Page 120 of Puck Love

Lana shootsme another dirtylook as she packs her bag and stows her laptop inside. I feel bad about kicking her off the bus, but not bad enough to ask her to stay. I should have left the second the meet and greet was over but one look at my girl, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Instead, I booked a morning flight for Calgary from Winnipeg, which happens to be Stella’s next tour stop. It isn’t long enough, I only have her for a few short hours, but I intend to make the most ofthem.

“Don’t forget to look up Sophia’s details,” Stellasays.

Lana rolls her eyes. “This isn’t my first time at the rodeo, Stella. Iknow.”

“Thank you,” she smiles sweetly. “And thanks again for giving us thebus.”

“Yeah, I feel terrible kicking you out of your bedroom and all.” I pull Stella close and maul herneck.

“A bunk on a tour bus is hardly a bedroom, Van,” Lana says, and of course she rolls her eyes, because she wouldn’t be Lana unless displays of public affection made her want to breathe fire. “Besides, the support act wanted a few pointers, so I’m going to sleep with him.” I grin, and I can’t see her face but I’m betting Stella is, too. “Notsleepsleep with him. There’s at least four other bodies on that bus! But he wanted somepointers.”

“I thought musicians didn’t care who was on the tour bus with them,” Isay.

Stella nods. “He does have a crush onyou.”

“He’s twenty, Stella. I’m old enough to be his . . . okay, well maybe not his mother, butstill.”

“Eli will becrushed.”

She frowns. “What?”

“Boucher, my wingman. He’s hot foryou.”

“He’s a real delight.” Her words are dripping with sarcasm. “But I don’t fuck hockeyplayers.”

“You said that with so much disdain I actually believed you for a minute there.” I chuckle. “Did you tell Stella that he kissedyou?”

“What?” Stella glares atme.

“That first night we came to Nashville. You’d gone inside and I was walking to the car, and Boucher says he pulled her in and kissedher.”

Stella glares accusingly at Lana. “You never told methat.”

“Because I was trying to focus on the problem at hand.” Lana grabs her bag, pillow, and a blanket from herbunk.

“Right, what was that again? Oh, that’s right. Keeping me and Stellaapart.”

She sighs. “Yes, I’ll admit that was wrong, but I was just trying to protecther.”

“From me? Or from yourmistakes?”

“Okay, Cujo. Back off,” Stella says, shoving me back a little ways until I fall into thebooth.

“I’m sorry. It was wrong for her. I see that now,” Lana says. “I had to book in for both rabies and tetanus shots after that kiss with Eli, but I am sorry I tried to keep the two of youapart.”

My mouth drops open in surprise, and because I’m not a total dick, I close it and say, “You’re forgiven. I wanna protect her, too, and I never want to hurt her.” I kiss the top of Stella’shead.

She turns in my arms. “Um . . . ex-squeeze me, but I had a say in this too, youknow?”

“No.” I chuckle. “You didn’t.” Stella pouts but snuggles in anyway because she knows I’m right. She was just as powerless to stop this as Iwas.

“I meant what I said though. You hurt her and I will shave off your balls with your skates.” Lana lugs her bag down the aisle toward the door. “Do try to get some sleep, Stella. You have a radio interview at eleven a.m. and sound-check at onethirty.”

“I remember. Now, go. I got me a hot date with a hockey hero.” Stella waves her off with a shooing motion, and then turns to me as Lana steps off thebus.

“Alone atlast.”

Stella grins. “Lookslike.”

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