Page 55 of The Puck Charmer

ow what to do,” I give her a playful wink. “Not when you put a twist on it like that.”

16

Alyssa

I’m crouched down in the backyard elbow-deep into planting a shrub when a small laugh escapes my lips. Last night, playing hockey with Alek was a blast. He let me get a few shots in the net—on purpose. He denies it, but I had him at twisty. Later that night he took me hard and deep as I bent over the bed, and offered myself up to him.

The sound of a car door slamming reaches my ears, and pulls my thoughts back. My stomach lurches, and I steal a fast glance over my shoulder, but can’t see the driveway from my position. Honestly, I have no idea why the thoughts of meeting Alek’s friends has me so anxious. It’s not like I want or need them to like me because I’m in a lifelong relationship with Alek. I’m not, and I’ll likely never set eyes on them again after this weekend.

Is that what you want, Alyssa?

No, it’s not what I want, not even close. He said he’s between jobs, but maybe he can get one here. Maybe he can stay. My heart races at that thought. Do I dare hope that it’s something he might consider?

I push to my feet, take a fueling breath and brush my hair from my face, wanting to look a bit presentable. I head toward the front of the house and circle Alek’s old car, which has been sitting in the driveway beside Moxie for weeks now. We’ve been taking my truck everywhere. I think Alek likes driving her.

My steps slow when I see Alek in deep conversation with his friends, his muscles so tense, I’m worried something is going to snap. I have no idea what he’s saying. I can’t hear him from my distance, but whatever it is, it seems pretty serious. My stomach tightens even more, and I’m about to back track, disappear into the backyard to give them space when the woman, who I assume is Quinn, lifts her head, her blue eyes locking on mine. A wide smile splits her lips and she pushes past Alek.

“You must be Alyssa,” she says, her warm and welcoming arms wrapping around me.

“And you must be Quinn. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

She turns and glares at Alek. “And here we’ve not heard anything about you,” she says, a scolding tone in her voice.

“There’s nothing really to tell,” I say. “Alek and I are just friends.”

She winks at me. “Yeah, Jonah and I were just friends once too.” She snorts out a laugh. “Actually, we were frenemies.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I had to help him out with my niece who we thought was his child.” She waves her hand. “Never mind, it’s all very complicated, and we’re here to relax and have some downtime.”

“Mommy, mommy, I want to play with Captain Jack,” her son Scotty yells from his dad’s arms.

Quinn puts her arm around mine. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to my boys.”

“I’m going to get you all dirty,” I say, noting her clean shorts and pretty blouse. I’m in muddy coveralls. Damn, maybe I should have changed and been a little more presentable when meeting them, but Quinn doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable at all in my work wear.

She shrugs, and blows it off. “I have a husband and a son. I’m used to dirt.”

Laughing, I fall into step with her, instantly liking her. She leads me to Alek and Jonah, and I note the frown on Jonah’s face, but it disappears when he turns his attention from Alek to me.

“Hey Alyssa, nice to meet you. Alek says you’re redoing Tyler’s yard.” He glances around. “About time he did something with the place.”

“And this little guy is Scotty,” Quinn says as Jonah sets him down. “Scotty, Alyssa is Alek’s friend.”

“Hi,” he says, and hops back and forth, clearly anxious to play with the dog.

“Nice to meet you, Scotty,” I say.

“You have dirt on your face,” he says and points.

I chuckle. “That’s because I was playing in the dirt.”

“I want to play in the dirt too,” he says, and laughs.

“I think Captain Jack is inside waiting to play with you. You know, he has a favorite ball, and if you throw it, he’ll run and get it and bring it back to you.”

His eyes go big, and my heart thumps. His enthusiasm hits my stupid maternal clock, and the sudden thoughts of never fulfilling bucket list number six, raising a family of my own in Grandma’s big old house, hits like a punch.