Wicked Games (Denver Rebels)

by Maureen Smith

  Six, Nadia noted absently. His number is six.

  As he came closer, she could see the piercing blue of his eyes.

  And then suddenly he lifted his head and looked right at her.

  Her breath caught in her throat.

  Reid visibly slowed down, his eyes locked on hers.

  A few seconds.

  That was how long the connection lasted.

  The space of three heartbeats. Maybe four.

  It wasn’t long. But it affected Nadia more profoundly than anything she’d experienced in a very long time.

  As she and Reid stared at each other, she felt an unmistakable pull between them, an invisible cord drawing them together. She was breathing too hard, she realized, and her heart was doing a weird little tap dance in her chest.

  And then he smiled.

  A slow, purely wicked smile that had her thighs clenching together.

  It was only when he looked away that she was able to breathe normally again.

  As he skated past her, she swallowed hard and glanced over her shoulder. She half expected to see a gorgeous blonde or brunette with big blue eyes and big breasts sitting behind her. Those were the types of women Reid Holden preferred, the types he was photographed with at black-tie events and the wild parties he attended. Busty bimbos were what caught his eye, not conservatively dressed college recruiters.

  Surely he’d been looking at someone other than Nadia. But when she glanced behind her, all she saw were two middle-aged men with beer bellies and receding hairlines.

  Not exactly Reid’s type.

  So he had been looking at her.

  Blushing at the thought, Nadia reached up and self-consciously smoothed a hand down her ponytail. She wondered what Reid had seen when he’d looked at her. She wondered if he’d found her attractive in her white blouse, tailored gray slacks and sensible low-heeled pumps. Was that why he’d smiled at her? Because he liked what he saw?

  Why do you care?

  I don’t, she told herself.

  She wasn’t into jocks. She preferred sensitive intellectual types who shared her love of books and indie films. The first jock she’d ever dated was the second-string running back on her high school football team. They’d met in U.S. history class and struck up a rapport. Greg was cute and funny, and unlike most of the other athletes who’d strutted around school like they owned the place, he’d seemed like a genuinely nice guy. But she should have known better.

  One day after school while they were studying for a major history test at the local library, Greg had reached under her skirt and roughly groped her through her panties. She was so shocked and appalled that she’d jumped out of her chair and slapped him across the face. He hadn’t taken her rebuff very well. The next day at school, he’d started a nasty rumor that she was an undercover freak who enjoyed violent gangbangs. Every time she’d passed his friends and teammates in the hallway, they’d leered at her, made kissing noises and crudely propositioned her. She was so hurt and humiliated, she thought she’d never live it down.

  The harassment stopped only after Nelson got suspended from school for fighting Greg, which caused their outraged parents to intervene. As a result, Greg was kicked off the football team, and he and his comrades were warned to stay away from Nadia.

  After that painful experience, she should have sworn off jocks for good. But, no, she’d had to go and date a popular basketball player during her sophomore year in college. Once again, he’d fooled her into believing he was a nice guy who could be trusted. As soon as she gave up her V card, he’d dumped her, leaving her heartbroken and humiliated beyond belief.

  A glutton for punishment, it would take one more nightmarish experience to serve as her wakeup call.

  Now, at twenty-five, she was a little older and wiser, so she knew better than to fall for a hard body and athletic prowess. Give her brains over brawn any day.

  “Man, I’d kill to get an interview with him.”

  Nadia swiveled her head around to stare at her brother. She’d almost forgotten he was there, and apparently he’d missed The Moment between her and Reid. Thank God.

  “Who are you talking about?” she asked him.

  “Reid Holden,” Nelson answered. “I’d love to get a quote from him for my column. My editor would be impressed as hell, and Garrett would have a damn fit.”

  Garrett was the Dispatch’s hockey beat writer, the guy who should have been there tonight instead of Nelson. “Why would he have a fit if you quoted Reid Holden in your column?”

  “Because Reid doesn’t talk to reporters.”

