Page 54 of The Puck Bunny

“Remind me why we have to be just friends.” My mind is fried, completely blown by his words. I don’t understand anything right now except my overpowering desire for this man, which has been blown up exponentially after hearing him say he finds me sexy as hell. Either we’re having phone sex right now or I’m hanging up and grabbing my vibrator. Not that it’ll be very satisfying in the end when what I really want is Quinn. In the flesh.

He chuckles again, this time sounding resigned. “Because I’m not having flings. I don’t need the distraction, remember? Besides, you’re not Lola. You’re Sara and even if you didn’t work for the Brawlers—which is a large fucking red flag by itself—you’re not the kind of girl to toy with. You’re a keeper girl, not a fling girl.”

“But how can you decide that if I say I’m most definitely a fling girl.”

“Because you have no idea what a fling is, what the implications are, or what it would do to you.”

“Do to me? I think I know what it will do to me. It’ll give me some Big O relief with a slamming hot guy. How’s that for implications?” I’m delirious and words are flowing from my mouth from a well of desperation.

“Have you ever had a fling before, Sara?” He says the words softly.

I wince. “No.” There’s no way to fudge the truth.

“Right. Good night, Sara. I’ll see you sometime after I get back.”

I have no choice but to end the call and now I don’t even feel like keeping my date with the vibrator. How am I supposed to have a fling if not having a fling disqualifies me from having a fling? It’s a mean catch-22 and I should have made that point.

Next time.

* * *

The next day, I decide to call instead of text. The injury report said Quinn’s thumb is still a problem and they’re playing the toughest team of their road trip today.

I hunch over my phone to tap in his number and hold my breath until he answers.

“Hello. Who is this? Sara or Lola?”

I laugh, pleased at the playful sound of his voice.

“Sara since I’m at work,” I whisper. “I wanted to tell you good luck tonight.”

“You’re being very naughty today. I appreciate the sentiment, but you shouldn’t be calling from work. I don’t want you to get fired.”

My heart warms, but the feeling is short-lived when I’m interrupted.

“Drop everything.”

Delaney just has to ruin it, doesn’t she?

“Delaney’s there, right?” he asks in a normal tone of voice.

“Shh!” I put my hand over the mic, but I can still hear him laugh.

Delaney glares at me.

“I gotta go now.”

“No kidding?”

I just can picture his dimple from the laughter in his voice.

“I’ll call you after tonight’s game.”

“Fine. Bye.” I hang up.

Delaney clears her throat while glaring at me and Billie Mae. “I have a special assignment for you two. The Brawlers organization annual charity gala is coming up and you will need to be there. Your assignment is to take video clips of all the important attendees for social media. We want to get all the content we can and make the most of the good publicity.” She looks between us. “Got it?”

“Absolutely,” Billie Mae says.