Page 122 of The Heart Breaker

I feel the word hit the back of my teeth, and I force myself to stop before I say something I can’t take back. It’s too soon. Too dangerous. Too real.

So I swallow it down.

“I protect the people I care about.”

Her lips part as she looks up at me, and even if I’m still too much of a coward to say it out loud, I know.

I’m gone for this girl.

A throat clears from somewhere behind us, and I turn to find Jenna standing a few feet away with a gym bag slung over one shoulder. Her gaze flicks between us, one brow lifting.

“You’re here early,” I say.

She shrugs and drops her bag to the floor. “Trying to avoid Sam.”

I scoff. “You should give him a chance,” I say with a shrug.

She stares at me for a second. “I miss when you were mean. This is unsettling.”

I huff out a laugh as she puts her headphones on, turns away, pulls on her gloves, and tightens the straps with her teeth.

When I turn around, Aurora has one brow arched. “Who’s that?” she asks.

I toss the pads onto the bench, my brows tugging together. “Her name’s Jenna,” I tell her. “She comes here a lot.”

“Hmm.”

I straighten and reach for my water bottle, taking a quick drink. “What?”

She shrugs. “Nothing,” she says with a shake of her head before pressing her lips together in the fakest smile I’ve ever seen. “She’s pretty.”

I shoot her a look. “Don’t do that, Prescott.”

“Do what?” she asks.

“Act jealous.” I slide a hand to her waist, pulling her into me. “You’re way too much of a badass to be jealous of other women.”

Her mouth twitches.

“Besides,” I add, lowering my voice as I lean in, “I’m looking at the only girl I want.”

Color creeps into her cheeks, and I can’t help but grin, because for all the attitude she throws at me, I still know exactly how to get under her skin.

It might be a little possessive of me, but I like that she was jealous. I never want to give her a reason to be, but knowing she wants me anywhere close to as much as I want her? Yeah. I like that way more than I probably should.

I lift a hand and catch a loose strand of hair that’s fallen across her cheek, tucking it behind her ear.

“Are you free Friday night?” I ask.

She blinks at me, her eyes widening slightly. “I don’t know,” she says. “Why are you asking?”

My gaze drifts over her face. The bright blue of her eyes. Her mouth, still a little pink from kissing me. The faint flush sitting high in her cheeks. So goddamn pretty.

“You want to go on a date with me, Prescott?” I ask her.

She blinks again. “A date?”

“Yeah. I want to take you out.” My hand slides from her hair to the side of her neck, my thumb brushing slowly over her skin. “Want to sit across from you while you wear some killer dress.” Her throat moves on a swallow, and I don’t stop. “Want to kiss you in public.” I tip my head, looking down at her. “Want everyone to know you’re with me.”