16
He got the hat trick and scored another orgasm for himself before they collapsed into a dead sleep, wrapped in each other’s arms.
Some time later, he was awakened by the steady patter of rain against the roof. As a cozy warmth spread through him, he became aware of the luscious heat of Nadia’s body. She was nestled against his side beneath the comforter, which had slipped down to their waists while they slept.
Slowly opening his eyes, he kissed the top of her head and then looked across the room to the bank of French doors. The evening light was muted by the gray sky, and the wooden floor of the balcony glistened wetly from the falling rain.
Reid stared outside for a few moments before shifting his gaze back to the woman in his arms. Her black hair lay in tousled disarray across the pillow. Her face looked even younger in sleep, peaceful and angelic with her dark lashes fanning her cheeks. Her lips were slightly parted, and she had a sexy little mole on her shoulder that he was seriously tempted to kiss.
But he didn’t want to risk waking her until he’d drank his fill of her. So he lay there watching her, barely breathing or blinking, wondering just when he’d become so obsessed with her.
Because he was. Totally and completely obsessed.
And it scared him shitless.
His feelings for Nadia were like an addiction. She was a powerful drug that could consume him, give him the highest highs and make him forget his sanity, his goals, everything he’d ever deemed important.
Being with her was dangerous.
But he didn’t care.
Dangerous or not, he was all in.
Unable to resist touching her, he stroked his knuckles up and down her arm, marveling at the silky softness of her skin.
Her lashes fluttered and then slowly lifted, her dark eyes focusing on his face. After a few moments, a dreamy smile touched her lips. “Hi.”
His mouth curved in lazy response. “Hi.”
“How long have you been awake?”
“Not long.”
“Hmm.” She covered her mouth as she yawned and stretched, arching her back kittenishly in the bed. The movement dislodged the covers even more and made her pert little breasts thrust upward. He stared at them, his cock thickening with arousal. It was all he could do not to palm them and suck those nipples into his mouth like sweet, ripe berries.
Oblivious to his lustful thoughts, Nadia lay on her side with her head resting on her arm and her left leg thrown over his calf. “Is that rain I hear?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Mmm.” She sighed languorously. “I love when it rains and I don’t have anywhere to go. I can just laze around and enjoy the sound of it on the windows.”
Reid smiled. “It is pretty cozy, isn’t it?”
“Very.” With a languid smile, she reached up and lazily combed her fingers through his tousled hair. He closed his eyes, luxuriating in the soothing sensation.
“Look at you,” she teased softly. “You’re like a big ol’ tomcat getting his fur stroked. I expect you to start purring at any moment.”
He made a rumbling noise in his throat that caused her to laugh. The sound was as intoxicating as her touch.
“What time is it?” she wondered.
“Dunno.” Didn’t care either.
When she moved to pull away, he caught her wrist. Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed the center of her palm, feeling her shiver.
When he licked her soft skin, she squealed and jerked her hand away. “Hey! That tickles!”
He laughed. “You did call me a cat.”
She giggled. “And you just proved my point, didn’t you?”
Grinning, he shifted so he was on his side facing her, then let his gaze wander down the slender column of her throat, the perky mounds of her breasts, the swell of her hips and the curve of her shapely thigh. He loved looking at her, loved memorizing every detail about her. She was so gorgeous she took his breath away.
He watched as she pushed herself up on one elbow and peered over his shoulder to see the bedside clock. Her eyes widened in surprise. “It’s after six!”
“Is it?” Reid was unconcerned.
“We slept for four hours!”
“Yeah?” He smiled a lazy smile. “I think we needed it, don’t you?”
She bit her bottom lip and smiled, then leaned down and kissed his shoulder. The soft brush of her lips made him shiver.
When she lay on her side again, he reached down and gently pulled her leg up higher on his so that she rode his thigh. His blood heated at the feel of her warm bare skin against his.
They smiled at each other as he laced their fingers together, letting them sway back and forth in a lazy little dance. He could happily stay right here with her until it was time to leave for his next game. He wished like hell he could.
“If you weren’t here right now,” he murmured, “what would you be doing on your day off?”
She sighed. “Nothing exciting. I’d probably meet Scarlett or Jess for lunch, do some laundry, binge-watch a show or catch up on my reading.”
