The Playmaker (Players on Ice Book 1)

by Cathryn Fox

  He groans. “Want to take this upstairs? Work on those other moves for your book?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  With heat flushing my skin, despite the air conditioning on blast, we climb from the sofa and head toward the stairs—but a loud noise at his front door startles us, and we both turn.

  My heart jumps into my throat when I see a pretty blonde, obviously dyed, burst into Cole’s place like she owns it. A wide smile splits her lips when her gaze latches onto Cole, and I slink backward, shrink into myself at the unexpected invasion.

  “Surprise!” she says, and throws her arms up in the air as she rushes to him.

  “What are you doing here?” Cole asks. He picks the girl up, even though he shouldn’t be exerting himself, and spins her as he gives her a big hug. Honest to God, I’ve never seen him light up like this before.

  A knot forms in my stomach, a new kind of tightness crawls into my dry throat. Who the hell is this girl, and why are they so happy to see each other? He said he didn’t have a girlfriend, but from the way they’re hugging, looking one another over, I’m beginning to question everything.

  Uncomfortable with their open display of affection, I glance around, look for the quickest exit.

  “I thought I’d surprise you,” the girl says, and rustles Cole’s dark hair. She’s tall, like him, totally dwarfs me, and I take another step backward.

  “You surprised the shit out of me.” Cole tugs her ponytail and drops a kiss onto her forehead. “You’re the last person I expected to see come barreling through my door. How did you—”

  She holds her key up, and then drops it into her purse. “You gave me a key, remember?”

  Oh, God, he gave her a key. I really need to get out of here.

  She frowns, sadness in her brown eyes. “I would have come sooner…damn work. I had a big case going before the courts. But I got here as fast as I could. I figured you’d be getting cabin fever by now and could use the company. Plus, I wanted to be here to take care of you.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “I hear a congrats is in order. Listened to the game in the car on the way over here. Luke did awesome.”

  “Thanks. The whole team did.”

  Cole blinks, like he suddenly remembers I’m there, and he turns to see me backing up toward the stairs. “Nina,” he says. “This is—”

  Before he can introduce the girl, a guy comes in carrying a big suitcase. The pretty blonde turns and grabs his hands. “I hope you don’t mind, Cole, but I brought Jack with me.”

  As Jack stands there, gazing at Cole like he’s larger than life—clearly he’s a fan—Cole goes oddly quiet for a moment, shoulders squared, body tense.

  I take him in, my mind racing a million miles an hour. I’ve seen that look on him before. Once at the grocery store, after the crowd dispersed, and again when I asked him why he didn’t hire someone to cook and clean for him. I mull it over as the muscles in his jaw ripple—and that’s when it hits me.

  Maybe it’s not so much about being famous, and more about having a hard time with people in his space.

  “Cut it out, Jack.” The girl whacks Jack in the gut, hard. “Yeah, he’s big-shot hockey player, but here, in this house, he’s just my brother, so quit gawking.”

  Of course! This is Cole’s twin sister.

  I should have realized it the second she came barreling in. Why didn’t I? Oh, because Cole’s a player and has probably given out many keys.

  Then again, in all the time I’ve been here, not one girl has stopped by.

  Cole relaxes and holds his hand out. “Nice to meet you, Jack.”

  “Same,” Jack says. He takes Cole’s hand, and as they stand next to one another, I can’t help but compare. Jack is tall, good-looking and well built, but he’s no Cole. He looks a bit uncomfortable when he says, “I hope you don’t mind us just showing up like this.”

  “I’ll take Tabby anytime I can get her.” He frowns at his sister and breaks the handshake, his fingers curling at his sides. “I just didn’t know she had a boyfriend,” he adds through clenched teeth.

  His sister waves a dismissive hand. “Jesus, Cole, don’t go getting all barbaric big brother on me. I’m all grown up now.” Tabby exchanges a look with me. “Am I right or am I right? You, of all people, know what I’m talking about.”

  I do?

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Cole captures my hand, drags me to his side. “Tabby, do you remember Nina?”

