Page 35 of The Puck Stops Here

Get with the karma, Astrid!

‘I say it as I see it, and right now, you two’ – she waved her phone between them, cocking a hip with as much confidence as she could muster – ‘are behaving like you’re yea high.’

‘She’s not wrong,’ Aiden said, his eyes softening with good humour.

‘She’s not entirely right either,’ Blake said, his eyes still blazing as his grin made a return. ‘You want to put that judgemental ass down and I’ll go get you that drink I owe you.’

Why, dear God, did his commanding air shoot an illicit thrill straight through her? What waswrongwith her?

‘You don’t owe me?—’

‘Oh, I do, my brother here says it so it must be true.’ He rose up, towering over her with his broad frame, alluring mouth, dizzying blue eyes and her objection died with the fanny flutters.Fucking fanny flutters!

Oh, howshe’d missed those babies, but now wasn’t the time… he wasn’t the guy. Delia’s book could deliver on those in the fictional world later. Bella had promised!

But her body wasn’t getting the message. Worse, he knew it too. The arrogance in his gaze, the cocksure twist to his mouth as he stepped around her and she watched him go. Helpless. Drowning in a sea of lust. Could one expire from such a thing? She certainly felt about ready to combust.

And what about Sissi and his whole‘I’m onto you’? Had he really put two and two together, realised who she was talking to, mentioned it to his brother even… and how the hell could she find that out without giving the game away herself?

‘Told you he was a pussycat,’ Aiden said wryly, calling her attention back to him as he swigged his beer. ‘I’d like to say he softens the more you get to know him but…’

She gave a wavering smile, unable to trust her voice or meet his eye as she shrugged off his brother’s jacket. Its style making her long for the comforting familiarity of her own aviator jacket that she’d swapped out for the fancy cashmere coat her grandparents had bought her for Christmas. Granny would be so pleased to see her wearing it, not so pleased with the reasonwhyshe was wearing it. It was aviator out, cashmere in for Aiden.

Though for Blake…

Quit thinking of Blake!

She slammed her butt down and grabbed her prosecco, downing it in two.

‘Yeah’ – he eyed her empty glass – ‘he has that effect on people.’

She let out a nervous laugh. ‘I’m surprised you’re not an alcoholic –oh God!’

As soon as the words were out, she wanted to clamp a hand over her lips. How could she say something so foolish, so careless, when his father…?

‘I’m so sorry.’

Aiden’s silence echoed louder than the chatter all around and she floundered for something to say. She was a prized reporter, famed for getting on people’s good side. But these guys, these twins… they were quickly becoming her kryptonite. She couldn’t keep her head in their company. And that was a problem. A great big career jeopardising problem.

People wouldn’t want to work with her again if word got out that she was a rambling unprofessional mess.

‘That was thoughtless of me. I shouldn’t have said it.’

He attempted a smile. ‘I think I implied it first.’

She swallowed. ‘You were teasing.’

‘And you weren’t?’

He was being kind, giving her an out. Why, ohwhydid he have to be so nice?

‘Of course. But still…’

He leaned back into the worn leather seat. ‘Might as well get it out the way now. Yes, our father was a drunk. A mean drunk. And it had nothing to do with Blake, nothing to do with anyone else but himself and his own weakness.’

‘It’s a horrible affliction.’

‘One that affects more people than we’ll ever know because most won’t admit to it. My father being one.’

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