THREE

I was halfway through demolishing the upstairs wall when I heard the front door open. My hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, my face glistening with sweat as I swung the hammer with a satisfying crack into the drywall. Dust filled the air, and I couldn't help but smile—it was the best kind of chaos.

I heard footsteps on the stairs, and when I turned around, there was Edward standing in the doorway with a coffee cup in hand, looking ridiculously smug. He was staring at me, not even bothering to hide it, his eyes trailing over my body like he was taking in every detail.

"Now, that's a sight to behold," he said, his voice low and teasing as his eyes locked on mine. "You look good all sweaty."

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the smirk that tugged at my lips. "Careful there, Eddie-kins. You're drooling on my freshly demolished floor."

He chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee before setting it down on a nearby dresser. "Can't help it when you're wielding that hammer like some kind of DIY goddess."

I turned back to the wall, swinging the hammer again with a satisfying crunch. "Well, this goddess has work to do. You gonna stand there gawking all day, or are you gonna make yourself useful?"

I heard him move closer, his presence warm behind me. "Depends. What did you have in mind?"

I spun around, finding him mere inches away. His proximity sent a jolt through me, but I kept my cool. "Grab a hammer. This wall isn't going to demolish itself."

Edward raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, I don't know. Watching you work is so much more... entertaining."

I stop to sneak a sip of the coffee, grateful for the caffeine boost, and offer him a smirk. "Tell me, Edward," I said, raising an eyebrow at him. "Do you have to work this hard on women all the time, or does the hockey jersey usually do the trick?"

Edward's grin widened, and he leaned against the doorframe, clearly enjoying the banter. "Oh, the jersey helps," he said with a casual shrug. "But for someone like you? I'm willing to put in a little extra effort."

I couldn't help but laugh at his audacity. "Well, aren't I the lucky one?" I teased, turning back to the wall. "Now, are you going to help or not?"

I heard him sigh dramatically behind me. "I suppose I could lend a hand. But only because you asked so nicely."

The sound of his footsteps retreating down the hall was followed by the clatter of tools. When he returned, he had another hammer in hand and had shed his jacket, leaving him in a fitted t-shirt that did little to hide his athletic build.

"Alright, where do you want me?" he asked, twirling the hammer with a bit too much confidence.

I pointed to the far end of the wall. "Start over there. And try not to hit any pipes or wires, Mr. DIY."

Edward mock-saluted me. "Alright, but don't blame me if I outshine you at this," he rolls up his sleeves.

With a fierce grip on the sledgehammer's handle, he swung it at the wall with practiced precision. Each blow sent chunks of drywall and dust flying in all directions. As the sweat started to cling to his skin, his shirt became a second skin, highlighting every defined muscle in his arms and chest. I couldn't help but sneak glances at him, trying not to ogle too obviously. But really, who could resist?

Edward paused for a moment, wiping the sweat from his brow, and when he caught me staring, a slow, knowing smile spread across his face. "See something you like?" he teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I felt my cheeks flush, but I wasn't about to let him off that easily. "Oh, I was just making sure you were doing it right," I shot back, lifting my chin defiantly. "Wouldn't want you slacking off while I do all the work."

Edward laughed, a deep, rich sound that sent a shiver down my spine. He took a step closer, still holding the hammer, his grin widening. "You know, if you keep looking at me like that, I might start thinking I'm making an impression," he said, his voice dropping to a low, teasing murmur.

I tried to come up with a witty comeback, but all I could manage was a smirk as I grabbed another tool. "Keep dreaming, Cullen," I said, turning back to the wall. But the truth was, watching him work up a sweat was definitely making this renovation project a lot more interesting.

Just as Edward and I were getting into a good rhythm with the demolition, the door creaked open downstairs, and heavy footsteps made their way up to us. I turned around to see Jacob entering the room, a friendly smile on his face—completely unaware of the way Edward's jaw clenched the moment he walked in.

