Page 25 of Silver Fox Puck

And suddenly, this whole thing just got a hell of a lot more complicated. The car in front of me honks, but I don’t move.

I can’t.

Because my entire body is locked in full-system failure.

This isn’t happening.

This is not happening.

The same man I left in Denver is about to be standing in my brother’s locker room? In my city?

No. Nope. Not possible.

I force my brain to process. Think. Find the logical explanation.

Maybe it’s a different Grant Maddox.

Maybe I misheard.

Maybe—

Jake sighs on the other end of the line. "Kenzie, you good? You sound weird."

Weird? Weird?

I’m about five seconds from an existential crisis, and he thinks I sound weird?

"Yeah," I say, my voice a little too high. "Totally fine."

Jake snorts. "Uh-huh. Sure."

I rub my temple, willing the universe to quit screwing with me. "So, uh… when’s this guy supposed to start?"

"Next week. Probably flying in a couple days early to get settled."

I stare blankly at the pavement. That soon?

He was just in Denver this morning. And now, in a matter of days or sooner, he’ll be here.

I shake my head. This is not a big deal. We had one night. That’s all. It’s not like he even cares.

He didn’t ask for my number. Didn’t make any kind of move to stay in touch. Hell, I was the one who walked out.

So what if he’s coming to Nashville? It doesn’t change anything. Except I can still feel the way his hands gripped my hips. The way his mouth claimed mine. The way my pulse still kicks up at the thought of him.

I clench my jaw. No. This means nothing. He’s just another guy. Just another night. Just another bad decision I won’t be making again.

I straighten my spine. I refuse to let this mess with me.

Jake is still talking, oblivious to my internal breakdown. "Oh, and FYI—Mom wants us all over for dinner Sunday."

"What? No."

"Kenzie."

"I have work."

"Yeah, well, you better tell her that yourself, because she’s already planning a full spread, and if you don’t show, she’ll guilt you into a month of brunches to make up for it."

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