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“Dude,” Ro says softly as I pull into the curved driveway in front of Maverick’s sprawling red brick home “This place had to cost a mint”

“I’as I park

“And who, exactly, is gonna come over and complain to a pro hockey player?” She can’t help but snort as she laughs “Those guys aren’t afraid to get into a fight”

Ro’s words reh I like Maverick a lot, I still don’t know him all that well Does he have a quick teuess I’ll know the answer to that one soon enough

I help Ro out of the car, which is no easy feat with her cast She has an appointment with a specialist in a few days, where she’ll find out what the future holds for her dancing career In thenot to worry about it so much

“Okay, lean all your weight on er seat of my car

“I’ “I don’t want to knock us both over”

It’s a blazing hot day, and we’re both sweating buckets

“Can you just pull me out?” she asks

“I’”

“You just dripped sweat on ross”

I glare at her “I wouldn’t be sweating so hard if you’d—”

“Here, I’ve got it,” Maverick calls from behind me

I turn and give hih, when I see he’s only wearing a pair of dark swim trunks

His chest and arms are carved with hard muscle and bronzed by the sun My heart races faster with every step he takes toward us, the thought of feeling his bare body pressed against mine makes me even hotter

“Close your mouth before you catch a fly,” he murmurs to me with a wink

I scoff, but it’s all for show We both knoas checking him out

“Okay, Ro,” he says, bending down “Just grab onto ht”

I’m overcome with an irrational flare of jealousy as Ro puts her hands on Maverick’s bare shoulders She sees bodies like his every day as a dancer, and I know she has no interest in him I just wish it was my hands on him

I shaketo brush away the attraction I feel I meant it when I said I only want to be friends with Maverick Moving into his house, even though it’s only te to make that harder

Maverick and I each support one of Ro’s sides and help her hop up the stone stairs to the front door Once Maverick pushes the door open, I grab her crutches froh the door on her own