Page 11 of Defend Her Heart

I spot Connor pacing outside the rink, and I rush around the corner before he can notice me. I’ve been in Minnesota for a couple weeks now, trying to get acclimated with the team and area before school starts next month. The girls on the team are nice, but they all have one thing in common: They can’t shut up about the infamous Connor Smith.

Of course I had heard of him before I got here. I did so much research on the school before committing to come, and the records he broke as a freshman were hard to ignore. But I didn’t tell anyone I knew who he was. That would do horrible things for his ego.

Carefully so he doesn’t see me, I slowly inch forward and peek around the corner to watch him for a minute. His steps have quickened and he appears to be talking to himself while throwing his hands out to the side and in front of him. A laugh threatens to break out so I slap my hand over my mouth before it can escape.

Connor Smith may be the best thing to happen to hockeyin years, but he looks a far cry from the confident player he is on the ice right about now.

As much as I’m enjoying the show, my stomach rumbles, reminding me of just how hungry I am. I’ve only had some trail mix since practice ended a few hours ago and I could smash an entire pizza right now. I hope Connor likes a girl with an appetite.

Taking a step back, I position my braid over my shoulder so it’s in front of me and then smooth down my clothes.

What the heck am I doing?He should be the one trying to impressme.

I steel my spine and turn the corner to head to the front of the rink where Connor continues to pace. The moment he finally spots me he freezes in place. I don’t stop my pursuit until I’m a couple feet away from him.

“I thought you were about to burn a hole in the ground here from all that pacing, Smith.”

Connor takes a moment before responding. I watch as his eyes move down my body and slowly return up to my face.

Although I’m not trying to impress him, I do like to look good since I’m in workout clothes or hockey equipment for most of the day. Tonight I decided on a new pair of skinny jeans that hug my muscular curves just right. They’re high-waisted, so I chose a plain white, fitted crop top to wear and on my feet are my favorite pair of chucks.

“You look amazing.”

His words come out on an exhale, and although I brush off comments from guys most of the time because they’re usually only after one thing, I can tell Connor is genuine when he says it.

I give him my best smile. “Thanks. You don’t look too bad yourself.”

Tonight Connor is wearing dark jeans, a black dry-fit shirt, and a pair of Nikes. He looks so effortlessly sexy. I hate to admit how good looking he is, but damn. The boy isfine.

He throws his arms out to his sides and does a slow spin. “Trying to look my best for my favorite new friend.”

That comment earns him an eye roll and he laughs. My god, even his laugh is sexy. I have never been boy crazy a day in my life. What the hell am I doing?

“Are you done showing off? I need food ASAP before I get hangry. Not sure I’ll be your favorite new anything if that happens.”

Connor huffs a laugh under his breath and then motions with his hand to our left. “This way, ma’am.”

My feet stay cemented in place.

“Don’t ever call me ma’am again. Got it?”

Connor salutes me, and I take off in the direction he motioned toward and he jogs to join me at my side.

“So how are you liking Minnesota so far?”

“It’s cool. I like that everyone I go to school with has the same lifestyle as I do. Kids back home in Wisconsin never really understood why I missed so much school and I never attended any dances or things like that. I don’t feel so out of place here.”

As a girl from Wisconsin, you’d think kids would understand the commitment it takes to play travel hockey. We have one of the best college programs for women in the country. But my school peers never really put any effort into getting to know me. Not that I blame them. I was constantly traveling out of state for tournaments and games. I couldn’t attend so many things that were the highlights of their lives, but I never really felt like I was missing out on anything.

Hockey is everything to me. It’s going to hopefully pay for my college and be my ticket to playing for my dream school and becoming a Wisconsin Badger. Missing out on Valentine’s dances and lame parties at the roller rink is a small price to pay to live out my dream.

Connor sticks his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I get that. I’m from Minnesota but from a small town up north, nottoo far from the Canadian border. I know what it’s like being from a huge hockey state and having a lot of the kids there not understand my obsession over a stupid game.”

I level him with a look at the use of the word “stupid.”

He immediately removes his hands from his pocket and throws them up in front of him.

“Their words. Not mine. Hockey isn’t just a game to me. It’s life.”