Reid smiled. “What book are you reading right now?”
She grinned. “Other than Hockey For Dummies?”
They both laughed.
“I haven’t started any new books yet,” she said when the humorous moment passed. “But I love the supernatural genre. Tananarive Due is one of my favorite authors. P.C. Cast is really good too.”
Reid nodded. “I saw their novels on the bookshelf in your room. You have quite a collection of books.”
“I know. The rest are on my Kindle.” She gave him a lazy smile. “So what about you, Mr. Holden? Do you like to read?”
“I do.” He waited for her to look surprised. Hockey players weren’t known for their superior intelligence or intellectual curiosity.
But Nadia didn’t look surprised. She looked pleased, her eyes bright with inquisitiveness. “What do you enjoy reading?”
“Nonfiction, mostly. Autobiographies, memoirs. Right now I’m rereading Bobby Orr’s story.”
“Who’s Bobby Orr?” Nadia asked curiously.
Reid grinned. “Only one of the greatest hockey players of all time.”
“Really? What made him so great?”
“He pretty much revolutionized the defenseman position. His speed and offensive style of play changed the two-way game forever. He’s a big reason I became a defenseman.”
“I can tell,” Nadia said, watching him with a fascinated smile. “Sounds like he was your idol.”
Reid smiled. “You could say that. He retired several years before I was born. But I grew up watching film of his games, studying the way he skated, how he handled the puck and dominated his opponents. If he was caught up-ice and the other team broke out an odd-man rush, he could usually get back down to the other end to break up the play. That’s how fast he was. Seriously. He was electrifying to watch.”
“Sounds like someone else I know,” Nadia said with a meaningful smile at Reid.
He smiled back at her. “There you go stroking my ego again.”
“Just telling the truth. You’re ridiculously talented and you know it.” She stroked a hand over his chest. “But just out of curiosity, if you didn’t play hockey, what other sport would you have played?”
Reid chuckled. “There’s no other sport I wanted to play. Hockey is it for me.”
She laughed. “Then let me rephrase the question. What’s your second favorite sport?”
“Baseball,” he said without hesitation.
“Really?” She sounded surprised. “I would have guessed football.”
Reid smiled. “I get that a lot.”
“Well, yeah, because football is a much more physical sport than baseball. You’re a rough, tough guy who loves to hit—and hit hard. You play hockey like a middle linebacker.”
“So I’ve heard.” Reid chuckled, caressing her smooth thigh. “I like football. But I grew up mostly watching the Detroit Tigers. And my Red Wings, of course.”
“Of course.” Nadia smiled.
A streak of lightning flashed outside. They fell silent for a moment, listening to the rain drumming against the windows.
“Can I ask you a question?” Reid murmured.
He watched Nadia’s expression grow veiled, almost wary. But she nodded, giving him permission to continue.
“You said you’ve had bad experiences with athletes,” he said quietly. “What did you mean by that?”
Her eyes flickered and she glanced away, nibbling at the corner of her bottom lip. “It’s a long story.”
“I’m not doing anything else at the moment.”
When she didn’t respond, he gently nudged her with his hips. “Talk to me.”
She sighed and shook her head, staring up at the ceiling. “I’ve dated three athletes in my life, and I struck out with all of them.”
Something primal and possessive unfurled inside Reid. “What happened?”
She let out another heavy sigh. “The first mistake happened in high school. His name was Greg and he was a running back on the football team. To make a long story short, we were studying in the library one day when he decided his hand belonged up my skirt rather than on the table. After I slapped him and told him off, he retaliated by spreading ugly rumors about me at school. He and his teammates bullied me until my brother and parents intervened.”
Anger burned low in Reid’s gut. “Please tell me that little fucker got expelled from school.”
“He didn’t. But he got kicked off the football team and was ordered to stay away from me.”
“Did he?”
“Yes.” A cynical smile curved Nadia’s mouth. “If he’d been more valuable to the football team, or if my father weren’t a respected pillar of the community, he probably would have gotten away with his behavior.”
“Sounds like a sex offender in the making,” Reid muttered grimly.
Something flickered in Nadia’s eyes, a flash of pain and anger. It made his heart beat harder, dread seeping into his gut.
