Page 35 of Puck Love

“I don’t know. I guess I likeher.”

I sigh impatiently. “Oh, come on, you don’t sort of guess you like a girl. You remembered her eye color. I’ve been with you guys for a whole week, and I bet this jackass couldn’t even tell me what color mineare.”

“They’re blue. Not regular blue . . . more like the Arctic Ocean under the ice.” This startles me, and I meet Van’s gaze again in the mirror. He grins and I arch a brow, but I can’t help smiling as I look away and turn my focus back toEmmett.

“The point is, you like her, and she really likes you. I think you owe it to yourselves to see where it goes. Invite her on a date.” Van’s whole body goes rigid at that. “Okay, so maybe it has to be a supervised date, but at least just think aboutit.”

Van chooses that time to turn up the radio and the conversation appears to be finished. Fornow.

When we pull into the driveway, Emmett jumps out and runs through the snow into the house. I get out too, but I’m stopped by Van before I can make it around the Hummer. He towers over me. “What are youdoing?”

“I was going to go inside. I’m freezing my boobs off out here.” This, of course, forces him to lower his gaze to my nipples, and I cover them, even though I have on enough layers for it to not be aproblem.

“What the hell wasthat?”

“What?” I ask, my teeth suddenly chattering. I hop all about to keep my blood from freezing in my veins and turning me into a giant popsicle.How do Canadians live likethis?

“Why are you filling his head with thatshit?”

“Whatshit?”

“You’re giving him ideas and setting him up tofail.”

I reel back as if he just dealt me a physical blow. “Why? Because you don’t have time for a regular relationship? What is so wrong with him liking Sadie, or maybe even feeling more than that forher?”

“Come on, Stella.” Van scoffs and folds his arms over his chest. “It’s not like he’s in love withher.”

“And what if he were? What’s wrong with falling in love,Van?”

“Nothing—”

“Really? Have you ever been inlove?”

“Have you?” he snapsback.

“Yeah, tenth grade, before my whole life got turned upside down by the recording industry.” I attempt to move past him but he puffs himself up, widens his stance, and I suddenly find myself very close to the Hummer. Turns out hockey players are kind of hard to get by when they don’t want you toleave.

“I thought you were avirgin?”

“Sex and love are two very different things, Van. I don’t have to sleep with someone to know how I feel. If you do, then I feel sorry foryou.”

He chuckles. He freaking chuckles. As if what I just said was funny. “You don’t need to feel sorry for me, country. I do just fine without yourpity.”

“Oh, I have no doubt you do. I’m surprised this place isn’t crawling with . . . What are they called? Puck bunnies? Guys like you are the reason I don’t give it up for just anyone.” I make another attempt to slide by him but a huge hand comes out and gently pushes me up against the car. My heart hammers, and I glare up athim.

“Guys like me don’t fuck virgins, but goddamn, do you make me want to break therules.”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing you don’t, because I wouldn’t say yes if you were the last man onearth.”

“Bullshit, country. You want me.” His hand is no longer pinning me against the Hummer, but instead toys with the faux-fur trim on my winter coat. He leans in, and if there wasn’t a tank behind me, I’d absolutely back up. Instead, I stay completely still as he leans forward, and when his lips meet mine, it’s explosive. His hands grip my hair, tugging off the baseball cap, and my arms slide around his neck and cling tight like a monkey’s. I couldn’t pull away if I wanted to.Do I even want to? Van’s tongue thrusts into my mouth, deepening the kiss as it twirls with my own.Nope. I definitely do not want to. In fact, I scramble up his big body and climb him like a tree. Van’s hands pull free of my hair to cup my ass, and I wrap my legs around his hips. He slams me back into the truck and I cry out, but his mouth devours mine hungrily and I can’t breathe. I can’t think of anything but him, and I never want to come up for airagain.

Van groans and I rock my hips against him, trying to feel more of that delicious friction. “Jesus, country. Keep doing that and I’m going to come in mypants.”

I can’t answer because I’m busy kissing the scruff on his perfect jawline while his strong hands knead my ass. Not that I could form words anyway with how distracted I am by his body pressed againstmine.

“Eww, gross, Van. Stop mauling Stella,” Emmett calls. Van pulls back, my mouth gapes, and there’s a long pause as we stare into one another’s eyes.Oh god, what the hell did we justdo?

“Fuck.” He sets me down on my feet, and my spaghetti legs decide now is a good time to give out. Van steadies me with a chuckle and I scowl up at him, and stalk away. Assuming, of course, that you can actually stalk on legs made of wetnoodles.

His resounding laughter follows me as I walk passed Emmett and into thehouse.

Stupid, dumb Canadianjerkoff.

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