I bring my thoughts back to the present as I near the main road. I need to focus. I have to make sure I have the upper hand from day one. I can’t let old feelings of puppy love make me forget the years of torment and disgust I’ve had to deal with. I need to be in control this time. I won’t let him make me feel like the little girl he hurt so long ago - I’m stronger and wiser now. I need to show Puck who the real boss is. He can’t bully me anymore, I won’t let him.
Chapter 4
DANI
* * *
I spend the weekend preparing menus and writing shopping lists. I need to be on top of my game and ready for anything. I have to be if I want to be the dominant one this time around. I know Puck’s going to try and catch me off guard or get in my way - anything to make me feel like less of a woman and chef, but he can’t this time. I’m good at what I do and I’m anticipating his moves. He may be a great athlete but I’ve been waiting for the chance to put him in his place since he moved away and I have high hopes that this is it.
The phone rings and startles me out of my train of thought. I’m sitting at my kitchen table which is now covered in papers and cookbooks, my laptop, and planner. If anyone ever saw the way I prepared for things, they would never believe how organized I actually am.
My phone is buried beneath the clutter somewhere so I have to follow the sound of the ringer to find it. I move some papers around and when I locate it, I see it’s Joanne calling. I know she’s calling about the meeting Puck and I had. I quickly debate whether or not to answer it but decide to pick it up before the final ring.
“Hi Joanne,” I answer, knowing it’s her on the other end.
“Hey, Dani!” she replies enthusiastically, “I heard you and Puck are going to work together.”
“Yes. Yes we are,” I answer hesitantly, “I’m doing some menu planning as we speak.”
“I’m so excited!” Joanne blurts out. She’s silent for a moment before starting again, “I know you and Preston had an awful time together as children,” which is a complete understatement but since she only calls her son ‘Preston’ when she is very concerned or serious, I remain quiet so she can continue, “but you are adults now. I understand that you think he is a terrible person - for a long time, he was. But he has come such a long way and believe it or not he cares for you very deeply.”
I don’t say anything in response because I actually don’t believe it, at all. No matter how terrible or obnoxious Puck would behave, he always treated his mother with respect - and apparently still does. She was aware of all the trouble he caused and many times made him pay for it, but through it all, he always held her in high regard. I understand why she thinks I should believe her, but I don’t. Just because he treats her that way, doesn’t mean anything to the rest of the people he interacts with.
“Dani, I know that you’re taking this opportunity more for me than anything and I appreciate it very much. Just give it your best shot. Go in with an open mind. Maybe you’ll be surprised. If not, at least you have a nice paycheck for now.” Joanne ends with a short laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
“I love you Joanne. I’m not making any promises but I will show up and put in the same effort as I would any other job,” that’s the best answer I can come up with. I only had to spend a very short time with Puck to know that he is the same asshole he always was. At least Joanne is right about one thing, the pay will be nice.
We spend a little more time chit chatting about nothing in particular and end the conversation on a good note. I already know she will check in with me to see how it’s going by the end of the week. As much as I love her, I smirk knowing I will be proving her wrong. Puck cares about one thing - Puck. No matter how highly his mother thinks of him, he is not going to fool me. Not again.
Chapter 5
DANI
* * *
I have much more anxiety Monday morning than expected. I did everything in my power to be over prepared and ready for anything, and I am. I have every meal, menu, and shopping list, printed out along with nutritional information. I even made several back ups in case Puck decides he doesn’t want what I’ve planned at any time, or in typical Puck fashion, just wants to try and make me sweat.
I collect my recipe binders, printed menus, and my knife bag. I treat my knives the same way another woman might treat her precious jewelry. They have all been selected by me and worn in just the way I like them. As I turn to leave, I remember the employee paperwork I had to fill out. The confidentiality agreement sure gave me a chuckle. I know more about Puck than many people although I’m sure no one would believe me if I told them anyway.
I fit everything in my favorite bag and get into my car. That’s when my nerves set in. I take deep breaths as I once again drive through the beautiful hills toward his home. I am the boss. I am in charge. I repeat this mantra in my head as I draw nearer. Okay, technically Puck is my boss, but I am not going to let him manage me. I know his dietary needs and my way around the kitchen and in that area of expertise, he cannot compete. Anything else he tries to throw in the mix, I’ll deal with as it comes but I will not let him get to me.
I punch the code in to open the gates and proceed up the driveway. Steven is outside speaking to the landscaper. He smiles and waves as I pull up and park in the huge circular driveway. I take one final deep breath and smooth my hair back. I reach into the passenger seat to grab my bag and when I turn to open my door, Steven is standing there.
“Good morning Miss… Good morning, Dani,” he greets me before I even close the car door, “how was your weekend?”
“Pretty uneventful. You?” I reply. Steven picks up my bag for me, I’m sure out of habit, and starts walking. I match his gait and we proceed the the large entryway.
“The usual. Just enjoyed some down time,” he replies, pulling open one of the tall front doors and holding it, allowing me to walk in first.
