Prince Pucking Charming

Duke laughs, and his eyes fall to the hamster cage. “Which one is Hammy?”

Max points at the big brown hamster. “That’s Hammy.” She motions toward the light brown one. “And that’s Sammy.”

“I’m sensing a pattern,” Duke says with laughter in his tone.

“Those are their babies,” Max says, pointing at the two hamsters left from the litter. “I can’t tell them apart. I think they might be twins.”

“My younger brothers are identical twins,” Duke says.

“Cool,” Max beams. “Can you tell them apart?”

“Yes. But I had a hard time when the twins were younger.”

“How do you tell them apart now?”

“By their personalities. Theo is the oldest by two minutes and more serious than Travis. And Travis is the prankster. He likes to mess with everyone.”

“Can I meet them? I bet I can tell them apart.”

Duke laughs. “They’re at college in Philadelphia right now. But yeah, maybe someday you’ll get to meet them.” His eyes meet mine as he says this, and a rush of heat travels down my arms.

“How come you’re not a twin?”

Duke shrugs. “Beats me.”

“Do twins run in your family?” I ask.

“Yeah. My grandmother was a twin.”

I glance at my watch. “Max, it’s getting late. Time for bed.”

She groans. “I haven’t shown Duke all of my pets yet.”

“I’ll come back another day,” he promises, bending down to match her height. He’s so damn tall he looks like a giant next to her. “When I pick you up for hockey practice. How does that sound?”

She throws her arms around his neck and squeals. “Yay! Thank you, Duke.”

Duke hugs her back. “You’re welcome, kiddo. Now, how about you get ready for bed? Hockey players need a lot of sleep.”

“They do?”

Duke nods and then taps her on the shoulder, slowly rising to his full height. He towers over me, his eyes intense when they flick toward me. I don’t want him to leave. I’m not ready for this night to end, even though I know what I’m doing is so wrong on so many levels.

“Will you stay for a little bit?” I ask him. “I have to get Max in bed, and then we can have that drink if you want.”

Duke tips his head. He says goodnight to Max, and then promises to wait for me in the living room before closing the door behind him.

“Mommy,” Max says as she changes out of her jersey and into her pajamas. “Why does Duke have to go home?”

“Because he wants to sleep in his bed.”

I sit at the edge of her mattress and turn off her lamp. The soft green glow from her nightlight fills the room.

“Duke works with Mommy. He can’t stay the night, okay?”

“Yes,” she sighs. “I know. But…”

“Duke will be back soon to teach you hockey. You’ll see him again.”