“Tell me about the others.” He was almost afraid to hear more, but he had to know the extent to which she’d been hurt.
She lowered her eyes from the ceiling and met his gaze for the first time. “The next two mistakes happened in college. During my sophomore year, I went out with a basketball player named Dawan. He was nice and seemed really down to earth. I thought he was different.” Her lips twisted sardonically. “Until he took my virginity and dumped me the very next day.”
“Shit.” Reid shoved a rough hand through his hair, shook his head and scowled. “Fucking asshole.”
“That he was,” Nadia agreed. “To add insult to injury, he was also a lousy lover.”
“And he was your first.” Reid’s voice was grim with sympathy and anger. “What’s his last name? Did he get drafted into the NBA?”
“No. Last I heard, he was playing in some developmental league overseas.”
“He’d better stay the fuck over there,” Reid growled darkly.
Nadia gave him a glimmer of a smile.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and blew out a harsh breath. He’d never felt so fiercely protective of a woman who wasn’t related to him. He wanted to hold her tight, reassure her that no one would ever harm her again. Including him.
“What happened with the third guy?” His voice was low.
He saw Nadia’s throat move as she swallowed hard. “I should have learned my lesson after Dawan. But I was young and naive and...” She shook her head. “That’s no excuse. I should have known better. But I didn’t, and Brody took advantage of that.”
“So that was his name?” Reid said through a clenched jaw. “Brody?”
She nodded, her fingers plucking at the soft bedsheet beneath her. “We had sociology together. He waited for me after class one day and asked me out to lunch. He said he’d been watching me for weeks, trying to work up the nerve to talk to me. I was flattered. I thought he was really cute, and he was on the lacrosse team. I’d sworn off football and basketball players, so I convinced myself that Brody was a safe choice because he played a sport I considered ‘less manly.’ Less testosterone driven.” She gave a small, bitter laugh. “Little did I know.”
Reid flexed his jaw, the knot of dread tightening in his gut.
“Brody told me he often felt like an outsider, being the only black guy on the lacrosse team. He didn’t truly fit in with his teammates because of his race, but other black students made fun of him for playing a ‘white boy sport’ like lacrosse. I could relate to that feeling. I know what it’s like to be told you’re not black enough because you listen to certain types of music or have non-stereotypical interests. Brody and I connected on that level, which made me like him even more.” She frowned and shifted her gaze back to the ceiling, away from Reid’s. “We’d been dating for two weeks when he invited me to a small, intimate gathering at his dorm suite. He knew I wasn’t crazy about parties, so he assured me that there would only be a few other couples there, nothing too wild or overwhelming. It sounded harmless enough, so I agreed to go.”
Her voice started to waver. Reid remained quiet until she was ready to continue.
“When I showed up that night, there were more people than Brody had led me to believe. But I didn’t say anything. I was there to have a good time and get to know his friends better. So I let my hair down, had a drink and danced with him. After a while, he said he wanted to show me something in his room. When we got there, he closed the door and led me over to his bed. I was so nervous. When he started kissing me, I pulled away and told him I wasn’t ready to take our relationship to the next level. He practically laughed in my face, said he knew I’d already lost my virginity to Dawan so why was I being a tease. And then, before I could stop him, he pinned me down on the bed and clamped his hand over my mouth.” She shuddered, her eyes closing at the memory. “I’d heard all the horror stories about the prevalence of campus rape, about girls getting assaulted by drunk frat boys at keg parties. As I lay there struggling beneath Brody, I thought I was about to become another statistic. I’d never been so terrified in my life. I…” She trailed off, swallowing tightly.
For the second time that day, Reid wanted to commit murder on behalf of a woman he cared deeply about.
Nadia inhaled a shaky breath before continuing. “I was crying and begging him to stop, but he wasn’t listening. He started taunting me, calling me a dirty little slut and telling me how much I was going to enjoy his big dick. He’d just unzipped his pants when the door suddenly burst open and one of his friends stumbled into the room. He had his girlfriend on his arm, and they were drunk and laughing about something or other. Brody started yelling at them to get out. While he was distracted, I managed to shove him off me. Then I ran out of that room and out of that dorm like the devil was chasing me. I didn’t look back until I was safe in my own room with the door locked behind me. I even propped a chair under the doorknob just to be safe. My roommate had gone home that weekend and Nelson was working on a research paper, so I didn’t want to bother him. But I was so shaken up by what happened that I didn’t leave my room until Monday morning.
