Page 69 of Defend Her Heart

“Wait! We don’t know where this came from. What if it’s poisoned or something?”

Tamara raises her eyebrows and huffs out a laugh. “Are you really pretending you don’t know who sent this? I’ll give you one guess. He’s gigantic and handsome with gorgeous hazel eyes and a great ass.”

At the mention of his butt, I glare at her. She throws her head back and cackles.

“Ha! You should see your face right now! One mention of Connor’s hockey ass and you’re ready to throw down. You know he sent this. Who else could it be?”

“Just wait!” I hold up one finger and rush to the living room in search of my phone. The coffee table is littered with my notes and work. I lift everything up but don’t find it. Next, I search in between the couch cushions, but it’s not there either. Finally, only after I lower myself to the floor, I find my phone kicked underneath the couch.

When I pull it out, I have two missed calls and three texts waiting for me. All from the same person. I click on the texts and read the most recent.

Connor

I’m trying not to overreact right now, but I’m about to send Sadie over there to do a wellness check if I don’t hear back soon.

Before I can even read any of his other messages, my phone starts vibrating in my hand with an incoming video call. I have no idea what I even look like right now, but if I don’t answer, there is no doubt in my mind that Connor really would send someone over here. I run my fingers through my hair quickly, trying to smooth down the hair I’m not even sure I brushed this morning.

“Just answer the phone, Avery.”

My body jumps at her voice. I turn to see Tamara leaning against the wall near the entryway to the kitchen trying to hold in a laugh.

“I hate you,” I hiss at her before accepting the video call.

Connor’s face fills the screen and it looks like he hasn’t combed his hair yet, either. It’s sticking up on the top and if I didn’t know any better, he’s been pulling it himself. Is he reallythat worried about me? That thought alone has me fighting back a grin.

“Avery. Oh, thank god. You’re okay.”

I plop down on the couch and glance up to see Tamara still standing near the kitchen with a shit-eating grin on her face. I flip her the bird behind my phone.

“I’m fine. Sorry I didn’t answer your calls or texts, I apparently lost my phone a couple hours ago. I’ve been busy working and didn’t even notice.”

Connor sits down, and from what I can see, it looks like he’s in a hotel room. He leans back and rests a hand behind his head. He is in no way trying to be sexy, but my eyes immediately move to his bulging bicep and that view alone is enough to spike my heartrate a bit.

“I’m just glad you’re okay. The app wasn’t showing any data when I checked and my mind immediately went to the worst case scenario. Especially when you didn’t respond to my text about ordering you dinner. Shit. Did you get it? It’s probably cold by now. I should’ve given you more notice.”

He’s rambling now, and it’s actually fucking adorable. This six-foot-five professional hockey player is nervously babbling to me about having food delivered to his fake wife. I can’t make this shit up.

“Connor, stop. I took my watch off when I was working because it kept annoying me. I should’ve given you a heads-up, sorry. But I got the food. I was just about to pick what to eat. You ordered like half the menu.”

“It’s delicious, by the way!” Tamara yells from the spot she has yet to vacate. This time, instead of giving her the finger, I pick up one of my pens and hurl it at her.

She dodges it at the last second and lifts her hand in surrender.Sorry,she mouths, before finally slinking away to give us some privacy.

“I wanted to order more but Niko said that would be overkill.”

The thought of him contemplating what to order and asking Niko for help causes the dimple to appear on my cheek.

“Thanks for ordering me dinner. You didn’t have to do that.”

We continue to chat for a few minutes before he tells me to go take care of myself and get some food. My stomach has been rumbling since I smelled the food, so as much as I’d love to talk to him longer, my hunger wins out.

I hang up after saying goodbye and skip into the kitchen. Picking up the container with the shrimp, I move to join Tamara at the kitchen table. She’s done eating already, her laptop open in front of her, as she clicks away on her keyboard.

“You’re humming.”

My finger stalls inches away from my mouth. “What?”

Tamara keeps her eyes trained on the screen in front of her. “You skipped in here and have been humming since you got off the phone. It’s cute.”