I eye the cart at the end of the aisle, then the granola bar.

  My shift has barely started, but no one will know if I take a little break to eat. And maybe, as a side effect, the lingering adrenaline I’ve had since smashing my face against Mad Dog will finally go away.

  Leaving the cart where it is, I exit out the other side of the aisle, turn toward the back corner with the chairs, and nearly have a heart attack.

  TWELVE

  MADDOX

  She steps out from her row, turns in my direction, and throws something at my face.

  I might not be a wide receiver, but my hand snaps up on reflex, and I snatch the granola bar out of the air.

  Her hands are pressed against her chest like she’s trying to keep her heart inside her body, and her eyes are wider than I would’ve thought possible.

  “Sorry.” Her voice is high pitched. “I didn’t mean to…”

  She trails off, and I have to chuckle. “You didn’t mean to chuck this brick at my face.” I open my palm and look down at the package. “I didn’t think people actually ate these.”

  She drops her hands. “I wasn’t really looking forward to it.”

  “Don’t tell me this is your lunch?”

  She lifts a shoulder.

  I lean forward in the chair. “I was about to eat. If you’d like to share.”

  I want to get up and walk to her, but I’m kind of a giant compared to her, and sitting keeps me more on her level.

  She presses her teeth into her pink lower lip. “Is that what you’re doing here?”

  “A little lunch. A little first aid follow-up.” I raise an eyebrow. “So… lunch?”

  She shakes her head. “I don’t think I should.”

  Not I don’t want to.

  “You’re hungry, though, yeah?” I give the green wrapper a little shake.

  “Yeah, but I can just have that.” She points to the crumbly-as-shit granola bar she chucked at my head.

  “This is rabbit food.” I smirk at my own inside joke. “You need more than that.”

  “It’s fine. I —”

  Before she can argue more, I tighten my grip on the wrapper, crushing the hard bars inside into pieces.

  “Hey!” She takes a step toward me.

  Victory.

  “One sec.” I hold up a finger, rip open the top of the package, lift it to my lips, and tip my head back, dumping the contents into my mouth.

  When I lower my head back to look at her, I find her another step closer with her mouth open in disbelief.

  “That was mine,” she accuses.

  “You threw it at me. Makes it mine.”

  She purses her lips. “I don’t think that’s a real thing.”

  “Well, either way, you have to eat with me now.”

  She props her hands on her hips, and I have to force my eyes to stay on her face. “How am I supposed to eat with you when you just inhaled my food?”

  “Inhaled?” I press a hand to my chest. “I’m insulted.” She rolls her eyes at me, and it’s way cuter than it should be. “And lucky for you, I eat a lot.”

  She gives me a look. “How is that lucky for me?”

  “Because.” I reach down next to my chair and drag my backpack over so it’s in front of me. “I have an extra sandwich.” I unzip the main compartment. “You like ham and cheese?”

  THIRTEEN

  HANNAH

  What. Is. Happening?

  The big man proceeds to pull out three individually wrapped sandwiches that I recognize from the cafeteria.

  “Yeah,” I answer slowly. Who doesn’t like ham and cheese?

  He holds one out to me. “Here, I don’t need all three.”

  “How’d you know I’d be on this floor?” I have to ask. “And how’d you beat me?”

  He grins. “Lucky guess. And” — he uses a sandwich to gesture at himself — “athlete, remember?”

  I eye the sandwich as my stomach grumbles again.

  Sighing, I step forward. “Since you ate my —”

  My words cut off when he bolts out of his seat.

  “Are you still hurt?” The Athlete closes the few feet between us in a blink, the sandwiches thumping to the floor as he grips my shoulders.

  A startled sound leaves me.

  “Why are you limping?”

  “What —” Oh, right, that. “I’m fine.”

  He makes a growling sound, then his hands drop down to my waist.

  With brute strength, the man lifts me and turns us around.

  “Sit,” he commands even as he starts to set me down in the chair angled toward his.

