Some games are too dangerous to
play.
Nadia
had just sent off a text 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.
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 story 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.
“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 quirking 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!”
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