“If you say so, baby.” Her mother smiled, then clapped her hands together. “We’d better get dinner on the table before the menfolk start grumbling. And Bianca and Nelson need to leave by three to have their second dinner with her family.”
“But we’ll be back,” Bianca promised. “So save us dessert.”
Everyone laughed.
Working together, the women carried the dishes to the formal dining room and arranged them on the long table, which was elegantly set with a russet-colored linen tablecloth and gold-trimmed china and silverware. Three glowing candles rose from the center of a festive floral centerpiece decked out in autumn colors.
When everything was ready, Nadia’s mother called down the basement stairs, “Time to eat, fellas!”
The announcement was met with a roar of applause and hearty shouts of “Hallelujah,” followed by a rumble of masculine laughter.
Just then the doorbell rang. Nadia crossed the foyer to open the door.
There was an attractive, brown-haired white guy standing on the doorstep. She immediately recognized him as one of the fitness trainers who worked at the gym with Lennox.
He smiled at her. “Hi. Nadia, right?”
“Yes.” She returned his friendly smile. “And you’re Cooper from the gym.”
“That’s me.” He looked a little nervous. “Is Lennox—”
“Right here.” Lennox came up behind Nadia, welcoming the newcomer with a warm smile. They exchanged a strong handshake, Lennox lingering over the clasp for an extra heartbeat before stepping back to let Cooper inside.
He introduced him to the rest of the family, explaining that he’d invited Cooper to dinner because he wasn’t able to get home to his family for Thanksgiving.
When Cooper saw Reid, his green eyes widened in surprise. “Holy sh—” He caught himself and grinned, enthusiastically pumping Reid’s hand. “I didn’t know you’d be here today. It’s really great to meet you, man. I’m a huge fan.”
Reid inclined his head modestly. “Nice to meet you.”
Uncle Lavell didn’t look too happy about the new dinner guest. “No one told me about this,” he grumbled, glaring suspiciously at Cooper.
Lennox looked discomfited. “I asked Mom and Aunt Eden if I could invite him, and they both said it was okay.”
“And it is,” Eden assured him. “You know we always have more than enough food at Thanksgiving. And any friend of yours is a friend of ours.”
Lennox gave her a grateful smile.
Nadia didn’t have to be a mind reader to interpret the tense look that passed between her father and uncle. Everyone in the family had long suspected that Lennox might be gay. Back in college when he was the star running back on the football team, girls had constantly thrown themselves at him, to little avail. Since graduating from college and becoming a personal trainer, he was regularly propositioned by women who showed up practically naked for their workout sessions. He turned them all down, patiently explaining that he never mixed business with pleasure. But after witnessing that lingering handshake between him and Cooper, Nadia had to wonder if there was another reason for Lennox’s refusal to date his female clients.
Wearing her most gracious hostess smile, Nadia’s mother looked around the foyer and clapped her hands together. “Let’s eat, shall we?”
Everyone followed her into the dining room, where she directed them to their chairs around the table. Nadia’s father took his place at the head of the table with his wife seated to his right and Nadia to his left. Reid sat next to her, clasping her hand and winking. Nelson sat beside Reid with Bianca on his right.
Uncle Lavell sat at the other end of the table with Aunt Sherise to his left and Scarlett to his right, mirroring his brother’s family. Luke and Ana sat beside Scarlett. When Cooper took the chair next to Lennox, Nadia didn’t miss the way her uncle’s lips thinned with displeasure.
Once everyone was settled, Nadia’s father steepled his hands on the table and fixed Reid with an austere stare. “Before we eat, let me just get something out of the way up front.”
“Lincoln,” his wife murmured.
He lifted a hand to silence her. “I’ve been holding my tongue for a while now, but I need to get a few things off my chest before we break bread with this young man. I’ll have more to say to him later, man to man, behind closed doors. But I want to say this in front of witnesses.”
