Page 35 of Double Pucked

Chase’s jaw drops. “Shut the fuck up.”

I hold up a hand as if taking an oath. “I solemnly swear he’s most excellent at pole weaving and the seesaw.”

Chase lets out a salacious groan. “You’re killing me, sweetness.”

He’s killing me with kindness. “You really don’t mind?” I ask just to be sure.

Ryker groans with exasperation. “Could he be any more clear, Trina?”

“Be my roomie for the next week. Till you can move into your new place,” Chase says insistently, putting on his bedroom tone, like he’s going all alpha on me again, then he looks to the guy across from him. “And you should stay here too.”

Ryker pulls a face. “And why’s that?”

“You’re having your floors done, you said. You were going to get a hotel room. Just stay here. I have three bedrooms.”

Was this planned? Are they trying to seduce me again?

Please let them seduce me again. Like, say, tonight.

Ryker’s brow knits, and he legit seems as shocked as I was. I don’t think this offer was planned. It’s not designed to get me in bed.

“You spend enough time in hotels. We’re both in town this week, and we both have road trips at the end of next week. After Erik’s wedding.”

“Aww, you know my schedule,” Ryker says.

“Yes, because I pay attention to my job. Anyway, come hang with Trina and Nacho and me,” Chase says, like that’s that and there’s nothing more to be said.

Meanwhile, I have questions.

Like, are we doing the sex thing again? Are we going to use three separate bedrooms? Where will we sleep?

Ryker sighs deeply, looking a little lost in thought. “I am a bit tired of hotels,” he finally admits. But then he looks to me, his gaze vulnerable like it was for those few seconds when he first laid eyes on me in the kitchen this morning. “You cool with that?”

Is this the gentleman side of the beast asking me? “Sure. I mean, you did wash my clothes and all. Wait. Does that mean you’ll do my laundry for the week? Because I always wanted a laundry valet.”

I swear he breathes fire as his answer. And I stoke it.

“But you have to separate the lights from the darks, Ryker,” I say, wagging a finger. “Oh, can you do my delicates too? In cold water, please.”

Dragging a hand through his thick, dark hair, he mutters, “Why did I do something nice?”

“Also, I’d really like blueberries with my pancakes tomorrow morning. Thanks so much.”

Ryker rolls his eyes from here to the other side of the world. As Chase laughs he wiggles his fingers at me. “Gimme your phone.”

I take it from the back pocket of my jeans, and we exchange numbers, then I do the same with the wolf man.

I check the time, wincing. I want to help clean but… “I should go,” I say, apologetically.

“I’ll take care of cleaning. I don’t have practice till this afternoon.”

“Is there a game tonight?”

Chase shakes his head. “Nope. Ryker doesn’t have one either.”

Which means they’ll both be here and we’ll do chores? Play Monopoly? No idea.

Chase walks me to the door, and before I can leave, he says gently, “Hey. No expectations tonight. Or for the week. I just want to give you a place to stay. Don’t feel at all like there are any strings.”

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