  Tabby arches one brow. “Of course. How could I ever forget Nina Callaghan?”

  “You were a couple grades above me in high school. I’d seen you around, but we never officially met,” I say, and hold my hand out to her, noting how her features and hair had changed over the years. “I wasn’t sure you knew who I was.”

  She stares at my hand for a moment, and I shift awkwardly from foot to foot. Um, is she not going to exchange a handshake? Is she upset to find me here with her brother?

  She shoves my hand away and brings me in for a hug.

  “I course I know who you are. Your brother was Luke. Everyone knew who you were.” After a big hug, she glares at her brother. “Look at that Cole, I didn’t go all barbaric just because you have a girlfriend.”

  “I’m not his girlfriend,” I say quickly. “He’s just helping me with a problem.”

  Tabby laughs. “Yeah, I bet he is,” she says with a wink.

  “It’s true, I am helping her, and yes, we’re sleeping together,” Cole says, deadpan, and my gaze darts to his to find him looking at me, gauging my reaction, his body tense, his muscles frozen in place.

  I blink at his words, at how he laid it all out on the line like that. But why would he do that? This was supposed to be a secret. Then again, he has a bond with his sister, and the two probably keep no secrets. I just hope she doesn’t think I’m some puck bunny who sleeps with all the players.

  “No shit, captain obvious,” Tabby says, and when she loops her arm through mine, it’s my turn to freeze. She gives me a tug to set me in motion. “Come on, Nina.” I relax as she drags me across the wide expanse of the room, and as I follow along, I feel an instant connection with Cole’s twin. “Let’s go raid the fridge, I’m starving.”

  She practically skips to the kitchen, leaving her boyfriend and my…friend…to talk.

  My friend?

  Yeah, Cole and I have become friends over the last week. A little laugh catches in my throat. I guess I’ve worked out a lot of the anger through sex.

  She reaches for the fridge, and casts a glance my way. “So, you and my brother, huh?”

  “It’s just a temporary thing.” For some reason, I feel the need to explain. “You see, I’m writing a hockey romance…” Her eyes go wide and my words fall off.

  “You write romance, now?” I nod. “Ohmigod, that is so cool!”

  “You’re a lawyer. That’s cool.”

  She frowns. “It’s not so cool. Hey listen, I wanted to tell you I was sorry about your accident.”

  Her words catch me by surprise, and my head rears back “How did you know about that?”

  “Cole told me.” She frowns. “He called me after it happened. He was a mess.”

  My heart trips up. My injury was so important to him, he called his sister? He was a mess? “Really?”

  “Yeah. I really am sorry. He said you were an amazing skater. He told me you were his Pretty BallerNina. Cute name.”

  Why do I suddenly not hate it anymore?

  “You know, if it weren’t for you and Luke growing up….” As her words trail, her body stiffens, and I can’t help but think how similar she and Cole are in their mannerisms and body language. “I’m just happy to see him so happy.” She plasters on a smile. “So tell me about your books. I want to download them,” she says, shifting gears so fast, it catches me by surprise, even though it shouldn’t. Cole does the same thing.

  But what was she going to say? What if it weren’t for me and Luke growing up? Wh
at was she getting at?

  As she stares at me, waiting for an answer, my brains snaps back. “Cole has them all in paperback.” I gesture with a nod. “In the library.”

  Her jaw drops. “Cole reads your books?”

  “Apparently.”

  She shuts the fridge and looks at me—really looks at me. A small smile quirks her lips, like she knows something I don’t. She opens her mouth, but shuts it when Cole and Jack saunter into the room.

  “What is all this, Cole?” she asks, and pulls the fridge open again and looks over the fresh produce and meats. “Since when did you start cooking?”

  “I cook for him,” I say, and that little grin of hers returns.

  “Thanks for taking care of him, Nina. I got here as soon as I could, and if you want a break from the duties, I’m totally here to help.”

  “No,” I say quickly. “I don’t mind. Plus, Cole is helping.” I cast a glance at Cole. “He’s becoming a pretty good cook.”