  I bend my legs, no choice but to do what he says, and sit down.

  The second my butt hits the seat, he crouches before me.

  He slides his hands down my hips, stopping on my knees. “Is this because of me?”

  “No.” I hold up my hands, palms out. “It isn’t.”

  “Did someone hurt you?”

  His tone is so serious I can’t help but widen my eyes.

  “What? No. Look, I tripped walking out of class and tweaked my ankle,” I admit, watching his eyes drop to my feet. “It’s embarrassing, but it’s true.”

  He makes an unconvinced humming sound.

  “When my cans of pop cool off again, I’ll press them to my ankle.”

  His scowl finally softens. “You did it for your nose?”

  I nod. “Some guy told me it would help.”

  “Some guy, huh?”

  “Yeah. Tall, hard to miss. Wolfed down my granola bar in two chomps.”

  “Wolfed down?” he repeats.

  I nod. “You kinda did.”

  He smirks, and I hope he can’t hear my pulse pounding through my veins. “That make me the big bad wolf to your little bunny?”

  “Little bunny?” I don’t know if anyone has ever called me little before. Then again, compared to the man in front of me, I actually am.

  “Need to call you something. And you’re always running away from me, like a little bunny.”

  I bite my lip, loving that he’s given me a nickname.

  “So…” He drags out the word. “What’s your name?”

  It’s a normal question, but for some reason, it makes me blush.

  I force my hand out between us. “I’m Hannah.”

  His smile is slow and full of mischief. “Hi, Hannah.”

  Electricity zaps down my spine as he slides his hand against mine, saying my name.

  “I’m Maddox.”

  FOURTEEN

  MADDOX

  “Maddox.” The way she says it makes it sound like she’s tasting it. Like she’s getting a feel for it. And she likes it.

  Her palm is so soft and smooth against mine. And it fits perfectly.

  “Nice to officially meet you.” I force myself to let go of her knee and pick up one of the sandwiches off the carpet. “Can I offer you a floor sandwich?”

  Hannah lets out a small exhale of laughter. “Yes, please.”

  I set the clear-wrapped food in her lap, then snag the other two and push up to standing.

  I’m a little sore from squats this morning, so I have to shake my legs out as I move back to the chair.

  After I drop into my seat, we start unwrapping our meals at the same time.

  “We’re not supposed to eat in here,” Hannah says as she holds the ham and cheese a few inches from her lips.

  I shove my sandwich into my mouth, taking a large bite. “It’s alright. I know a girl who works here.”

  She shakes her head at my dumb joke, but then she takes a bite too.

  We each take another before I ask, “So, Hannah, you new here?”

  FIFTEEN

  HANNAH

  I nod. “Just transferred. I’m a junior.”

  Maddox dips his chin. “Senior. What’s your major?”

  Calmness radiates off him, and I start to relax.

  “Accounting. You?” I take another bite of my sandwich.

  It’s good, better than it should be. And I’m trying really hard not to feel weird about eating in front of a guy I don’t really know.

  “Business administration. Something passable and useful,” he answers. “You want to be an accountant?”

  “Yeah.” I shrug.

  He snorts. “Not convincing me, Hannah.”

  Since he answered me honestly, I decide to do the same. “Something hirable and pays well.”

  I didn’t grow up poor. My mom owns a little flower shop, and it does well enough to cover the basics. But I want to be able to help her with the books. And I want to get a job I can support myself with, sooner rather than later. Because I love my mom, but I want to move out. I want to have new experiences.

  Maddox balls up his wrapper and rips open the second sandwich.

  Glancing down into his open backpack, I see a book I recognize. “You reading that for a class?”

  He follows my line of sight. “Uh-huh. You’ve read it?”

  I nod. “It’s one of my favorite stories.”

  A look crosses his face that I don’t know what to do with, and I decide it’s time for me to leave.