Nadia cringed as her father pointed a stern finger at Reid. “I know boys will be boys, but I won’t tolerate reckless shenanigans that disrespect my daughter and jeopardize her health and well being. So if there’s any part of you that still has a taste for your own women—or any other woman, for that matter—you need to get up right now and walk out that door so my daughter can move on with her life. Because if you ever hurt or humiliate Nadia Eden Warner again, you won’t be welcome in this house anymore. Not only that, but I will personally track you down at that arena, drag you off the ice and beat the living—”
“Lincoln!” his wife gasped.
His lips tightened into a hard line. “I won’t have you hurting my daughter again. Do you understand?”
Reid held Lincoln’s hard, uncompromising glare without flinching. “Yes, sir,” he said quietly. “I understand.”
Lincoln narrowed his eyes. “You staying?”
“Yes, sir.” Reid squeezed Nadia’s hand under the table. “I’m staying.”
“Good.” Lincoln gave a short nod of satisfaction and then looked around the table. “Now let’s bless this feast and eat.”
There were a few scattered chuckles.
Once Nadia’s father asked the blessing and carved the perfectly roasted turkey, any lingering tension dissolved as platters of food were passed around, plates were filled and wine was poured.
The dining room was soon buzzing with lively conversation and laughter and the clinking of silverware. Nadia’s mother and aunt beamed with pleasure when Reid complimented their delicious cooking and asked for seconds.
Throughout dinner, stories were shared and topics were debated as everyone joked around and teased one another. Not surprisingly, much of the conversation revolved around the Denver Rebels. Having an audience with one of the team’s star players was a dream come true for the Warner men, Scarlett and Cooper. As diehard fans, they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk hockey with Reid. He good-naturedly indulged their questions and comments, chuckling when Nadia’s father and uncle dispensed advice on game strategy and offered their opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of upcoming opponents.
Nadia found herself grinning as she watched Reid interact with her family. She could tell he’d already won over her mother. Eden couldn’t stop smiling at him and laughing warmly at his comments between exchanging delighted glances with Aunt Sherise, who appeared equally charmed by Reid.
He looked so relaxed, so content and at ease in the company of Nadia’s people. She sat there soaking it all in, her heart bursting with gratitude and joy.
At one point, Aunt Sherise surveyed the smiling faces gathered around the table and beamed with satisfaction. “It’s so wonderful to have all of you here. But something’s missing, and it just occurred to me what it is. You know what this festive gathering needs?”
Everyone regarded her expectantly. “What?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Children.”
Warm laughter swept over the table. Luke and Ana grinned self-consciously as all eyes swiveled toward them.
Aunt Sherise sighed dramatically. “I’m missing the pitter-patter of little feet running around, the sound of high-pitched squeals and giggles filling the house.”
“I know what you mean,” Nadia’s mother agreed. “It would be nice to have some precious children scampering about.”
“Umm-hmm.” Aunt Sherise sipped her wine. “No pressure, Luke and Ana.”
Everyone laughed.
“Do you want children, Reid?” Nadia’s mother asked, smiling across the table at him.
He nodded. “Yes,
ma’am, I do.”
“How many?”
He smiled. “I’m not sure. The more, the merrier.”
Scarlett snorted a laugh. “Says the man who doesn’t have to push babies out of his—”
“Scarlett, please!” her mother chided.
Scarlett flashed a grin at Reid. “Just sayin’.”
He chuckled. “Your point’s well taken. I’m a guy so I’ll never know what it’s like to give birth. But I have three siblings and we’re all very close. I guess I want the same for my own family.”
Eden’s dark eyes gleamed with interest. “So how many kids? Three? Four…?”
“Good Lord, woman,” Lincoln grumbled in exasperation. “Why don’t you just send them upstairs to get started right now?”
Heat rushed into Nadia’s face. “Really, Dad—” Her protest was drowned out by the wave of raucous laughter that swept over the table.
Eyes glinting wickedly, Reid leaned close and murmured in her ear, “I’m game if you are.”
Her brown skin must have turned all shades of red because more laughter erupted.