“Hockey season is just about to start so things are getting pretty crazy around here,” he rattles on his way into the kitchen, “the training schedule is intense and once the games actually start, I don’t have much down time at all.”
Even though it was only a few days ago that I was here, I can’t help but look around again in awe. The house itself is magnificent, but the thought that someone like Puck owns it is mind blowing. I’ve always known him to be shallow and insensitive. If I were to judge by my surroundings - the tasteful decorating, the careful attention to detail, the cleanliness, I would never believe someone like him lives here. I still imagine his old environment which was a dirty room with an unmade bed, mismatched posters on the walls and enough clothing on the floor that you had to clear a path to walk through it.
The visual of Puck’s old room leaves my mind as I enter the kitchen. I guess anyone with enough money can hire a decorator and a housekeeper. This house doesn’t mean that the man himself is any different than he used to be.
Steven places my bag on the desk. It’s an area of the cabinetry that has been elegantly worked into the kitchen to allow for some work space, without intruding anywhere on the actual cooking space.
“Consider this your office,” Steven says, bowing and holding his arm out in a mocking gesture.
“Thanks,” I reply with a friendly smile.
The space is perfect for what I need. There are small, open cubbies where I can keep my binders and some cookbooks. There is also a computer so I can type and print whatever else I need.
“Make yourself at home,” Steven offers, “I have to check on a few things and then I’ll be back to go over the daily schedule, calendar, and answer any questions you might have. Can I offer you a drink before I go?”
“No, thanks,” I answer, “I’ll take a look around and familiarize myself with the kitchen. If I come across the coffee maker I’ll make myself a cup.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Steven replies and leaves me alone in the kitchen.
At this point I’m not even sure if Puck is home. Steven was talking on our way through
the house but I honestly wasn’t paying much attention. It doesn’t matter anyway, as long as he stays out of my space. I’m going to have to mark my territory before he gets any other ideas. Of course I know it’s his home, but other than sitting at the breakfast nook or grabbing something from the fridge, I don’t want him around me. I don’t need his energy interfering with my performance. He may run the show on the rink, but in the kitchen, I’m the most valuable player.
I start taking my things out of my bag and placing them neatly in the office space. I pull out the large folder of paperwork and set it on the desk. I’ll leave that for Steven to sort through. I begin to make my way through the massive kitchen, opening cabinets and drawers, learning where everything is. Whoever laid this kitchen out knew what they were doing, and for that, I’m thankful. I come across the coffee maker and it’s one of those fancy contraptions that requires an engineering degree to operate. I find the coffee and filters exactly where I think they should be and begin fumbling around with the machine.
“Want me to show you how to use that?” Puck says.
Startled, I jump at the sound of his voice. My whole body stiffens, then I slowly begin to push buttons on the machine again.
“That’s okay. I’ll figure it out,” I respond without turning around.
“Don’t be so stubborn, Dani,” Puck replies, positioning himself next to me.
I still can’t look at him but as I inhale I notice his musky smell. I quickly glance over and see that Puck is in nothing but a pair of gym shorts and sneakers. He’s sweaty and has a towel draped over his neck. I assume he is just coming from a work out. I try not to look his way again but as he places his empty water bottle on the counter I catch a glimpse of a tattoo on his forearm. My eyes follow the tattoo lines up his muscular arm and I find myself wanting to see more but I stop and bring myself back to reality before my stare reaches his broad shoulders.
Instead of Puck’s close proximity irritating me, as I expected it would, I’m finding myself getting slightly aroused. Now I’m more disgusted with myself than with him. I remember that I’m trying to make a pot of coffee and push a couple more buttons before Puck reaches over and takes charge of the seemingly simple task.
“I hope you can navigate your way around a stove better than a coffee maker,” he teases.
“I don’t know why they have to make a coffee pot so complicated,” I say, frustrated. I finally look up at him and my cheeks are flushed - not because of his comment, but because I can’t believe the thoughts that were going through my head just seconds ago.
“Easy, girl. Don’t get so upset about it,” Puck replies with a wink, mocking my tone. He quickly shows me how to operate the machine and it’s set to make a pot coffee, “see, it’s not too hard once you know how.”
He walks over to the fridge and pulls out another bottle of water. He uncaps it and takes a long drink from it, tilting back his head and I find myself staring at him. His body is in amazing shape. The tattoo that I saw on his arm continues up over his shoulder and onto his back. It’s some kind of tribal thing which doesn’t matter to me, I’m just admiring the way it accents his well defined muscles. I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallows the water and I can’t resist lowering my gaze to his torso and his perfectly formed abs. I look away before my eyes move any lower. I do not want Puck to catch me looking. I’m having trouble comprehending why I’m staring at him in the first place. Regardless of what I see on the outside, I know how ugly he is on the inside.
“I’m going to shower,” Puck informs me after his long swig, “I’ll be back for for coffee in a few.”
I don’t say a word; I’m still standing at the counter lost in my own thoughts. This cannot be happening. I’ve barely been here for an hour and it’s already awkward - just in a completely different way than I expected. I’ve despised this man for most of my life and in a matter of minutes I’m thinking about him in a whole other way.
