Page 53 of Defend Her Heart

Once I’m dressed, I push open the door to the locker room, and speed walk around the corner, running face first into Hunter. He takes a step back, rubbing where my shoulder just connected with his forehead.

“Damn, Connor. Where’s the fire?”

I’m about to apologize when his eyes flick to a spot behind me, no longer paying me any mind. I look over my shoulder to see Katie, our team therapist, chatting with one of our equipment managers. I’ve seen that doe-eyed look before on my best friend and head coach. I think Coach Hunter might have a little crush.

“Sorry, Coach.” I pat him on the arm and then jog to the exit.

I’ve got a wedding to get to.

I’m damn near carving a hole in the floor of the courthouse lobby as I pace back and forth waiting for Connor. This is good. I know this is good. That doesn’t stop the nerves from creeping up.

I glance down at my watch and notice that my heart rate is at 112. I need to sit down and relax. I find a bench near the main entrance and set my bag next to me. Reaching inside, I pull out my bottled water and an electrolyte packet from the inside pocket. When I tear it open, I realize it’s the packet Connor gave to me all those nights ago at the bar. A slow smile spreads across my face, and, at the thought of him, my breathing begins to steady.

This is Connor I’m talking about. The boy who would look at the stars with me and cheer me on at every one of my games he could attend. This is all going to work out.

After I pour the powder into my water, I screw the top back on and start to shake it. Apparently the lid wasn’t on all the way, because a few droplets spill onto the navy blue dress I’m wearing.

“Damn it.” I try to smooth out the water as if that will do anything to hide it. I don’t even know why Idressed up today. This isn’t a real wedding. But when I went to leave the house, jeans and a plain T-shirt didn’t feel right. So, I sprinted back into the apartment and grabbed a dress from the hall closet where I’ve been keeping my things at Tamara’s. Now I feel like an idiot for wearing this damn thing.

My hands are still smoothing out my dress when I hear his voice.

“Sorry I’m late.”

I look up, and the sight before me kicks my heart rate back into high gear. My mouth goes dry as I take in the man standing before me. Navy blue dress pants hug his muscular thighs in a way that should be illegal. I almost fall over craning my neck to get a shot of his backside. I move my gaze upward to see him wearing a white-button down shirt, rolled up past his elbows, showing off the sexiest forearms I’ve ever seen. He is so damn handsome it literally fucking hurts.

He clears his throat and my eyes shoot up from his arms to his face where he’s wearing a devilish grin. “Nice to see you too, Aves.”

I feel the heat rush to my cheeks so there’s no use in trying to deny that I was checking him out.

“You clean up nice, Superstar.”

Connor rocks back on his heels and splays his hands out to the side. “Today’s a special day.” His voice is teasing but his words still make my pulse quicken.

Not wanting to dwell on that fact for another second, I stand and loop my bag over my shoulder. Connor whistles, and I whip my head toward him.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, Chamberlin. You trying to impress me or something?”

This flirty side of Connor shouldn’t surprise me, he always used to throw compliments my way. But that wasyearsago. What’s gotten into him?

I must be looking at him with questions in my eyes because he answers before I can even voice my thoughts out loud.

“Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood. I know what we’re doing is the right call, but I’m still a little nervous.” He shrugs his shoulders sheepishly and seeing him like this is the cutest thing. Connor is six foot five and one of the biggest, most intimidating men I’ve ever seen. Even before big games he was calm and composed. Seeing him nervous like this is rare, and I take a moment to engrave it in my memory.

“What if I am trying to impress you? Would that be a problem?”

What the fuck am I even saying right now?

Bold, flirtatious Avery is a woman of the past. I haven’t felt like myself in years, and even though it’s come out in the form of flirting with my ex-boyfriend, it feels kind of good to see flashes of my old self come back to life.

“Not a problem at all.” Connor winks and the move does something to me. Specifically, in the area between my legs.

Stupid traitorous vagina.

Doing my best to not let him see how flustered he makes me, I swing my hand in front of me. “Shall we?”

We walk side by side to the main desk in the lobby of the courthouse where an older woman points us in the direction we need to go. We make our way down a hallway to the room where a judge is waiting for us. Connor places his hand on my lower back and ushers me inside. Butterflies take flight the moment I feel his fingers connect with the small amount of exposed skin at the bottom of my spine.

This is all becoming a little too much for me. His chivalry is throwing me off and making me remember promises we made to each other when we were kids. I don’t realize I’ve stopped moving until Connor is in front of me. He places his hands on my shoulders and bends down to look at me.