  Tabby looks at her watch. “As much as I’d like to put that to the test, it’s too late to start cooking. How about we order a pizza?”

  Cole nods in agreement. “Please…” he says, his eyes big, his look boyish as he pleads. “I’ve been eating healthy all week.”

  I laugh and grab my phone off the table. “What does everyone want?”

  After I get the orders, Cole tosses his arm over his sister’s shoulders, and she grabs Jack’s hand. “Let’s get you settled in your room.”

  She says something back, but I can’t hear it as they exit the kitchen. Whatever it was, it must have been funny, because they’re all laughing. My heart wobbles at their closeness as I punch in the number to the local pizza joint. There’s a big part of me that wants that kind of close relationship with my family.

  Once done, I make my way back to the living room and flop down on the sofa. I flick the TV back on, waiting downstairs so they can all have their privacy upstairs. I half watch the show, and half go over all my notes from the games we’ve watched together, but every time I hear a laugh from the upstairs bedroom, my heart squeezes. Their closeness is so nice, and makes me long to have that with Luke, my parents.

  When they all come back downstairs, Tabby has a bathing suit in her hands, and Jack has swim shorts on and a towel over his shoulder.

  “Who’s up for a swim?” she asks. “It was a long-ass flight, and I know Jack and I need to stretch out.”

  “Pizza will be about thirty minutes, so we have time,” I say and stand. “I’ll grab my suit.”

  “I’ll help,” Cole says with a grin.

  Tabby rolls her eyes, wry amusement on her face when she says, “We’ll meet you out there.”

  I dart up the stairs with Cole and he has a perma-smile on his face. “You miss her a lot, don’t you?”

  We both go to his room, since I moved my stuff into it a week ago, and I pull my bathing suit from the drawer, the one-piece he’d given me that first night. I like the way it fits, so I didn’t bother bringing my own.

  “Yeah, it makes me happy to see her doing so well, considering…”

  I’m about to ask what he means, but then understanding dawns. It couldn’t have been easy for either of them growing up without a mother. It breaks my heart to think she just left one day without so much as a backward glance. At least that’s what Luke had told me. A sound of disgust catches in my throat.

  “Cole,” I say and put my hand on his back as he pulls on his swim shorts. “I’m so sorry about your mom.”

  He turns to me, his brow furrowed. “You never had it easy either, Nina.”

  “Yeah, but I had a mom. I know she cared, she just didn’t know how to show it.”

  He cups my chin, and places the softest, sweetest kiss on my mouth. “As much as I want you in my bed—and believe me, I’ll have you there before the night is over—let’s get outside. I want to spend as much time with my sister as I can.” His nostrils flare, and his big fingers flex. “I also need to get to know this Jack better.”

  I laugh. “I’m pretty sure your sister is a good judge of character and can take care of herself.” I undress quickly, and Cole lets loose a tortured moan as I shed my clothes and pull on my suit.

  “Yeah, well you’re not a big brother, so you don’t get it.”

  That makes me think of Luke. I guess he was protective, but I’d never seen him go into barbaric mode like Cole.

  “Aren’t you the same age?”

  “I was born one minute before her, so that makes me her big brother.”

  “Whatever you say.” I adjust my straps and tie my hair up. “I’m ready.”

  “Me too,” Cole says and glances down. I follow his gaze to find his swim shorts tented. I giggle. “Again with the laughing at inappropriate times. I’m hard, Nina,” he growls, his voice dark and tortured as he rakes his fingers through his hair. “How the hell can I join my sister and her boyfriend in the pool like this?”

  “You can’t. And since this,” I pause and put my hand over his cock, “is because of me,” I drop to my knees in front of him, “the least I could do is help you with it.” I grin up at him. “From the looks of things, it won’t take long.” I tug on his shorts to free his cock, and take him into my mouth.

  “Sweet fuck,” he growls, and twists his fingers through my hair.

  I take him deep, swirl my tongue around his swollen crown, and cup his balls. He grows thicker in my mouth, his veins filling with blood, and I know he’s there, right there. I moan, wanting to taste him, to savor his flavor for the rest of the night. My body warms with need as I pleasure him, but the night won’t end with an orgasm or two from me. Cole is a man of his word and will see to that.

