Chapter 21

twenty-one

ISLA

In no time at all, a handful of admirers surround Jess and Nev. I try to hide my smirk as I hang back. I'd rather grab a snack from a passing server and do some people-watching than wade into the thick of it with my friends. I don't want to spoil it for them. They're in their element.

Neither of my best friends spent their college years in a serious relationship like I did, so they're far more confident and comfortable making small talk and flirting with random men. I'd throw them off their game because they'd feel like they had to talk me up to some guy, and they'd lose the chance to make a connection of their own.

My eyes wander to where Maddox talks to a few men in suits. They're representatives of a company he's trying to nail down for a sponsorship deal. He excused himself with a torn expression about fifteen minutes ago. Even though the conversation sounds important, his gaze still flicks back to me every minute or two.

And that's the other reason I have no desire to flirt with the guys around my friends. I'm too caught up in the flutter of nerves Maddox causes in my belly. Between the flirty texts and the way he's treated me so far tonight, I'm seriously rethinking my no-dating stance. He's already proven he's not like Alex, hasn't he?

Alex never glanced over to check on me when he was deep in a conversation that could further his career. And we'd been engaged. Maddox and I aren't even dating and I instinctively know that if I need him, he'd ditch the sponsorship conversation and make sure I was okay. Not that I'd do that.

My mind whirrs as I overanalyze everything. I'm lost in my head. Which is why I don't hear my name being spoken at first.

"Isla? Hey, I thought that was you. What are you doing here?"

It takes a moment for his voice to register as familiar, but when it does, I'm plunged back into my past with bruising force. I know the owner of that voice all too well. At one point, I'd considered him a close friend. A brother, almost. I slowly turn, bracing myself. What is he doing here? "Jackson, oh my god, hi."

Alex's best friend gives me that signature lopsided smile I once found endearing. Now all I feel is a curdling sense of dread. If Jackson is here, does that mean Alex is, too? Oh, god. No. No, no, no, no, no. Alex is the very last person I want to see. I'll either end up crying or punching him in the dick—probably punching—and neither is socially acceptable in this setting .

My eyes bounce to Jess and Nevaeh for backup and possibly a quick escape, but they're too absorbed in their conversations to realize I'm beginning to panic. Jackson takes a step forward as if to hug me, then thinks better of it. Instead, he runs his hand through his short, dark waves, and his smile morphs into more of a grimace.

"I'm surprised to see you here," he says. "I don't remember you being much of a sports fan. And I definitely wouldn't have pegged you as a hockey fan. Kind of a violent sport, isn't it?" He's fishing for information. No doubt he's already planning his call to Alex. Will he tell Alex that I looked good? Or will they laugh about how I stood alone in a crowded room like the pathetic loser Alex always knew me to be?

Oh, God, this is my nightmare.

"Oh, yeah, I, uh… I have some friends on the team." There. Hopefully, that makes me sound less pathetic. And if the way Jackson's eyebrows hit his hairline is any indication, it does. He wasn't expecting that. Which means Alex must not have seen the photo of Maddox and me. Surely he would have mentioned it to his best friend if he had.

"Really? Who?"

I blow out a breath while wrapping my arms around myself. I don't want to get caught up in conversation with Jackson. The friendship that used to be easy and fun disappeared the day Alex broke up with me. A line was drawn in the sand, and no one ended up on my side of it. "Um, well, Maddox, Griffin, Logan, and Sebastian."

It's not a lie. They called me one of them. They inspected my apartment for creeps and Griffin told me embarrassing stories. They want me to come to one of their games. I'm not claiming anything one of them wouldn't. I hope.

Jackson's eyes go wide and he gives me a more appraising look. I drop my arms to my side and straighten my spine. His perusal communicates his disbelief. He'll probably tell Alex I've lost it and am making up lies about being friends with famous hockey players in some desperate bid to make him jealous. Which is such bullshit, even if it was sort of true initially.

My indignation flares. Maybe it's unwarranted, but I'm so sick of feeling less than .

Jackson used to be cool. Now he's just a near-stranger who probably knows the woman with the long blonde hair in Alex's beach photos.

"So, how exactly did you meet the four best players on the Minnesota Rogues? This must be a great story." Jackson leans in while taking a sip of whatever he's drinking.

Shit. What am I going to tell him? Not the truth, that's for damned sure.

Oh, I met Maddox on a blind date because Jess and Nevaeh won it at a date auction. They were worried about how pathetic I've been ever since your bestie left me with a broken heart and thousands of dollars in wedding expenses I'll never recoup. So they literally paid someone to go out with me.

My gaze jumps to Maddox, only to find him already watching me. He's glaring at Jackson, but when my wide, probably panicked-looking eyes meet his, the muscles in his jaw tick and he excuses himself from his conversation. In no time at all, he's crossed the room, and his hand rests on the small of my back. It's a possessive gesture, and it reminds me of the way he stepped in at Skin and Tonic. But when he rubs his fingers up and down my spine, I wonder if this time it's real. It sure feels that way.

I can't help it. I melt into his touch. The smallest sigh of relief leaves my lips, and Maddox's hand moves to my hip, where he gives me a squeeze.

"I'm sorry," Maddox says as he searches my face. "I didn't mean for that conversation to keep me away as long as it did. No more business tonight, I promise."

