He breathed a laugh. “Not nervous. Just adrenaline.”
I grinned. “Excited, then.” He looked at me through his lashes, and a flash of heat hit me square in my middle. “Lie down.” I pointed at the bed, right where I’d been the night before. I set down my water bottle then moved toward the lamp.
I hesitated. “Can I leave it on?”
He dropped onto the bed and propped himself up with the pillows. “Seems hardly fair.”
“Hey, that was your rule last night, not mine.”
His mouth quirked. “It’s your study plan.”
I grinned. “The light stays on.” I took a step toward him. “But you have to close your eyes. That makes me nervous.” I pointed at him watching me.
“Again. Hardly fair.”
I shrugged unapologetically, and he chuckled. When his eyes were closed, I climbed onto the bed and kneeled next to him. For a moment, I just looked. Staring at all the parts of him that I wanted to inspect but couldn’t without looking like a psychopath in public.
I leaned over, starting with the line of his jaw. “You shaved.”
“I did.”
I played with the corner of his mustache, and he grinned. “When did this start?”
“It was a joke last fall with my friends.”
“Friends from . . .”
“The Hitmen.”
I tried not to get all jittery. It wasn’t a secret that he’d played pro hockey. “And you know Alvin Bennett.”
Chase’s eyes blinked open. “How do you know that?”
I put my hand over his eyes, forcing them closed again. “Blakely told me. About your non-profit. And I heard about you paying half of Axel’s rent.” I traced my fingers down his forearm, the warmth of his skin seeping into my fingertips. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were pissed. You’re a little scary when you’re pissed.”
I laughed and pushed up his sleeve, revealing a pale scar that curved near his elbow. His bicep flexed under my touch. “Did you get this in a fight?”
“Bench press. Bad spotter.”
I let my hand travel up over his shoulder and to his chest, pressing against the solid muscle. His heartbeat thudded against my palm. Fast. “Why did you lend Axel the money?”
I traced the line between his abs, then skimmed the waistband of his jeans before sliding my fingers under his shirt. His quick intake of breath sent a thrill down my spine.
“You’re asking me to think. And that’s a little hard right now.”
I grinned. The idea of him enjoying this—of him feeling the way I’d felt last night—made me feel powerful. Sexy. “Sorry. You can tell me later.”
He caught my hand with his, holding it against his stomach, his T-shirt stuck between us. “I lived out of my truck. For about six months.”
“What?”
Chase kept his eyes closed, his brow furrowed. “I didn’t tell my coaches. I didn’t want to seem weak.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I eventually found a place, but it was expensive in BC, and I didn’t have any skills. I started working at the garage. That made enough for me to pay rent, but it never felt easy.”
Puzzle pieces tumbled into place one after the other. Chase fixing my Rabbit. Volunteering with YPP. Helping Axel. All of it made sense.
And I couldn’t sit there and only touch him with one hand.