Page 10 of Puck and Prejudice

“You don’t need to pretend with me. There’s no love lost between Darcy and me. He’s an ass.”

“Well… I don’t really know you.” I stop just outside the mobile kitchen.

“We need to fix that. I’m Gavin Wickham. Now you tell me your name.” He smiles, and the corners of his eyes crinkle.

He’s a bit cocky, but funnily enough, his attitude doesn’t get on my nerves. Maybe it’s because he’s already professed his dislike for Darcy.

“I’m Izzie Bennet.”

“Nice to meet you, Izzie.” He grins from ear to ear, showing perfect white teeth. I doubt they’re real. Losing front teeth seems to be a rite of passage for most hockey players.

“Nice to meet you, Gavin. I’d better go inside and refill my tray.”

He rubs his hands together. “Please do. Bring me something delicious.”

“Everything we’re serving tonight is delicious.”

His stares at me as if he likes what he sees. “I believe you.”

My cheeks warm. I’m not used to receiving this kind of attention from men who look like Gavin. I hurry inside the kitchen before he notices my reaction.

ChapterSix

JACKSON

Icouldn’t believe my eyes when I spotted the bartender with the pretty brown eyes and pouty mouth from Triana at the party. But then I learned that the restaurant was catering the event, and it made sense. Not in the mood to get doused by beer again, I make a mental note to steer clear of her. After a while, I forget about the woman, until I see her talking to Wickham.

It shouldn’t bother me, but it does.

She heads away from the party, and he tags along. Where the hell are they going? Before I can stop to analyze my decision, I follow them. I don’t trust Wickham one bit. Maybe he knows she’s the bartender responsible for the beer incident. I wouldn’t put it past him to gain her trust then spin a story to make me look bad to the Lions organization.

They’re standing in front of what I assume is the catering hub. I hide behind some bushes and observe. I can’t hear the conversation, but I can see Wickham smiling, and the woman is eating it up. I snort in my head. Why are women so dumb? He’s a snake.

She finally enters the building, but Wickham stays put and starts scrolling on his phone. He’s no doubt waiting for her. I’ve seen enough. I walk away from my hiding spot and make a beeline toward him.

He looks up and frowns. “What are you doing here, Darcy?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Were you following me?”

“What are you doing with the staff?”

He scowls. “It’s none of your business.”

“Itismy business,” I grit out. “Anything you do on and off the ice reflects on the team. I haven’t forgotten the stunt you pulled after the World Junior Championship finals.”

His gaze darkens. “That was a long time ago. And it was all BS anyway. No charges were filed.”

No charges were filed because your father bailed you out. I refrain from saying that out loud, because I can’t prove he paid the girl to recant her story. “That means nothing.”

The bartender from Triana’s walks out holding a tray and smiling. Not the fake smile she gave me when she was apologizing for the beer shower. A genuine smile that brightens her entire face, and makes her pretty eyes sparkle. It annoys me it’s meant for Wickham. But her smile wilts into nothing when she sees me standing there.

Wickham’s expression switches in the blink of an eye. “Oh, Izzie, just in time. What do you have for me?”

Izzie… what a ridiculously sweet name. It doesn’t suit her at all.

“Uh… shrimp croquette.”

---