Page 97 of The Puck Stops Here

‘Does it taste boring?’

‘No.’ She smiled. ‘Not at all.’

‘There you go then.’ He grinned back. ‘I’m glad you like it.’ And then his eyes dipped. Was that… was he checking her out?

She bloody hoped so! She leaned in. ‘Would you say you’re quite regimented in your routine?’

He pulled his eyes up and leaned back, sipped his water. ‘We make time for fun, don’t we, Blake?’

‘Always.’

She looked at the man himself but he was too busy locked in some silent exchange with his brother.

‘Some of us more than most.’

Was that another dig? It sure felt like one, especially with that brooding look in his eye.

Aiden cleared his throat. ‘Why don’t you tell us what got you into journalism, Astrid?’

And now Aiden was using her to get the focus off him.

‘Was it something you always wanted to do?’

‘Err, yeah, I guess it was.’ She glanced between the brothers but they only had eyes for her now. Two sets of blazing blues. Intent and…ohmigod. She grabbed her wine, took a soothing chug. ‘I was always a big reader and I love people. They fascinate me. What motivates them, how they feel, how they behave…’

Much like you two are fascinating me right now…

‘I don’t know whether to be flattered or scared,’ Aiden murmured.

‘Flattered, definitely flattered,’ she reassured him with a smile she hoped would lure him back in.

‘Who’s the most interesting person you’ve met?’ Aiden asked.

‘Aside from us, of course,’ Blake added.

‘Easy. Kate Middleton,’ she told Aiden. ‘But I’m biased. She’s British. She’s classy. She’s everything I would love to portray and never could, not with these feet…’

‘Why would you want to do that?’

It was Blake who asked, forcing her to address him. ‘Have you seen the woman?’

‘I have and I’m looking at you right now, and I know who I’d choose.’

Her heart hit her tonsils, her eyes hot with the heat of his.

‘Now you’re just trying to sweeten me up when there really is no need. The article is shaping up nicely. Everyone who knows you both talks very highly of you.’

‘Speaking of everyone who knows us,’ Aiden said, pulling her focus back to him – thank heavens. ‘We wondered whether you’d like to join us one Sunday for a roast at Mom’s.’

Her mouth fell open. ‘But I thought you said?—’

‘I said I didn’t want you interviewing her, but she’s a big part of our life, and we see no harm in you spending time with us all together. What she chooses to tell you is up to her. How does that sound?’

‘I can’t remember the last time I had a Sunday dinner… do people still do that?’

‘We do when we’re not playing and it’s always with Mom. What do you say, you up for it?’

‘Yes!’ she blurted, head and heart racing. Because yes, it would be great to have that insight for the article. ‘Thank you!’

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