SWNOVELS Puck Me Secretly: Chapter 29
“OH RORY,” Mom stood behind me, her hands over her mouth.
“Do I look okay?” I turned and smoothed the fabric of my gown over my hips. My elegant, spaghetti strap, floor length blood-red ball gown fit me perfectly. I had piled my long hair up on the top of my head in an elaborate twist of braids and curls. My makeup was dark and dramatic, with red pouty lips and dark eyes.
Teardrop diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet completed the look.
Tears welled in Mom’s eyes. “You’re gorgeous.”
“I want to stay home.”
“This is the Autumn Ashford Gala! Staying home is not an option. What time is Calder picking you up?”
I rolled my eyes. I had been forced to invite Calder, the son of my parents’ friends, because I lacked a social life and had no prospect of a real date. I grew up with Calder. When we were kids, he used to chase me around with his boogers. Calder was more annoying brother than date material.
“He said he’d be here at 6 PM.”
“Helene,” Dad’s voice boomed from downstairs. “Time to go.”
She leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you there.”
CALDER WAS 30 MINUTES LATE. He strolled into the house like the spoiled aristocrat he was with his $4000 tuxedo and coiffed hair. He was an heir baby, and he seemed to think that was his full-time job. He would have been gorgeous if he didn’t have that life-is-so-boring sneer on his face.
“Hey, Calder,” I stood watching as he pulled something out of his pocket.
“Your parents gone?”
“Yes.”
“Want to smoke a joint?”
“Excuse me?”
“Marijuana.”
My eyes widened. “Not really.”
“Do you have an ashtray?”
“Do you mind smoking outside?”
He rolled his eyes. “Sure. Whatever.”
I stood, shivering, outside the front step, watching as he smoked his joint.
“How’s life?” he winced as he sucked on the thin burning rolled paper.
“Good.”
“Heard your old man was making you work.”
Oh, freaking hell. Tonight was going to be long.
“I don’t mind.”
“Yeah, you getting some on the side?”
“Excuse me?” My voice sounded like ice.
“Hey, don’t get mad. Just repeating what I’m reading on social media.”
My heart stuttered. “What have you been reading?”
“Hockey gurl’s tweets about you always go viral. The last tweet was retweeted over 45,000 times.”
I felt my stomach twist into a ball. “What was the tweet?”
He shrugged. “Something about how you like to fuck hockey players.”
Oh, sweet baby Jesus.
Calder squinted at me. “Ready to go?”
Actually, I want to go hide under my bed.
I took a fortifying breath. “Ready.”
THE AUTUMN ASHFORD GALA was one of Vancouver’s most elite and expensive charity events. Tickets sold for $1000 a seat and every year, the tickets sold out within hours.
Arriving unfashionably late, Calder and I walked into the foyer of the huge banquet hall. The front was empty as most of the guests had already moved to the dining area.
“Hold up, Roar.” Calder used my childhood nickname, as he pulled me towards the champagne bar.
He downed two glasses of champagne before we made our way into the main hall. People were all seated and talking, but thank fuck the dinner prayer hadn’t started.
Despite the fact that Calder was a complete hooligan, his manners were impeccable. He first greeted Dad and Mom and then, gave his own parents, who sat at the next table, a nod before he turned his attention on me. He helped me sit down and then, with a small flourish, sat down next to me.
I glanced up at the table and the breath nearly sucked out of my chest. Max in a tuxedo was more than breath-taking. It almost hurt how gorgeous he was. His dark, unimpressed gaze focused only on Calder.
When Max turned his attention to me, I could see the question in his eyes. I raised one eyebrow and motioned to Katrina with my eyes. He had no right to judge my date, not when he had a barracuda sitting next to him.
Dinner started. Calder ordered two double scotches in succession, but managed to sound both intelligent and business savvy when he discussed the market with Dad.
Mom leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Calder is very handsome.”
I whispered back. “Mom, stop it.”
She reached out and squeezed my hand. “Is Katrina sleeping with that hockey player?”
I froze. “Max?”
“Yes, that’s his name.” Her smile grew. “He’s handsome and she seems besotted with him.”
The irony! It was killing me.
“I don’t know if they’re dating.”
“Well, they make a gorgeous couple.”
I glanced over at Katrina and Max. As she leaned over Max to talk to the person on the other side of him, she pressed her entire body against his. I mean, she might as well climb into his lap. Bitterness washed over me. Mom was right. They were a gorgeous couple.
I thought about that night I saw him flirting with the puck bunny. This was who he was. He told me that he didn’t want to settle down. Seeing him with another woman was torture, but seeing him with Katrina devastated me. Anyone but her!
Calder slung his arm around me and put his lips to my ear. “So, is the guy you’re fucking the one who is giving me the death stare from across the table?”
“Calder!”
He pulled back and his face was only a couple inches from my face. He stared into my eyes like a lover. “Just wondering. Since the brood he’s with is a fox.”
I put my hand in his chest to push him back. Instead, he captured my hand and pressed it against his chest.
“What are you doing?” I whispered, annoyed.
Calder smiled and stared at me for a few more seconds before he spoke. “I’m making your lover jealous hoping he comes after you, which will give me a decent opening to fuck the fox.”
The thought of Calder and Katrina disappearing, made me feel more happy than it should.
“Why would you do that?”
His eyes dropped to my mouth, like a lover would do. “Team work, Roar. Team work.”
“I’m afraid your Fox has eyes only for him.”
Calder laughed and pulled back. He grabbed my hand and without taking his eyes off my face, brought my hand up to his lips. “Is that a challenge? Do we want to put a wager on that bet?”
He was being so ridiculous, I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. “What is the bet?”
“If I can fuck her, you get me and my boys some tickets to the game the next time Minnesota comes to town. Close up to the ice. We want to see lots of blood.”
“You’re sick, but yeah. Deal.”
He winked at me and mouthed, “Thank me later.”
I was still smiling when I glanced over at Max.
Max stared at both of us, with unabashed hostility directed toward Calder. His jaw was tight and his gaze was flat and cold.
Katrina, as if she could sense the tension between us, leaned over Max. “Would you mind accompanying me outside?”