Page 40 of Pucks, Lies, and Sticktape

Matthieu groaned, his eyes darkening. “Oh man, that’s hot too.” His gaze raked over her as he smirked. “I never thought getting to lift the veil was on my list of things to do in life—but it just jumped to the top.”

Her heart swelled, but then a thought struck her, making her hesitate. “Rings…” She trailed off, feeling a little sheepish.

Matthieu simply smirked. “Handled.”

She stared at him, caught between disbelief and admiration.

“Trust your man.”

“I do.”

“Then it’s handled,” he promised, his voice warm with certainty. “Now, I’ve got to go—and we’re going on a date tonight if you’re free.”

Jeannie pretended to consider it. “Sure.”

“I’ll call you when I leave the arena just to verify…” he added, but she only shrugged.

“When you work for yourself, you can stop anytime, you know? I’ll be free when you get here.”

He nodded, but there was a glint in his eyes, something teasing and secretive.

“You’re up to something, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” he said, leaning in for one last quick peck on her cheek before pulling back with an easy grin. “I’m gonna be late.”

“Go.”

Jeannie watched him leave, her heart thrumming with a feeling she hadn’t known in years—something thrilling, overwhelming, and just a little terrifying as she realized that she wasn’t just falling for Matthieu.

She was desperately, wildly, deeply in love with Matthieu.

Her very own guardian angel.

Hours later, Jeannie was sitting in the library, curled up in a chair with her laptop balanced precariously on her knees and trying to focus. She kept thinking about Matthieu, those kisses, and how different he seemed to be acting toward her now and realizing that maybe things were changing for him too.

It was wildly enthralling to think that she had a best friend in the man pretending to be her husband – but he was actuallythat. Her best friend, her partner, and the one she looked forward to seeing, talking to, hanging out with, and being near each and every day. Only to hear her phone ding, notifying her that she got a text message.

You missed your flight.

Her eyes widened in shock. She never told them that she was flying to see them, which made her wonder just how they knew what was going on. Were they monitoring her checking account? Watching details online? How deep were they stalking her; because it was seriously freaking her out.

I changed my mind.

His career is going in the toilet – because of you.

I’m not doing this. Leave me alone. I don’t want to be in politics or be involved in the same circles as you if this is what it looks like. Can’t you let me be happy?

Not when you are making a mistake.

It’s not a mistake to love someone.

Let me know when you are over your whole Stockholm Syndrome drama, and I’ll send a helicopter after you. You’re acting like a child, you know.

I’m not leaving Matthieu.

And then she decided to text Matthieu.

I’m heading out for a bit.

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