Page 52 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“Ruining what?”

“The image,” I state as if it’s obvious.

“What image?”

“That you’re my perfect woman.”

She immediately chokes on her sandwich.

“Shit. I’m sorry,” I say, swinging my legs over the side of the lounger and pushing to my feet.

Her coughing ceases, and she looks over, rolling her eyes up the length of my body as I cast her in my shadow.

When her eyes find mine, she swallows thickly.

“Can I get you a drink?” I ask, kicking myself for not thinking ahead and bringing something with me.

It takes her a moment to respond, and I start to think she didn’t hear me, but then her lips part, and her soft voice floats around me. “I made iced tea.”

I nod, taking a step back when she shifts as if she’s about to get up. “I’ve got it,” I confirm, spinning around and marching back into her apartment.

My skin is on fire, and I know for a fact it’s not because of the sun.

“I know you’re staring at my ass,” I shoot over my shoulder.

“W-what?” Hailee splutters, and when I glance back, she’s staring at me with wide eyes. “N-no, I wasn’t.”

“It’s okay,” I say, my cheeks aching from where I’m smiling so big. “It’s a great ass. I’d be worried if you weren’t staring.”

“Ah, there’s the hockey player ego. I thought for a minute that you might have left it at home.”

I turn on my heels, letting her see the front of me. “You’d be disappointed if I did that,” I point out before pulling her fridge open, assuming it’s where I’ll find this iced tea.

“Glasses are in the cupboard to the left,” she calls after I’ve located a jug.

I return with a drink each, and as I pass hers over, her fingers brush mine. I freeze, my eyes jumping to hers, but when I don’t see a similar reaction, my heart sinks, and I slink back to the other lounger.

Lifting the glass to my lips, I take a sip before drinking it all down.

“You don’t need to stop sunbathing on my account,” I say as I rest back and close my eyes.

I’m aware that I really should put my shirt back on and leave. I just…don’t want to.

“Stop trying to get me naked,” she mutters.

Cracking an eye open, I glance over.

“Did I say anything about taking the swimsuit off?” I ask innocently.

Hailee’s cheeks are pink, and as much as I want to think it’s because of me, I suspect it might be the sun.

“Hayden,” she warns.

“I like that,” I tell her.

“Like what?”

“When you tell me off.”