot.

I hold up my phone at him. “Smile.”

He laughs and I snap a photo, then take a video that’s just a few seconds long.

“You think covering me in cats is going to fool everyone into thinking I’m a good guy?” he jokes.

“I really do.” I pull up the TikTok app on my phone and log in to the Bashers account, then upload the short clip of Del covered in kittens. I find a cute-sounding song and type a quick caption.

Welcome Del Richards to the Bashers! He loves playing hockey almost as much as he loves cuddling kittens.

I show Del the video. He chuckles.

“You’re okay with me posting that?” I ask.

He nods. I post it and slip my phone back into my purse.

“So it’s that simple, huh? One cute cat video and I’ll win over the Bashers fan base?”

I roll my eyes as I smile. “It’s going to take more than that, of course. But cute cat videos are a good start. Who doesn’t love a cute cat video?”

“I guess that’s true.”

He still sounds unconvinced.

“Fine. How about we make a bet? I bet that the video I just posted of you will get at least ten thousand views by tomorrow. If it doesn’t, then I owe you a drink. But if it does, then you have to buy me a drink.”

His mouth stays in a straight line, but he raises an eyebrow. “Deal.”

The fuzzy orange cat on his shoulder lets out a squeaky meow before nuzzling Del’s jaw. He flashes that ridiculously hot half-smile and my knees go weak.

I’m dizzy in his presence for the second time this morning.

I think back to earlier when I bumped into him, how he grabbed me by the waist to steady me, how solid and firm he felt under my hands. How he smelled like spice and rain.

How good it felt to have his hands on me.

How I couldn’t stop staring at his mouth.

How in the five seconds of physical contact that we shared, my mind drifted to a very, very naughty place…

I imagined us standing just like that, touching each other, except without the barrier of our clothes…

God, I’m ridiculous. I’m acting like a high schooler with a crush. I just met this guy yesterday. I shouldn’t be so attracted to him.

---