It’s not that I don’t respect Dunaway. I do. The man’s a legend, and he’s given me the opportunity of a lifetime. But some connections are too rare, too important to ignore. And what Hannah and I shared that night wasn’t just physical chemistry. It was something… bigger. Something worth fighting for.

I’ve finally found my mystery girl, and I’m not about to let her go that easily.

6. Hannah

Chapter 6

Hannah

I enter the arena with my heart pounding faster than it normally does here. The Aces are about to play their first game of the preseason, and I’ve always made an appearance to support my dad, but I really wrestled with whether I should come. As much as I didn’t want to have another charged run-in with Declan, I couldn’t think of a reason that wouldn’t make my father suspicious, so I decided to just suck it up and tough it out.

Still, as I make my way to my seat, the Aces stream out onto the ice to start their warmup and my stomach flutters at the thought of seeing Declan. We haven’t crossed paths since he chased after me a couple weeks ago, but I knew it would inevitably happen again at some point. I haven’t been able to get him—or what he said—out of my head.

As if he can sense me thinking about him, Declan sinks a practice shot and turns on the ice in a wide arc. His amber-flecked eyes sweep across the crowd like a bird of prey and land directly on me. Awareness zaps through me, an intense and physical sensation, and it feels like every vein in my body opens wide as adrenaline rushes through my limbs.

It’s not fair that one look from him still affects me this way. Not fair that in an arena full of people, he can find me instantly, as if there’s some invisible thread connecting us.

It’s hard, but I wrench my gaze away from his with my heart thudding in my chest and my breathing labored. Thankfully, I spot my mom in a seat right by the glass, so I make a beeline for her. My mom spots me on the way and smiles at me, which takes the edge off a little bit. She stands to hug me when I reach her side.

“Hi, sweetheart,” she says with a wide smile as we part. Bracing her hands on my shoulders, she looks me over, frowning. “Are you okay? You look a bit pale.”

“I’m fine. It’s just first game jitters,” I cover, and she blinks in surprise.

“Since when do you get jitters? You’ve been watching these games since you were in pigtails,” she teases, and I force a laugh that I hope sounds natural.

“I know. I guess I just really want them to do well this season.”