LuckyBastard: A Cocky Hero World Novel

He pauses, letting this new revelation sink in. “Look, for some reason my wife is rooting for you. She thinks you’d be good for Em. But she’s family to us. She’s not a game.” With that, he turns and walks away.
I should yell out to him. Stop him from walking away, but I’m frozen, my feet unable to lift from the turf as if I’m standing in quicksand. The last three days float through my mind, and although I hate to admit it, he’s right. I’ve been going through the motions. I’ve got to get this girl out of my head. I’m too far in to turn back now. I need to at least take her to dinner, to drinks. Fuck me, something to get her out of my head. I’d like to think dinner, and some time in my bed would be the perfect ending to this little… whatever this is, but if I can’t get her to call me after sending her flowers, I know damn sure my dick isn’t getting anywhere near her. No matter how bad we both want it. And she does want it. I can see it in her eyes every time she looks at me. I see it as her breathing changes anytime I’m near her. She’s fighting this pull between us and I don’t know why.
Pushing Emma out of my mind, I get back on the field. I finish practice, being more present than I have been all week. In the locker room, I’m quiet as I rush through a shower and head out with nothing but a couple of waves and nods to the guys.
Twenty minutes later, I remove the keys from the ignition and stare at the shelter in front of me. I didn’t plan to come here, but this is where I ended up. I don’t rush to get out as I try to form what I’m going to say. More than that, I try to work out what the hell I’m doing and why this woman is getting to me.
Ten minutes later, I still have no answers and realize that I’m the creeper who’s sitting in the parking lot of an animal shelter. Reaching for the handle, I start to climb out of my SUV, but I freeze when I see her. Her long dark hair is braided and thrown over her shoulder. She’s wearing a tank top with the shelter’s logo, and a pair of tight pants, leggings, a man’s best friend.
I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s leading a horse my way. She turns her head to talk to him, and I see her stumble. My hand jerks open the door, and my legs rush to carry me to her, but it’s too late. She stumbles and falls to the ground. The horse gets spooked and rushes past me. I don’t try and stop it as I rush to her, falling on my knees beside her.
“Emma,” I say with a pant.
“Ow.” Her voice is soft and constricted with pain.
“Hey, let me look at you.”
She lifts her head, and the pain in her eyes twists my gut. “L-Landon?” she asks, confused.
“Yeah.” I swipe her bangs out of her eyes. “You okay?”
“What are you doing here?” She moves to sit up and winces.
“Let me help you.” She doesn’t fight me as I stand and place my hands under her arms and lift her. She tries to step out of my hold and ends up falling into my arms as she cries out in pain. I don’t think, I just swing her into my arms bridal style and carry her to the front door. “Can you turn the knob?” I ask. She’s able to turn the knob, and I kick the door open with my foot. I bypass the receptionist desk and move down the hall. “This your office?” I ask her.
“Yeah.” She nods, her face still scrunched up in pain.
I don’t ask which desk is hers, the bouquet of lilies and roses tells me. I hide my smile, but something inside me lifts knowing that she kept them. Carefully, I set her in the chair. “Let me take a look.” I run my hands down her leg, all toned muscle, and stop when I reach her ankle.
“It’s fine, or it will be. I just landed on it wrong.” She tries to pull her leg out of my hands, but I’m not having it. “You never told me what you’re doing here.”
“I came to see you.”
“Me?” she asks, confused.
“Yeah, it’s been too long since I’ve seen those green eyes.” I’m staring at her, our faces close as I kneel before her. I have the sudden urge to pull her into a kiss.
“Come on, Landon. Why are you here?”
I didn’t know it was the truth until the words left my lips the first time, so I repeat, “To see you.” Gently, my fingers trace over her ankle that’s already starting to swell. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to you in time. I saw you stumble. I tried.”
“Not your fault or your responsibility.”
“Maybe so, but I’m still sorry all the same. Looks like a sprain.”
“Great,” she mutters.
“Are you the only one here?”
She nods, her eyes glassy. “Yes. We had a volunteer scheduled, but they were a no show. CJ’s daycare called, and he’s got pink eye, or so they think. Aubrey left to pick him up and take him to the doctor.”
“Okay. Well, I think if you ice it, keep it elevated, it should be okay. Where can I get some ice?”
“I can manage. You should go.”
Unable to resist, I reach up and cradle her cheek in the palm of my hand. “I’m here, and I’m going to help you.” Her green eyes regard me, and they truly are a unique color, so much so, my breath hitches as she stares at me. Blinking hard, I scan her face, and that’s when I see a soft dusting of freckles on either cheek. I didn’t notice them before, but I like