  Nothing good can come from getting to know Maddox. Either I’ll learn he’s a douchebag, and then I’ll start to hate him, which would suck, or I’ll learn his personality is just as enticing as his appearance, and then I’ll be really fucked.

  Because if it’s the latter, I’ll be forming a crush, while he’ll accept my nose isn’t broken and forgive himself.

  And then I’ll never see him again.

  The numbers don’t add up.

  There’s no good outcome here.

  I rewrap what’s left of my ham and cheese and stand.

  “I should really get back to work.” I’m being abrupt and rude, but Maddox doesn’t point it out.

  “I suppose you’re on the clock.” He looks at his watch. “I gotta head over to practice anyway.”

  Unlike me, saving my leftovers, he shoves the remainder of the second sandwich into his mouth.

  He stands and slings his bag over his shoulder, then gestures down toward my feet. “You sure your ankle is okay? You shouldn’t be working if it hurts.”

  I take a few stationary steps. “See? It’s okay.”

  His mouth thins, but he just sighs instead of arguing. “Alright, Hannah Bunny.”

  At a loss for how to respond, I give him a nod, then take the few steps to the row where my cart is waiting.

  “Take care of yourself,” he tells me.

  I pause. “Bye, Maddox.”

  It sounds like a farewell.

  Ignoring the pit that forms in my stomach, I listen to his retreating steps and focus my thoughts back on what’s important.

  Because swooning over the hot football player isn’t important.

  SIXTEEN

  MADDOX – WEDNESDAY

  I find her on the second floor this time. Standing on a step stool, a book in each hand, reaching to put them away on the top shelf.

  My protective instincts are something else around this girl. Because instead of staring at her ass — which is very stare-able in those tight jeans — I’m completely focused on her apparent lack of self-preservation.

  Clenching my teeth so I don’t reprimand her, I quickly cross the distance between us.

  Hannah doesn’t even hear me approach. Her attention is focused on the book she’s trying to push into place with her right pointer finger while her left arm is stretched out in the other direction for counterbalance. She should’ve gotten down, moved the stool, and climbed up again. But no. Not this girl. She’ll just make it work.

  It’s as if I can smell her stubbornness.

  That thought almost makes me smile. My parents are always calling me stubborn. Maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to Hannah. A part of me can tell she’d be a worthy partner — and opponent. She might be a little nervous around me now, but if we were together, she wouldn’t let me get my way all the time.

  And that appeals to me.

  It appeals to me a lot.

  She starts to teeter.

  Her right hand releases the book and grips the shelf for balance. But the book wasn’t pushed in far enough, and it starts to slip out.

  I know what she’ll do before she even does it, so I’m already jogging the final yards when she lets go of the shelf to catch the book.

  Her left hand blindly slaps against the shelf, but she’s still holding a book in that hand too.

  “Dammit, woman,” I grit out as I duck under her outstretched arm.

  She tips right into me.

  Those pretty brown eyes blink down at mine. “Maddox?”

  I wrap my arm around her waist. “Didn’t I tell you to take care of yourself? Like yesterday?”

  “Sorry.” Her apology is breathy, and before I know what I’m doing, I turn her into me, bringing us chest to chest.

  Her arms automatically circle around the back of my neck, and I pull her the rest of the way off the stool.

  Something thumps to the ground behind me, and then her arms tighten around my shoulders, her hands clutching my bunched muscles.

  Fuck, she feels good in my arms.

  I tighten my hold on her.

  It’s a full-body hug with her feet dangling off the ground. And I want her to wrap those legs around me.

  I want to shove her back against the bookshelves.

  I want to press my mouth to hers.

  I want to see what she tastes like.

  “Wh-what are you doing?”

  Her breath puffs across my lips, and I swear it smells like oranges.

  “Saving your life, apparently.” My answer is gruff, making me sound angry.

  But really, I’m just gritting my teeth, trying to will my cock to settle down. Because standing like this, with her soft, warm body flush against mine, is hard. The temptation. My dick. It’s all hard.

