Page 50 of The Perfect Heart

That was right—I hadn’t remembered that. Jonas had played with Nash on the team. Then again, who didn’t play hockey around here at some point in their lives, whether on a team or just for fun?

Well, whatever it was, it was sexy to watch Nash look so capable out on the ice. Sometimes, he’d skate ahead, lapping me only to settle back by my side. Then he would flip around and slide backward before flipping back to my side.

He looked sexy, too, in his dark jacket, curls escaping his beanie to brush his forehead just above his gorgeous, crystal-blue eyes. He even had a scarf around his neck, which I recognized as a gift I’d given him for Christmas because he refused to wear one but complained about the cold.

Why had I never noticed his eyes before? I’d known they were blue and heard other girls talk about them in rather dreamy—and sometimes steamy—terms. But it was like I was seeing them for the first time, their clarity, their depth of color, their bright glow.

Just the sight of him, his grin, his eyes, his competence and self-assurance on the ice made my blood heat, my thoughts wandering to what I hoped would happen later after our date.

It was getting a little less odd when my thoughts slipped to dirtier matters where Nash was concerned. I didn’t know whether it was because I was simply getting used to the idea or my two images of Nash—as my best friend and as my romantic partner—were coming together.

We still hadn’t had any type of talk, and I didn’t see one on the horizon, but I was content taking things slowly, exploring each other and all we had. And Nash seemed to feel the same way—he never pushed, never asked, never demanded more or that we figure out what we were. And I was perfectly content that way. Boundaries and labels were the last things I wanted as I tried to figure out what life looked like for me now, as I tried to find my way back to the path from which I had wandered. As I found out who I was without Jack.

Skating continued for another hour as we laughed and joked until we grew too cold, even with the constant movement. Hot chocolate laced with whiskey at the skate-up window was our next stop, steam rising to warm our faces and noses as we wrapped our hands around the paper cups, happy for the warmth inside and out. By the time we finished, we were warm again with the liquid and the spirits and just slightly tipsy enough to be giggly.

I was, at least, but I was at least making Nash laugh as I giggled at random things.

But it wasn’t just the alcohol—I was giddy with happiness, staring at the vast sky and puffs of breath as I drank it all in.

Finished with our drinks, we grabbed some street food from one of the vendor booths, talking as we ate about everything and nothing, just like we used to do in high school. And then, arm in arm, we walked around town, window shopping and simply enjoying spending time together among the lights and snow and enchanted visitors.

Nash’s phone beeped just as we exited the fudge shop, and he pulled it out of his pocket for a glance as I nibbled on my square—it tasted the same as it had in high school.

But I stopped eating as Nash’s mouth curved into a frown, his eyebrows drawing together.

“Everything okay?” I took a step closer, my gaze on his phone as I tried to figure out what had suddenly affected his mood.

“Fine,” he said, cutting the screen off before I could see anything. “Just a dumb scam message.”

Nash stuffed his phone back into his pocket, but the frown didn’t disappear as he started off again. Something tugged at me as I followed behind, an odd confusion that disappeared when, halfway down the street, Nash slowed his forward momentum and reached for my hand again.

“So you staying with me tonight?”

I had been waiting for the question and didn’t waste a second to reply, flashing him a grin. “Do you need to ask?”

“Hey, I’m trying to be a gentleman here,” Nash laughed as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into him and kissing the top of my head. I might have had a beanie on, but the feeling of his lips sent a jolt of excitement dancing through me, and I leaned into him.

I was feeling more and more comfortable with Nash the more time we spent together. But more than that, even if I wasn’t ready for anything serious, I was starting to fall for him, and it was both thrilling and terrifying.

Chapter 25

Nash

HALLE HAD SURPRISED me when we had gotten back to my place, playing the aggressor and pushing me down onto my bed as I was peeling my winter layers off. She’d stripped the rest off, including my boxers, before doing the same. Her kisses had been wild, hungry, and my body had responded in an instant. I’d seen sparks when she’d climbed on top of me and begun to move her hips back and forth.

“Fuck, Halle,” I groaned. I didn’t even know what she’d done—some swivel and flip of her hips—but damn, that had felt good.

“You liked that?” She grinned as she moved, her gorgeous breasts along for the ride. I reached up and massaged one, my thumb flicking the rock-hard nipples, and Halle’s head fell back, her eyes closing on a moan.

She was so fucking sexy riding me like that, her hips moving in a way that almost hypnotized me, her body rising above me in all of its glory, curves, long, lithe frame, her dark hair cascading in waves around her shoulders and down her back.

It was more than I could take. Gripping her waist, I heaved us both up and over. Halle let out a shriek of surprised laughter as she landed back among the pillows with me hovering over her. She blinked at me and then laughed again.

“I didn’t know you could do that.” Her grin was amused, her gaze over me appreciative.

“Liked it?”

“Hell yes,” she replied, wrapping her arms around my neck to bring me closer, as close as possible.