Page 15 of Dirty Pucker

Ingrid wasn’t the only one who did some online reconnaissance last night. I looked her up too. And I was floored when I realized just how rich and famous she is.

She and Theo are Thompsons—the insanely rich family that owns a shit-ton of luxury hotels and resorts around the world.I’ve stayed in some of their properties. They’re nice as hell. She’s clearly loaded.

I was excited that I was able to find this place in the River North Arts District. Growing up in a rough part of Denver, I never imagined that I’d be living in a luxury townhome in a cool neighborhood.

I tug a hand through my hair, annoyed at how nervous I am. I shouldn’t feel like this. I mean, I’m a millionaire. I make a shit-ton of money playing hockey—more than I should, if I’m honest. Because if you think about it, it’s kind of ridiculous that I get paid all this money to chase around a puck. There are plenty of people in the world who work harder, more important jobs than I do, and deserve to make way more money.

But it is what it is, and I’m thankful for my career. With the money I make, I can take care of my mom’s bills. It’s the least I can do after she spent most of her life working her ass off as a single mom to support my sister and me.

I was able to help my little sister Dakota too. I paid for her college so she didn’t have to worry about taking out loans. And I bought her a new car when she graduated college so she wouldn’t have to keep driving that rickety thing that kept breaking down on her.

But Ingrid’s family is mega-rich. Billionaires, probably. What I have must pale in comparison to everything Ingrid has ever seen.

Just then she spins around and flashes that beautiful smile.

“Your place is amazing. I love it.” Her eyes are bright as she gazes up at the glass pendant lights hanging above my kitchen island.

I can tell by her tone and her expression that she means it. That self-consciousness begins to fade.

“Really?” I say after a second.

“Yeah. It’s so modern and sleek but also cozy.” She runs her socked foot along the dark hardwood floors. “I’m in love with your floors. They’re such a pretty contrast to the white cabinets and the light-colored counters.”

I smile as I watch her stroll around the space.

“And you’re close to all the cool stuff in Denver,” she says. “Art galleries, distilleries and breweries, warehouses that have been converted into studios, coffee shops.”

“Can’t forget those coffee shops, right?”

She chuckles and tucks a chunk of her long blonde hair behind her ear. “Coffee is always on my mind.”

She walks over to the massive window on the far side of the space that looks out to the yard. In the distance are the Rocky Mountains.

My gaze falls to her ass, which looks incredible in those jeans she’s wearing.

She peers over her shoulder to look at me. I try to look up at her face, but I’m a half-second too late. She raises her eyebrow at me and I know I’m busted. She knows I was checking her out.

The corner of her mouth quirks up. She bites her lip. “What a gorgeous view,” she says. Then she smiles.

I let out a quiet breath, relieved she’s not mad. “I was about to say the same thing.”

She laughs and walks over to the kitchen. She hops on the counter to sit and continues sipping her water, her gaze on me. “I figured it’s okay to sit on the counter since there aren’t any chairs.”

“Totally fine. Get comfortable.”

She glances out the window. I like how comfortable she is in my place after only being here for a few minutes.

Just then, my brain pulls up an image of Ingrid sitting on my kitchen counter, only this time she’s wearing nothing but my T-shirt. I step over to her, set my hands on her knees, push themopen, step between her legs, and kiss her before I grab her by the waist, pull her down, and bend her over the counter…

Nope. None of that. You’re a gentleman, remember?

I tug a hand through my hair and shove the image out of my head before I give myself a semi.

“I’ll be sure to tell Dakota you like this place,” I say, trying to refocus. “She came with me to look at it and convinced me to put in an offer.”

Ingrid flashes a sweet smile. “That’s cute that you brought your sister to look at houses with you.”

“She insisted. She was convinced I’d end up picking some dump without her.”

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