  Nadia raised an eyebrow. “Ever?”

  “Ever.” Nelson grinned. “It would shock the shit out of everyone if a lowly writer from the Denver Dispatch got a quote from Holden. Hell, Corrigan might even give me a promotion for accomplishing such a feat.”

  Nadia laughed. “Really?”

  “Hell, yeah. No reporter has gotten a word out of Reid in over three years. He hates journalists. He doesn’t even give interviews to Sports Illustrated. Getting him to talk to me would do wonders for my career.” Nelson had an almost dreamy smile on his face as he imagined the possibilities. Although he enjoyed covering high school and college football, he was ready to move up to the major leagues—namely hockey, which was his favorite sport.

  Grinning, Nadia bumped her shoulder against his. “So do it.”

  Nelson blinked at her. “Do what?”

  “Get a quote from Reid.”

  Her brother frowned. “What part of ‘He doesn’t talk to reporters’ did you not understand?”

  “Oh, I understood perfectly,” Nadia countered. “But I’ve never known you to back down from a challenge, Nels. If getting Reid Holden to talk to you will give your career a boost, you have to at least try. What do you have to lose? All he can do is ignore you, right? I mean, you don’t normally cover the Rebels, so it’s not like you have to worry about getting yanked from the hockey beat for pissing the guy off.”

  “That’s true,” Nelson conceded, looking thoughtful.

  “So go for it,” Nadia urged. “Be fearless. Ask him a question. You might catch a lucky break.”

  Nelson nodded slowly, the arena lights glinting off his eyeglasses as he stared off toward the rink. “Maybe I will.”

  When practice was over, the players skated off the ice and headed down the tunnel to the locker room.

  Nadia and Nelson waited until most of the crowd had dispersed before they followed after the team. Nadia expected to be stopped by security and redirected to the lobby to wait for Nelson. But no one barred her from entering the restricted area with her brother. She figured security would be tighter once the regular season started.

  There were several reporters waiting to go inside the locker room to interview the players. When one of the team’s assistant coaches opened the door and gestured to the group, Nelson flashed a crooked grin at Nadia.

  “Wish me luck.”

  She winked. “You got this.”

  “We’ll see.” Nelson turned and followed the other reporters inside the noisy locker room.

  Left alone in the hallway, Nadia wandered to the other side and leaned back against the wall, settling in to wait for her brother. When her phone buzzed, she pulled it out of her front pocket and glanced at the screen. She smiled when she saw that her parents had sent photos from their annual ten-day Caribbean cruise. She scrolled through pictures of them snorkeling, water skiing and exploring some tropical cave.

  Looks like you guys are having a blast, she texted.

  We are, her mother wrote back. It’s always good to get away and recharge the batteries. How are you and Nelson? Staying out of trouble?

  Of course, Nadia responded with an angel emoji.

  She could picture her mother laughing before she wrote back: I’d better not run up my roaming charges. See you and your brother in a week!

  Nadia was still grinning when her phone buzzed with another incoming text. This one was from Jessilyn, her bestie a
nd coworker who was at the downtown bar with their other friends.

  Any chance u guys r on ur way yet???

  Not yet, Nadia texted back. Practice just ended. Nelson’s talking to the players now.

  In the locker room?

  Nadia grinned. Yes.

  Ooh! Lucky him!

  Nadia shook her head as she texted back: Nelson doesn’t care about seeing a bunch of sweaty jocks naked.

  I know, Jess replied. U should have snuck in there with him.

  Nadia chuckled. No thanks.

  U don’t want to see buff, naked hockey players???

  Nadia paused, her mind flashing on an image of Reid Holden. Okay, so maybe she wouldn’t mind seeing him naked. With a face like that, his body had to be hot as hell.

  Licking her lips at the thought, she typed: U guys will probably be gone by the time we leave here.

  Probably. I need to get home and study for my theory test, and the others have early meetings tomorrow.

  Nadia sighed. I understand. Sorry we had to bail tonite. Rain check for Friday?