  I work my mouth and hand in tandem, and he tugs on my hair, but I’ll have none of that. “I’m there,” he growls, and I keep my mouth on him when he releases. His cum fills my mouth, and I swallow every last drop, staying between his legs to milk him dry.

  When he finally stops spasming, I glance up to see him, and the warmth in his eyes as he gazes back flips my heart inside out.

  “That was…”

  “Fun?” I say.

  “Yeah, fun and—” His voice falls off at the loud splash and squealing sound coming from outside.

  “We’d better get out there.” He helps me to my feet, and I wait as he adjusts his bathing shorts. I’m about to leave when he puts his mouth to my ear and says, “Tonight, you’re all mine.”

  “I know,” I say, a part of me wishing I was his tonight, tomorrow…forever.

  Oh, God.

  We make our way outside, and as I approach the pool, Cole scoops me up.

  “Don’t you dare,” I say. He gives me a mischievous look. “Cole, put me down. Your concussion, remember?”

  He frowns. “Fine, but when I get the all clear, you’d better watch out.”

  With those words of warning, I jump into the pool, and the cool water feels refreshing against my warm skin.

  I surface in the deep end and Tabby swims to me. “Nice suit. Glad to see someone is getting use out of it.”

  “You mean it’s yours?”

  “Yeah, Cole bought it, if you can believe it. He likes to have everything stocked for me when I come, but it didn’t fit. It wasn’t long enough in the body. It looks good on you, though.”

  Cole bought this for his sister, not some bunny?

  “What?” Tabby asks when I go quiet.

  “I guess I just thought he bought it for one of his girlfriends.”

  She angles her head. “How well do you know my brother?”

  “I’ve known him since…forever.”

  “Yeah, but how well do you know him? Like, who he really is?”

  Who he really is?

  I’ve known him my whole life, but after spending so much time with him, I’m beginning to believe there’s another side of him, one he hides from the world for reasons I don’t understand. But glimpses of that Cole sneak out from time to time, even though I get the sense he doesn’t wan
t them too.

  “I guess not that well.”

  She gives me a smile. “I’m assuming that’s all going to change.”

  “When we finish—”

  “He would never have a suit here for a bunny. He doesn’t bring girls to his home, Nina.”

  “Oh,” I say, oddly delighted by that. Far more than I should be.

  She slides me a sly grin. “But he invited you.”

  I spread my arms, and water skims beneath my fingers, creating ripples in the pool. “I sort of invited myself, actually. And I’m guessing he’s just doing his best friend a solid by helping out his kid sister.”

  Don’t read more into it, Nina.

  “He’s not who the world thinks he is,” Tabby says, her voice low, a little sad.

  “What are you two whispering about?” Cole asks as he surfaces in front of us.

  “You,” Tabby says and splashes him.

  “Hey,” he says and lunges for Tabby. He grabs his sister and as he dunks her, he shoots a glance my way, a devilish grin on his handsome face. “Lies, all lies,” he says. “You can’t believe anything she says.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

  Tabby comes up sputtering. “Cole, I’m going to kill you!” As Cole swims away, I shake my head to get it on right. No way, no how, can I for one second believe there is a deeper reason that Cole invited me into his home.

  12

  Cole

  With water dripping from my shorts, I hurry inside the house, grab my wallet off the table and meet the delivery guy at the front door. I turn the money over and he hands me three extra-large pizzas. Guess Nina must have thought we were all starving. She wasn’t wrong.

  “Ooh, food,” Tabby says, and lifts a box when I set them on the kitchen counter. “Smells delish.”

  “I’ll get the plates,” Nina says, and reaches into the cupboard, looking so natural in my kitchen, it hits like a punch to the gut. I can’t take my eyes off her as she stretches, her towel lifting slightly, exposing the soft curve of her backside as she reaches over her head. She sets the plates and four tumblers on the counter. “I’m going to get changed first, I’m freezing. Cole keeps this place like a meat locker.”