Page 46 of Silver Fox Puck

I answer on the second ring. "Hey, mama-to-be. What’s up?"

"Are you free for lunch?" she asks. "I haven’t seen you in forever, and Jake said you were at the rink this morning."

I pause.

Because if Jake is involved, that means…

"Wait. Who’s coming to this lunch?" I ask, narrowing my eyes even though she can’t see me.

Allie laughs. "Relax. Just me, Jake, and some of the guys. Nothing intense."

Some of the guys. Which could mean anyone. Which definitely could mean Grant. Interesting.

"Where are we meeting?" I ask, already opening my car door.

Allie gives me the name of a café near downtown, and I smirk as I slide into the driver’s seat.

Because if Grant’s there? I’m not just walking into lunch—I’m walking into round two.

***

By the time I pull up to the café, I have my game face on.

Whatever happens, I’m ready for it.

If Grant Maddox is going to be sitting at that table, I need to prove that I’m still in control. Not just to him. To myself as well.

I step out of my car, smoothing my hands down my top, making sure everything is just right. Hair curled in loose waves? Check. Lip gloss freshly applied? Check.

A perfectly calm, composed, totally-not-affected-by-last-night’s-dinner expression? Working on it.

I push through the café doors, scanning the room for Jake. And that’s when I see him.

Grant.

Seated at the table, dressed in a casual button-down with the sleeves rolled up—of course—one arm resting on the back of the booth, looking entirely too relaxed for my liking.

Like he’s completely unfazed.

Like he isn’t sitting directly across from the same woman who just last night tried to push every one of his buttons.

Like he isn’t the reason my stomach is currently doing something deeply annoying.

His gaze flicks up the second I approach, slow and deliberate. And when our eyes meet… Nothing. Not even a flicker of recognition.

No smirk. No tension. No reaction at all.

Just… nothing.

The sudden lack of it nearly makes me stumble.

Because what the hell? Last night, he was watching me too closely. Reacting, even if he was subtle about it. But now? Now, he’s acting like I don’t exist. And I hate it. I hate how much I notice it.

Jake waves me over. "Took you long enough, Kenz."

I pull it together, flipping my hair over one shoulder as I slide into the seat next to Allie, across from Grant.

"Some of us don’t have our entire schedule revolve around hockey, Jacob," I tease, grabbing a menu.

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