Page 19 of One Pucking Life

I settle Caroline into my arms, and the moment I do, something shifts. She curls into me with a little sigh, her tiny hand grabbing my necklace. “Hi there,” I whisper, my heart doing a little flip.

Max watches me with an expression I can’t quite read. “Looks like you passed the test.”

I glance up at him. “I’ve never lived with an employer full-time before. I’ve worked long hours, traveled with families, stayed overnight when the parents were away—things like that—but never fully moved in.”

“Yeah,” he says, slow and thoughtful. “We might have some growing pains with that. But I’m pretty easygoing. And like I said, I’m gone a lot. I clean up after myself, I keep a tidy house—or at least I think I do.” His lips twitch like he’s aiming for humor, but there’s an edge of exhaustion he can’t hide. “We’ll figure it out. To be honest, I’m not sure how any of this will work yet. Maybe you and Caroline can travel to some road gameswhen I’m gone for extended stretches. She’s already lost her mom… I don’t want her thinking I’ve left her too.”

He glances down at his daughter. “Right now, the nights are hard. During the day, she’s pretty easygoing, but after dark?” He lets out a tired breath that’s almost a laugh but not quite. “She doesn’t want to sleep. And I know I must be doing something wrong. But if I don’t get some sleep soon, I’m worried I’ll lose my job altogether.” He chuckles again, but there’s no amusement in it—just bone-deep weariness.

“I can cover nights so you can rest,” I say, shifting Caroline gently in my arms. “She just needs a consistent routine and a little sleep training. She’ll be good to go.”

His shoulders drop like he’s letting out a breath he’s been holding for days. “That sounds incredible.” He scrubs a hand over his jaw, his voice rough with emotion. “I’m just… really tired. A week ago, I was out partying with the guys—young, free, and stupid. Now I feel like I’ve aged a decade overnight.” He pauses, shaking his head as if he can’t quite believe it himself. “But what choice do I have? I’m all she has. And I want to do right by her.”

His blue eyes find mine again, and something in the way he’s looking at me makes my pulse skip. Open. Vulnerable. Honest. Nothing like the man I’d built up in my head.

“So”—he smiles, his voice softer now—“what do you say? You in?”

That smile… dammit. My stomach flips before I can stop it, and it pisses me off more than it should. I shouldn’t care that he’s attractive or charming. It’s better than hating him as I thought I would, but it bothers me that in a matter of minutes with Max, I’ve completely let my guard down.

My heart clenches unexpectedly. I didn’t come here to like this guy. I was prepared to tolerate him. But sitting here, holdinghis baby, listening to him lay it all out… I feel this pull. Like maybe he doesn’t just need a nanny—maybe he needs me.

All my reservations are still there, whispering in the back of my mind. But so are all the reasons I need this job. And now there’s something else—a gut feeling that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

I take a slow breath, steadying myself. “I’m in.”

CHAPTER

EIGHT

DELANEY

As I drive toward Max’s house, I remind myself—again—of every bill I paid with the paycheck advance he sent me. It’s the only thing that quiets the little voice in my head questioning all of my life choices.

Our first meeting actually went… surprisingly well. Just like Iris said, Max was pleasant—charming, even. He could’ve made a much bigger deal about the fact that I accidentally tried to steal his car, but aside from a few teasing jokes, he let it go.

I’m still not sure why.

Maybe it’s pure desperation. Iris did mention that his lack of a nanny was starting to affect his performance on the ice. He’s a single dad, totally in over his head, and he needs help. That kind of pressure makes people overlook a lot.

Still, I should feel more at ease after our conversation. Max came across as thoughtful, grounded—even sweet, especially when he talked about his daughter. Yet years of conditioning have trained me to steer clear of men like him—attractive, wealthy, and confident. The exact kind of guy I’ve learned not to trust.

But none of that really matters, does it? I need this job. It’s the best opportunity I have right now, and I’d be an idiot to let it slip through my fingers because of some deeply ingrained bias and a few nerves.

I pull into the driveway and park my Bronco right next to its twin. Same color. Same year. I let a small smile tug at my lips despite myself. Okay, maybe his taste in vehicles earns him a few extra points.

I kill the engine, grab my bag, and climb out of the car. My boots crunch against the gravel as I cross the short walk to the front door, my heart hammering a little harder with each step.

The door swings open before I even knock, like he was already waiting for me.

Max stands there in joggers and a fitted long-sleeved shirt, barefoot, with his dark hair slightly tousled like he’s been running a hand through it all morning. Caroline is in one arm, with a soft pink bow headband crooked slightly on her fuzzy head, making me think one of the teammate’s wives was here earlier helping out.

“Hey,” he says with that easy smile that somehow makes my stomach flip and my defenses go up all at once. “Glad you made it.”

“Hey,” I reply, stepping inside. The familiar scent of baby lotion, coffee, and something clean—laundry maybe—wraps around me like a warm blanket.

“How about a quick tour before I show you to your room?” he says, shifting Caroline slightly to his other arm.

“Sure.” I nod, kicking off my shoes by the door.

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