Page 8 of Faking It with the Enforcer

“What’s the point blank, gun to your head answer? Don’t think, just say what comes into your mind.”

“I’d be running my own ballet studio and have a bunch of babies.”

I swear his breath catches in his throat, and when I look over at him, his gaze is glued to me. He’s staring at me as though he’s transfixed. Like he can’t look away. Heat blooms across my skin, and I wiggle slightly in my seat, feeling nervous and hot under the intensity of his attention.

“I know I’ve only just met you, but I think you’d be a great mom, Emily.”

“Yeah?” I ask, a little breathlessly.

He smiles at me, and I can feel the connection between us like a physical thing. I feel like I’m buzzing. I feel a little drunk on Wolf’s attention, on the way he looks at me.

And while I know it’s all in my head, I’m going to enjoy it, because I’ve never felt this way before. Like I’m the bubbles in a champagne glass, fizzing and dancing and golden.

“Yeah. You’re warm and sweet and gentle. You work hard at the things that matter to you, and you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone when it matters. You’re brave and kind.”

“Wow,” I whisper, my eyes stinging. “That’s…um. Wow. That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.”

His smile grows, his eyes sparkling as he looks at me. “Well, I mean it. You’re…really great.” I can tell he was going to say something else and then changed course at the last second.

“You’re pretty great, too,” I whisper as he pulls up at the curb in front of the school. My face flames as I look at him, and as he shifts towards me, I can smell the foresty scent of his cologne. I want to bury my face in his neck and breathe him in. “You’re really nice for letting a total stranger stay with you for weeks on end. Not just anyone would do that. And you…make me feel safe,” I say, my voice tiny.

A sexy grin spreads across his face at my admission. “Good.” Then he tips his chin in the direction of the school. It’s a pretty, red brick building with arched windows and huge carved wooden doors. My stomach dips as my nerves come flying back. “Knock ‘em dead, Emily.”

I suck in a steadying breath and nod. “I will. I hope.” I scoop up my duffel bag from where I laid it on the floor by my feet and start to step out of the SUV.

“Text me when you’re done for the day and I’ll come get you. Okay?” He pins me in place with his eyes, and I nod again.

“I will. Thanks, Wolf.”

His nostrils flare slightly when I say his name, but then he just nods, and I hop out of the car, walking up to the ballet school on legs made of Jell-O.

I turn and walk into the building, feeling his eyes on me the entire way.

And I like it.

Four

Wolf

My skates scrape against the ice as I push myself through the drills Coach Ferguson has us running this morning, but my head’s not in the game, so to speak. It’s been invaded, taken over completely by a tiny redhead with freckles like constellations and emerald green eyes.

Emily.

My fucking god, Emily.

She’s in my brain, my blood, my bones, and I can’t get her out. Even worse, I don’t want to.

The puck slides towards me, an easy pass from Tanner Davis, but I miss it, the puck skidding past the blade of my stick and into the boards. I can feel the coach’s eyes on me from across the ice, and I can see the look Kincaid’s giving me right now. It’s very clearly awhat the fuck is wrong with youlook, but I just shake my head.

What am I gonna say? That I’m completely distracted with thoughts of my nineteen-year-old house guest who also happens to be a longtime friend’s little sister? Today’s fuck ups havenothing to do with how I feel about hockey and everything to do with Emily.

“You good?” he calls out, frowning at me, and I nod.

“Yeah. Let’s go again,” I say, knowing I need to get my game face on. We have a home game tomorrow, an important one.

I should ask Emily to come.

That thought does something to me, sending fire through my veins, and this time when Tanner slides the puck towards me, I flick it quickly to Kincaid, who dekes and then scores.

---