Page 106 of Pucking Sweet

I raise my brow. “You really think I’m gonna fucking help you right now?”

“Fine, fuck you too,” he mutters, turning back to Poppy. “I’m trying to say that you’re different. And this feels different.Ifeel different.”

“Different how?” she murmurs, and my heart fucking shatters.

Fuck. This is more than physical attraction. She’s genuinely interested in him. Somewhere between her moving here and now, Lukas Novikov has managed to charm my girl.

“This can’t happen,” I hear myself say.

They both look to me. Poppy’s hurt eyes are wide. “What can’t?”

“You can’t want us both,” I declare. “I don’t fucking share. You have to choose, Poppy.”

Novy steps in. “Well, I’m not giving you an ultimatum, so that makes me more attractive, right?”

“This isn’t an ultimatum,” I counter. “This is me knowing what I want from my partner.” I turn back to Poppy. “My cards are all on the table. You know where I stand. I won’t press you to make a choice now.”

“Colton, please don’t go,” she begs.

But I have to leave. I can’t stand here and watch her do the calculations on which one of us she wants more.

This is my own fault. I waited too long, and now I’m somehow in competition with Lukas Fucking Novikov. I give her a weak smile, feeling utterly shattered inside. “When he breaks your heart, come find me, okay? I’ll be waiting.”

35

Call me biased, but I’d say my first major fundraiser as head of PR for the Rays is a hit. The music is light, the drinks are flowing, and the food keeps disappearing off the plates. Most importantly, the grant for the new pediatric wing of Jacksonville General Hospital is already halfway funded. Whatever money we raise tonight, Mark Talbot has promised to match it.

Glancing across the room, I spy Rachel chatting with Mars at the silent auction table. Our giant Finnish goalie is one of the biggest draws of the night. A two-time Stanley Cup-winner, he’s an all-around gorgeous enigma.

Breezing their way, I place a hand on his arm. “Mars, you can’t hide in the corner all night, honey. We gotta get you mingling.” He groans as I steer him away. “Oh, and Rachel, can you track down the other fellas and corral them back this way?”

She smiles. “Sure thing, Pop.”

I wave over my shoulder in thanks as I lead Mars over to a group of older ladies. They host the most exclusive book club in Jax Beach. “Ladies—Angela, Donna, Marie—have you met Mars Kinnunen? He speaks four languages.Andhe has a strong affinity for reading.”

They coo appreciatively. Resigned to his fate, he puts on a smile and starts in on his routine of the world’s smallest talk. I stand with them for a few minutes, laughing at the ladies’ jokes, until a hand brushes my shoulder.

“Hey.”

Lukas stands behind me looking devastating in a custom black tuxedo, his hair slicked back. I haven’t seen him since karaoke night. That was three days ago. Three days since we were all shouting ateach other on that moonlit beach. Colton told me I had to choose between them, and now I feel paralyzed with indecision.

As if I don’t have enough on my plate with this new job, and my sister’s wedding, I’ve somehow found myself in the middle of a complicated love triangle withtwoof my players? No, this cannot happen. I can’t have this distraction right now.

“Hey,” I say, walking a few steps away from Mars and his book club.

Lukas follows. “Doc said you were looking for me.”

“No, I wasn’t. I mean—yes, I was. But I was looking for all the players. I—we just need you here in the main room to mix and mingle. You’re the draw, after all. Not me. Certainly not the mini quiches,” I add with a nervous smile.

He gives me a long look, his caramel eyes soft and searching.

“What’s wrong?”

“Would it be completely inappropriate to say I’m gonna get myself off later to the image of you in this dress?”

“Oh my—yes.” I slap his arm, even as I laugh. “You’re incorrigible.”

He’s not wrong though. I look dynamite in this dress. It’s this spicy little red number with thin straps and a thigh-high slit. I may have picked it knowing they’d see me in it. Don’t judge me. I’m an indecisive mess, but I’m still a girl, and two boys think I’m pretty.

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