Page 47 of One Pucking Chance

Anna sets her empty martini glass on the bar and threads her fingers through my hair. I place my palms on the bar on either side of her waist, caging her in. We’re silent for a moment, lost in one another’s stare until she tilts her face up toward mine and our lips meet. The kiss throws me off guard as I’m used to initiating these photo ops, though this moment doesn’t feel staged. I’ve kissed Anna dozens of times before, all amazing, but there’s something so raw about this one. There’s a longing in the way that Anna’s mouth moves against mine, a beautiful melody in the way our tongues dance.

It takes all my willpower to pull away. “Anna, I don’t think anyone is taking pictures here. These are our friends. There’s no press allowed.”

“I know.”

I study her full lips and flushed cheeks, the way her eyes keep falling to my mouth, and her tongue as it pokes out, wetting her lips. I’m normally pretty good at reading women, and I feel as if I know what she’s thinking, but this woman confuses me at every turn.

“Anna?”

She strokes her thumb across my cheek. “Take me to your place.”

“What?” My voice cracks.

She gives me a chaste kiss. “You heard me.”

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

ANNALISE

Jaden is quiet on the ride back to his place, and I can’t blame him. I’ve been sending him mixed signals all month. On top of the entire let’s make out for the cameras charade that—let’s be real—isn’t much of a charade at all, I’ve made it clear that I don’t want this thing between us progressing to anything more physical.

Nothing has changed on my end. I don’t want a relationship. More than that, I don’t want Jaden to fall for me because I genuinely care for him and wouldn’t want to hurt him. Yet something about tonight being my last night here has me wanting things I know I shouldn’t.

The house is quiet with Max still celebrating at the bar. He’s responsible for making sure Miranda gets back safely. I’m not sure who is going to miss Michigan more, Miranda or me. She’s grown to love the guys on the team and gets along so well with all of them. I love hanging out with them too, although there’s no question that I’ll miss Jaden the most.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Jaden asks.

“A water is fine, thanks.”

He disappears into the kitchen, and I make my way around the living room, taking it all in. I’ve only been here once and want to remember all the details. I have to admit that for a bachelor pad, Max and Jaden keep a nice home. Everything is clean and nicely decorated. There are framed photos of the team on the walls, the biggest one from their Stanley Cup win last season. If there was ever a photograph that emitted pure joy, it’s that one.

“Here you go.” Jaden hands me a bottle of water.

I point at the championship photo. “I love this one.”

He looks at it, and a contented smile crosses his face. “Yeah, that was the best day.”

“Do you think you’ll get a repeat?”

“I don’t know. We’re sure as hell going to try, and we’ve been playing really good so far this season. But repeats aren’t common. So much can happen in a season. It requires lots of talent, a shit ton of luck, and maybe some divine intervention to win it all.” He smiles and then turns to me, his face going serious. “Anna, what are we doing here?”

I set the bottle of water on the table beside me and wrap my arms around Jaden’s middle. Hugging him, I rest my cheek against his strong chest. “I don’t know,” I admit. “I just wanted to spend my last night here with you.”

“Yeah? In what way?”

I tilt my head up and hold his stare. “Maybe something memorable… to, you know, bookend this amazing month we’ve had.”

“Something memorable?” He raises a brow.

I nod.

“There’s a lot we can do that’d be memorable, Anna. Give me some parameters.”

“I don’t know.” I lie because I definitely know, but I am suddenly too scared to say the words aloud.

He dips his chin. “Okay. Well, tell me this. Did you want to do something memorable with or without clothing on?”

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