Page 8 of Dirty Pucker

Recognition flashes in her gaze, and a sinking feeling hits my gut. A second ago she didn’t know who I was. But now she does. And from the look on her face, I’d bet anything that her cousin has told her what a piece of shit I am.

Which means she probably thinks I’m a piece of shit too.

And why wouldn’t she? It’s the truth. I’m the asshole hockey player with a reputation for fighting too much. I’ve fought with her cousin. We’ve beaten each other to a bloody pulp. No question she hates me now.

She’s quiet as she looks at me. I notice that the brightness in her soft blue eyes from when we chatted earlier has dimmed.

“You trying to hit on my cousin?” Theo glowers at me.

I huff out a breath. “It’s not like that.”

To my surprise, Ingrid aims a lethal frown at him.

“Theo. What’s your problem?”

“Ingrid, this guy’s an asshole?—”

“No, he’s not,” she says, her tone sharp. “Some drunk guy was harassing me a minute ago and Del got rid of him.”

Theo blinks at me, clearly surprised. And now I feel like an even bigger piece of shit. I know Theo hates me, but does he really think I’d just stand there and let a woman get harassed by some creep?

And then I remind myself that Xander thought I leaked his sex tape. Because I made fun of him about it.

That familiar wave of shame hits. Okay yeah, maybe I really am a massive piece of shit.

I take a few steps back. “I should go.”

I head out the door without looking back. Snowflakes float in the air, melting as they hit the ground. It’s almost spring, but it’s snowing. That’s Denver for you.

I’m not even a few steps down the sidewalk when Ingrid calls my name.

“Del, wait!”

I stop and turn around. She walks up to me, her peaches-and-cream skin flushed from the chill in the air.

“I’m so sorry about what Theo said. We’re cousins, but we grew up together and we’re close in age, so we feel more like siblings. He acts like my big brother sometimes. It’s annoying. And obnoxious.”

“I get it. I’m like that with my little sister.”

Her blue eyes go soft. She blinks. “Dakota, right?”

“Yeah. You know her?”

She nods. “We’ve hung out a bunch of times. She’s really sweet. Of course you’d want to protect her. You’re just being a good big brother.”

Something about what Ingrid says hits me hard. Like she understands and doesn’t hold it against me.

“But Theo was out of line with what he said to you,” Ingrid says.

I shake my head. “He wasn’t. I’m an asshole.”

To my surprise, she bursts out laughing. For a second, all I can do is stand there and stare at her.

Her voice. God, it sounds so melodic when she laughs.

Her sandy blonde hair falls in long, soft waves over her shoulders. Her eyes are bright again. And that smile…

Those rosy lips curve up in the most arresting smile. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so gorgeous. She looks like an angel. Actually, goddess is more like it.

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