The Swede

by Maureen Smith

  “Yo, Viggo?”

  The sound of Scarlett’s voice jerked him out of the perfect little fantasy and back to the present. Back to reality.

  As she waved her hand in front of his face, he blinked dumbly at her. “Uh, what?”

  She gave him a quizzical smile. “Are you okay?”

  “Um. Yeah. Sure.” He swallowed tightly and ran a shaky hand through his hair. His palms were damp and his heart was racing. The image had been so vivid…so real. He could practically taste the salty tang of the sea and feel the warmth of Scarlett’s rounded belly.

  Shit. Fucking hell.

  She was grinning at him. “Dude, you have the weirdest look on your face right now.”

  “Do I?” he mumbled.

  “Yeah. You do.” Her eyes glimmered. “What’s up with you?”

  “Nothing.” To give himself something to do with his hands, he pulled out his phone and checked his notifications. A flight reminder for tomorrow’s away game in San Jose flashed on the screen. There was also an updated text from his agent, who was negotiating his new Rolex deal. The money looked good, and he was supposed to be shooting another ad soon.

  He had missed calls from his mom and his brother Rikard, and his sister Freya had texted to demand that he bring Scarlett home to be properly interrogated and vetted.

  That made him smile. It also deepened the ache in his chest.

  Lifting his head, he watched as Scarlett went into the living room and opened the plantation shutters to reveal a good-size backyard with an L-shaped pool. It was covered with a tarp for the winter.

  “They haven’t even seen the pool yet.” Grinning, Scarlett cupped her hands around her mouth and bellowed, “Hey, boys! Come check out the—”

  “Holy crap!” Traeger shouted from upstairs. “There’s a pool!”

  “No way!” the others exclaimed.

  They came stampeding down the stairs like a herd. “Pool party, baby!”

  “Hell yeah!”

  “Um, it’s winter,” Scarlett pointed out.

  That didn’t dampen their excitement. Hooting and high-fiving, they headed out the back door to investigate their new pool and explore the backyard.

  Viggo grinned as he joined Scarlett at the window. “They’re staying in Denver.”

  “Think so?”

  “Yep. The pool sealed the deal.”

  She laughed. “You might be right.”

  They stood watching her bandmates for a few moments. Then Scarlett turned and looped her arms around Viggo’s neck, smiling into his eyes. “You’re my hero, you know that?”

  He grinned, gathering her close. “Are you gonna write a song about me?”

  Smiling mysteriously, she leaned up on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, “Maybe I already have….”

  * * *

  Viggo played like shit against San Jose. There was no sugarcoating it. He sucked balls.

  As expected, the media gave him hell for it. Not only did he have a bad game, it was also the fourth game in a row where he hadn’t scored a goal—a long drought by his standards. He had to answer a bunch of annoying questions about his “scoring slump,” and fans were nervously wondering when they should start panicking.

  Never one to miss an opportunity to talk trash, Jöran tweeted Viggo after the San Jose debacle: Offensive juggernaut? I think not. #overrated

  Because Viggo was already in a shitty mood, the tweet got under his skin. He wanted to clap back. He wanted to lay a savage verbal smackdown on his old foe, and it probably would have felt fucking fantastic. But he knew he’d be playing right into Jöran’s hands, giving him the attention he pathetically craved. So even though it took all his self-control not to respond, that was exactly what he did. He knew his continued silence would eat away at Jöran, and that gave him some satisfaction.

  Over drinks at a local bar after the game, Reid scoffed at the notion that Viggo was in a scoring slump. “Every damn player goes through periods where things just aren’t going our way. We play eighty-two games a year. It’s a long fucking season. Just because you haven’t lit the lamp the past four games doesn’t mean the damn sky is falling. I mean, you might not be scoring goals right now, but you’re still making assists and racking up points. Anyone who says you’re in a scoring slump has no fucking clue what they’re talking about.”

  “I know,” Viggo grumbled.

  “Yeah? So why do you look worried?”

  “I’m not worried,” he lied.

  Reid studied his face in the dim bar light. “Everything okay with Scarlett?”