  Sounds good, Jess texted back. Tell Nelson to sneak u into the locker room. It’s the least he can do for making u miss happy hour.

  Girl, bye, Nadia retorted with a laugh. After sending the text, she switched over to her email program so she could finish catching up on her work emails while she waited for Nelson.

  She’d just sent off a message when the locker room door opened. She glanced up, surprised to see her brother coming out.

  “Done already? That didn’t take—” She broke off as one of the Rebels players appeared behind Nelson.

  But not just any player.

  Reid Holden.

  When those piercing blue eyes met Nadia’s, a shiver ran through her body.

  She straightened quickly from the wall, her gaze darting to Nelson. His eyes were gleaming with excitement, and he had the biggest grin on his face.

  As he approached with Reid, Nadia couldn’t help staring at the handsome hockey superstar. His thick dark hair was unruly, falling over his forehead in damp locks. He’d changed into a ribbed gray shirt that stretched across his wide shoulders and clung to every muscle of his broad chest and powerful biceps. His dark jeans hugged him in all the right places. As he came toward Nadia, the play of muscles in his strong thighs made her mouth water.

  “Nadia,” her brother said with that ridiculous shit-eating grin, “there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

  Why? Nadia wondered, feeling like a deer in headlights as Reid Holden came to a stop directly in front of her. He was wearing a pair of heavy black boots. Even without his skates on, he was tall enough to tower over her.

  “Nadia, this is Reid Holden,” Nelson introduced them. “Reid, this is my sister, Nadia.”

  Ignoring her racing pulse, Nadia smiled and extended her hand. “Hi.” Her voice was little more than breath. “Nice to meet you.”

  Reid stared down at her as he took her hand, his large, callused palm curling around hers and swallowing it in a firm grip. The contact sent a rush of arousal from her fingertips to her swelling clit.

  “The pleasure’s mine, Nadia.” His voice was much deeper than she’d expected. It slid over her, spreading heat through her veins and making her insides go all tingly.

  She quickly withdrew her hand and stepped back, needing to put some distance between herself and the sexy-as-sin jock.

  Nelson was still grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Reid saw you during practice and wanted an introduction.”

  “Oh?” Trying to mask her surprise, Nadia looked from her brother to Reid. “Did you at least give him a quote for his column first?”

  Reid’s eyes glinted. “Only on the condition that he introduce me to you.”

  “I see.” Nadia bit her lip, contemplating him.

  A small white scar ran above his left eye, and there was a crook in his nose where it had been broken before. Instead of detracting from his good looks, the imperfections only amplified his rugged masculinity. Reid Holden was a badass, a tough guy who gave as good as he got and had the battle scars to show for it.

  Suddenly Nadia realized that he was staring back at her, returning her appraisal. As those intense blue eyes slowly traced her features, her palms moistened and her heart began beating a little faster.

  Okay, a lot faster.

  She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she racked her brain for something clever to say. Something to defuse the awareness sizzling between them like high-voltage electric currents.

  “So, Mr. Holden—”

  “Reid.”

  She faltered, blinking. “What?”

  The corners of his mouth twitched. “Mr. Holden’s my old man. Call me Reid.”

  “Um…” She swallowed. “Okay.”

  His eyes glinted. With amusement or approval, she couldn’t tell. “Mind if I call you Nadia?”

  When she shook her head, he smiled. And damn if her knees didn’t go weak. She couldn’t help it. Between his gorgeous face, ripped body and insanely sexy voice, the man was a walking wet dream.

  “Beautiful name, by the way.”

  Nadia licked her dry lips. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome,” he said, his gaze lowering to her mouth.

  She could feel the heat coming off his big body, feel her skin tingling and her scalp prickling with awareness. He smelled positively delicious, like soap and hard-working man. When he shifted a little closer, her belly clenched, and for a moment it was hard to breathe.

  Although she was no stranger to sexual attraction, she’d never experienced anything like this before. It was…hell, it was scary as fuck.