Maddox is coming to my rescue again. Maybe he's playing a part, but he said the magic words and my heart thaws. I'm Sleeping Beauty coming back to life after Prince Charming's kiss. Never once did Alex make that kind of promise to me. Never once did he leave a conversation that could have led to more money or new connections just to make sure I was okay.

The walls I've fortified around my heart to keep Maddox Graves out crumble.

"You didn't have to do that. I know that sponsorship is important."

Jackson watches our exchange with a furrowed brow and rapt attention, but Maddox doesn't care. Right now, he's only got eyes for me, and he speaks the next words so gently that he must mean them.

"Isla, I can make an appointment to talk contracts. You're important. I've been looking forward to this dinner with you all week." A mischievous grin lights up his features, and he leans in so only I can hear. "Besides, you're so much more beautiful than Mark is. I'd rather be with you."

Yep. The walls have crumbled, and the little soldier who guards my heart just rolled out the red carpet for Maddox. God help me if he's only playing a part right now.

We stare at each other for a few beats until a throat clearing brings me back to reality. Jackson. Right. Alex's best friend.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," I say, turning to him with an apologetic smile. "Jackson, this is Maddox Graves. Maddox, this is Jackson Campbell. My ex, Alex's best friend."

Maddox's eyes widen for a fraction of a second as all the pieces click into place. He turns to Jackson with a smile I'm coming to recognize as the one he gives fans and strangers. It doesn't quite soften his face the way his genuine smiles do. The skin around his eyes doesn't crinkle adorably, and his lips are tight. He holds out a hand for Jackson to shake. "Nice to meet you."

Jackson looks visibly star-struck but quickly composes himself and grasps Maddox's hand. "Nice to meet you, too. I was just asking Isla here how the two of you met."

Maddox chuckles, giving my hip a reassuring squeeze. "Oh, well, we met at a restaurant and, of course, I was stunned by her beauty. But once I started chatting with her, it became clear she's so much more than just a beautiful face. I practically begged her to have dinner with me. It wasn't easy to convince her, but she eventually took pity on me. Now here we are." His hand snakes up my spine before his fingers tangle in my hair at the nape of my neck. The graze of his fingertips along my skin lights me up in ways I've never experienced.

Jackson tracks the gesture and shifts on his feet. His tone is a bit disbelieving when he speaks. "Wow. That's great. I had no idea you were dating anyone, Isla. You two look really happy together." He turns to me. "I'm glad you're doing well. I'm sure Alex will be glad to hear it, too. He worries about you."

My back stiffens—because what the actual hell?—but before I can even contemplate a retort, Maddox is there.

"He obviously never really knew Isla if he thinks he needs to worry about her." Maddox's fingers massage my scalp and I relax into him again. "I've never met a more badass, capable, stunning woman. Hell, I'm just grateful she's found some enjoyment in spending time with me. I know what gifts her time and attention are."

Jackson clears his throat. "I didn't mean?—"

"I'm sure you didn't," Maddox says with a chillier tone than he'd previously used. He presses a kiss to my temple. My heart thunders and my eyes flutter. "But there are so many men out there who take women like Isla for granted. It's pathetic, don't you think?"

The little soldier guarding my heart is throwing a ticker tape parade in Maddox's honor.

It's clear Maddox's insult has hit its mark when Jackson winces. I'm not sure what he thought about how Alex treated me or the way he broke up with me. Jackson is Alex's friend first and foremost, and he always was. But given the flash of shame that plays across his face, I'd hazard a guess that at least some part of him thought Alex's actions were shitty. "For sure. Well, my colleague is waving me over. It really was good to see you, Isla. And nice to meet you, Maddox."

"Enjoy the rest of the night," Maddox says with a nod of his head. Jackson returns the gesture before hurrying off. When he's out of earshot, Maddox faces me, and with just that small action, everyone else in the room ceases to exist. His rich brown eyes are concerned as he studies my features for any signs of distress. His hand slips out from my hair and he grazes his fingers along my cheek. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I reply honestly. "I am. Thanks to you." And I'm relieved to realize it's true. I'm only a bit shaken, but all in all, I'm totally fine.

"Can I hug you?" Maddox asks. His voice is gruff, but his expression is soft.

I nod, trying not to reveal how affected I am by the offer. "I'd like that. A lot." Strong arms wrap around me and press me into a firm chest. I allow myself to melt into his hug and enjoy the sensation of safety that accompanies the embrace. Safety that allows a murmured confession to spill from my lips. "I wasn't expecting to see him here. I worried Alex might have been here, too."

"I figured as much when you looked over at me in a panic." Maddox releases me, but he still stands close enough that the length of our arms touch. If I so much as twitched my fingers, they'd intertwine with his. "I hope I didn't overstep."

"No." I meet his gaze. "You were perfect."

My whole body tingles from the intensity of Maddox's gaze. We're standing so close, and he's looking at me with hooded eyes. Every one of my cells vibrates. They're practically screaming at him to kiss me. Everything else is far away.

But then someone laughs loudly nearby, and the spell shatters. We're not alone. In fact, we're surrounded by people watching Maddox's every move. There's at least one reporter outside who would love to get some juicy gossip about the two of us. Gossip I don't want to have to deal with. This is not the time and place to lose myself to desire. Even if Maddox looks just as eager to get lost as I do.

He clears his throat and looks around. "I think it's almost time for the dinner."

I giggle softly and nod. It's probably safer to change the subject to something innocuous like dinner. But inside, I'm ready to drag Maddox out of this room and somewhere more private so we can devour each other. Dinner be damned.