Pucking Parker (Face-Off Legacy/Campus Kings 1)

“I’m fine,” Andrea says. “No worries.”

“John, take care of our newest client, and please don’t hit on her.”

JP flashes a wicked grin at his mom, and then looks at Andrea again, this time noting his major mistake. He holds out his hand to her. “I’m John Parker, but you can call me JP.”

She smiles, as if he didn’t just treat her like a secretary, and shakes his hand. “How about that coffee, JP?”

He wiggles his eyebrows, a simple gesture that reminds me of Preston when he gets his way, even though he shouldn’t. They disappear down the hallway together, and Coach sighs loudly.

“How did I end up with two boys who are exactly like their father?”

Alex leans his elbows on the table, holding her in his clutches. “Because they learned it from me, sweetheart.”

Even my skin tingles from the intensity between them. Like father, like son. This man still has it. That something. Even at his age.

She shakes her head at him, somewhat amused. “At least Preston turned out okay. He found himself a good girl. I can’t say the same about John. That boy is hopeless.”

“He needs a woman like Bex,” Preston says. “She changed my life.”

“Your mother changed mine,” Alex chimes.

I reach across the table to touch Preston’s hand, and he slips his fingers between mine. His heat warms my skin. “And you mine.”

Coach shuffles the papers in her hands, the sound of them tapping on the table drawing my attention to her. “Bex, I was thinking you could work remotely after your internship is over.”

I withdraw my hand from Preston’s to sit back in my chair. “You want me to work from home?”

I’m so confused. Is this a nice way of firing me? My stomach knots at the thought of leaving a place I love so much. When I’m at DMG, I feel at home. I was meant to become a sports agent.

“Yes.” Coach continues, “But I was thinking you could do it in Pittsburgh.”

My mouth falls open in shock. “Are you serious? But don’t I need to be here with you and JP?”

She shakes her head. “You’ll still have to travel to meet clients with either JP or me. I’ll also expect you to come into the office once a month, but you can live with Preston in his new apartment for the remainder of the time.”

“Thank you.” I practically jump out of my chair to hug her, and she laughs, patting me on the back.

“You’re welcome.” I sit back in my chair and she adds, “Exceptions can be made for family.”

My heart beats a little faster from her words. After idolizing this woman for most of my life, she’s taken me into her home, into her office, and now calling me family.

“Family,” I whisper.

Preston locks eyes with me and nods.

“Did you know about this?”

His cocky smirk is a dead giveaway. “I wanted it to be a surprise. Now we both get what we want.”

“I already have what I want,” I confess, feeling like a total sap, even though it’s true. “I have you.”

Love you, baby, he mouths, and I say it back.

Our love was never perfect, but it’s ours, something no one will ever understand but us. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.