Three Strikes You're In Love: Practically Perfect Heroes Short Story

In the Practically Perfect Heroes universe, love is a game of three strikes. Each hero is allowed three failed attempts at finding their perfect match before they are banished to the dreaded Isle of Misfits. But when it comes to the enigmatic and alluring Anya Petrova, even the most skilled heroes might find themselves outmatched.

Anya is a woman of mystery. She is beautiful, intelligent, and independent. She is also fiercely protective of her heart, having been burned by love in the past. As a result, she has developed a set of strict rules that she uses to judge potential suitors.

Three Strikes...You're in Love (Practically Perfect Heroes Short Story Series Book 1)

by Nancy Goldberg Levine

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	206 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	19 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Strike one: If a hero is too predictable, Anya will quickly lose interest. She wants a man who can surprise her, who can keep her on her toes. Strike two: If a hero is too possessive, Anya will feel suffocated. She needs a man who respects her independence and gives her the space to be herself. Strike three: If a hero is not completely honest with her, Anya will never forgive him. She demands transparency and authenticity in all of her relationships.

So far, no hero has been able to meet Anya's exacting standards. But that doesn't mean they've stopped trying. In fact, the more she resists, the more determined they become to win her heart.

The latest hero to fall victim to Anya's charms is Captain Jack Carter. Jack is a skilled swordsman and a charismatic leader. He is also a hopeless romantic, and he is convinced that Anya is the woman he has been waiting for his entire life.

Jack is determined to avoid the mistakes of his predecessors. He knows that he needs to be unpredictable, respectful, and honest. But even with his best efforts, he can't seem to break through Anya's defenses.

Just when Jack is about to give up, he learns that Anya has a secret crush on him. But there's a catch: she's afraid to act on her feelings because she doesn't want to risk getting hurt.

Jack is torn. He knows that he can't force Anya to love him. But he also can't bear the thought of losing her. So he decides to take a risk. He confesses his feelings to her, and he promises to be patient and understanding.

Anya is surprised by Jack's confession. She didn't realize that he felt the same way about her. But she's still hesitant to give him a chance. She's afraid of getting hurt, and she doesn't want to jeopardize their friendship.

Jack is willing to wait for Anya. He knows that she needs time to process her feelings. But he's also confident that he can win her heart. He's a Practically Perfect Hero, after all. And Practically Perfect Heroes always get their girl.

Or do they?

Strike One

Jack had been courting Anya for weeks, but he still hadn't managed to get past her defenses. He was starting to get frustrated. He knew that he needed to do something drastic if he wanted to win her heart.

One night, he decided to take Anya on a surprise adventure. He blindfolded her and drove her to a secluded spot in the woods. When he finally removed the blindfold, Anya was amazed to find herself standing in front of a beautiful waterfall.

"Jack, this is amazing!" she exclaimed. "How did you know I loved waterfalls?"

Jack smiled. "I've been paying attention," he said. "I know that you're a nature lover, and I thought this would be a perfect place for a picnic."

Anya was touched by Jack's thoughtfulness. She had never met a man who was so attuned to her needs.

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing. Anya felt a connection to Jack that she had never felt with anyone else. But just when she was starting to let her guard down, Jack made a mistake.

He reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Anya pulled her hand away instinctively.

"Jack," she said, "I'm not ready for that."

Jack was taken aback. He didn't realize that Anya was still so hesitant to be physical. He quickly apologized and promised to respect her boundaries.

But the damage had been done. Anya had already counted that as strike one.

Strike Two

Anya was starting to warm up to Jack, but she still wasn't ready to give him her heart. She needed more time to get to know him and to make sure that he was truly worthy of her love.

One day, Jack asked Anya if she would like to go on a date to the opera. Anya hesitated. She wasn't sure if she was ready for a formal date, but she didn't want to hurt Jack's feelings.

"I'm not sure," she said. "I've never been to the opera before."

"That's okay," Jack said. "I'll be there to guide you through it."

Anya agreed to go on the date. She was hoping that it would be a chance for her to get to know Jack better.

But the date turned out to be a disaster. Jack was so focused on impressing Anya that he forgot to be himself. He talked about his accomplishments and his plans for the future, but he never really listened to what Anya had to say.

Anya was bored and disappointed. She realized that Jack was not the man she thought he was.

When the date was over, Jack walked Anya to her door and tried to kiss her. Anya turned her head away.

"I'm sorry, Jack," she said. "I'm not interested."

Jack was heartbroken. He didn't understand why Anya had changed her mind about him.

But Anya knew that she had made the right decision. Jack was too possessive and too focused on himself. He was not the man she was looking for.

Anya had just given Jack strike two.

Strike Three

Anya was starting to think that she would never find a man who could meet her standards. She was about to give up on love when she met Dr. Ethan James.

Ethan was a brilliant scientist and a kind and compassionate man. He was everything that Jack was not.

Anya was immediately drawn to Ethan. She loved his intelligence, his sense of humor, and his quiet confidence.

Ethan was also drawn to Anya. He admired her intelligence, her independence, and her strength.

They started dating, and things quickly became serious. Anya had never been so happy in her life.

But then, Ethan made a mistake.

One day, Anya found a letter that Ethan had written to his ex-girlfriend. In the letter, Ethan confessed that he still loved her and that he had never stopped thinking about her.

Anya was devastated. She couldn't believe that Ethan had lied to her. She had trusted him completely, and he had betrayed her.

Anya confronted Ethan about the letter. He tried to explain, but it was too late. Anya had already counted that as strike three.

Anya broke up with Ethan and never spoke

Three Strikes...You're in Love (Practically Perfect Heroes Short Story Series Book 1)

by Nancy Goldberg Levine

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	206 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	19 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE