Page 35 of Puck Yes

Hayes’s lips curve up. “Yeah?”

“I don’t mind,” I say.

I don’t want to be rude and leave. What reason would I give anyway?The two of you give off hungry wolf vibes and I want to be your prey, so I need to run to the back of the plane to avoid your dirty, flirty gazes.

The flight’s only about an hour.

I can handle the tension. Because it’s just that—tension. Hayes has already made it clear that we’d be a bad idea. Stefan seems more persistent but does that matter?

Besides the obvious problems with anything more than flirtation when we all work together, I don’t trust my judgment with men. My dad had treated my mom badly, and I’d missed the same signs in Xander. Even before he cheated on me, Xander didn’t value me or appreciate my attempts to include him in my life. But I didn’t see his critical comments for the put-downs they were. I foolishly thought he was being constructive and encouraging when, really, he was judging me and undermining my confidence.

My throat tightens. I liked him so much when we were together. Without my rose-colored glasses, I see the flaws in my judgment. It strengthens my resolve.

I can handle lust when I remember I’m not getting involved with either of these guys, so sitting with them is no big deal.

“Off we go to the city of sin,” I say, making small talk. “Will you play the penny slots in your free time, Stefan? Bet it all on black, Hayes?”

Hayes dips his face, smiles softly. “I’d definitely bet it all. I love to gamble, more than I should.”

“What about you, Ivy?” Stefan asks after he takes a drink of his coffee. “What’s your Vegas poison? Blackjack? A show? A roller-coaster ride? Late-night clubbing?”

I tap my chin as if considering. “You left out staying in and ordering room service.”

Hayes chuckles. Stefan scoffs.

“What? You don’t believe me?” I look from one to the other.

Stefan tilts his face and locks eyes with me, holding my gaze. “I’m calling your bluff,” he says in a smoky voice that makes my insides melt a little.

I fight back against these feelings, sitting up straighter, trying to keep my cool. “Fine. What do you think I like to do?”

But Stefan doesn’t answer. He looksaroundme at Hayes, tipping his forehead to his teammate. “What do you think?”

With a soft hum, Hayes tilts his face toward me, studying my expression. He takes his time roaming those soulful brown eyes over me, like he’s undressing me, body and mind. It’s sexual and also…knowing. Like he’s both looking at me and wanting me. It’s unnerving, but in an exciting way. Warmth flows through my veins. My chest swoops with each second his eyes linger on me. And everything feels a little fizzy, a little…hazy. Like I’m caught in a mirage between two men.

“I bet she’d like a show,” Hayes says, as if he knows my secrets.

And really, he does.

But only some of them.

I have other secrets now. Like this one—I’m attracted to two men at the same time, and I don’t think either one of them is bothered by that.

Especially when Stefan says, “Is that so, Ivy? Would you like that?”

My shoulders rise and fall. My breath comes faster. What are they doing to me? Is this on purpose? Are they flirting with me? Toying with me? Is this just how they are? Are they just the type of guys who exude sensuality like it’s their cologne?

Suddenly, this middle seat feels smaller than it was before. One shoulder brushes against Hayes; the other is pressed against Stefan. I’m sandwiched between them—and something sparks in my chest, the start of a sizzle.

I swallow, look to Stefan, turn to Hayes, then at last answer them with a shot of courage. “I guess you’ll have to find out.”

I close my eyes as if I have the upper hand when really, I’m just treading water, trying to get control of my heart that’s beating far too fast.

* * *

Normally, the team flies in and out quickly to nearby cities, but since they’re doing a charity breakfast tomorrow morning for a youth hockey organization the Avengers and the Sabers both support, everyone is staying overnight. I don’t have to go to the breakfast, but I still get to stay since I’m traveling on the team jet. Which means I get time to myself in the morning. Translation: I’ll wake up early and work on content and chasing freelance gigs.

After I check into The Extravagant hotel later that morning, I cruise through the casino on the way to the elevator, rolling my bag behind me, running through the PR stunt the Vegas team wants me to pull off tonight. It’s not hard, and I’ll have time to practice it, but I’m a little lost in my head when a pretty voice hits my ears with its Texas drawl.

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