Page 29 of One Pucking Surprise
“And yet, you’re still here,” he says, his grin softening as he reaches out, pulling me closer.
We stop in the center of the rink, the glow of the lights casting a warm halo around us.
“Having fun yet?” he asks, his voice low.
I smile despite myself. “Maybe.”
He grins, leaning in just enough that I feel the heat of his breath. “See? Told you I could be romantic if I wanted to.”
I roll my eyes, but my pulse kicks up. “Romantic? This is skating.”
He smirks, his tone turning teasing again. “I can check every box on that checklist of yours.”
I freeze, my breath catching. He leans closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.
“Told you I could be your guy. If I wanted to.”
The words hang in the air, heavy and undeniable.
I snap out of it and snort, shaking my head. “You’re funny.”
“Funny,” he repeats, his voice laced with mock indignation. “Not charming? Not irresistible? Just funny?”
“Definitely just funny,” I say, biting back a grin.
“Liar,” he says, giving me a wink before skating backward, leaving me standing in the middle of the rink, shaking my head and trying not to smile too much.
Chapter 11
Zach
“Thisis…incredible.Itlooks like something out of a movie.” Lainey says as I stop at the wrought-iron gates of my father’s private estate.
The gates slowly swing open, revealing a long, tree-lined driveway that leads to the mansion. Lainey’s staring out the window, her lips parting slightly in awe. Her reaction makes me grin.
“Impressed already?” I tease. “Wait till you see the backyard.”
The sprawling white structure at the end of the drive is a showpiece of modern design and timeless elegance—tall columns, massive windows, and manicured gardens stretching endlessly. The bubbling fountain in the circular driveway gleams in the sunlight, and I can practically hear Lainey’s brain spinning.
“Okay, seriously, is this a reunion or a gala?” she asks, her laugh tinged with nerves.
I chuckle, parking the car. “Relax. Just think of it as one big fancy barbecue where everyone’s overdressed and judgmental.”
“Super comforting,” she mutters, smoothing invisible wrinkles on her dress. “Remind me again why I agreed to this?”
“Because you couldn’t resist my charm,” I tease, stepping out of the car and walking around to open her door.
Lainey rolls her eyes, but a smile tugs at her lips as she takes my hand. “Right. Totally worth the nerves.”
I lean down slightly, my voice low enough that only she can hear me. “Just remember, if anyone gets too nosy, smile and act like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
Her laugh is quiet but genuine, and it settles something in my chest. “Easy for you to say,” she shoots back, smoothing her dress one last time.
As we start walking toward the mansion, she stops and glances up at me. “We need to agree on a story,” she says, her voice low but firm. “We never finalized it.”
I raise an eyebrow. “A story?”
“Yes, a story,” she insists. “How we met, how we fell in love—basic relationship stuff. Yourfamily’s going to ask questions, and I don’t want to mess it up.”
