Page 21 of Rowdy Hearts

“Um, orange juice, please. I’m not a big coffee drinker.”

Sliding into a chair at the island, because I couldn’t think of anything else to do and I was starving, I picked up my fork and started eating. After the first bite, my eyes widened and my gaze shot up to Rowdy, who was staring at me over his mug.

“Oh my god. These are amazing. What did you put in them?”

He sipped his coffee before answering, lips curving in a smile that made me think of warm summer nights and stolen kisses. Then he winked, and my stomach did a flip-flop that was not at all related to intestinal distress of any kind. No, this was the butterflies-flapping and thigh-clenching kind of flip-flop.

The kind I hadn’t experienced in years. Mainly because I wouldn’t let myself feel those feelings. Attraction, love, lust, whatever. Not in my plan for the next few years, at least. Been there. Done that. Had my heart broken for the trouble. And when he’d exited stage right, I realized I’d won the lottery, because he’d been all kinds of wrong for me.

Maybe I was still tired from last night and these feelings would pass.

My inner bad girl snarked out a laugh.

“Little bit of this. Little bit of that.”

I gave him a look designed to let him know he wasn’t as cute as he thought he was. Even if he actually was.

His expression shifted into playful hurt. “What? Can’t give away all my secrets on the first day.”

“Do you have a lot of secrets?”

Now, why had I asked that? It sounded like flirting. I wasn’t flirting. Hell, no. Not even a little bit.

Bad Girl laughed louder this time.

Rowdy’s gaze narrowed, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

“Not really.” He opened his arms like he was inviting me in for a hug. “What you see is generally what you get. What about you, Tressy? You have secrets?”

Way too many.

“So you’re a hockey player.”

The left corner of his mouth twitched, as if he wanted to smile but wouldn’t give me the satisfaction. He let my words hang in the air for long seconds, while I forced myself to continue eating. When what I really wanted was to take a bite out of his perfect chin.

Bet he’d taste yummy.

Nope. Not happening.

Finally, when I thought for sure he wouldn’t let me get away with the change in conversation, he pushed away from the island and turned to pour more coffee.

“Yep, since the first moment I could skate. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have skates on my feet and a stick in my hand.” He took another swig of coffee and my gaze slipped from his lips to the strong column of his throat. “What about you?”

Uh oh. “What about me?”

He waited until I looked up at him. “What do you do?”

“I own my own business.” Which was true, just not the whole truth.

I went quiet, and I thought maybe he would let it go. I should’ve known better.

“You don’t like to talk about yourself, do you?” His voice sounded wry. “Just a warning, but gossip is even more popular than hockey in this town. And you made a hell of an entrance last night.”

I held his gaze but wasn’t sure what I should say, or if I should say anything at all. I felt like I owed him an explanation. I’d fallen into his arms last night like the heroine in a romcom. His mom had given me and Krista a place to stay with no questions asked. And the women in the bar last night had been ready to rip the limbs off whatever man had done me wrong.

“I’m not in any kind of trouble. And I want you to know there’s no one dangerous following me.”

I just couldn’t stomach returning to the shit show I’d left behind. My mom was going to be pissed as hell and my sister…

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