  Viggo smiled for the first time that day. “I’ve got no complaints.”

  “I bet you don’t, especially now that she’s shacking up with you.” Reid grinned. “Now you know why I’m always in such a damn hurry to get back home after away games. There’s nothing like coming home to a sweet, beautiful woman who’s been missing your company.”

  “No kidding.” Viggo chuckled, taking a swig of beer. He couldn’t wait to return home to Scarlett tomorrow, couldn’t wait to get her alone and naked.

  A burst of feminine laughter drew his attention to a nearby table where some hot blonde in a miniskirt was grinding on Logan’s lap. His face was buried in her tits, his beefy paws gripping her ass as she giggled and cooed. Logan had played only marginally better than Viggo tonight, so he planned to fuck his cares away. Which was pretty much par for the course with him.

  “Anyway,” Reid continued, slapping Viggo on the back. “Fuck the media. You’ve been having a monster season, so any drop off in performance is gonna make headlines. But don’t panic, bro, and don’t change what you’re doing. Just stay focused and things will turn around.”

  Coach hadn’t been as comforting as Reid. After the game he’d pulled Viggo aside, gripped him by his shoulder and growled warningly, “Get your shit together, Sandström. This season is too fucking important for you to be fading under pressure. We’re all counting on you, so get that monkey off your back before it becomes an eight-hundred-pound gorilla.”

  Viggo had clenched his jaw and mumbled, “Got it, Coach.”

  Later that night, he was awakened by a text message from his grandfather: Never forget who you are and what you are made of.

  He stared at the words for a long time, his gut churning as memories swirled like a tornado.

  He then deleted the text, threw on some sweats, left the hotel and went running. He ran so fast his eyes burned and his chest ached. He ran until his blood pounded so violently he could taste it in his mouth. He ran until his sides were heaving so hard that he doubled over and puked up his guts on the pavement.

  He was still in a dark mood hours later when the team plane touched down in Denver. Once the bus dropped them off at the arena, he jumped into his truck and headed straight to the studio where Scarlett and her bandmates were working on their next album. He was tired and grouchy, so he probably should have gone home first and taken a nap. But he couldn’t wait another second to see his baby. One look at her would calm his spirit and chase the dark clouds from his mind.

  When he arrived at the studio, he was escorted to the control room where Scarlett and her bandmates were recording. They were in an enclosed glass booth wearing headphones as they grooved their way through a pulsating power ballad.

  Seth, the producer, sat at an elaborate mixing console that featured a complex network of buttons and controls. Sporting hipster glasses with black plastic frames, he glanced over his shoulder at Viggo and grinned broadly. “Hey, man, what’s up?”

  “Hey, Seth,” Viggo greeted him, exchanging warm handshakes. “Good to see you, man.”

  “Same, bro.” Seth gestured to the empty chair beside him.

  Viggo sat down, staring at Scarlett and her bandmates inside the glass booth. They saw him and flashed quick smiles, which he returned before asking Seth, “So how’s it going?”

  “Pretty good. They’re awesome. All of them.” Seth nodded toward Scarlett. “She’s fucking phenomenal.”

 
“She is.” A soft smile touched Viggo’s lips. “Absolutely.”

  Scarlett stood at the mic singing about an intoxicating lover who stole her heart and made off like a bandit. The song was called “The Heist.” It was sexy and raw, powerfully showcasing her vocals and Gage’s lead guitar, with haunting little notes from Zander’s keyboard.

  Seth shook his head wonderingly. “How are they not signed to a major label?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” Viggo murmured, meeting Scarlett’s dark gaze.

  She was powering through the song in a throaty growl that he felt down to his toes. As he listened to the yearning lyrics, he couldn’t help wondering if she’d written the song about him.

  “Would you run if you knew how long I’ve waited? If you knew how long I’ve dreamed? Would you run if you knew you’ve always belonged to me?”

  A shiver zipped down Viggo’s spine, heating his blood. As he stood there watching Scarlett through the glass and soaking up her voice, he realized he could no longer deny what his heart had been telling him.

