The Heart Chaser: Boston Hawks Hockey by Azzi Gina

Author:Azzi, Gina
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781954470057
Publisher: Three Cities Publishing LLC
Published: 2021-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

13

Abbi

“Pictures,” he repeats, looking confused.

Shit. I mentally berate myself for being so honest. I shouldn’t have told Luca about the photos with Phil.

What if he wants to see them? A sick sense of dread sweeps through me at the possibility. The poses, burned into my retina, flare to life in my mind. I’m dressed sexy as hell, in the most provocative positions I’ve ever ventured into. I’m a little bit drunk, a lot breathless, and thirsty as fuck. It shows in the images, adding to my mortification.

Will Luca be disgusted? Or worse, will he see them and know how pathetic I am? How needy I was, how much I prayed that someday, a man would want me back?

I chew the corner of my mouth, waiting for him to connect the dots. I’m staring right at his face so I can witness, up close and personal, as his confusion gives way to understanding which morphs into fury.

“What kind of fucking pictures?” he snaps.

I roll my lips together and widen my eyes, hoping my non-verbal answer will suffice.

“Fuck.” He grips the back of his neck, turning his face away for a moment.

My insides twist, knotting together until nausea rolls through my stomach.

“What a fucking piece of shit.” Luca’s face snaps back toward mine. “How could he do that to you? What’s his last name? Phil what?”

My mouth pops open and I stare at him.

“Tell me,” he demands, the veins in his forearm popping as he leans even lower.

“You’re not mad?” I ask.

He frowns. “Of course, I’m mad. I’m fucking furious that some guy would expose you like that. Put you in this position. Take something personal, private and—what?”

I sputter. “I mean, you’re not mad at me?”

Understanding followed by compassion douses his expression as he shakes his head. He drops my hand and pulls me into a hug. He’s half in, half out of the car and I think about how ridiculous we must look to anyone passing by.

But Luca keeps his arms wrapped around me and the longer he holds me, the more I relax into his embrace. That he cares about me more than the possibility that the pictures may leak and circulate among his team, is very telling of the kind of man he is. Tears rush forward as I breathe him in, hope swelling in my chest.

I was prepared for his anger. For an outburst of hurtful words and his rejection. Instead, Luca shows me understanding, empathy, and love. And it guts me.

“I could never be mad at you, Abbi,” he says soothingly. His words wash over me like a salve, dulling past hurts and making my skin tingle.

I bury my face into the crook of his neck and breathe him in. His body is warm, even after standing in the cold, and I press myself against him, more than comforted by his presence. Right now, I need him and he’s here for me in a way that no man has been before.

He blows out a sigh and pulls away, giving me a searching look.

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