Page 126 of The Puck Stops Here

Astrid

Me too, honey! X

More than you yet know…

She heard the roar of Blake’s 4x4 before she saw it rounding the corner, her smile impossible to contain as she waved.

‘Hey!’ she said, pulling open the passenger door and clocking the empty rear. ‘Where’s your brother?’

‘He’s… dealing with a situation.’

She cocked a brow. ‘A situation?’

‘You’ll see, but if you could avoid staring at him, that would be great.’

‘Staring?’ She gave a bemused smile as she slid into the seat, closed the door and buckled up. ‘You’re gonna have to explain…’

He gave a low chuckle. ‘And spoil the surprise? Hell no.’

Surprise? What on earth…

He pulled out into the traffic as her eager gaze drank him in. From his jeans to his charcoal tee, to the stubble-covered jaw and lips – lips she could taste and feel now if she were to put her mind to it.

‘So…’ she blurted, pressing her palms into her thighs and willing her body and mind to chill. Getting horny wasn’t part of today’s deal, today was about work and if she was extra lucky, more Sissi intel. ‘Is there anything I should know before I meet your mum?’

He cocked his head, the hum he gave vibrating through her overexcited core. ‘Good question…’

‘Like, I know I’m not to ask questions,’ she hurried to say, looking out the window to take in the bustling streets of New York – far safer, far less evocative – but his scent was still there. A spicy thrill she couldn’t ignore. ‘And that’s cool.’ She ran a finger through the neck of her red sweater, trying to ease her rapidly rising temp. ‘But I assume she knows who I am and what I’m working on?’

‘She knows. Aiden explained the deal to her. She might be a little wary at first but just be yourself and she’ll soon warm to you like we have.’

Guilt warred with pleasure at his praise, the heat within the car now stifling even though the dash read a comfortable sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit.

‘Thanks for coming to get me,’ she said, keen to talk over her hyperactive brain and body. ‘And for yesterday. I really did enjoy our lesson.’

His mouth twitched up. ‘I did too.’

‘You mean that?’

‘Yes, Twinkle Toes. You should know by now that I don’t say anything I don’t mean. I like your company… when you’re not mistaking me for my bro that is.’

He shot her a look, his teasing smile firing straight to her clit.Shit.

‘And there’s that squeak again,’ he said with a chuckle.

‘I don’t squeak.’

‘Yes, you do. And when Mom brings out her infamous apple pie, I expect we’ll hear it again and again.’

If she was watching him devour it, it was a guaranteed cert. But in front of his family… oh no no no, that couldnothappen.

‘Apple pie, you say?’

‘Apple pie and homemade custard. You’ll be in food heaven.’

Foodsqueakingheaven, she groaned.Blakegasms,galore!

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