Page 64 of The Puck Stops Here

‘Got any more? Seems I’ve found my groove.’

She checked her sheet. ‘Okay, final question, what’s one thing about you that your fans might be surprised to know?’

His grin widened. ‘You really want to know?’

‘Not me, your fans… well, maybe me too.’ She eased closer, genuinely intrigued.

‘I love a bit of Amy Winehouse. I warm up to “Rehab” every day.’

She shoved her glasses into her hair and gawped. ‘You don’t!’

‘Hey, what’s wrong with that?’

‘You really do?’

‘I really do.’

The idea of him warming up with the deeply soulful Winehouse fuelling his moves was bloody hilarious! She choked on her own laughter, grabbed her water, throwing it back for a swig only to completely miss her mouth. She yelped and shot to her feet, the dampness over her crotch spreading before her eyes.

He chuckled. ‘Let me go grab you a towel.’

For fuck’s sake. ‘They have those in there too?’ she called after him, slamming the glass down and flicking the droplets from her hand.

‘I told you’ – he reappeared with a fluffy white towel – ‘once you’re in, you have no need to leave. I’d offer to help but…’

‘I’ve got it, thanks.’ She snatched it from him, cheeks ablaze as she imagined just how he might assist.‘I’m such a clutz.’

‘It’s actually kind of sweet,’ he surprised her by saying as he buried his hands into his pockets – was he imaging it too?! ‘When you’re used to girls being so polished and careful, being around one that’s…’

She looked up, towel frozen mid-swipe. ‘That’s…?’

He shrugged. ‘Real. Genuine. It’s nice.’

Genuine? Her!

Oh God, now she felt like the biggest fraud ever. Who was the true baddie in this setup?

‘Thanks,’ she squeaked out. ‘I think.’

He kept his gaze locked on hers. ‘You got everything you need?’

‘Need?’

‘Yeah.’ He nodded at her discarded notepad on the sofa.

‘Oh yeah, for now. Loads to work with.’

She nodded vigorously, rubbed vigorously too. Until she realisedhowvigorous her hand was moving and justwhereshe was rubbing. And now he was looking at her invigorated crotch too. Shit. Shit. Shit. She was on fire and not in a good way.

‘You want me to send my brother up?’

She gulped on thin air. ‘Please.’ He started to turn away. ‘And Aiden…’

He paused, meeting her gaze, and she forced herself to at least appear serene and grateful. ‘Thank you. You’ve given me so much of you and I appreciate it.’

He returned her smile. ‘Happy to give you more, any time.’

‘I’ll take you up on that.’

---