“When Nelson asked me why I broke up with Brody, I told him that he was flirting with other girls at the party. I knew if I told Nelson the truth, he would have gotten himself expelled—or killed—trying to defend my honor. And my father probably would have gone to prison for murder. I couldn’t let that happen.”
Every muscle in Reid’s body was rigid with fury. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so fucking sorry you had to go through that.”
She shook her head, blinking back tears. “It’s ancient history. I’m over it.”
“Jesus Christ, Nadia,” Reid growled hoarsely. “He almost raped you!”
“But he didn’t. I got away. So many other girls aren’t so lucky.” She moistened her lips, her fingers tightening around the bedsheet. “What happened to me was terrible, but considering what the outcome could have been if he’d remembered to lock the door, if his friend hadn’t interrupted...” She swallowed hard and shook her head. “I was very lucky. And I’ve never stopped thanking God for that.”
A fierce wave of tenderness caught Reid by the throat and squeezed. “Now I understand why you hate violence so much. And now I know why you don’t go out with athletes.”
She nodded slowly. “Yet here I am,” she whispered with a self-deprecating half smile. “Dating yet another athlete.”
Her words hit him in the chest. He reached out and cupped her chin, searching the depths of her dark eyes. “I’m not going to hurt you, Nadia. You know that, don’t you? I won’t hurt you. Do you believe me?”
She squeezed her eyes shut, tears glinting in her lashes. “I want to,” she whispered.
“You can, baby. You can.” He pulled her into his arms, holding her protectively close to his chest. To his heart.
“I wish to God I could go back and erase what that motherfucker did to you.” His voice was rough with restrained emotion. “The thought of him terrifying you and hurting you like that…ah, babe, it fucking kills me.”
“I know,” Nadia whispered against his chest. “I can tell how much you care, and it means more to me than you can ever know.”
Reid nuzzled his face in her hair, running his hands up and down the curve of her back. “What happened with him? Did you report him to campus police?”
She sighed. “I spent the weekend going back and forth on what to do. I was afraid to come forward and not be taken seriously or, worse, blamed for what happened. At the same time, I was angry and didn’t want him to get away with what he’d done. I knew I’d never forgive myself if I found out that he raped another girl and I did nothing to stop him.” She drew a breath. “It took me almost a week to work up the courage to go talk to his coach. When I got to his office, he gave me the shocking news that Brody had just been expelled.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Uh-uh. Apparently he’d already been on academic probation. When he got caught cheating on an exam, the university wasted no time in expelling him. He was already back home in Arizona by the time I met with his coach.” Nadia shook her head. “I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t expecting that kind of swift justice. I mean, even though he wasn’t being punished for attempted rape, I felt like the universe had intervened on my behalf.”
“Hell, yeah.” Reid still wanted the fucker dead, his head on a spike. But the expulsion was something, at least.
“I still told the coach what Brody did to me,” Nadia went on. “He was shocked, angry and disappointed. He said Brody was the last player he would have ever expected to behave like that. I told him I didn’t want Brody to hurt any other girls, and he agreed. In case Brody ended up at another school playing on the lacrosse team, I made the coach promise to reach out to the new coach to warn him what kind of player he was getting. He assured me he would. He even promised to call Brody and have a stern talk with him. He said he was going to warn him to change his ways or face even more consequences. I don’t know if I believed him, or if I did enough to protect other girls from being victimized by Brody. I did what I thought was best at the time, but sometimes I wonder….” She trailed off with a sad shake of her head.
Reid held her tighter. “Don’t beat yourself up. You were only, what, nineteen?”
She nodded.
“Too damn young to be put in that position in the first place.” He lowered his chin to press his lips to her forehead, letting them linger until she pulled away and gazed up at him.
“Thank you,” she said simply.
“For what, baby?”
“For listening. For caring.”
His throat closed on a spasm of raw emotion. He couldn’t speak, could only stare at her, his eyes tenderly tracing her features. He knew, in that moment, that there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her.
