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“I know. I’ve witnessed it firsthand. Am I going to have any problems out of him?”
I shook my head.
“Why would you have any problems when he’ll never know about you?”
Hart flinched, and I immediately wished I could take my words back, but the damage was already done. He pulled away and began twisting that damn earring.
“I’m sorry, Vera. I wasn’t trying to blow you off like that earlier. I’d be pissed if the shoe was on the other foot.”
“Then why did you do it?” I asked, pressing him for clarity.
“Real talk?”
I nodded.
“Real talk,” I said.
“Since meeting you, everything has been too perfect. The conversations flow easily. I’ve confessed things about myself to you that I haven’t told anyone, and the chemistry between us is out of this fucking world. I’m afraid I’ll break your rule and fall in love with you eventually.”
My eyes widened in astonishment.
I can’t believe he confessed that.
“Vera… say something.”
I quickly pulled myself together.
“For a second there, you had me worried. I thought you played me like one of those ditzy women that have your jersey number in their usernames.”
He snorted loudly, and his snorting fit soon turned into deep laughter that made me smile. Hart was undeniably handsome when he was in broody, tortured-soul mode, but he was downright beautiful and ethereal when he laughed like he didn’t have a care in the world.
The crazy part was that I knew exactly where Hart was coming from. Our arrangement was supposed to be temporary, and it’d been less than a week since meeting on the app, and we were already damn near crashing out over each other.
“Thank you for being honest. I wasn’t lying when I said you checked all my boxes. Take what you will from that statement.”
Hart smiled wryly and said, “You have the emotional intelligence of a tumbleweed.”
“Fine,” I said, heaving a sigh before jumping off the counter. “I like you more than I should.”
“Then why did you reject my amendment?”
“I was just applying a little pressure. So, what’s this about flying out to Toronto tomorrow?”
“We have a noon game in Toronto on Sunday, but we’re flying out tomorrow. I need to book your flight and hotel,” he said.
“And I need to pack,” I mumbled, checking my watch.
“Let’s go to your place so you can pack. You can spend the night, and then I’ll take you to the airport in the morning.”
“I’m not sleeping with you tonight.”
Hart appeared befuddled.
“I know that it’s technically your night off, and I’m not entitled to sex, but is there a reason why?”
“Sweet Hart, my uterus feels like it’s hanging on by a thread after last night. Give it a fucking break.”
A wicked grin split his face.
