1
SCARLETT
Say Yes
Present Day
Detroit, Michigan
Scarlett warner was nervous as hell.
She’d never been so nervous in her life.
Okay, that wasn’t exactly true.
She was crazy nervous when she auditioned to get into Berklee College of Music.
She was nervous when she lost her virginity to Evan Hoffman, who turned out to be the world’s biggest asshole.
And she was definitely nervous the first time she took the stage to perform in front of a crowd of screaming fans.
But those had been major life-changing events. What she was about to do right now didn’t warrant the frenzy of butterflies flapping around in her stomach.
Too bad my body didn’t get the memo, she thought as she strode through the crowd that had gathered for her cousin’s engagement party.
She was on a mission to apologize to Viggo Sandström, star center of the Denver Rebels. The way she’d criticized his kickass performance in tonight’s game had been nitpicky and rude. She’d known that even before her cousin Nadia called her out. She’d behaved like a total jerk, and her mama raised her better than that.
So there was only one thing left for her to do. Swallow her pride and apologize.
Viggo was standing with a group of several other partygoers. He had a lazy smile on his face and seemed to be having a good time, flanked by two beautiful women who were shamelessly vying for his attention. And, really, who could blame them?
The man was drop-dead gorgeous. Six feet five inches of Scandinavian scrumptiousness poured into an expensively cut charcoal suit. The bespoke threads should have tamed him somehow, should have made him look more like a pretty-boy model and less like a Viking warrior. But there was no taming those massive shoulders and that hard-packed chest. There was no diluting all that raw testosterone and hockey-tough masculinity.
Scarlett’s heart slammed against her rib cage with every step that brought her closer to Viggo’s group. He was watching her now, those magnetic gray eyes locked on hers like a weapon.
She almost lost her nerve and hightailed it back across the room. But she willed herself to keep moving forward. You can do this, Scarlett. You can do this!
When she reached Viggo, he turned away from the group to acknowledge her with a nod. There was a shadow of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
He was so fucking hot that her brain short-circuited and all she could do was stare up at him, lost for words.
Thick dark blond hair skimmed the collar of his suit jacket. His breathtaking face was all hard lines and sharp angles, with chiseled cheekbones and lips that were both firm and lush. He had thick eyebrows and spiky lashes, and several days’ worth of sexy golden stubble covered his square jaw.
He was staring back at Scarlett. Waiting.
She finally managed to unglue her tongue from the roof of her mouth. “I, uh, just wanted to apologize for being rude to you earlier. It was totally uncalled for. I’m sorry.”
Viggo nodded very slowly.
She expected him to say something. Anything.
When he didn’t, heat crawled up her neck and spread across her cheeks. She felt like the world’s biggest idiot.
Figuratively tucking her tail between her legs, she lowered her eyes and turned to skulk away.
When Viggo reached out and grabbed her wrist, a jolt of electricity shot through her.
She swung back around to stare at him, pulse hammering in her throat.
He gave her a smile hot enough to melt her panties right off. “I’ve waited a long time to meet you,” he said, the hypnotic rumble of his deep voice sending shivers down her back. “If you think I’m letting you out of my sight, you’d better think again.”
Scarlett damn near swooned. Holy hell!
He hadn’t released his hold on her. His long fingers easily spanned her wrist as his eyes drifted over her, making her feel hot and tingly all over.
“Let’s go for a walk.”
She felt herself nodding and smiling shyly.
As they set off together, everything and everyone around them seemed to fade out of focus completely. The laughing partygoers, the waiters circulating with silver trays of champagne, the band playing in a corner. All of it disappeared as she and Viggo walked across the room, never taking their eyes off each other.
Scarlett didn’t know where they were headed until they reached a set of French doors that opened onto a terrace overlooking the Detroit River. A dozen or so tables were scattered under the bright moonlight.
It was cold outside, but not freeze-your-ass-off cold. Or maybe Scarlett was too overheated from Viggo’s nearness to notice just how chilly it was.