"Hey, Bella," Jacob said, giving me a nod before glancing at Edward with a polite but distant acknowledgment. "I brought my crew with me. We can handle the rest of the demolition up here for the day if you want to start organising some of the trades for the bathroom and kitchen."

I felt a rush of relief. "That would be amazing, Jacob. I do have a ton of stuff to coordinate," I said, grateful for the help. I shot Edward a quick smile, but his eyes were still fixed on Jacob, a subtle tension in his posture.

Edward cleared his throat, finally tearing his gaze away from Jacob. "I guess that's my cue," he said, wiping the sweat off his brow. "I've got training to get to anyway."

I flashed him a mischievous grin, trying to lighten the tension. "Come on now, don't let us stop you from chasing those pucks," I teased.

But his gaze turned tender as he locked eyes with me, a slight smirk on his lips. "I'd much rather stay and chase after you," he whispered just loud enough for me to hear, sending shivers down my spine. My heart raced as I felt the intensity of his words sink in.

Before I could respond, Jacob chimed in, oblivious to the tension. "Thanks for your help, Edward. We've got it from here," he said with a bit too much cheer in his voice, which only seemed to make Edward's jaw tighten further.

Edward gave a curt nod, then turned to me, his eyes softening slightly. "I'll see you later," he said, his tone gentler, as though the irritation he felt toward Jacob didn't extend to me.

I nodded, watching him go, wondering just how much longer I'd be able to keep up the professional boundaries between us.

EPOV

I tore down the rink, eyes on the puck, but my head was somewhere else. The pass I'd just made was sloppy, way off target, and my teammate had to scramble to recover. I bit back a curse, trying to shake off the distraction. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, all I could think about was Bella.

Usually, women throw themselves at me. Hell, they practically beg for a glance, a smile, any scrap of attention I might toss their way. But Bella? She doesn't give a damn about any of that. Every time I turn on the charm, she just shrugs it off or throws a joke back in my face like I'm some regular guy, not the captain of the Seattle Storm. And for some reason, I can't get her out of my head.

"Cullen!" Coach Joel's voice cracked through the rink like a whip, jolting me back to reality. "Wake the hell up, or do you need an invitation to join us today?"

I clenched my jaw, giving him a quick nod, and tried to focus. But even as I pushed myself to skate harder, faster, Bella's teasing smile and those eyes that never seemed impressed with me were still there, haunting me.

After practice, I trudged into the locker room, pulling off my gear, frustration still eating at me. Emmett, my brother and our goalie, plopped down on the bench next to me, shaking his head.

"What the hell's going on with you?" he asked, grinning like he already knew it was something juicy. "You're playing like you've got two left feet out there."

I sighed, rubbing a hand through my hair. "Mum hired this woman to flip that old house of mine," I said. "Bella. She's gorgeous, man. But the problem is, she's got zero interest in me."

Emmett let out a bark of laughter. "So? Move on. There are plenty of other women in this city who'd love to have your attention. Why waste time on someone who doesn't?"

Before I could answer, Jasper, our best friend and teammate, piped up from across the locker room. He leaned back against the wall with a smirk, clearly eavesdropping. "Edward can't just move on," he said, a knowing glint in his eyes. "He needs the validation. If Bella's not falling at his feet, it's a challenge. And you know how our boy here loves a challenge."

I shot Jasper a glare, but I couldn't deny the truth of his words. It wasn't just about Bella ignoring me—it was that she wasn't playing by the usual rules. She didn't care about my status or my game. She was making me work for it, and damn if I didn't hate and love that all at once.

Emmett shook his head, laughing again. "Good luck with that, bro. Just don't let this woman screw with your game too much."

I forced a grin, but inside, I was already plotting my next move. I wasn't about to back down—not when the stakes were this high. Bella Swan was going to give in to me, one way or another. I just needed to figure out how to break through that wall she had built around herself. And if it took every bit of charm I had, so be it.