All Chapters of My Lustful Arrangement With The Hockey Player: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

ISABELLAThe moment I stepped inside, I felt it.That sudden drop in temperature as the cool air wrapped itself around my skin like a silk shawl. A whisper of citrusy air freshener danced faintly through the space, almost too pristine for something that already felt like it belonged to me.My sandals made a soft tap against the polished tiles, and the echo of my footsteps bounced off the walls like the place was welcoming me with open arms.It didn’t smell like food yet. There were no burnt garlic or sizzling spice trails, but it had the rich scent of new paint, soft woods, and fresh polish. There was still something ceremonial about it. As though I wasn’t just walking into a building. I was walking into a promise made flesh.My eyes swept across the main dining area. Every table was strategically placed for flow, intimate corners near the arched windows, and broader ones in the centre for groups. The chairs were dark mahogany, matte, and warm, contrasting against the cream floors tha

ISABELLAI hated that he was calling me now. Of all the times to remember I existed, Logan decided the perfect moment would be right after I’d heard another woman laughing at the doorway like she owned the place. The sound had sunk beneath my skin, curled somewhere between my ribs, and festered.I didn’t turn. My feet remained planted halfway up the stairs, one hand gripping the wooden rail so tightly that my knuckles had gone pale. I was already three steps from freedom, from the smirks and glances I didn’t want to see, from her perfume that was probably clawing its way into the house."I have a headache," I said flatly, keeping my gaze on the gold-framed painting at the end of the hallway. "Not in the mood for small talk or large talk or any talk at all. "There was a pause, then his voice again. "I want to know if you'd find it convenient to work with Marcia. She’ll be the face of the campaign for the restaurant."It felt like a slap. Not because I hadn’t anticipated it. God knows,

ISABELLAI was restless. It was not the kind of restless that meant I wanted to pace around the room or fold laundry that didn’t exist. No, this was the twitchy, gut-churning, heart-hammering sort that made my limbs feel too tight for my skin. The ceiling had become my confession. I stared at it and tried to think about the restaurant. The dream. The fire that had once burned so brightly in my chest. But that, too, had dimmed. Marcia had snuffed it out with one smile and a well-aimed insult.I hated how easily I let her get to me. Hated that her words had crawled under my skin and nested there.A knock at the door broke through the heavy silence.I didn’t move at first. It wasn’t going to be Logan. He never came to me. Not when I was like this. Maybe it was Nina checking in.I sighed and got up, dragging my feet across the carpet. My fingers closed around the doorknob. I twisted it, tugged the door open... and froze.Logan.He stood there in all his complicated, painfully beautiful g

ISABELLAThis morning felt a lot different, I felt light and happy, and there were no voices in my head arguing over whether or not I deserved happiness. There was only me and the thrill of something new beginning.I made it down to the kitchen. The smell of something warm and buttery had already curled its fingers around the hallway, leading me like a lover. Nina was there, fluttering about the stove like she owned the place, which, let’s be honest, she kind of did."Morning, chica," she said, placing a plate on the island. Pancakes with berries and a pot of coffee smelled like someone had finally answered my prayers."You’re a miracle worker," I told her, sliding onto the stool.She smiled, flipping her towel over her shoulder. "You needed a day like this. You look happy."I chewed slowly, eyes on her. "You mean I usually look like a feral raccoon?"She snorted. "I didn’t say that, but yes."We laughed together, and I let it linger because it felt good to laugh with no weight behind

ISABELLA"Someone is here to see you," Nina said, wiping her hands on her apron.I blinked. "Someone? As in someone who breathes and moves and actively asks for me?"Nina rolled her eyes. "Yes, Isabella. You are not a ghost. People can want to see you."I pushed my plate aside with a sigh, brushing nonexistent crumbs from my lap. "Unless Logan brought me a living, breathing bowl of birria with a six-pack, I don’t see how this is worth abandoning my breakfast.""Trust me. You'll want to see her."Her.My curiosity perked. I stood, the cold marble floor pressing against the soles of my feet as I padded into the foyer. The moment I stepped into the hall, I halted.She stood like a sculpture carved out of honeyed sandstone, tall and confident in a sunflower-yellow jumpsuit that hugged her body like it had been sewn onto her skin. Her curls tumbled down her shoulders in glossy spirals, a rich black that caught the light like polished onyx. Deep-set eyes, almost too expressive for her own g