The Hockey Captain's Secret Girl

Ice King Deal

Jessica’s grip on my backpack strap was so tight it cut off my oxygen. The suffocating scent of her expensive rose perfume filled the space between us—a sick contrast to the biting cold and the smell of damp earth behind the old theater building.

This was exactly why I loathed trouble. It always had a way of tracking me down.

"You heard me, right, b***h?" Jessica hissed, her eyes narrowing as she stared into my face. Her sidekick had just aggressively yanked my hood back, leaving me completely exposed. "Stay the hell away from Brandon."

I held my breath, forcing down the panic clawing at my throat. I couldn’t let her see me break. Back in Vancouver, no one messed with me, and I wasn’t about to let some campus queen bee start now. Absolutely not.

"I wasn’t looking for him," I said, keeping my voice deadpan as I locked eyes with her platinum-blonde gaze. "He’s the one who came to my table. If you’ve got a problem with that, take it up with him, not me."

Smack!

The girl to Jessica’s right shoved my shoulder so hard my spine slammed against the concrete pillar behind me. "The f**k did you just say to her?"

I loathe being touched. I loathe bullies even more. But Christ, I really didn’t want to trigger a war on my very first day.

"Let her go."

A deep, lethal baritone cut through the air, making all three girls jump. Jessica’s grip on my backpack vanished instantly. We all whipped our heads toward the sound, and my heart skipped a beat when a massive, broad-shouldered silhouette stepped out from the shadows of the maple trees.

Brandon Walker.

He wasn’t wearing his team jacket, just a tight black T-shirt that clung to his absurdly athletic, hockey-built physique. His hands were shoved casually into his jeans pockets, but his eyes... God, they were completely dead, dark, and terrifying.

Great. Just like Lily said, he looked like a dark knight. But I knew his rescue was only going to make my life a living hell.

"B-Brandon?" Jessica’s fierce lioness act crumbled into a stutter. Her makeup was flawless, but it couldn’t hide the sheer panic washing over her face. "It’s... it’s not what it looks like. We were just welcoming the new girl—"

"I don't like repeating myself, Jessica," Brandon cut her off. His heavy footsteps echoed, slow and agonizingly intimidating as he closed the distance.

He stopped right beside me, his massive height easily towering over us and forcing the three girls to instinctively take a step back. "Get lost. Now."

Jessica bit her lip, her eyes flashing with a mix of fury and bitter jealousy as she threw one last glare at me. Then, she turned on her heel and stormed off, her two minions trailing right behind her.

The moment they vanished around the corner, the heavy silence returned. I leaned back against the concrete pillar, finally letting out a shaky breath.

"You good?" Brandon asked. The ice in his voice was gone, replaced by a low, rough undertone that sounded dangerously close to concern.

I looked up at him, a cocktail of adrenaline and frustration brewing inside me. "Why are you here? And why did you have to interfere? You just put a massive target on my back!" My voice cracked, louder than intended.

Brandon raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard by my sudden outburst. "I just saved your ass, Stranger. A 'thank you' would be nice."

"Thank you?" I let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through my wind-tousled brown hair. "Do you even know why they’re doing this? It’s because of you! You’re the one who sat at my table in the cafeteria. On this campus, you’re the sun, Walker. Anyone who gets too close gets burned, and I have zero intention of turning into ash."

"So, stay away from me, Walker."

I yanked my jacket straight, turning to walk away. But before I could take a single step, Brandon’s massive, warm hand wrapped around my wrist, anchoring me in place.

"Let go," I whispered, refusing to look him in the eyes.

"You want to stay under the radar here, right?" Brandon asked, completely ignoring my protest.

I froze, slowly turning my head to look at him. "How did you—"

"I know your type, Hailey. You’re the quiet girl who hides in the back, keeps her head down, and blends into the background. You’re running from something," he said, his words hitting way too close to home. My defenses fractured. Brandon loosened his grip but didn't step back, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "And I'll admit, me talking to you this morning completely ruined your 'invisible girl' strategy."

"Yes, exactly. So stay away from me—I'm dead serious," I said, trying to keep my voice from trembling.

Brandon went quiet for a few seconds, his dark eyes searching my face as if calculating his next move. "Can't do that."

"What?"

"I can't stay away from you," Brandon repeated. He took another step forward, crowding my space until his body heat shielded me from the freezing air. "But I can keep you safe from Jessica and anyone else on this campus."

"Look, I’m not interested in whatever game you're playing. I came to this university for peace and quiet."

"Hailey, I'm serious," Brandon said, his voice dropping an octave, thick with an intensity that made my chest tighten.

I blinked, completely thrown off. "Okay, fine. How?"

Brandon tilted his head down, bringing his intense gaze level with mine. A faint, wicked smirk brushed his lips.

"Let's make a deal," he whispered, the words sounding like a beautiful, dangerous trap. "Starting tomorrow, we pretend we don't know each other. In public—the hallways, the rink, the cafeteria—we’re total strangers. I won't look at you, and I won't come near your table."

I held my breath, my heart hammering against my ribs. "And?"

"But off campus... behind closed doors, when no one's watching..." Brandon leaned in closer, the warmth of his breath ghosting over my cheek. "You're mine, Hailey. And I protect what's mine."

My heart was beating so loud I was terrified he could hear it. This was insane. This deal was reckless and dangerous. If you play with fire, especially with someone like Brandon Walker, you’re bound to get burned.

But then I remembered the venom in Jessica's eyes, and contrasted it with the protective warmth of the guy standing in front of me. If I wanted to survive Toronto, I didn't have much of a choice.

I swallowed hard, doing my best to keep my voice steady. "Just off campus?"

Brandon nodded slowly, his eyes locking onto mine with a dark intensity that made my knees go weak. "Only when we're alone."

I closed my eyes for a split second, bracing myself, before looking back up at the Ice King waiting for my verdict.

"Okay," I breathed, yielding to the trap. "We do it your way."