He swallowed hard and looked up at the ceiling. “Are you hungry?”
“I could eat something.” There was knowing amusement in her voice. “I bet you’re starving.”
He managed a crooked grin. “How’d you know?”
She laughed. “Oh, I don’t know. Lucky guess.”
He shifted his gaze back to her and smiled. “I don’t cook very often, and I have a limited repertoire of recipes. But I make a mean spaghetti.”
She gave him a glowing smile. “I love spaghetti.”
“A woman after my own heart.” He winked at her. “I have something for you. Wait right here.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
He climbed out of bed and crossed the room to his massive walk-in closet. After pulling on a white T-shirt and some lounge pants, he shuffled past rows of hanging clothes and shoe shelves until he found what he was looking for.
When he emerged from the closet, Nadia propped herself up on her elbows to watch him approach.
He sat on the edge of the bed next to her and held up the black-and-gold jersey he’d brought out. “I want you to have this.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Is that one of your game jerseys?”
“It is.” He had replica jerseys that he wore for team charity events and other public appearances. But he wanted her to have the real deal.
She was staring at him, her eyes soft with wonder. “You’re actually giving me a jersey you wore during a game?”
“Not just any game. The game where I scored my first hat trick while Bobby Orr cheered me on from the stands.”
“Oh my God,” Nadia whispered. “Reid…”
“Raise your arms for me, baby.” He helped her into the jersey, once again marveling at how natural it felt to be dressing her in his clothes. He watched as she put her arms through the long sleeves and was immediately swallowed up in the material.
He gulped past the sudden tightness in his throat and grinned. “You look adorable.”
She beamed, looking down at herself. “It’s so soft and warm.” She lifted the sweater to her nose and inhaled with a look of dreamy pleasure. “And it smells like you.”
“It shouldn’t. It’s been professionally cleaned.”
She sniffed again, then sighed. “Your essence lingers.”
He smiled. “I want you to wear this every night while I’m on the road.”
Her eyes twinkled at him. “Every night?”
“Yes, ma’am. Every single night.”
She gave him a smile that would have launched a thousand ships. “Nothing would please me more than to wear your jersey, Reid Holden.”
Ah, God. His chest expanded with the same euphoric burst he always felt after scoring a goal. It was such a simple thing. But given her traumatic history with athletes, her willingness to wear his jersey felt sacred to him. It was the ultimate gesture of trust.
Sliding his hands into her hair, he leaned down and kissed her with passionate thoroughness, leaving her breathless and limp beneath him.
“Oh my,” she whispered when he reluctantly released her mouth to trail his lips down her arched throat. “I’ll wear it to work every day too, if that’ll make you happy.”
He let out a muffled laugh, then pulled away and tenderly palmed her hair back from her face. “Let me get started on dinner.”
“Mmmkay.” She gave him a hazy smile. “I’ll be right out after I use the bathroom...if I can remember how to walk.”
“Take your time, sweetheart.” Reid winked at her, then got up and headed out of the bedroom.
He was whistling by the time he sauntered through the doorway of the professional chef’s kitchen, which featured Sub-Zero appliances and a huge butcher-block island. Adjoining the large room was a breakfast nook with bay windows that overlooked the sprawling backyard and distant mountain range.
He glanced outside at the pouring rain, sighed contentedly, then crossed to the sink and washed his hands.
The 6,500 square foot home featured a state-of-the-art sound system that played music throughout the house. With the satellite radio tuned to a classic rock channel, Reid opened a bottle of Bordeaux to let it breathe and then took out all the ingredients he would need while the Black Crowes blasted out “Twice As Hard.”
Bobbing his head to the music, he found a cutting board and got busy chopping garlic, onions, fresh oregano and Italian sausage. When he’d finished, he drizzled olive oil into a large saucepan and let it heat up, then tossed in the chopped sausage and oregano.
“Mmm. It already smells wonderful in here.”
He turned around to see Nadia setting her phone and laptop on the breakfast table. He’d cranked up the music, so he hadn’t heard her come out of the bedroom.
He smiled, lowering the volume on the radio. “There you are.”
“Here I am.”