  “Now what were you saying?”

  Nadia stared up at Reid, her thoughts scattered. “Saying…?”

  “A moment ago. I think you were about to ask me something.”

  “Oh.” She bit her lip. “I don’t remember.”

  He nodded, watching her intently. “Are you coming to our season opener on Thursday?”

  The question caught her off guard. “Um…well…I hadn’t really planned—”

  “Nadia’s not much of a hockey fan,” Nelson interjected apologetically. Until that moment, Nadia had completely forgotten he was there. “But I’ll be at the game.”

  Reid nodded, but he didn’t look satisfied. Lowering his eyes, he stared at Nadia beneath his dark lashes.

  Heat rose in her cheeks. Suddenly the ground beneath her felt as slippery as if she were standing on ice.

  What does he want from me? she wondered.

  Just then the locker room door opened, and the Rebels’ head coach stuck his head out and called to Reid, “Holden. Got a minute?”

  Reid cast a lazy glance over his shoulder. “Be there in a sec.”

  The coach nodded and ducked back through the door.

  As Reid returned his attention to Nadia, Nelson piped up, “Any chance I could interview you for the Dispatch?”

  Without taking his eyes off Nadia’s face, Reid murmured, “I don’t give interviews.”

  Nelson was undeterred. “I know you don’t. But since you’ve already broken your silence by giving me a quote, I was hoping you’d be open to answering more questions.”

  Reid stared at Nadia another moment, then shifted his gaze to Nelson. “I don’t give interviews,” he repeated.

  Nelson grinned sheepishly. “Sure you won’t reconsider?”

  Reid gave him a long look, his eyes narrowed.

  Oh, shit, Nadia thought. Nelson must have pushed him too hard.

  The same thought apparently occurred to her brother, because he visibly swallowed. But before he could start squirming, Reid chuckled and began backing across the hallway.

  Determined to press his luck, Nelson called out, “So is that a definite n—”

  Reid pointed to Nadia. “Bring her to the game.”

  Before Nadia could sputter out a protest, Nelson promised, “She’ll be there.”

  Reid nodded, a satisfied smile quirkin
g his lips before he turned and disappeared inside the locker room.

  Nadia watched him go, then swung around to stare at Nelson in stunned disbelief. “What the hell was that?”

  Nelson laughed, cupped her face between his hands and planted a smacking kiss on her forehead. “That, dear sister, was my lucky break!”

  2

  Nadia blinked at Nelson, then narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about the lucky break I just caught. The one you made happen.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you!” Nelson laughed. “The only reason Reid spoke to me was because of you. When I walked up to him in the locker room, the first words out of his mouth were, ‘Who was that babe you were sitting with?’”

  Nadia gaped at her brother. Reid Holden called her a babe? “Really?”

  “Yes, really.” Nelson couldn’t have looked more pleased. “Dude is totally feelin’ you, Nadia. And judging by the way you were acting, you’re feelin’ him too.”

  Her cheeks flamed with heat. She darted a nervous glance toward the locker room door, then grabbed her brother’s hand and muttered, “Let’s get out of here before he comes back out.”

  They left the arena and climbed into Nelson’s old Mazda. As he backed out of the parking space, Nadia punched him on the arm.

  “Ow!” he protested. “What was that for?”

  “For telling Reid that I’d come to the game on Thursday,” she said accusingly. “Why the hell did you do that?”

  Nelson had the grace to look sheepish. “I didn’t mean to. It just slipped out.”

  “Yeah, right,” Nadia scoffed.

  “It did, I swear!”

  “Give me a break, Nelson.” Nadia shook her head in disgust. “I can’t believe my own brother’s trying to pimp me out to some hockey player.”

  Nelson choked out a laugh. “Who says I’m trying to pimp you out?”

  “You are!”

  “No, I’m— Ouch!” he howled when she punched his arm again. “Dammit, Nadia, will you stop hitting me? I’m trying to drive here.”