Page 40 of Ice Mechanic

“We’re busy. Not that I have to explain myself to you.”

“You’re lying,” Evan says confidently.

He’s right, but the fact that he’s so sure about it is offensive and makes me want to punch him in the face.

“Do you know who Chance McLanely is? His family’s loaded. With his background alone, he could have babes at the flick of a finger. Why would he want you?”

His words are like flying shrapnel from an exploding car and each one hits my chest with expert precision.

Evan tilts his chin up, talking down to me with his beady eyes narrowed. “You’re the girl he’s playing around with while he’s in town. He’ll never love you like I do.”

I open my mouth to fire back at him when the sun suddenly disappears and a shadow falls over me.

“Since your definition of love involves cheating on your partner, then you’re right. I don’t love April the way you do.”

I look up in surprise.

Chance winks. Backlit by sunshine, his thick black hair looks like velvet. Screaming blue eyes, piercing enough to rip through paper with a look, soften on me. “Hey, Tink.”

“H-hi,” I stammer.

My heart stalls in my chest when Chance slips a hand around my waist and pulls me against his chest. His strong, muscular arms lock at my hips as he secures me in a hug from behind. I’m being pulled into his universe of cool, earthy scents, the scratchof his jacket collar against the pulse at my neck, and his thick fingers that scrape the band of my jeans.

His warm skin sends electricity buzzing through my veins.

My heartthu-dunksin my ears.

He’s way too big, way too strong, and way toomanlyto hug me from behind without a little warning.

I’m about ten seconds away from death by over-heating.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper, twisting my head to look up at him.

At first, all I see is the underside of a strong jaw before he looks down. “I was on my way to the stadium when I spotted you.”

My lips inch up in a smile. “Great timing.”

Chance returns my smile with a smirk that belongs on magazines.

“Ahem.”

I glance over at Evan. His lips are trembling like a banjo string in the hands of a folk artist. Undoubtedly, the excitement from being this close to one of his favorite hockey players is warring with his jealousy over me.

I’mfeedingon the chaos.

Yup, I’m a petty person.

“Evan,” I speak with a hint of disdain, “I don’t think you two have properly met. This is Chance, myboyfriend.”

Evan sneers.

Chance totally ignores him. His eyes are gentle on my face.

“Tink.”

“What?”

He sighs dramatically. “Why do you look prettier today than you did yesterday?”

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