Page 34 of One Pucking Chance

“Oh, for sure!” She claps her hands. “But I’ll have to set up some other photo ops, too.”

“I definitely want to go back to that Italian restaurant that my father took us to. They had the best calamari I’ve ever had. As a bonus, it will piss my father off.”

“Consider it done.”

“Can you request Bethy be our server again? I miss her.”

Miranda laughs. “You’re so weird sometimes.”

“Ditto.”

Her eyes light up. “Alright, this is going to be fun.”

“Right? I think it might be.”

“Plus, you’ll get to kiss those lips again.” She wags her eyebrows.

I swipe my hand through the space between us. “Oh, I don’t care about that.”

“Sure you don’t.” She scoffs. “You can lie to everyone else, Anna. But don’t forget that I know you.”

“I’m not lying.”

“You have to get back, and I have calls to make, but I expect a full breakdown of that kiss over dinner tonight. I wantallthe details.” She throws me a wink as she exits the closet.

Without thinking, I bring the tips of my fingers to my lips, and thoughts of Jaden rush into my mind. And not just of Jaden but of his lips. His beautifully full and competent lips.

I know that Jaden and I aren’t truly compatible. In the real world, we’d never work out. But in this faux reality I find myself in… maybe there’s room for a little fun. I mean, why not?

Miranda’s right. This is all very strange behavior for me. I don’t even know who I am right now. Yet that’s one of the great things about being an actor. There’s no rush to figure myself out because in a couple of minutes, I’ll be expected to be someone else. And that I can do.

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

JADEN

It’s been an entire week since I was last with Annalise, seven whole days since my lips were against hers. I seriously can’t wait to see her. All the practice, games, and traveling that playing in the NHL entails doesn’t leave a ton of time to date. Pair my schedule with Anna’s, who seems to work around the clock, and it’s nearly impossible to find a time when we’re both free.

Until Anna, I’ve never been on a date planned by someone else. Yet tonight is solely made possible by Anna’s friend, Miranda. It seems as if I have someone else to thank for every moment I’ve spent with Anna—a fact Max doesn’t let me forget, seeing as I’ve yet to find a suitable thank-you gift for Penny.

I pull up in front of the studio where instructed and step out of my car. Running my palms down the black peacoat I was asked to wear, I button it up, ignoring the photographer evident in my peripheral. Everything from this jacket to my button-up shirt, jeans, and leather loafers is part of the plan. Miranda sent over an actual screenshot from Pinterest of what I should be wearing to achieve the desired look.

Anna emerges from the building, and if I’m the king of this orchestrated yet supposedly candid autumn photo shoot, I see that she’s my queen in her oversized cream-colored cashmere sweater, tight jeans, and knee-high boots. She carries a large chestnut-brown Birkin bag. Long, loose blond curls fall over her shoulders as we make our way toward one another. The entirety of this meeting may be choreographed for the camera, but nothing about the smile across my face is fabricated. My whole body hums with anticipation as we get closer to one another. My heart beats faster as the space between us closes.

When she’s finally within reach, I cup her face with my hands and crash my lips to hers. Holy hell, I’ve missed this. I’ve thought of little else since the last time we kissed. I’ve built our first kiss up so much in my head, I was starting to wonder if a second could possibly live up to it. But it does—it’s just as sweet and perfect.

Anna’s arms circle around my back, holding me closer to her body as her lips move across mine. All concept of time vanishes as we stay at this moment, a hundred percent staged yet utterly raw. I finally garner the strength to pull my mouth away. Her pink lips appear swollen, and it makes me want her more.

She giggles and presses her face against my chest. I hold her in my arms and kiss her head.

“We are good at this,” I whisper, my lips against her hair. “Ready to go?”

“I think that’s probably a good idea.” She takes a step back.

Holding her hand in mine, I lead her toward my car. I open the passenger door, and she gets in. Once I’m in my seat and my door is closed, we both exhale.

“How was that?” I grin, our conversation safe behind my tinted windows.

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