Page 23 of Breaking Point (IceHawks #1)
Grayson
KIERAN ASHFORD
Crawford is pussy whipped
LOGAN JOHNSON
well I’ll be damned
THEO IRVING
SOLDIER DOWN
MATTEO VALENTI
who has him whipped?
CALEB ELLINGTON
we need details ASAP
HUDSON MITCHEL
how whipped are we talking?
KIERAN ASHFORD
institutionalized level whipped
THEO IRVING
we lost a good one
GRAYSON
you didn’t lose anything. I didn’t even wingman you when we were out
THEO IRVING
that’s because I don’t need anyone to wingman me
they flock to me
LOGAN JOHNSON
the puck bunny sites are about to go off
MATTEO VALENTI
which means more bunnies for you, Irving
THEO IRVING
thank you for your service, Crawford
I ’ve had to remind myself a thousand times that this is fake, that Bella has no interest in me romantically, but when I step onto the porch of her house as she steps out, I’m finding it hard to remind myself of that little tidbit.
The sight of her steals my breath away.
Stunning doesn’t cover it.
Beautiful barely scratches the surface.
And gorgeous isn’t enough for how radiantly she glows.
I’m staring, and I can feel a blush creeping its way up my neck until I realize that she’s staring too. I’ll admit, I tried hard to look nice, more than nice hopefully in her eyes. With black jeans and a navy blue button-down shirt, I want her to like what she sees.
“Looks like you beat me to the punch before I could knock.”
Her cheeks flush. “Honestly, I thought men stopped knocking on doors.”
My grin widens. “Not this one.”
“Clearly,” she drawls as she bites her cheek.
Trailing my eyes down the length of her body, I can’t stop thinking about how gorgeous she is but also how cold she will be.
Fuck my life.
Clearing my throat, I hand over the flowers. Fake date or not, when I drove past the store selling them outside and saw the pink lilies blooming, I instantly thought of her.
“I really hope I don’t sound like an ass… ”
Her brow quirks. “I’m interested to see where you go with this.”
A bubble of laughter ruptures out of my chest as I bite my lower lip. “I should have texted you, but we’re going to be outside most of the night. Are your legs going to get cold? I have a blanket in my car I can carry around.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh! The blanket is thoughtful, but no, just give me a moment.” She shoves the lilies back in my hand and spins, only to rush back and grab them gently from my palm. “I’ll take these inside, thank you.”
Before the last of her words are even out of her mouth, the door is slamming shut in my face.
Her house is nice. I’m honestly a little disappointed I can’t come inside and see her style and how she likes to live. Although I suppose this is what she was talking about with boundaries.
Despite how sexy her lean legs looked in the boots and the smoky eye look she has going on…she is unfortunately still my assistant.
While I wait, I turn my car on, warming up the seats for her.
I make it back to the porch in time as she steps out with something sheer and black on her legs. Stockings? Honestly, I’m not sure. I may be up to date on women’s rights, but I’m further behind on clothing. My head cocks to the side as I try to figure out what it?—
“See something you like?”
“Everything,” I answer truthfully.
A smile spreads across her cherry-red lips. “An honest man, it seems.”
“Always. I was taught honesty is the best policy.”
Her brow quirks as she struts past me. “Can you teach that to the rest of the male population?”
As fierce as fire, my blood roars in my ears at the idea of Bella going on a date with another man that I’d have to “teach” that particular lesson to.
But her heels are clicking along the driveway and her hips are swaying so I snap myself out of it, open my passenger door for her, and remind myself once again that this is not real .
Something tells me I’m going to drive myself mad with that four-letter word— fake .
Rounding the hood of my truck, I slide into the driver’s seat and am greeted with a citrus scent that feels like it dances along my skin.
I hope my truck smells like her for days.
“Where is this mystery date?”
“Wouldn’t be a mystery if I told you now, would it?”
She clicks her tongue. “Touché.”
My truck roars to life as she crosses her legs and turns to me. I can feel her eyes lingering along every inch of me. Down the navy button-up, along the black trousers, and I can even feel when she gets to the pulse along my neck. Her eyes on me are like a gentle caress.
I can’t help but squirm in my seat at her scrutinization. “I have a proposition,” I say, the deep gravel of my voice filling the truck interior.
I didn’t turn on the radio in hopes that she would fill the silence.
I’ve missed her voice around the house. It was as if I got a taste of peace for the first time in months and then the breath of fresh air was sucked out.
I’m sure if I brought this up to the grief counselor I’m scheduled to see on Monday, they’d be evaluating why this woman brings me such comfort when, truth be told, I don’t know her.
“I’m all ears.”
But I want to know her and that’s why I say, “Tonight, we should play a game of twenty-one questions.”
