All Chapters of CHECKMATE MY ICY HEART: FALLING FOR THE HOCKEY CAPTAIN: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

HARPER’S POVI sat shotgun in Dad’s shitty truck, fingers digging into my thighs so hard I would probably have bruises tomorrow. Snow crunched under the tires as we crawled up the long driveway. That big house was at the top like it owned the whole damn mountain. It was all dark stone and sharp corners, with windows that glowed like eyes that already knew I wasn't welcome.“Remember the rules, Harper,” Dad muttered, knuckles white on the wheel. “Head down. Do your work. Stay the hell away from the main house. We’re staff. That’s it.”I nodded, throat tight. Eight months of him being out of work. This security gig was the only thing keeping us off the street. My scholarship to Sterling Academy was the only shot I had at not ending up exactly like him— tired, scared, and one bad month away from nothing. I couldn’t fuck this up.Later that week the school showed me what it really was: a tank full of sharks in cashmere. I spent three days trying to disappear. I kept my eyes on the flo

HARPER’S POVThe boys’ locker room smelled like old tape, musty sweat, and wet gear that never quite dries. I dropped Asher’s stupid heavy bag on the rubber floor. The thud bounced off the metal lockers. “What are you doing in here?”I jumped, spinning around. Some guy sat on the bench, wrapping tape around his stick blade. Messy brown hair, bruised jaw. It took me a second to place him from the dark rink the night before.Davis.“Community service,” I muttered, already turning to leave.“Wait.” He stood fast, tossing the tape aside. “You’re the girl from last night.”“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“Don’t bullshit me.” He stepped closer, eyes bloodshot and wild. “I heard your phone drop. You saw the whole thing with the scout.”“I was in bed asleep,” I lied, keeping my face flat. “Just transferred here. Don’t even know who you are.”“He’s got those pills hanging over my head,” Davis whispered, voice cracking. He looked like he might puke. “If Asher hands them to Coach, I’m

Harper’s POVI was certain that people always blinked after a while of staring, but it didn’t seem like the hungry-glaring eyes of the lascivious men in the Nyx club were ready to let their eyelids flicker as they gawked at me amidst the naughty comments they made about how sexy they thought my body was.Asher had insisted that we clubbed that night, stating that he needed to unwind.Unconcerned about my social welfare, I gave the perfect excuse that I had a test the next morning, but as usual, he seemed to have figured everything out.“You will pass, Harper. I am aware of the test, and I also know you have been preparing…”His voice, as cold as always, his eyes locked into mine.Maybe his grip was gentle this time, but he dragged me into the car, and then into the car.“We want Sexy steel!” Some of the men screamed, calling out the stage name of their favorite dancer.We were not supposed to be there, but the Kingston heir always had a way to figure things out without having to blink

HARPER's POVThe thought of everything that happened the previous night wouldn’t let me get enough sleep. I woke up at the first flicker of dawn, still wondering why a man like Asher would choose to help someone like me without asking for anything in return.“He must surely want something. No one does something like that for free.” I thought to myself while I was still thinking about what I was going to eat, because Morgan refused to give me the usual penny allowance, because he blamed me for what happened at the club.I had gotten so used to people doing only the things that favored them, all thanks to my family for teaching me the lesson of life in a very painful way.I thought that I was going to have some time to myself, but the day seemed to have been running so fast that it wasn’t long before it was time to go to the club.As soon as I walked in, I saw Morgan talking to two men dressed in black suits, and I wondered why they were there. I was so nervous that I stood by a corner

HARPERFor the first time in a long while, I slept peacefully without having to worry about doing some silly work during the day and getting ready to appease the perverted fantasies of drunk men at night.But I couldn’t get over the fact that the mystery man had created more puzzles in my head.“What does he mean by my mother is the reason why he is alive?’ I was still trying to make sense of all the drama that had taken place when I head a gentle knock on the door.“Madam? Are you awake?” The maid who had shown me to my room waited for a few seconds before she walked in.“Good morning, Madam. I hope you slept well.” She was definitely a year older than me or more, and looked like she never let go of her smile.“Good morning, Maya.”“You remembered my name?” She seemed shocked but in a good way with her smile intact.“Of course, I do. You told me last night, remember?”She chuckled and nodded almost at the same time before she told me the reason that brought her to my room that early.