Hot Puck (Rough Riders Hockey 2)

Every soft emotion inside Eden surged to the surface. Her heart tugged and twisted.

“Sounds like someone didn’t eat any dinner,” Beckett said.

“I did too.” Her pathetic attempt at arguing drew smiles all around the kitchen.

“Barely,” Tina said, with an overwhelming amount of love in her eyes. “Want to try to get a few more bites of turkey in? I’ll put whipped cream on your pie.”

Lily groaned.

Beckett chuckled. “I think she’d fall asleep face-first in that whipped cream before she got any into her mouth.”

“Crash and burn,” Sarah said, pulling out a chair at the kitchen table and taking one of her daughters into her lap. “Dad, I could use a hot chocolate and Baileys.” She lifted her brows at Eden. “Does that sound good? I bet you could use a drink. Beckett has that effect on people.”

Eden and Tina laughed. Beckett rolled his eyes. His father grinned.

“That sounds amazing.” Eden glanced at Beckett’s father. “If you’re making them. Otherwise, any wine is perfectly fine.”

“Irish hot chocolate for the ladies,” he said, and extended his hand across the sparkling black quartz countertop. “Jake.”

She took his hand in a firm shake. “Eden.”

“Welcome, Eden.”

She’d barely released Jake’s hand before Tina pulled out a chair for her. “Come sit. I’d love to hear about your job. Which ambulance company do you work for?”

All eyes were focused on Eden, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so self-conscious. She’d changed into jeans and a sweater and pulled her hair up into a bun before getting in Beckett’s car. She’d even spritzed on some five-year-old perfume. But no matter how she packaged herself, she knew inside, she was subpar tonight.

Sarah’s daughters returned to the living room, where a movie played. And Eden managed the casual chat about her work and Tina’s nursing. Then Beckett opened the door to a path leading down the rabbit hole.

“Eden’s in paramedic school,” he said, easing into a seat with Lily on his lap.

His mother gasped with pleasure, and her bright eyes sparkled with approval. “Really. How exciting. What made you want to go into the field?”

The question hit her sideways. It wasn’t one she’d ever been asked and one she hadn’t anticipated. “Um, a while back, I was in an accident, and the paramedic who was there really made the situation a life-changing experience. It made me want to be there for other people.”

She glanced at Beckett, hoping he’d pick up the conversation and steer it somewhere else so she didn’t have to answer any more detailed questions about the accident. Otherwise, she’d have to start lying, and she sucked at lying.

He met her eyes and added, “And the program is through Johns Hopkins.”

She offered a grateful smile, which he returned.

“Oh my,” Tina said, taken aback. “That program only takes the best. Your parents must be so proud. Where are you from, Eden?”

Criminy. This was why she stuck with school and work. Because conversations with new acquaintances led to a past she wanted to forget.

“California.” She smiled for Beckett’s mother. “Unfortunately, my parents and I aren’t close like you and your children.”

Her brow fell. “Oh, what a shame.” She shook her head and patted Eden’s arm. “Their loss, sweetheart. You’re delightful.”

Heaviness weighted her stomach, and darkness crept into her heart. She’d been trained and groomed to be delightful. And, yes, she could pull out those traits and manners at will. Yet it had never been enough for her own parents. And her continued attempts to please them had ended up costing her own daughter’s life. So she didn’t feel the least bit delightful. She felt like a complete fraud in the face of authentically wonderful people.

But she offered a humble “Thank you.”

“Son,” Jake called from the kitchen. “What can I get you?”

“A brush.” The tinge of frustration in his voice drew Eden’s gaze. “And some scissors. What the heck did you women do to her hair this time?”

“No, Daddy.” Lily slapped both her hands on top of her head, blocking his fingers before he could take out the first brightly colored elastic. “I like them.”