Her laugh fills the truck, such a soft, breathy sound full of warmth I wish it’d never end. “I haven’t played that since high school.”
I shrug, my eyes never leaving the road. Not even for her. They will never leave the road again. “We need to come across as if we’ve been dating for a while, and to do that, we need to truly know each other. We won’t get that with just one date.”
“But we’ll get that with twenty-one questions…or more,” she teases.
I can’t help but smile. “Exactly. This isn’t a real date, so we won’t have any rehearsed answers. We’ll just tell each other the truth.”
“Are you sure you want your assistant to know everything about you?”
My truck slows at the red light and I finally glance over with my foot firmly on the brake. “You’re more than an assistant.” Winking, I soak up her surprised blink and say, “You’re also my fake girlfriend.”
Laughter explodes through the truck as the light shifts to green.
Pride blooms through my chest. I made her laugh. It’s such a beautiful carefree sound, I’ll do whatever I can to hear it again.
Bella lets out a small gasp as I flick on my blinker and turn into the large parking lot.
“Oh my god!” Bella’s excitement is palpable as she squeals. “I haven’t attended a carnival since high school!”
I preen a little at picking the right activity. “I find dinner to be a boring first date, and a little awkward.”
She’s sitting on the edge of her seat, leaning forward to take in all the lights. “And thank goodness you do. This is so much better than a stilted dinner.”
I’ve barely put my truck in park by the time Bella is flinging open her door and rounding the car to open my door. I can’t help but snort at her.
I knew we would have fun and hopefully laugh, but if I had known she would be this excited, I would have picked her up sooner. She’s practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, her grin spreading so wide it makes my own flourish.
“Were you a carnie in your past life?”
Her eyes are wide, sparked with delight. “I hope so.”
After locking my car, I rest my hand on the lower part of her back, hating how the leather jacket she wears conceals her skin, all the while despising how badly I want to feel her skin.
Leading us toward the entrance, I’m not surprised to see a few people recognize me.
Being six foot four is hard to conceal. The height draws the eyes, but my face draws the cameras.
But Bella doesn’t notice the turned heads, not when her eyes are glued to the endless stalls and rides.
I step up to purchase two tickets, giving the teenager in the front booth the chance to work up the nerve to ask me for a photo.
I’m not being egotistical, it’s just when you’ve had as many interactions with fans as I have, you pick up on cues.
Especially the younger boys who are nervous to ask for a photo.
Bella clasps the tickets and speedwalks to the booth with the map of the circus.
I smile. I can’t remember the last time I’ve ever seen someone so excited for something.
A throat clears in front of me.
“G-Grayson? Grayson Crawford?”
I offer the teen boy a small smile. “That’s me.”
His eyes widen with such awe I shuffle my feet around.
“C-can I—would you?—”
Offering a friendly smile, I step closer to the booth, noting how he hasn’t finished the question but his hand shakes around his phone with the camera app already open.
“Of course, whenever you’re ready.”
“Oh my god, my brother is going to freak.” He turns in the ticket booth, not bothering to step out as he holds up his phone and snaps what feels like a hundred images. Quickly turning back to me, he grins. “Thanks, Crawford! Good luck next week!”
Dipping my chin, I offer my thanks and quickly find my way to Bella’s side, who is utterly oblivious to those around her. Is it delusional of me to wish she’s this content because she feels safe with me?
Most of my female friends are constantly on alert, and I know from my interactions with Bella you can’t get much past her.
She’s read me like a book, picking up on cues I didn’t even realize I was giving.
But now, a serial killer could be running through the carnival with blood gushing down the blade and she’d be pointing at a ride, unaware.
“What are we thinking? Move clockwise, zigzag, or by aisles?”
Frowning, I peer down at the map in her hands, noting the tents and stalls erected sporadically and wondering if we’re looking at the same map.
“What do you mean?”
She peers at me as if I’m the one who’s sounding strange. Using her pointer finger she shows me the numerous routes her mind has conjured up as options. It should be disconcerting how she views the map, and yet for some startling reason, I find it to be the most adorable thing.
How beautiful to have a mind that works in such a mysterious way. Or perhaps I’m the one with fewer brain cells because I would have just wandered. And maybe she’s not as unaware as I thought, because she points out exit strategies if we need them.
“Bella,” I say softly, halting her long-winded spiel.
Her mouth pops open. “Oh, sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
She shrugs. “I rambled. We can go whichever direction you wish.”
Although as she says it, her eyes grow tight and her fingers tap out a rhythm on the map in her hands. Searching her face, I wish the excitement would come back. It’s why I say, “I think a clockwise rotation will work best.”
Something sparks to life in her eyes, the walls that rose slowly lowering. “You do?”
“Absolutely.” And before I can think about what I’m doing, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and grin down at her. “Lead the way, Stratford.”