  He was in love with her. Head over fucking heels. He loved her and he needed her like nothing he’d ever needed in his life. The intensity of his feelings rocked him down to his soul, leaving him stunned and breathless.

  As the song ended with a crash of electric guitar chords, Seth pressed the talkback button and spoke into the mic, “Great work, guys. Wanna break for ten?”

  The band members grinned and gave the thumbs-up.

  Seth sat back, turning to Viggo with a grin. “I know some record label execs who might be interested in them. I’m gonna put some feelers out there and see what happens.”

  “Awesome, man.” Viggo clapped him warmly on the back. “I’m forever in your debt.”

  Seth’s grin widened. “Just pay me a finder’s fee and we’ll call it even.”

  Viggo laughed, rising from the chair. “You got a deal.”

  Scarlett came out of the booth and leaped into his arms. He laughed as he caught her and swung her around. Her amazing scent filled his head, intoxicating his senses as her lush curves melted into him. He closed his eyes for one blissful moment, squeezing her in his arms before setting her back down on her feet.

  She grinned up at him, her beautiful eyes shining. “Dude, it’s crazy how much I miss you when you’re gone.”

  His heart swelled. “Same.”

  Her curly black hair was scraped into a bun on top of her head, silver hoops dancing in her ears. She was wearing ripped jeans and a loose off-the-shoulder shirt with sleeves that flared out from the elbows. God, she was a sight for sore eyes.

  As her bandmates came out of the booth to chat with Seth, she grabbed Viggo’s hand and led him out into the hallway.

  “Thank you sooo much for arranging this,” she gushed excitedly. “The studio is awesome, and Seth has been great to work with!”

  Viggo grinned. “He’s pretty impressed with you, too. And no wonder. You guys sounded incredible. I love what I’ve heard so far.”

  “Thank you!” She beamed with appreciation. “The fellas are amazing—”

  “They are, and so are you.” He toyed with a stray curl on her forehead, giving her a sly smile. “Any chance that ‘The Heist’ was inspired by someone you know?”

  Her smile was enigmatic. “Maybe.”

  He grinned. “I think it was.”

  She poked him in the chest and sang saucily, “You’re so vain. You probably think this song is about you….”

  He laughed. “Ooh, burn.”

  She grinned, looping one arm around his neck. “Seriously, though. Before we met, I had been struggling with an epic case of writer’s block for weeks. I was totally freaking out. And then I met you and…well, the words and melodies just started pouring out of me. I felt so inspired.” Her eyes sparkled up at him. “I guess you could say you’re my muse.”

  Viggo felt his heart catch in his chest. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Me, too.” She grinned. “But I don’t wanna go overboard with the mushy-feely stuff. The guys have already been teasing me about going soft on them.”

  Viggo laughed. “Can’t have that.”

  “No. We can’t.” She sobered, her eyes softening and sweeping over his face. “I’m really sorry about the game. Are you okay?”

  His chest tightened, but he nodded.

  She didn’t look convinced. “Maybe—”

  “Let’s talk about it later.” He smiled to soften his words. “We can rehash the lowlights when I get back from morning skate tomorrow. Right now I just need a break from hockey.”

  Holy crap. Did those words really just come out of my mouth? A break from hockey???

  Scarlett searched his eyes a moment longer, then nodded and tenderly palmed his face. “You look a little tired. You should go home and get some rest.”

  “Nah, I’m staying. I wanna hear some more songs.” Her loose top hung off one shoulder, luring him to lean down and kiss her silky skin. Feeling her shiver against his lips, he closed his eyes and breathed her in like a drug.

  She gave a little sigh of pleasure. “The fellas invited us over for dinner tonight to celebrate our first day of recording.”

  “Yeah?” Viggo began kissing his way up her neck. “I was hoping to have you all to myself tonight.”

  “That’s what I figured.” He could hear a smile in her voice.

  “I don’t mean to be selfish, but we’re apart so often—”

  “I know. I feel the same way. I need you so much.”

