Quick Trick (A Rough Riders Hockey Novel Book 1) by Skye Jordan, Joan Swan Read Free Book Online Page B

something, though,” Faith said. “I haven’t seen his eyes light up like that in a long time.”
    “Right?” Taylor said. “So is that why Grant’s been in here so much?”
    Faith shrugged as she finished rolling a strand, secured the end and started on another. She’d be here the rest of the day untangling these things. “Hey, Caleb,” she yelled through the store. “If you come untangle these lights for me, I’ll pay you.”
    “Stop avoiding the question,” Taylor said.
    When Caleb didn’t yell back or appear, Faith muttered, “So much for working here. Guess I’ll be hiring Billy Danielson after all.” Then she told Taylor, “Grant’s staying with his parents. Apparently, they don’t get along all that well, so he picked up some odd jobs around the house to stay busy and away from them. He’s always here picking up supplies and asking for advice.”
    “And? Are you helping him?”
    “Sure.” She smiled up at Taylor now. “I tell him to search YouTube.”
    “Faith…” Taylor dropped her arms and rolled her eyes.
    “I don’t have time to babysit him. He’s a grown-ass man. He can figure it out himself.”
    Taylor heaved an exasperated sigh.
    “And speaking of YouTube, when can we get together to figure something out for me? I’m serious, Taylor. I’m bleeding money faster than it’s getting pumped back in. It’s only a matter of time. Do you want me to sell this place and move away from you and Caleb? Because that’s about where my life is headed at the moment.”
    A pained look came over Taylor’s face. Faith hated to paint such a bleak picture, but she was very serious. And that was what Faith saw in her future.
    “Fine.” Taylor crossed her arms again. “You need to think of a project, and I need to get some things done so I can focus on teaching you the steps—”
    Faith didn’t hear anything Taylor said after that, because Grant sauntered around the corner and into their aisle. His gaze fastened on Faith with bold deliberateness and made her stomach jump to her throat.
    “Do I hear you ladies talking about YouTube?” he asked, wandering toward them. Taylor spun around, but Grant’s gaze stayed locked on Faith in a way that made her mouth go dry. A slow smile tipped his mouth. “Because I’d be real interested in getting in on a video with y’all.”
    A laugh bubbled up from nowhere. “Y’all?” Faith said, hiding her nerves behind sarcasm. “You picked up a Southern accent in the last…” She pretended to look at a nonexistent watch. “What? Three, four hours?”
    He laughed. “You’re so funny.”
    “I try.” She pulled her gaze off all the muscle stretching the soft fabric of his Henley and grabbed another string of lights. “I need something to keep me from”— fantasizing about you —“going insane.”
    “Hi,” Taylor said, extending her hand. “I’m Taylor, Caleb’s mom.”
    “Grant,” was all he offered as they shook. “Yeah, saw him messing around with the fishing poles. He told me you were back here.” He took his hand back and slipped his thumb into the front pocket of his jeans, which drew Faith’s gaze to an area she had no business looking at. “Great kid. Little hyper for hockey, but if I can get him to channel it, he’s going to streak across the ice.”
    Taylor laughed. “If you get him to channel it, I’ll pay handsomely for the secret.” She looked at Faith. “I’d better go find him before he breaks something.” Then she told Grant, “Nice to meet you.”
    “You too.”
    When his gaze settled on Faith again, he grinned. And it was that expectant grin. The one that said he was waiting for her to go all batshit crazy over him.
    “What have you got there?” she asked instead, glancing at the rusted faucet he held in his hand. “And how are you finding so many things that need fixing at your parents’ house? That place looks like a pristine mansion from the outside.”
    “Kitchen faucet,” he said, “and it’s not