He watched her pad across the kitchen, looking her over from the top of her tousled head to the manicured toes of her delicate feet. She’d rolled up the sleeves of his jersey, which was so long it hung past her knees.
When she reached him, he put his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the center island, close enough for him to touch but far enough away from the hot burner.
She smiled up at him. “Do you need any help?”
“Nah, babe.” He kissed the tip of her nose and winked. “Just sit there and look beautiful.”
“Oh, I can do that,” she cooed, batting her eyelashes in perfect imitation of a Southern belle.
He laughed, delighted.
Crossing her legs, she watched as he tossed the onions and garlic cloves into the pan, blending them with the browned sausage using a wooden spoon. “So where’d you learn how to make this mean spaghetti of yours?”
“It’s an old family recipe that I’ve tweaked over the years.”
“Tweaked? Is that another word for perfected?”
He chuckled. “Nah. It was perfect the way it was,” he said, lining up tomatoes on the cutting board. “I just like to experiment and mess with stuff.”
Nadia smiled. “Was spaghetti one of your favorite foods growing up?”
“Yup.” A soft, reminiscent smile curved his lips. “I always came home starving after hockey practice. I’d stampede through the door peeling off my jersey and dropping my skates in the middle of the living room floor. My mom would be fussing at me to go wash up, but all I cared about was running to the dinner table and diving face-first into a plate of her spaghetti.”
Nadia laughed. “I can totally picture you doing that. How often did she make spaghetti?”
“At least once a week. My siblings got tired of it, but she knew how much I loved it. So…”
“She made it just for you.”
“Yup.”
Nadia grinned. “Spoiled boy.”
He laughed. “Pretty much.”
Shaking her head, Nadia pulled her legs up on the counter and folded them Indian style, teasing him with a glimpse of her pink panties before she tugged the long jersey around her knees to form a tent.
“You told me your dad worked for Ford,” she said conversationally. “What about your mother? Where did she work?”
“She was a stay-at-home mom,” Reid answered, deftly dicing tomatoes. “She used to say that being a hockey mom was more than a full-time job, and I saw that firsthand. She was the hardest-working woman I knew. She drove me to and from practices and games and tournaments, washed my uniform, cleaned my equipment, organized bake sales and fundraisers, served as team mom, and always made sure I had everything I needed. And it’s not like she didn’t have three other kids and a husband to take care of.”
“That is a lot of hard work,” Nadia agreed in a marveling tone.
“It was. I’ll never forget how much she sacrificed in order for me to play hockey. She pretty much put her life on hold.” Reid shook his head slowly. “I can never repay her.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t expect you to,” Nadia said with a quiet smile. “Mothers are just wired that way. To nurture and sacrifice and put everyone else’s needs above their own. As far as I’m concerned, Mother’s Day should be celebrated every day of the year.” She paused. “And I’m not just saying that because I’m a woman who might become a mother someday.”
Reid grinned. “Riiight.”
She stuck her tongue out at him, making him laugh.
“So, Mr. Rocket,” she said teasingly, “if you ever have a son, I assume you’ll expect him to play hockey.”
“Not necessarily expect. Strongly encour—” Without warning his mind flashed on an image of a beautiful caramel boy with thick curly hair and soulful brown eyes, or maybe blue.
“Reid?”
He blinked and the image evaporated, leaving him slightly stunned and shaken as he stared at Nadia. “Huh?”
She regarded him curiously. “Where’d you go just now?”
Into the future…with our child.
He swallowed hard. “Nowhere. Just lost my train of thought.”
“Well, be careful with that knife before you cut off a finger,” she warned.
“Uh, yeah. Right.” He finished dicing the tomatoes and dumped them into the pan, then added some water, two cans of tomato sauce, a pinch of brown sugar and a liberal sprinkling of spices. After splashing in some red wine, he stirred all the ingredients together.
As the fragrant aroma wafted through the kitchen, Nadia sniffed the air and sighed appreciatively. “God, that smells amazing. You’ve got my mouth watering over here.”
Reid grinned. “Wait till you taste it.”
“If it tastes even half as good as it smells,” she joked, “I might have to name my firstborn after you.”
Jesus!
Reid dropped the lid he’d just picked up. It clattered onto the counter and rolled toward the edge before he managed to keep it from tumbling to the floor.
