Hearts Storm (Heartstruck #4)

Prologue

A FEW WEEKS AGO

“Holy crap! This line is insane!”

“Told you,” Sasha grins at me as I crane my neck to peer at the long line of people stretched out behind us. “I’m just thankful we got in line for Dunk-A-Hunk as early as we did. Jax says it’s one of the booths that brings in a huge chunk of the donations every year.”

“Think we’ll make it in time to dunk him before he takes a break?” Noia asks.

There’s another splash and a loud cheer rolls through the crowd.

Sasha checks her phone. “We should. He still has, like, fifteen minutes.”

Little by little, we shuffle forward until it’s Sasha’s turn.

The teenager running the booth hands her three softballs with a flirty grin.

Jax is perched on a tiny wooden seat, Mohawk plastered to his head, eyes flashing at Sasha with challenge. “Think you got the arm for it, babe? Or are you just here to admire the view?” he calls out over the loud rock music.

“Nah, I just think you’re starting to look a little too comfortable up there,” she shouts back with a wicked grin before releasing the ball.

CLANG!

When it hits the center of the target, the mechanism releases instantly. With a startled yelp, ending in a massive splash, Jax disappears under the water.

The crowd erupts with cheers and shouts as Noia lets out a high-pitched whistle and I clap, while Sasha lets out a triumphant cackle.

Seconds later, Jax’s head breaks the surface. Swiping a hand down his face, he points a finger at her.

Damn. What I wouldn’t give to have a man look at me the way he’s looking at her right now.

An image of a dark head of hair between my legs flashes through my mind before I shove it away, heart clenching.

Sasha blows him a cheeky kiss before stepping aside so I can take my turn.

The announcer’s voice crackles over the loudspeaker, drowning out the music for a second. “Alright, folks! Time for a fresh hunk for you to dunk!”

Jax hauls himself out of the tank, grabs a towel and gives his head a quick shake, spraying water everywhere. Tossing a wink at Sasha, he disappears behind the curtain.

When I see who’s up next, my heart stutters and nearly stops. Eyes wide, my mouth parts in a silent gasp as a deep, rosy flush makes its way across my chest and up my neck.

Gripping the hem of a T-shirt that looks a size too small for his muscular chest, he pulls it over his head, and the crowd—which is mostly women—goes nuts.

“Isn’t that Lizzy’s twin, Logan?” Noia asks.

“Sure is,” Sasha says.

Logan has a rugged edge and a smirk that says he knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to every woman standing in the crowd. He scans the throng of people with a practiced, easy grin, until his gaze passes over our little group, only to flick back over to me in alarm.

Grin faltering only for a split second, his eyes narrow into sharp chips of emerald as a flicker of what looks like recognition crosses his face before the sexy grin is back.

Climbing the ladder, he situates himself on the wooden seat.

Sasha nudges my arm. “You okay?”

Stunned, I tear my gaze away from Dark & Broody. “Yup. I’m golden,” I mumble, looking down at the pink ticket clutched in my hand.

When the announcer calls out, “Next!” I look up and lock eyes with the man I haven’t seen in close to a year.

Suddenly, a wicked sense of retribution washes over me. Eyes on his, I release a predatory grin, hold my ticket up in the air and call out, “That’s me!” as I march up to the throw line.

Handing my ticket to the volunteer, I only look away for a moment to take the softballs. But when I glance up, Logan is watching me, jaw pulsing, gripping the edges of the seat so hard his knuckles are white. The tension in the air between us is buzzing in my ears.

Something shifts in his eyes before he looks away, grinning at the crowd as he raises a fist. “Let’s do this thing!”

Cheers ring out again as I set two of the balls aside, knowing I’m only going to need one.

“Ten bucks says she hits on the first try,” Noia snickers.

“No shit,” I hear Sasha snort. “She looks like she wants to drown his ass.”

Laser-sharp and focused, my eyes lock with Logan’s again.

When I narrow my gaze and tilt my head with a vicious smirk, he tips his chin, and I let her rip.

CLANG!

Logan doesn’t even have time to brace himself before he’s plunging into the water.

“Damn,” Sasha murmurs. “Remind me never to get on her bad side.”

As Logan resurfaces, soaking wet and looking far less smug, I have to fight the urge to go to him. To run my hands over his wet, dusky skin. Tell him I missed him. That I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.

When his gaze meets mine again, full of surprise and what looks a little like respect, I tear my eyes away and give him my back just as Jax comes up and wraps his arms around Sasha from behind.

“He had it coming,” he grins at me over her shoulder. “Logan’s been a grumpy prick all morning.”

“Maybe he just needed to cool off,” she quips.

“Forget Logan. I believe I owe you payback for that bullseye, sweet cheeks.”

“Hey,” Noia laughs. “Am I gonna have to tell you two to get a room?”

Jax gives Sasha a quick kiss before stepping away. “No time for that, unfortunately. I’ve gotta get over to the batting cages. Meet up with me later?”

“Sure.”

He turns to Noia. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”

“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine.”

The look on Sasha’s face as Jax walks away makes me laugh. “Careful. Keep that up and your eyes will burn holes in your boyfriend’s butt.”

“Can you blame me?” Sasha grins as she turns to look at me. “Anyway, what was that between you and Logan?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, please,” Noia snorts. “The sexual tension between you two was so thick if we’d been any closer we would’ve suffocated.”

“How about we go get something to eat instead?” I grumble. The last thing I want to do right now is remember one of the best, and worst, weekends of my life. “I’m starving.”

Sasha, releasing a resigned huff, exchanges a look with Noia, shaking her head with a grin. “Sounds like a great idea. Let’s hit the food trucks.”