Page 15 of Ice Cold Heart

Cole’s lips twisted and he released me, leaving a tingling spot where he’d touched. “Lucky me. I didn’t want a tutor in the first place. Look, his motivations don’t have to affect anything between us. Your dad is a fantastic hockey coach, and I respect him a lot—but I don’t blindly follow his lead. What if we do our own thing?”

I crossed my arms. “What are you proposing?”

“Forget his deal. Make a deal with me.”

“Explain.”

“Tutor me. We’ll tell Coach you changed your mind, and you can still do your intensive. As far as Coach is concerned, you’re doing exactly as he asked.” His eyes flitted away for a second, then settled on mine with a glint of resolve. “I hate talking about my reading issues, and I hate even more being on display while someone else judges me. I’m not broken, and I don’t deserve pity.”

I’m not broken… His words echoed in my head and arrowed down to my heart. Some of my anger faded at his raw admission.

“But I do need help,” he continued. “I’m willing to try with you.”

“Dammit, Cole. You’re not supposed to make me like you.”

His lips tipped up in a half-smile. “I’m not apologizing for that.”

“Okay, farm boy. What makes your deal any different than his?”

He spread his hands. “No ulterior motives, remember? I can pay, just not a lot.”

We walked, and Cole left me to my thoughts, a nice change from Scott’s need for constant reassurance. Nope. Comparing them wasn’t fair, and I’d rather not have thoughts of Scott taint my evening.

Was I willing to get into tutoring again—for a hockey player I wanted to see naked? I’d already decided I’d help Cole if he asked, but this was how everything started last time. A little request here, a nudge there, and suddenly I was trapped in a relationship where my worth was directly related to what I could offer him. Except Cole wasn’t Scott.

Cole was a hockey playing country boy with a wicked sense of humor and a talented mouth. He’d made his interest in me clear, and while I wasn’t looking for a relationship after my last one imploded, I could really use a release.

Despite the years of shit-talking from my mom, Dad had taken me in right away. We hadn’t had a full conversation yet, but when I’d shown up after his game to ask for a key, he’d handed it over with no questions. Something my mom had never done. She questioned every decision, every step, every day. Why was I still clinging to her truths?

Suddenly, I didn’t give a shit if hockey players were all womanizing assholes who didn’t care about their families. I didn’t want a husband—I wanted a good time. Fuck my dad for leaving, fuck Scott for proving me wrong, and fuck her. For everything.

Apparently, I was entering my “fuck it” era. As rebellious as I was feeling, I still needed boundaries to ensure I wouldn’t be blindsided like before. Cole practically had a picket fence tattooed across his ass, but I thought I might be able to convince him to try something new. Something to help me reclaim the person who didn’t flinch at the thought of sex.

“I’ll help you with your English class?—”

“Yesss,” he said quietly.

“But you have to help me with something.”

He grinned at me, oblivious to the shady path I’d gone down. “Name your price, city girl.”

“For every assignment you finish, I want a night of orgasms.”

7

Inearly choked on my spit. Instantly, my body was ready to go. My dream girl asking for my cock. Hell. Yes. My brain was significantly slower to catch up.

She hadn’t said she wanted a date. A sinking feeling sucked up all the excitement, and I slowed to a stop on the sidewalk.

“I thought you didn’t have the bandwidth for a relationship?”

Avery looked away, and I knew I’d hit the snag. “This wouldn’t be a relationship. I’m still not interested in dating. I don’t want kisses or romantic moments or any of that. We’d be friends with very specific benefits. It’s transactional, pure and simple. No chance for messy feelings or…” She trailed off and waved her hand around as if I could fill in the rest.

I frowned. “Only sex?”

“And friendship.”

Most guys I knew would jump at her offer. Reece would get down on his knees and beg. He’d literally offered her the same deal earlier today in the locker room.

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