“Whoa.” Nadia gave him a look of amused concern. “Dude, are you okay? You seem jumpy all of a sudden.”
“I’m, uh, fine.” He placed the lid on the pan and scrubbed a shaky hand across his jaw. When his gaze landed on the open bottle of Bordeaux, he nearly pounced with relief. “I need some wine. Would you like some wine?”
Nadia’s eyes twinkled with humor. “I’d love some.”
As he removed two glasses from the cupboard, she warned teasingly, “Easy with those, butterfingers.”
He grinned sheepishly as he poured the wine and handed her a glass.
She thanked him, swirled her wine and then took an experimental sip. “Mmm. That’s an excellent Bordeaux.”
Reid took a deep swig from his glass and gave an approving nod. Not bad for a five-thousand-dollar bottle of vino.
“It’s so rich and intense.” Nadia sipped some more, studying the distinctive label on the bottle. “1989 Château Pétrus. I’m not even gonna ask how much this cost.”
Reid grinned. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. It was Hunter’s recommendation.”
“Hunter Duchene? Your teammate?”
“Yeah. He’s something of a wine connoisseur.”
“Really?”
Reid chuckled. “Why do you sound so surprised? What, you think hockey players aren’t sophisticated enough to appreciate fine wine? You think all we can handle is beer?”
Nadia laughed. “I didn’t say that!”
“But you were thinking it.”
“No, I wasn’t,” she insisted. “But c’mon, Reid. We’re talking about a guy whose nickname is ‘HD’ because his slap shots are so lethal, goalies see ’em coming in high-definition. We’re talking about the same guy who smashes the puck so hard, he’s been known to rip a hole in the net. So, yeah, it’s a little hard for me to reconcile a player like that being a wine connois— What’s wrong?”
Reid had dropped his chin to his chest and closed his eyes. “God, it turns me on when you talk hockey. Especially when you use phrases like coming in high-definition and smashes the puck and rip a hole…” He shuddered, setting his glass down. “If you could feel how hard I am right now—”
Nadia threw back her head with a delighted peal of laughter that had him grinning from ear to ear.
“You are such a dirty boy,” she teased, her eyes twinkling.
He winked. “And don’t you forget it.”
She grinned and drank more wine. When she put her glass down, Reid couldn’t resist leaning over and stealing a kiss from her. The Bordeaux was good. But it tasted even better on her luscious lips.
When the Foo Fighters’ “The Pretender” came on and Nadia started singing, it was all Reid could do not to get down on one knee and propose. He was thrilled beyond belief that she knew the words to one of his all-time favorite songs.
He cranked up the volume and sang along with her, his wooden spoon doing double duty as a microphone. She laughed and played air guitar while shaking her hair over her face like a bona fide metalhead. Reid fucking loved it.
They rocked out together, practically screaming the lyrics to each other over the song’s hard-pounding riffs. When “The Pretender” went off, they struck the same rocker pose with their tongues sticking out and their hands flashing devil horns.
They looked at each other, then burst into a round of shoulder-shaking laughter, gusty shouts of mirth that sent tears running down their cheeks.
It was several moments before they could speak again.
“That was so fun,” Nadia said breathlessly, her eyes sparkling.
“Hells yeah.” Reid was grinning hard. “Damn, girl, I didn’t know you liked the Foo Fighters.”
“Are you kidding? I love the Foos.”
Reid put his hand over his heart and sighed. “I think I’m in love.”
Nadia laughed and blushed, tucking her hair behind her ear.
He watched her, a warm glow of affection spreading through him. “Seriously. I didn’t know you could rock out like that.”
She grinned. “You should see me at one of Scarlett’s concerts. You wouldn’t even recognize me.”
“Yeah? You’ll have to take me with you sometime.”
Her eyes lit up. “I’d love that.”
“Me too.” Reid turned toward the sink and rinsed off the wooden spoon. “Speaking of Scarlett, I told Viggo she’s back in town and he really wants to meet her. Can we make that happen or what?”
“We can, but…” Nadia trailed off with a sigh.
“But what?”
“I was sorta hoping he and Jess might hook up.”
“Hmm.” Reid dipped the spoon into the bubbling spaghetti sauce and stirred.