When we first met, when our parents became serious with each other, I instantly had a crush on Puck. Once I really got to know him though, I realized the true meaning of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He is an arrogant, nasty person and I must keep reminding myself of that before these other thoughts take over.
Chapter 6
PUCK
* * *
What a way to start my morning. I can really get used to seeing Dani’s pretty face every day. I’ve heard about how wonderful she is in the kitchen, and I’m sure she is, but I don’t even care. I just want her here. I need to show her how much I’ve changed and get her to accept who I am now. I never knew how to be honest with myself in the past so there’s no way I could have been with her. But once I hurt her bad enough, once I lost Dani for good, I knew I had to change. I had to do it for myself, even if it was already too late for Dani.
Having her here now though is giving me new hope. She may not have wanted to look at me, but I felt the spark when we were close. Even for just a few moments, I know she felt the same attraction from our past. I felt her eyes on me when she thought I wasn’t looking, felt her gaze move over my body.
I hired Dani with the belief that over time, even if it’s just one season, I could get her to just like me again. At least get to the point where we could communicate, where I would be able to apologize sincerely and she would believe me. Now I want more. I want her to be mine.
Dani had always been a beautiful girl, but now she is a gorgeous woman. With her small frame and long blond hair, she doesn’t look like someone who spends their days in a kitchen. She manages to keep herself fit and slim which only calls more attention to her perfectly set breasts and great ass. I’m sure she doesn’t want me around when she is working, but I would love to spend some time just watching her.
I just have to play it right and be patient. I need her to learn about the kind of man I am now. I’m going to need to stay out of her way though. I think playing it a little ‘hard to get’ will work in my favor - as much as I don’t want to. If I’ve already broken through just a little bit, as I think I did this morning, I wont have to wait as long as I anticipated. Just the thought of that moment, the first time she lets me in, is enough to make my shorts a little tighter. And I am confident I can make that happen - somehow.
Chapter 7
DANI
* * *
The coffee maker chimes, startling me out of my train of thought. I have to stop this - immediately. I’m here to work and no matter what Puck’s reasons are for hiring me, I can’t jeopardize my employment - not for neglecting my duties anyway.
I quickly set up coffee service on the counter and get into work mode. I pull the breakfast I had already prepared from the refrigerator. It’s nothing special, but since I had been worried about my first day, I planned accordingly. In no time I have fluffy egg white omelet and pan fried hash browns ready to serve. No sooner are they on the plate than Puck walks back into the kitchen.
He is holding a stack of papers which he absent-mindedly reads as he walks passed me and sits at the table on the far side of the room. I’m used to being ignored by my employers. It’s not because they’re not friendly, but you’re in their home on their personal time. They don’t feel obligated to make conversation and sometimes just enjoy their silence. Right now though, I’m slightly insulted that he walked right by me.
“Would you like your breakfast?” I ask.
“Okay. Yes, please. It smells delicious,” Puck replies after hesitating.
He places his papers down and walks to the coffee maker. He pours a cup and I watch what he puts in so I know for the next time. I don’t notice Steven walk into the room until he is standing next to me and speaking.
“Smells great,” Steven starts and takes a look around the kitchen, “and no mess. Even better,” he smiles at me and picks up both plates of food. “We should go over the schedule for this week, Puck,” Steven says and pulls out his tablet which apparently holds all of his information and schedules.
The two men
eat and talk, similar to any other business meeting. I go about my business, finishing up the couple of dishes and collecting the ingredients I need to prepare lunch. I can’t help but overhear some of the conversation since we are all in the same room. Steven is talking to Puck about a fundraiser he is hosting in a few weeks. From what it sounds like, he is a major contributor to a charity for abused children. I had heard he was involved through the media but didn’t realize that he actually cared about these children or wanted to be a part of it. I just assumed he did it for the publicity.
“Dani,” Steven addresses me, “how do you feel about being the executive chef for the event? Can you handle that?”
“What?” I answer. I wasn’t expecting him to address me.
“We used to have an outside caterer come in for larger scale events,” he explains, “but I’ve read a lot about you and your talents. I know it’s only your first day here but I’ve also spoken to your past employers, I think you would do a great job, if you want. It’s not part of your contract - you would be paid separately.”
Take more of Puck’s money? It would be my pleasure. I heard some of the details while they were talking and I’m confident I can pull it off. The extra money would be amazing right now too, “sure. I would love to help with an event like that.”
“Excellent,” Steven replies, “I’ll go over the details with you this week so you can start thinking about the menu.”
I notice Puck smiling to himself. I wonder if he’s hoping I’m getting in over my head. Maybe he’s counting on my failure so he can make me feel like a loser once again. That’s not going to happen. I’m the best at what I do and already plan on making this event a huge success - at least as far as the food and service are concerned. I’m already starting to believe that proving myself to Puck is just as important as my paycheck.
PUCK (A BAD BOY HOCKEY ROMANCE) Page 2
