Page 15 of Heart of a Defender

“What is it?” His shadowed eyes search mine as a worried crease stretches across his brow.

I linger on that crease as I search his eyes for the slightest hint of annoyance, anger, or a hidden agenda that’ll make me the fall guy for some unknown shortcoming. But all I read is concern in his gaze.

“Are we doing the right thing here?” My heart pounds a little harder. What I’m really asking is, am I doing the right thing. “We kind of jumped in with our feet first.”

I roll to my side and pull the sheet over my chest for some sort of protective barrier. Protection from what, I’m not sure. Zach has seen every inch of me already. The only layer left to peel back is what’s in my heart.

Zach’s gaze drops to the knotted bedding twisted between my fingers. He strokes my knuckles before returning his gaze to mine. “Do you want to be here, Madison? With me?”

“I do. It’s just...we barely know anything about each other.” I hesitate, not ready to admit that I’m afraid if I give in to the ache in my heart, I might lose myself to him. And that scares me more than a little bit. It scares the living daylights out of me. “We haven’t even been on a date. I don’t know if you like tacos with hard shells or soft...if you’re a fry or onion ring kind of guy...or what if you don’t like any of those things at all and–”

“What about lunch at the arena?” He cuts me off without so much as a grin at my blubbering. His eyebrow arches. “Technically, I asked you out.”

“I’m serious, Zach.” I scold with a bit of panic creeping into my throat. “I don’t just do things like–things like this.” I hold his gaze as my heart sprints to a gallop. My throat tightens, and I can barely breathe the words on the tip of my tongue. “I don’t want to make a mistake and repeat the past.”

“I promise you, I’m nothing like anyone in your past. All I’m asking for is a chance to prove it to you. Can you give me that?” His eyes soften as he brushes stray hairs away from my eyes. His thumb glides over my cheek and across my jaw. “Madison Collins, will you go out on a date with me? The real deal. No strings. No expectations. Just you, me, and a bonafide destination that isn’t the arena cafeteria.”

I repress the urge to get teary-eyed over his sweet gesture. We’re both naked in his bed, for pity’s sake. Yet, my heart softens as I warm to the idea of a bonafide date.

“I’d love to go on a date with you, Zach Brooks.”

He doesn’t think of me as a quick shag or one-night stand at all. And believe it or not, my bear trap brain intends to keep behind-the-scenes Zach Brooks under wraps, away from public view, and all to my little ole self.

***

Zach

All of my misconceptions about Madison are tossed out the window as soon as I see the fragile pain in her eyes. The bastard who wounded her and made her feel insecure is a first-class asshole who deserves ten times worse than what he doled out to Madison. But I keep my anger in check. He’s long gone, and Madison’s with me now. I’ll never let him or anyone else hurt her again.

I run my thumb over Madison’s lower lip. She peers up at me with somber, hooded eyes, and I’d give anything to see the greens and golds light up like glitter again. I roll on top of her, trapping her hands beneath the sheet. There’s so much more waiting for us if we can both leave the past where it belongs–behind us.

“It’s a date then.” My fingers creep down her neck to the spot directly above her clavicle. I trace it with my fingertip, stopping before I hit the spot that makes her squirm. “I like any kind of tacos, fries over onion rings, but most of all, I like you.” I skim her ticklish spot, and she reacts with a giggle. “And I love the way you squirm when I touch you.”

Her eyes light up, instantly glittering as she snickers. My fingers slink lower, over her breast to her ribs. Her eyes widen as I go in for the kill, tickling her until she’s giggling and breathless. Minutes later, we’re tangled in the sheets, breathing heavily.

As I sink into Madison, I give away part of my soul. Our secrets intertwine, and though there’s still so much to reveal, I know my secrets are safe with her. We’re kindred spirits. I can trust Madison with more than my innermost thoughts. I can trust her with life itself.

CHAPTER 8

THE DATE

***

Madison

I didn’t expect nervous jitters to get the best of me, but minutes before Zach is due to arrive, I’m a mess with sweaty palms and pits. How could I not be after the night we spent together? Of course, he arrives to pick me up looking effortlessly casual in a flannel shirt and jeans. A genuine smile lights up his face, putting my butterflies at ease.

“Ready for some fun?” He leans in and kisses my cheek.

My heart instantly revs to full throttle. So much for playing it cool.

“Absolutely,” I reply in a higher pitch than usual. Zach’s grin widens, and another wave of acrobatic flutters grips my insides.

He escorts me to his car. It’s nothing flashy, considering the contract he has with the Saints. Not that I snooped around his bank account. His salary is a matter of public record and part of the press dossier I received ahead of the first day of public practice. I like that Zach is down to earth, walking around like a mere mortal and not some superstar athlete. His chivalry and modesty make him that more attractive in my eyes.

Zach drives us to the local fall festival–a Sable Creek annual event filled with rides, games, and live music. It’s late Saturday afternoon with crisp autumn air and a throng of people milling about the fair’s stalls enjoying sweater weather, knee-high boots, and everything pumpkin spice.

We wander the festival, stopping to throw darts at balloons, toss rings on bottles, and shoot tin cups with air guns. No surprise, I’m better at downing giant pretzels smothered in cheese than I am at throwing metal projectiles with dangerously sharp, pointy tips.

---