Page 67 of Resist

Coulton shook the hand that held the key, trying to get her to take it from him. “I’d feel better if you had it. If you ever need a place to stay.” His gaze traveled beyond her, taking in the dilapidated apartment building.

Ainsley shook her head. “No. It’s way too soon for that. We don’t know each other well enough for you to give me the key to your place.”

“Bullshit. Would you just take the thing? It would make me feel better,” he added.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t like you living with Mick and Eli. They’re sadistic pricks. Plus, those two assholes who beat you up are still out there. My building, unlike this one, has a security system that would make it impossible for them to get to you if they decide to come looking.”

“They’ll come to the tavern if they’re looking. Not here.”

Coulton took in a long, slow, deep breath, and closed his eyes. “That doesn’t make me feel any better, Ains.” Tired of arguing about it, he reached out, grasped her hand, forced her closed fist open, then dropped his key on her palm. “I’ll text you the code to the building.”

“I’m not staying there,” she stubbornly insisted.

“Think about it. You’d have access to the bathtub. You could watch movies on the big screen. You could sleep in my bed. You said it’s comfy.”

“You don’t fight fair.”

“Never said I did. You can even play with Sofia.”

She grimaced. “Stooping to using that adorable hamster against me?”

“Is it working?”

She grinned. “Truthfully? You had me at bathtub.”

He laughed, then leaned forward to give her a kiss. “It would make me feel better knowing you were at my place when I’m out of town.”

The baffled look she shot him was classic Ainsley, and it told him he still had his work cut out for him. Not that he was surprised. Ainsley had spent her entire lifetime being let down by everyone who was supposed to care about her. He probably wasn’t making things easier by moving them at this breakneck pace, but like her, he was a fish out of water. He couldn’t make himself slow this down if he tried, because he wanted everything with her, and he wanted it right now.

“Yeah, well. I meant what I said. I don’t have any intention of using it, but I guess if there was an emergency, it would be good to have. Oh, and for the record,” she added. “Giving me the key to your place is not slowing things down.”

Coulton leaned forward, tipping her face up with a finger under her chin. “Thank you for taking it.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips, then pressed his forehead to hers.

“Please don’t hurt me,” she whispered quietly.

“I won’t,” he vowed, her soft, desperate request breaking and claiming his heart simultaneously.

And in that moment, he stopped pretending.

He was in love with Ainsley Hall.

Now he just needed to get her to fall too.

CHAPTERNINE

Ainsley stoodup and cheered as Coulton stopped Washington from scoring a goal. She’d been resisting the urge to pinch herself all night, because she couldn’t believe she was here, sitting in one of the bougie boxes with a great view of the ice. Maren, a huge fan of the sport, would be pea green with envy when Ainsley told her about this tomorrow at work.

She was struggling to recall why she’d ever hated hockey. The sport was wildly exciting, and now that she knew how hard it was to skate on ice, she was even more impressed by Coulton’s agility despite his large stature.

The guy was incredibly talented and strong and sweet and sexy as fuck.

She’d given up all hope of holding the man at bay, of protecting her heart.

It was simply impossible.

“What a save!” Erika exclaimed.

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