Page 74 of Zero Pucks

“Relax. She’s not my type. She’s not really that bad. She has this idea in her head that Miller needs a blind dad.”

I had no idea what to say to that, so I said nothing at all and instead started the car, pulling away from the curb. I watched in the mirror as she took her son’s hand and began to lead him toward the parking lot.

“Is that ever something you thought about?”

Tucker turned his head toward me. “What? Boning a single mom with a blind kid because I feel obligated to help raise the next generation of blind beer league players?”

I burst into laughter. “Uh…not exactly. But, you know, kids?”

He grimaced, and that made me feel better. Kids were never on the table for me. I was too messy and too overwhelmed all the time.

“Could you even imagine me as a dad? What a fucking messthatwould be.”

Maybe he was right, but the idea of it was kind of hot in an abstract, I didn’t really want to find out kind of way. But I had a feeling watching him be good with the little ones would do things to my insides.

He was a mess, sure, but he was also a caregiver, and that was something I had sorely been lacking for years and years. He was too tempting—too perfect. So much of what I’d always fantasized about having. And here he was, ready to let me sample, but that was all.

“So,” Tucker said after another long silence, “you sound like you’re kind of freaking out. What’s wrong?”

I blinked in surprise, but yeah. I was being weird again. I’d given him the silent treatment without meaning to. “Sorry. It’s been a weird few days.”

“Mhm. And I’m kind of hoping last night didn’t make it worse.” His tone was vulnerable in a way I wasn’t used to hearing from him.

Reaching over, I snagged his hand and pulled it up, kissing his wrist. He made a soft humming noise, almost like a purr. “Last night made it a lot better. Even if I’m still…confused.”

“The Vegas thing, or?—?”

Or. Definitely or. I could handle a blackout drunk hookup or whatever it was. A fake marriage that, in the end, meant nothing. I’d come here to fix things, and I’d only ended up complicating my life worse than it already was.

I hadn’t expected to fall for him.

And I had no idea what to do about that.

“Too much happened at once. But none of it is your fault, okay?”

He hummed his agreement, almost like he didn’t believe me, but I appreciated there was no argument. I kept his hand as I drove the rest of the way to the rental and only let him go when I put the car in park.

He got out carefully, and when I was within reach, he took my arm and leaned on me. “This okay?”

“Anything with you touching me is always okay,” I answered.

He laughed, squeezing me tight. “Don’t saythat, sweetness. You have no idea where my mind goes sometimes.”

I was pretty sure I did, and it didn’t scare me. I led him inside, and we both kicked off our shoes, then hovered in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen. “Um…wh-where do you want to eat?”

He grabbed me and spun me to face him. “Am I making you nervous?” His hand cupped my jaw, thumb touching my lip. “Your stutter is back.”

I shrugged. “I’m not nervous. But being with you gives me butterflies.” Oh God, did I really say that? What was I? Twelve?

His face lit up like I’d said something good instead of horrifically embarrassing. His other hand came up, both of them framing my face, and he leaned in slowly. His intentions were clear, and it was too easy to tilt my head back, part my lips, and accept the kiss he was giving me.

It was slow, warm, steady with a hint of need in the way he groaned, pushed into me, and slipped his tongue into my mouth. He kissed the way he moved, rough yet somehow also graceful. His hands were light on my skin, but his calluses caught along the beard shadow I hadn’t shaved, and it made me shiver.

“Lunch?” he said, his voice ragged. “I don’t have a whole ton of time this afternoon, and while I’m happy to make it up to you after dinner, you are too tempting right now.”

I pulled away and spun us both so he was facing the living room. “The couch is at twelve o’clock directly.”

He looked surprised. “I—where did you learn that? Did I tell you that?”

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