Ten minutes later, during a lull in the conversation, Nadia’s father looked around the table, shook his head and chuckled humorously. “Never thought I’d live to see the day that my dinner table would be infiltrated by not one, but two white dudes.”
Uncle Lavell grunted. “I just hope only one of them is thinking about marrying into this family.”
Reid and Cooper both choked on the wine they’d been drinking. They began coughing as a palpable hush swept over the table, the others casting uncomfortable glances in Lennox and Cooper’s direction.
Nadia rubbed Reid on the back and murmured, “Are you okay?”
He nodded quickly and cleared his throat. Picking up a cloth napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth, he shot a sympathetic glance across the table at Cooper, whose face had turned beet red. Lennox was staring down at his plate with focused absorption while Uncle Lavell studied him through narrowed eyes.
Everyone else started talking at once to cover the awkward moment.
Suddenly dinner couldn’t end fast enough.
After they finished eating, Nadia’s mother doled out thick slices of her decadent sweet potato pie and white chocolate-and-cranberry cheesecake, beaming with pleasure as everyone oohed and aahed over both desserts.
“If you ladies don’t mind,” Uncle Lavell drawled, rising from the table, “the second game’s about to start, so we’re just gonna mosey on downstairs....”
“Uh-huh.” Aunt Sherise gave her husband a knowing look. “Just don’t forget you boys have kitchen duty tonight.”
“Kitchen duty? What’s that?” When she narrowed her eyes, he laughed and winked at her. “Just kidding, baby.”
Nadia’s father clapped Reid on the back. “C’mon, Detroit. Let’s go watch your Lions get their butts kicked by the Bears.”
Reid grinned. “Don’t be too sure of that.”
Laughing, the men carried their dessert plates down to the basement to watch the remaining Thanksgiving football games.
Nadia and her mother walked Nelson and Bianca out to his car, promising to save them some dessert. On their way back to the house, Eden linked her arm with Nadia’s and warmly confided, “I adore Reid.”
Nadia grinned. “I kinda got that.”
Her mother laughed. “He’s smart and charming, has a great sense of humor and behaves like a real gentleman. And Lord have mercy, he’s such a handsome devil.”
“I know that’s right.” Aunt Sherise met them at the front door, grinning mischievously at Nadia. “No wonder you took him back. No vibrator in the world can replace what that man must be putting down.”
Nadia’s face flamed. “Aunt Sherise!”
The two mothers cackled wickedly.
Dirty old women, Nadia thought, shaking her head even as her mouth twitched with amusement.
“I’m getting more wine,” she muttered before making a beeline for the dining room to retrieve her empty glass.
She found Scarlett in the kitchen pouring herself a glass of wine. Her phone was cradled between her shoulder and ear as she hummed notes of a melody that Nadia didn’t recognize. It sounded beautiful. But then, Scarlett could sing out of the phone book and make it sound like the greatest work ever composed. The girl had serious pipes.
Nadia settled on a stool at the center island and put her glass down on the counter. Without being asked, Scarlett splashed some wine into Nadia’s glass, then hummed a few more notes into the phone before breaking off with a frustrated groan.
“It sucks, right?” She shook her head, rubbing the heel of her hand into her eye socket as she listened to her bandmate’s feedback. “I don’t know, dude. It’s just not coming to me.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Let me call you back later.”
Nadia sipped her wine, watching as Scarlett tossed her phone down on the counter and blew out a disgusted breath that ruffled the purple-tinted curls falling over her forehead.
“What’s wrong?” Nadia asked sympathetically.
“I’m meeting the guys for a jam session in New York in a few weeks,” Scarlett explained. “Afterward I’m supposed to be sharing some new music with them. But there’s just one problem: I don’t have any new music.”
“What?” Nadia exclaimed. “I thought you’ve been working on some songs!”
“I have,” Scarlett said with a grimace, “but everything sounds like shit. I’m having serious writer’s block.”
“Oh, no,” Nadia commiserated. “I’m really sorry to hear that, Scar. But you’ve had writer’s block before, and you’ve always been able to work through it.”
