Page 12 of Cold As Ice

“No,” he said, quick enough that my stomach dipped. “I should probably get going.”

“Of course.”

He made quick work of locating all his clothes and getting dressed. At some point after orgasm number one, we’d moved things into the bedroom to avoid an awkward scene with Fawn when she got home.

I could only imagine what she was going to say about this.

“I’m going to—” Austin thumbed to the small en suite bathroom, and I nodded.

The second he disappeared inside, I leaped out of bed and pulled on some lounge pants and a tank. By the time he reappeared, I looked somewhat awake and composed.

“So, I guess this is goodbye,” I said as he moved to the door.

“I guess it is.” He lingered, and for a second, I thought he might say something else.

And for a second, I wanted him to.

But he was a college student. A hockey player, no less.

Our worlds couldn’t be further apart.

So, no matter how much I wanted to ask him for hisrealnumber, I didn’t.

Because once he discovered the truth about me, Austin Hart would run in the other direction and never look back.

CHAPTER3

AUSTIN

I leftMadison feeling lighter than I had in months.

And I hadn’t even fucked her.

Sure, we’d done pretty much everything except have sex, but after she drew that line in the sand, I was determined not to go there.

Besides, something told me if I had, I’d want to break all my own rules to go there again and again. Because, holy shit, she was something else.

“Austin,” someone called, and for a second, I thought it might be Madison chasing after me.

So color me fucking confused when I spotted Connor’s girlfriend, Ella, waving at me across the way.

“El?” I paled as I remembered her building was right next door.

Shit.

“What are you doing here?” Her brows crinkled as her curious gaze darted from me to the building I’d just come from.

“I… Fuck.” I ran a hand down the back of my neck, looking anywhere but at her.

She gave me a soft, knowing smile but, to my relief, changed the subject. “I’m heading in to see Connor.”

“How is he?”

“I wish I knew. His replies this morning have been mostly one or two words.” Worry bled into her expression. “The doctor should be around soon with his results.”

“He’ll be okay,” I said.

“Yeah. Well, I should probably go.” She thumbed toward her car. “See you soon.”

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