Page 2 of Defend Her Heart

Striking green eyes assess me up and down before landing on my face. I watch as a smirk forms on her mouth, and my god, I think I’m in love.

I stand there like a lovesick fool, staring at this girl who continues to look at me like I’m the most amusing thing on the planet.

What do I do now? What should I say?

Oh my god. Say something.

“I’m Connor.”

The most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen snorts, and it’s the cutest fucking sound.

Whoever said love at first sight was a thing of fairy tales has never met this girl. Because I guarantee she’d make a believer out of anyone.

Insane hockey skills, midnight black hair that makes her gorgeous green eyes pop, one cute dimple on her left cheek that’s now tinged pink from skating, and the most adorable birthmark pops on her ivory complexion just above her lip that I can’t seem to look away from.

“Is there something you need, Connor?” Her voice is as smooth as her hands on the ice. Because of course it is.

“Uh, yeah. Um…”

Some of her teammates interrupt my rambling when they exit the ice, causing us both to take a step away from the door.

“You coming, Avery?” one of her teammates asks.

Avery. Suddenly that’s my new favorite name.

She looks over and gives them a quick nod. “I’ll be there in a sec!”

Once she turns her attention back to me, I clear my throat and attempt to stop acting like such a jackass.

“I just wanted to come say hi and welcome you to Everwood Academy.”

I stick my hand out like some idiot and she removes her glove again, cradling it under her arm before placing her hand in mine. Warmth spreads up my arm at the contact. I shake her hand, moving it up and down far too many times when she speaks again.

“You going to let go of my hand anytime soon? I need to go cool down.”

As much as I don’t want to, I pull my hand back and rub the back of my neck. “Shit. Sorry. Of course.”

She’s turning around to head to the locker room when my hand shoots out and grabs her upper arm just between her shoulder pads and elbow pad.

Her head turns and her eyes drop down to where my hand is and then back up to my face. She doesn’t say a word, but the way her eyebrow raises lets me know she’s not too fond of me grabbing her, even though I’m being as gentle as possible.

“I was wondering if you wanted to get pizza or something later with me, and I could show you all the local spots. It’s a small downtown but there are some hidden gems.”

“My arm, Connor.”

Yanking my hand back again, I shove both of mine in the pockets of my sweatpants, if only to create some type of barrier between us. I don’t know what it is, but my body is gravitating toward her as if I’m not in control of it.

“Sorry,” I mumble.

She puts her glove back on and chuckles under her breath.

“So…pizza?”

She seems to be deciding as her eyes assess me one more time. She stands her stick up and rests her chin on top of her glove.

“I like pizza. And although I don’t usually go places with strangers, I’ve heard enough about you to know I’d like to see what all the fuss is about.”

What the hell does that mean?