“Yeah, but it’s never been this bad before.” Scarlett dropped her head on the counter and let out a tortured groan. “We’re supposed to be going back into the studio in January. The guys are gonna kill me if I’m not ready.”
“You’ll be ready,” Nadia reassured her, gently rubbing her back. “And you should cut yourself some slack. You guys just came back from tour last month. So maybe you just need a longer mental break. You know, more time to get the creative juices flowing again.”
“Maybe,” Scarlett mumbled, lifting her head to grab her glass and take a gulp of wine.
“For what it’s worth,” Nadia said with a rueful grin, “what I heard you humming didn’t suck at all. It sounded pretty damn good, actually. But, hey, what do I know?”
Scarlett grunted and took another swig from her glass.
Nadia gave her a sly sidelong glance. “I know something that might help with your writer’s block. Or should I say someone.”
Scarlett shot her a wary look. “What’re you talking about?”
“Well…I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell you that Viggo wants to meet you.”
Scarlett’s eyes widened in surprise. “Viggo…Sandström?”
“Yup.”
“Viggo ‘The Sandstorm’ Sandström? Viggo who plays for the Rebels? Mr. GQ? That Viggo?”
“The one and only.” Nadia grinned. “I was trying to hook him up with Jess because she met him first. But he’s only interested in you, Scar. He bought both of your albums, and he really wants to meet you.”
Scarlett stared at her a moment longer, then brought her glass to her lips and knocked back the rest of her wine.
Nadia eyed her expectantly. “Well?”
“Well what?”
“What do you think?”
“About what?”
“About meeting Viggo.”
Scarlett shrugged a shoulder. “He’s one of the best players in the NHL. Of course I wouldn’t mind meeting him.”
Nadia gave her an exasperated look. “You wouldn’t be meeting him as a hockey fan. You’d be meeting him as a potential date.”
“Hmm.” Scarlett tugged her lower lip between her teeth. “I don’t know.”
“Seriously?” Nadia was incredulous. “I can’t believe you’re balking at the chance to meet Viggo! How many times over
the years have I heard you carrying on about how fine he is?”
“He is fine. Hella fine. But…” Scarlett trailed off, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger.
“But what?”
Scarlett sighed. “I saw what you went through when you thought Reid cheated on you. I’m glad you guys worked things out, and I sincerely believe he was telling the truth about not sleeping with that chick. But these guys are professional athletes, Nadia. And the reality is that they’re always gonna have beautiful women throwing panties at them. Personally, I don’t think I can handle all that drama—not even for a guy as hot as Viggo. It would drive me crazy. Anyway,” she added with a shrug, “I’m gonna be really busy next year. We’re recording our third album, and our manager booked us even more concerts and tours. So I won’t have time for a relationship, especially with a hockey player who’s always on the road himself. It wouldn’t work.”
Nadia nodded slowly. “I hear what you’re saying, and I completely understand. But…” She trailed off, pursing her lips.
Scarlett narrowed her eyes. “But what?”
Nadia shrugged. “I just think…well, there’s no harm in meeting him, is there?”
Before Scarlett could respond, her phone blasted out an old Led Zeppelin song. She plucked it off the counter, glanced at the screen and sighed.
“It’s Traeger,” she said, referring to her band’s neurotic bassist. “He probably heard that I’m over here struggling creatively, and now he’s freaking the hell out.”
Nadia chuckled. “Guess you’d better talk him off the ledge, then.”
“That’s probably a good idea.” Lips twitching with wry amusement, Scarlett gave Nadia a considering look. “About Viggo…”
“Yes?”
Scarlett hesitated. “I’ll keep an open mind.”
Nadia grinned. “That’s all I ask.”
Scarlett winked at her before turning away to answer her phone with a long-suffering sigh. “No, Traeger, I’m not quitting the band to go solo.”
Chuckling, Nadia draped an arm around her cousin’s shoulders and gave her a reassuring squeeze, then slipped off the stool and left the kitchen.
Wicked Games (Denver Rebels) Page 34