  “Um.” Her tongue darts out to wet her lips. “Thank you?”

  Knowing I can’t keep holding her like this — because I’ll end up doing something I’m sure she’s not ready for — I loosen my arms, letting her slide down my front.

  Bad idea.

  Her tits drag down my chest, the pair of T-shirts between us doing nothing to hide the soft feeling of them against my firmer body.

  I tilt my hips back, just a little, just enough so she doesn’t get a belly full of dick.

  Then I have to fight down a groan because now I’m thinking about giving her an actual belly full of my dick, thinking about stripping us both down right here and rutting her into the carpet.

  Hannah’s feet hit the floor, and I clear my throat. “How, um, is your nose okay?”

  Her cheeks are so red, her eyes so focused on mine, I know she felt my hardness against her. And I know she’s trying her best to keep her gaze on my face.

  She gives her head a tiny shake. “Doesn’t hurt at all.”

  Part of me wants her to glance down. To take a peek at the bulge in the front of my pants. But then I remember I’m not a fucking pervert, so I tuck my hands into my pockets and try to act like a decent human.

  “Good. I’m glad.” I rock back on my heels. “And your ankle?”

  She glances down.

  It’s fast. So fast I’d have missed it if I blinked. But I didn’t miss it. And I don’t miss the way her cheeks turn even redder.

  I have to stop myself from grinning.

  “It’s fine.” Her voice comes out high pitched, and she swallows. “Totally better.”

  “Happy to hear that.” I dip my chin. “If you can get through the whole day without falling off a stool, then you might be okay tomorrow too.”

  She huffs, and the tension pops between us.

  Just like that.

  From lust to comfort in a heartbeat.

  The lust is still there. It’s definitely there. But this feeling…

  I step closer to her before I can think better of it.

  I like this feeling I get when I’m around her.

  “I’m not usually this clumsy,” she tries to tell me, making the side of my mouth tip up. “I’m not.”

  “Sure.” I raise my brows.

  She rolls her eyes. “I’m not. Maybe it’s you.” She waves her hand in my direction, her eyes staying on mine. “You throw me off.”

  That makes me smile. “You didn’t even know I was here.”

  “Yeah, well…” She trails off.

  “Good point.” I nod.

  This time, I get a real laugh out of her.

  “Oh, shut up.” She smacks my chest with the back of her hand, then she yanks her hand back like I’m made of lava and widens her eyes. “Sorry! I don’t know… I didn’t mean to do that.”

  “It’s alright.” I grab her forearm and, using my grip, make her smack me again. “See?”

  She bites her lip that way she does, but I see her smile.

  Before she can run away, I ask her the question that’s been clinging to me since yesterday. “Are you going to the game tomorrow night?”

  “What ga—” She starts, then looks at my chest like she can see the jersey I was wearing yesterday. “The football game?”

  I can tell she has no idea that we play tomorrow. And I kinda enjoy that.

  “Yeah, the football game.”

  “I wasn’t planning on it. No offense or anything,” she adds quickly. “I just hadn’t… I’ve never been to one before.”

  “Never?”

  “I’ve seen some on TV.”

  I grin. “Well, would you like to see one in person? Tomorrow?”

  “Um, sure? I mean . . .” She glances away. “If the tickets aren’t super expensive.”

  Something twists in my chest.

  I’m not responsible for this girl. And she’s not asking me for anything. But I hate that the cost of the ticket would be her deciding factor.

  “I have an extra one,” I explain. “All the players get a few.”

  She stares up at me. “And you want to give it to me?”

  “Don’t sound so confused, Bunny.”

  Her mouth opens, then closes as her shoulders drop. “It was all my fault yesterday. I realized I wanted to go to the cafeteria and that it was the other way, and — I dunno. I’m dumb. So I just turned around, not thinking about the fact that people were everywhere, and that’s why I ran into you.”