  His dick jumped at her words. “I don’t have a game on Friday, so let’s throw the fellas a big party,” he murmured, nuzzling beneath her earlobe. “It can be at our place or—”

  “Our place?” Her voice was warm with awed pleasure.

  “Yes. Our place.” He smiled, kissing along her jaw. “We’ll invite our friends and some of my teammates. Logan can bring some girls—”

  “What?” Scarlett jerked back to glare at him. “No bunnies.”

  He laughed. “They’re not for me. They’re for your bandmates.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “C’mon. It’d make them happy. Especially Traeger.”

  Her lips twitched. “True.”

  “Plus you don’t want them to feel left out while mostly everyone else is coupled up. Reid and Nadia, Nelson and Bianca, Luke and Ana, Lennox and Cooper—”

  Her expression grew tender. He’d hit her soft spot.

  He bent his head and kissed her before she had time to close her eyes. His eyes stayed open as well as he watched her watching him, savoring the powerful connection they shared.

  She was too good to be true. She had to be.

  She would probably break his fucking heart, mangle it all to shreds.

  But it didn’t matter. He was too far gone to turn back. She had him out there on the ledge and he was ready. Ready to step over the edge and fall into forever with her.

  Chapter 30

  Scarlett

  Live and Let Live

  * * *

  The following weekend, Nadia’s cousins came for a visit from Hampton, Virginia.

  Leilani, Trinity, Jade and Kandace were Aunt Eden’s nieces—the daughters of her two siblings. Nadia and Scarlett had grown up with the girls, hanging out during summer vacations when the Warners visited Hampton. Which was where Aunt Eden and Scarlett’s mother were born and raised.

  In addition to Leilani, Trinity, Jade, Kandace and several others, Scarlett and Nadia also hung out with Scarlett’s cousins on her mom’s side. The whole group would go to the beach together and spend hours at the mall flirting with boys. Out of all the Hampton cousins, Nadia had been closest to Leilani, Trinity, Jade and Kandace. So it was only natural that she would ask them to be her bridesmaids.

  On the morning of their arrival, Nadia and Scarlett picked them up from the airport in Reid’s Lincoln Navigator, which was roomy enough to seat everyone. They had just pulled up to the terminal when the foursome came strutting out like
runway models in designer trench coats and high-heeled leather boots.

  Nadia and Scarlett got out to greet them, setting off a flurry of excited squeals, big hugs and exuberant kisses. Like Scarlett, Leilani was rocking long goddess faux locs, so they were thoroughly delighted when they saw each other.

  “You look even more like Meagan Good with your hair like this,” Scarlett teased.

  Leilani laughed. “That’s what everyone keeps telling me.”

  “It’s true.” Leilani was practically a dead ringer for the gorgeous actress, pouty pucker and all.

  After the greetings were out of the way and the bags had been loaded into the back, everyone hopped inside the Navigator.

  Kandace wasted no time throwing shade. “This is really nice, Nadia, but I thought for sure your man would be balling in an Escalade.”

  Nadia and Scarlett gave each other an amused look that said, Here we go.

  Scarlett and Kandace had always butted heads, coming to blows a few times when they were teenagers. Although Scarlett had promised to behave herself and not get into an argument with Kandace, she knew her patience would be tested before the day was over.

  Nadia’s cousins were eager to see her wedding venue, so that was the first order of business. The château was an hour outside Denver, so they had plenty of time to play catch-up on the way.

  When Nadia finally pulled up to the secluded mountain property, her cousins’ jaws dropped. With good reason.

  The château sat on a high cliff that overlooked a river gorge with cascading waterfalls. It was utterly enchanting, like something out of a fairy tale.

  Huddled in their warm winter coats, they took a tour of the elegant château and grounds, oohing and aahing at the beauty surrounding them. It was the perfect setting for what was sure to be a breathtakingly romantic wedding.

  “You guys should see where Scarlett wants to get married,” Nadia announced as they were strolling around. “It’s this charming seventeenth-century castle in Sweden. She wants a winter wonderland wedding, and I’m sure Viggo would spare no expense giving her the wedding of her dreams.”