Page 98 of Puck Me Secretly

Her eyes narrowed onto Max. He unhurriedly lowered me to my feet.

His tone sounded polite. “Mrs. Ashford.”

Mom, ever the experienced socialite, nodded at him. “It was a pleasure to have you in our home, Mr. Logan. So sorry you have to leave.”

“Mom!”

He didn’t move a muscle and then said. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

My face burned. I felt like a high school student whose parent had busted up a hot kiss with an unapproved boyfriend.

“Mom, if you’d excuse us for a moment, I’d like to take a moment to say goodnight to Max.”

She didn’t like it, but she nodded. “I’ll be waiting outside.”

She shut the door behind her.

“I’m so sorry,” I turned to him. “That was inexcusable.”

“Winning over the parents has never been my strong suit. Are you okay?”

Terrible thoughts went through my mind. What if Mom told Dad? “I’ll make sure she doesn’t tell my dad.”

He flinched. “I should go.”

“Wait,” I bent down and picked up the book from the floor. “Your book.”

He lifted the book up and down as if to test the weight. “If you wanted to make me a reader, you should have picked a shorter book.”

“You only owe me three chapters.”

He bent down and pressed a hot kiss against my mouth. “If it kills me, I’m going to get my bonus.”

“You’re only supposed to read it if you like it.”

“I like to win.”

“I’ve noticed that about you.”

“I should go.” He kissed me one last time.

“See you later.”

He opened the door, and I heard him thank Mom for her hospitality again before he disappeared out of sight. Mom stepped into the room and shut the door.

The words blurted out of me. “Are you going to tell Dad?”

“Rory.” That one word held so much disappointment and hurt.

“Mom, please.”

“That man is all kinds of trouble.”

“He was on the plane crash!” My secret spilled out of me.

“What?”

I sat down on the couch, feeling defeated. She moved to sit down beside me. I felt her take my hand into hers. “You never talk about the crash.”

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