Page 59 of Lucky Mother Pucker

I shake my head.

“Okay. Then live with me until Christmas.”

I wrap my arms around him, hugging him tight. “Thank you,” I say into his big, broad chest.

He slides his massive arms around me. This is the first time we’ve ever hugged each other, I’m just now realizing.

I breathe in the spicy scent of his cologne, relishing the warmth of his body.

I step back when I realize how creepy it is that I’m smelling him.

“Sorry,” I say. “I should have asked if it was okay to hug you.”

He just smiles, looking totally unbothered. “You can hug me, Lucy. You never have to ask.”

Tingles swoop through my chest once more.

He rounds the front of his SUV to the front door. “See you at home?”

Home. The word sends warmth all over me.

It’s just temporary. Don’t get attached.

I can’t ignore that warm, comforting feeling. I can’t ignore how happy I feel right now—to have a new friend and a new home, even if it’s just for a little while.

“I’ll see you there,” I say.

Then I hop in my car and follow Leo all the way home.

Chapter 22

Leo

Iknock on the door of Coach Tremblay’s office.

“Come in.”

When I open the door, he’s frowning at his laptop screen.

“Sorry to bother you.”

He shuts his laptop and waves me over. “It’s okay. Have a seat.”

I sit down in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

“What’s up?” Coach asks.

“I have kind of a weird question.”

He smiles. “Okay. Shoot.”

“Do you know if the team would be open to hiring someone to help out the physios?” I ask. “I know they’re pretty overloaded being down a guy. Would they want to hire an assistant or maybe a part-time person? Someone to help keep the training rooms organized and clean, take care of the equipment, help the physios with their day-to-day tasks, that sort of stuff.”

Coach Tremblay scratches his jaw, his gaze turning thoughtful. “That’s a good idea. I’d have to ask them first, but I’m sure they’d say yes. They’ve been pretty swamped, and I know they’d be thrilled to have the extra support.”

“I know someone who’d be interested in applying for that position,” I say.

Coach Tremblay’s eyebrow quirks up. He grins. “You came here with an agenda, huh?”