When he took off his suit jacket and draped it around her shoulders, her belly flip-flopped at the chivalrous gesture.
She glanced over her shoulder and gave him another one of those super shy smiles. Totally un-Scarlett-like, but she couldn’t help herself. The man had her melting like chocolate in the hot sun.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
He winked before putting his hand on the small of her back to steer her across the empty terrace toward the railing. She shivered at his touch, enjoying the weight of his big palm against her spine.
When they reached the railing and he let his hand fall away, she almost protested. Which was ridiculous.
Turning away from him, she snuggled into his jacket. It was huge on her. The inside was lined with silk and still warm from his body heat. The subtle spice of his cologne permeated the expensive fabric. It smelled so good her mouth watered and her senses tingled.
As much as she was enjoying the intoxicating delights of his jacket, she couldn’t help feeling guilty. “We shouldn’t stay out here too long,” she said.
“Why not?”
“I don’t want you freezing to death.”
Viggo chuckled. “I’m a hockey player from Sweden. I’m never cold.”
Scarlett grinned at him. “Spoken like a true badass.”
He laughed. The deep, rough sound pebbled her nipples and curled her toes.
He was standing so close to her that they were almost touching. She had on tall stilettos, but she still had to tip her head back to see his face. In the moonlight his eyes were more silver than gray. Totally mesmerizing.
Trying to ignore the tingly awareness pulsing through her blood, she turned to stare out at the lights twinkling across the river in Windsor, Ontario.
“What a view,” she said appreciatively.
“You took the words right out of my mouth.”
She turned to look at Viggo. He was staring at her. While she was admiring the view, he’d apparently been admiring her.
She felt a ripple of pleasure run down her spine. And that was before he shook his head slowly and uttered, “You are so fucking gorgeous.”
She blushed all over. “Thank you.”
“Just being honest. You’re a heartbreaker, Scarlett.”
A soft laugh escaped her. “I’ve never broken any hearts.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Believe it. It’s…” She lost her train of thought when he reached out and touched the star-shaped flower tucked into her hair. She stared up at him, willing her pulse to stabilize—which seemed impossible as long as he was around.
“Pretty flower,” he murmured, fingering the creamy petal above her left ear.
“It’s a Hawaiian gardenia.” Her voice was a little breathy. “It matches my outfit. See?”
“Hmm.” He looked her over, taking in the wide-legged cream pantsuit that hugged her every curve. “So it does.”
Her skin sizzled under the heat of his gaze. It was all she could do not to shiver as his eyes leisurely traveled back up to her face. He clearly liked what he saw. The feeling was mutual.
“So,” he drawled conversationally, “based on your comments about tonight’s game, I assume you’re a hockey fan.”
Scarlett grinned, her cheeks warming with renewed embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to be such a hardass about the penalty you took. I tend to get carried away when it comes to my favorite sport.”
Viggo looked pleased. “Hockey’s your favorite sport?”
“Yep. Always has been.”
“Yeah?” He was grinning now. “You have excellent taste.”
She laughed. “Of course you’d say that.”
“Of course.” His grin softened to a smile as his eyes roamed across her face, seemingly taking in every detail of her features. “Are you seeing anyone?”
She bit her lower lip and shrugged. “Off and on.”
“What does that mean?”
Before she could respond, a burst of laughter came from inside the restaurant. She and Viggo turned to look through the French doors, smiling when they spotted Reid and Nadia standing before a crowd of partygoers. As everyone looked on, Reid dipped Nadia backward and kissed her senseless. The crowd erupted with cheers and whistles.
Scarlett’s smile widened. Nadia was her cousin and the sister she’d never had. Reid was Viggo’s best friend and teammate. After dating for only two months, the couple was now engaged.
Scarlett watched the two lovebirds begin slow dancing to Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes.” The love and joy on their faces made her sigh with quiet satisfaction.
“I’ve never seen Nadia so happy. They’re beautiful together, aren’t they?”
“They are,” Viggo said warmly.
