A Sprint To His Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

hard, twisting in his grasp. His grip tightened, and I winced in pain.
    Two tall Fae men suddenly appeared at my side. I glanced up to see Piran on my right, his eyes a swirling vortex of black and gray. I’d never seen a Fae’s eyes that color.
    “The lady is not interested,” Piran said with surprising menace in his voice.
    Jose stepped back, raising his hands. “Chill, dude, no need to go apeshit. What, are you her bodyguard now?”
    “The lady,” I said, sort of liking the archaic phrase, “does not need a bodyguard.”
    Although it was totally awesome to have one. Then it hit me. Piran was here. In Wisconsin. At my race. Was he now a huge cycling fan, or had he driven all this way to see me?
    Jose stalked off, and Piran introduced me to his friend Tolmin, who mumbled something about needing to find celery juice, leaving Piran and me alone on the sidewalk.
    My gaze gravitated to his faded jeans, the edges around the pockets frayed, low on his hips, then to his neon yellow graphic tee with a roller-blading penguin.
    He tugged at the shirt. “Belongs to my roommate. I seem to have difficulty bathing my clothes.”
    “Washing,” I corrected, but I didn’t laugh. Nor did he. He seemed so serious.
    He tucked his hands into his back pockets. “Bailey, why did you ride off when I saw you in Grant Park last week?”
    I exhaled, my gaze darting over his shoulder. I did not want to talk about this. “Don’t you already know?” I growled, returning my focus to his unnatural yet hopelessly exquisite face.
    His blue eyes paled, giving them an eerie opalescent shadow. He frowned, but didn’t answer my question. “Have I done something to upset you?”
    I folded my arms over my chest, as if that would protect my heart. It had been so long since I’d been attracted to a guy, I’d forgotten how much it could hurt. My voice quieted. “You have a girlfriend, Piran.”
    Piran cocked his head and gave me a quizzical look. “A girlfriend?”
    “The Fae duchess?” I wouldn’t think I’d have to remind him.
    “Ah, yes, the duchess.” A heartbeat passed. Then his irises popped with green flecks, shimmering in the sunlight. “She is my cousin. Third cousin once removed, to be exact. When visiting, she requires a family escort. The first time she visited Chicago, I escorted her to the museum and a gallery showing. Our picture ended up all over the papers and Internet.”
    The tightness in my chest dissipated somewhat, but I kept my arms folded, holding the vestiges of pain in place, just in case. Hope could be fleeting.
    “I never bothered to correct the rumors.” An impish smile crossed his face. “It helped cut down on the need for polite refusals regarding requests for my personage. Certain parts of my personage, in particular,” he added dryly.
    I giggled. Fae men were legendary for being well-endowed, not to mention well-renowned for their skills in bed. Although curious, I wasn’t about to ask exactly how renowned he was. “Hmm, so why are you telling me the truth?”
    Piran’s smile turned shy. “I cannot very well ask you on a date if you think I have a girlfriend, now can I?”
    Oh no. Resolve weakening. Hormones in control.
    “A date?” I repeated, hoping a foolish grin hadn’t split my face in two. Catching myself, I casually brushed the bangs from my eyes. “Well, I . . .”
    Then I remembered he could read my inner glee as easily as if I was jumping up and down. He asked me on a freaking date! I dropped the act and gave him a sincere smile. “Yes, I would love to go out with you.”
    Piran jumped up and down, his eyes wide and glowing. “Is this about right?”
    Laughing, I swatted his arm. “Maybe a little less giddy.”
    “Ah, sweet Bailey, but you do make me giddy.”
    My cheeks warmed. Since when was I such a blusher?
    “Your skin is quite pretty when you do that.”
    “I don’t do it on purpose.” I stared at the ground as heat spread throughout my chest. Man, I couldn’t believe I