Page 37 of Puck Your Nanny

Daisy hesitates, a soft pink dusting her cheeks before she nods. “Something like that.”

The boy grins. “You should get in a picture, too.”

Before she can refuse, I tug her gently toward me, slipping an arm around her waist. She lets out a small laugh as the boys take a few shots. After they thank us and head off, Daisy tilts her head up at me, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “You don’t mind all the attention?”

I shrug. “Comes with the territory. But I like that they wanted you in the picture, too.”

She squeezes my hand, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

We continue down the street, stopping occasionally to look at shop windows or admire the handmade crafts set up in booths along the sidewalk. A small jewelry store catches my eye, the display case shimmering with delicate bracelets and necklaces. I guide Daisy inside, the door chiming as we step in.

She glances at me, curious. “What are we doing in here?”

I nod toward a case filled with charm bracelets, each one designed with different themes. One in particular stands out—a silver bracelet with a tiny hockey stick charm.

The older woman behind the counter steps up, smiling warmly. “Looking for something special?”

I motion toward the bracelet. “That one.”

Daisy looks at it, then at me, her lips parting in surprise. “Calvin, you don’t have to—”

I take her hand, turning it over gently as the woman places the bracelet in my palm. I fasten it around Daisy’s wrist, my fingers brushing over her skin. “I know I don’t have to. I want to.”

She watches me for a moment before glancing down at the bracelet, running a fingertip over the tiny charm. A small smile tugs at her lips, her expression soft. “Thank you.”

The woman behind the counter nods. “Looks like it was made for her.”

I pay for it, and we step back out onto the street, the air cooler now as the evening settles in. I nudge Daisy toward a small diner on the corner. “Come on. Best bison burgers in town.”

She laughs, shaking her head but following my lead. The diner is warm and inviting, the smell of grilled meat and fresh fries filling the air as we step inside. A waitress leads us to a booth near the window, handing us menus before walking off.

Daisy scans hers before glancing up at me. “How did you meet Nate and Peter? Was it just through playing for the Vipers?”

I set my menu down, stretching an arm over the back of the booth. “Yeah, pretty much. When I first joined, Nate had already been on the team for a season. He was a big deal even then. Peter had already retired, but he was handling investments and branding deals for the team. I got to know him that way.”

She leans forward slightly, interested. “Did you just… know you’d be a pack?”

I think back to those early days, the way Nate and I clicked on the ice, how Peter had this way of guiding us even when he wasn’t playing anymore. “There’s just a sense. It’s hard to explain, but when you meet Alphas you can really gel with, youjust know. It’s not just about getting along—it’s deeper than that. Since most alphas share an omega, there has to be no jealousy for it to work.”

She traces the edge of her menu. “I don’t know much about how it works, with Alphas and Omegas. I always thought I was a Beta, so I never really paid attention to any of it.”

I nod. “It’s different for everyone, but for packs… there’s this pull. You don’t force it. It just happens.”

She watches me, thoughtful. “And you all felt that with me?”

I don’t hesitate. “Yeah, we did.”

Her fingers brush over the bracelet; a small smile plays on her lips. I can tell she’s still processing everything, still adjusting, but she’s here, with me, and that’s enough for now.

The waitress comes over. "What can I get you?"

I glance over at Daisy. "The bison burgers are amazing."

She grins at me. "Alright, you've sold me. I'll take a bison burger with fries and a raspberry ice tea."

I hold up two fingers. "Make that two."

The waitress smiles at us. "Makin' my job easy. I'll have those burgers out to you in a jiff." She gathers our meaus and walks away.

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