Page 51 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“Right. Okay, so thanks for bringing my suitcase. It was unnecessary, but I appreciate it. You can—” My words die when he spins around and looks toward my balcony. “What are you doing?” I ask when he begins walking toward it. “Oh shit,” I gasp when he lowers the bag in his hand to the table, then reaches over his head and pulls his shirt off.

I’ve seen him shirtless numerous times, but we’re usually at the arena. There are other people around. This…this feels very different. “Hayden,” I warn, rushing toward him. But I’m too slow—he’s already lowering his ass to the lounger I wasn’t sitting on and pulling wrapped sandwiches and chips from the bag.

“I brought lunch. And considering you ordered that…smoothie, I’m assuming you’re hungry.” I stand there gaping at him as he holds one of the parcels in front of me. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I had to guess. I hope it’s okay.”

“I…um…”

“Ham, salami, cheese, lettuce, mayo,” he says, I assume listing ingredients as he unwraps his sandwich and takes a huge bite.

When he looks over at me, his eyes are alight with happiness, and the last of the tension drains out of me.

“Thank you,” I finally say. “I hadn’t eaten yet today, and⁠—”

“It’s almost three, Hails. Why haven’t you eaten?” he asks, concern obvious in his tone, his brow wrinkling as I lower myself back to my lounger.

“I’ve been busy.”

“Yeah,” he agrees, letting his eyes roam over my body. “Working on your tan, it seems.”

“I was actually working. Just…making the most of the weather.”

Finally, I unwrap my sandwich and take a small bite, achingly aware that he’s watching my every move.

He’s got sunglasses propped on his head; he could lower them and ogle me a little more discreetly, but for whatever reason, he’s choosing to do it openly. I shouldn’t like it. I really shouldn’t. But I’m not sure anyone has ever looked at me in the way he is, and I know for a fact that no one has ever gotten tongue-tied after seeing my body. I can’t lie; his reaction is going a long way for my confidence.

“You’ve got a sweet place here. And this view…pretty sure I’d spend all my time out here if it were my home. Rylee would have loved it, too. She was obsessed with the ocean.”

The way he so easily talks about her makes my heart ache because I know how hard it is for him to do.

“What?” he asks when I don’t respond or do anything other than look at him. “Do I have mayo on my face?”

“No. I just…I’m proud of you, Hayden. What you’re going through is…really fucking hard, and I know what’s happening beneath the surface is different from what I’m seeing, but you’re doing it. You’re surviving, and it’s so fucking good to see you smiling.”

“Yeah, well. That swimsuit would have that effect on any man, Hails.”

15

HAYDEN

Ihave died and gone to heaven.

Seriously.

Never in a million years did I think that I’d manage to get to her apartment, let alone discover what I did.

Hands down, best day of my year so far.

My heart thumps steadily and happily inside my chest, and my cock is ready and raring to go full steam ahead. I honestly thought I was going to come in my pants when she opened the door.

All those images I had in my head last night about what her body might look like in lingerie have been banished, replaced by ones that are so much better, so real. Because Hailee in that swimsuit…fucking hell.

And hearing her say that she’s proud of me? Yeah, that feels pretty fucking fantastic as well.

“How’s your sandwich?” I ask as I ball up the wrapper mine was in and throw it into the bag.

“Yeah, good. Not quite a peanut butter banana smoothie.”

I shake my head. “You’re ruining it,” I warn, unable to keep the smile off my face.