Page 8 of Outlaw Heartstrings
Easton stands there observing me with the palest blue eyes, his handsome face morphing slowly, until those dimples I remember so well pop into place. His eyes crinkle at the corners as he begins to…laugh!
It’s tentative and unsure at first. Then it grows steadier, the deep, jovial sound provoking tingles in my belly.
He’s laughing. He’s laughing at me.
What thefuck?!
As much as I’m captivated by the handsome view, I don’t see how this is a laughing matter.
“What’s so funny?” I demand with a stomp of my foot.
“This is a prank, right? Some extremeWelcome Homejoke?” He stops and looks around the yard like he’s expecting more people to jump out of the bushes. “Who put you up to this? The guys from our old school? They’re such fucking jokers. Or wait—was it my brothers? I’m not falling for their tricks. But the fairy outfit is a nice touch, though,” he comments with a wink.
I grunt, feeling highly offended and all but forgetting that I’m the intruder here. “A prank?! This is not a prank. I fell over your wall. And it hurt!”
Easton’s eyebrows pull together. “But…I don’t get it. If this isn’t a—” Before he can finish his sentence, he glances down toward my knees and his eyes go wide with alarm. “Shit. You’re bleeding.”
“What?” I glance down the length of my legs, too. “Oh. Shit.”
For crying out loud.
The first time in nine years that I lay eyes on Easton Raines—in person—and it happensthisway? Clearly, the universe isn’t done picking on me.
And what is Easton doing here anyway?
I dig through my brain, and remember all the news headlines about him lately. He got injured in a recent hockey match. From the way theSports Broadcast Networkdescribed it, the injury sounded pretty bad. It put him out of the game for the rest of the season.
And now, he’s here.
The hottest bachelor in professional hockey. The old high school friend I was forced to let go of. The last person I want discovering the secret I’ve been hiding.
He’s standing in front of me, staring at the blood dripping down my leg, while I pull twigs out of my hair.
Life doesn’t get much better thanthis.
4
EASTON
Holy shit.
Alba Anderson is standing in front of me. And I feel like an idiot for laughing at her. Alba didn’t deserve that. I guess I was just so damn happy to see her face that I couldn’t think straight.
Honestly, I’m so confused right now. What the hell is this?
Taking a small step forward, I gaze through her glasses to peer into green doe eyes that make my heart pound. “Alba, tell me what’s going on here?”
“I…” Her shoulders slump. “You’re going to think I’m stupid.”
“I’d never think that of you.”
Alba was one of the smartest girls in school. She was the leader of every team and every committee. Responsible. Dependable. Confident in a quiet, steady way. I was always secretly in awe of her. So it’s strange to witness her hesitating now.
I soften my voice. “Tell me.”
Alba exhales, looking around the yard. “I just…Sometimes, I like to scope out the real estate around town, and I’ve been eyeballing this place for the past few months.” Her gaze comes back to mine. “Wait—this isyourhouse now?”
“It’s just rented,” I tell her. “For the next few months, it’ll be my hideaway as I try to heal up right, so I can play next season.”