Scarlett gave him an amused sidelong glance. “Did you know Reid was gonna pop the question tonight?”
He smiled enigmatically. “Maybe.”
She laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
He just grinned and shifted closer, surrounding her without even touching her. His immense shoulders and hard pecs stretched the fine fabric of his dress shirt. The stubble shadowing his jaw made him look even hotter. Rough and dangerous.
Staring up at him, Scarlett wondered if it was possible to die from overexposure to testosterone. ’Cause the Swede was pumping out some lethal amounts of the stuff.
“So what did you mean by ‘off and on’?” he asked, resting his arm on the railing.
Scarlett blinked, feeling drugged. “Um…what?”
“When I asked if you’re seeing anyone, you said ‘off and on.’ Is there a special guy in the picture?”
Scarlett thought of the last few guys she’d dated—more off than on. None of them could be considered “special.” Not by any stretch.
“I’m not seeing anyone right now,” she said.
“Good.” The possessive note in Viggo’s voice surprised her. And turned her on more than it should have.
Dammit. She was sinking deeper and deeper into trouble.
“Are you leaving tomorrow?” he asked.
She nodded, licking her lips.
“So am I.” His eyes dropped to her mouth and lingered like a hot caress. “I’m taking you out to dinner when we get back to Denver.”
Scarlett shivered even as one eyebrow went up. “I didn’t hear a request in there. Is that how you ask women out on dates? Or do you even have to ask, Mr. Hockey Stud?”
His eyes glinted before he reached out and cupped the side of her neck with his big palm, stroking her jaw with his callused thumb. Her breathing became as ragged as her thumping heartbeat, and her breasts swelled against her bra with a painful awareness.
Mesmerized, she could only stare up at Viggo, holding her breath as she waited for his response.
He lowered his head, bringing his mouth right next to her ear. Her body tightened with anticipation, all the blood rushing straight to her clit.
“Scarlett.”
“Yes?” Her voice was barely more than a rasp. She was pretty sure he could feel her trembling, could feel her knees knocking together.
He paused, inhaling the scent of her hair before murmuring, “Will you have dinner with me?”
“I—” She swallowed hard, closed her eyes and whispered faintly, “Yes.”
“I couldn’t hear you.” His breath raised goosebumps as it brushed the shell of her ear. “Did you say yes?”
“Yes.” Hell yes! “I’ll have dinner with you.”
“Good,” he whispered in her ear. “Because I wasn’t taking no for an answer.”
Oh God. Her knees almost gave out.
Slowly Viggo lifted his head and stared down at her in the moonlight.
She returned his stare, her eyes tracing his hard cheekbones, his strong jaw and his amazing mouth. She’d never wanted to be kissed as badly as she wanted him to kiss her.
She watched his eyes darken and lower to her lips, causing them to part on a shaky breath. Her heart was pounding harder than a drum, and every one of her nerve endings was tuned to a fever pitch.
Staring at her mouth, Viggo cupped her cheek in his palm and leaned down. Their lips were just inches apart when a muffled buzzing sound intruded.
It took Scarlett a dazed moment to realize it was Viggo’s phone, vibrating against her chest.
He let out a low curse.
“Um…” Feeling like she’d been doused with a bucket of ice water, Scarlett reached inside the breast pocket of his suit jacket and fumbled out the buzzing phone. She saw a woman’s name on the screen before she handed the phone over to Viggo.
He silenced it without looking at it, his eyes never leaving hers. They were hot and glowing, burning like molten silver. “Scarlett—”
“We should probably go back inside,” she blurted.
He frowned. “I’m not—”
“It’s cool. Really.” Who the hell is Audrey? “Besides, it looks like they’re seating for dinner. Everyone will be wondering where we went.” Scarlett slipped off his jacket and passed it to him with an overly bright smile. “Thanks for keeping me warm.”
He took the jacket reluctantly, still staring at her. The look in his eyes told her this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
Swallowing hard, she stepped past him—careful not to let their bodies touch—and led the way back to the safety of the crowded party.