“What does that mean?”
He shrugged. “Viggo’s really interested in meeting Scarlett. He went online and looked up her band, then downloaded both of their albums—”
Nadia looked pleased. “He did?”
“Yup. So did I. We’ve both been enjoying their music. Scarlett’s a kickass drummer with a helluva voice. Not to mention that she’s gorgeous.” He gave Nadia a sideways grin. “If I hadn’t met you first—”
“Hey!” she protested.
He laughed. “Just kidding. Well, not the part about Scarlett being hot. The last part.”
Nadia mock-glared at him. “I get it.”
He grinned and winked. “Seriously though, babe. If you really want me to ask Viggo about Jess again, I will. But I already know what he’s going to say.”
Nadia sighed. “I’m really trying to be a good friend here, but I certainly don’t mind introducing Viggo to Scarlett if that’s what he really wants. If they end up hitting it off…”
“Then it was meant to be.”
She smiled. “Pretty much.”
Reid blew on the steaming sauce, then turned and brought the spoon to Nadia’s mouth. “Taste this.”
His cock twitched as he watched her lips open and close over the edge of the spoon. “Mmm,” she breathed appreciatively. “Oh my God, Reid. That’s absolutely divine.”
Grinning, he slid the spoon into his mouth and licked off the remaining sauce. “Perfect.”
“It is,” she agreed, picking up her wineglass. “You hit it out of the park.”
He sent her a sly look. “Does that mean you’re naming your firstborn after me?”
She laughed shyly and lowered her lashes to sip her wine.
Grinning, Reid put the lid back on the pan. “The sauce is ready. It just needs to simmer for about twenty minutes. Gotta let the spices marinate.”
Nadia’s eyes danced over the rim of her glass. “Marinate, huh?”
“Yeah, baby. Marinate.”
“Gotcha.” She sighed contentedly and looked around. “I can’t get over how amazing your home is. Every room is so big and gorgeously decorated.” She smiled. “It must be nice to have an interior designer in the family. Your sister Avery is very talented.”
“Thank you,” Reid said warmly. “I’ll be sure to pass along your compliments when she gets back from Germany.”
“Germany?” Nadia repeated curiously. “What’s she doing in Germany?”
“Attending a trade show. She goes to several every year, sometimes back to back. They’re held all over the world.”
“Really?” Nadia set her glass down beside her. “Sounds exciting.”
“She enjoys them.” Reid chuckled. “She always comes back inspired and excited about the latest trends in interior design. I’m sure she’ll want to redecorate my living room or something.”
Nadia grinned. “I hope not. Why mess with perfection?”
“That’s what I always tell her.” In the mood to hear something more mellow, Reid switched to a contemporary soft rock channel.
When Justin Timberlake’s “Not A Bad Thing” began playing moments later, Nadia’s face lit up. “Ohh, I love this song.”
Reid grinned. “Yeah?”
Unfortunately—or maybe fortunately—he knew all the words because Aria had played the damn song every day last summer during their family vacation at the lake.
Before he realized what he was doing, before he could think it through and maybe stop himself, he grabbed the wooden spoon and began serenading Nadia: “Said all I want from you is to see you tomorrow…and every tomorrow, maybe you’ll let me borrow your heart….”
“Oh my God.” She laughed softly and blushed, cupping her cheeks as she stared up at him.
Enjoying her reaction, he winked and did a shuffling little dance step that made her squeal as he crooned into the spoon, “So don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me…”
It was cheesy, totally cornball. But he could tell Nadia loved every moment of it. And he loved…God help him. He was too damn scared to even go there. But as he sang to her, the romantic lyrics captured his feelings so perfectly he could have written them himself.
When the song ended, Nadia clapped her hands in delight, staring at him with shining eyes. She looked so beautiful his breath caught and his chest ached.
“Wow,” she breathed, shaking her head. “You are just full of surprises, aren’t you, Mr. Holden?”
He grinned, feeling sheepish. “Just fooling around.”
“I loved it. That song…” She trailed off.
Their eyes clung for a long moment. And then she looked away, biting her bottom lip as she stared out the window at the falling rain.
A streak of lightning forked across the sky. It was followed by a clap of thunder that Reid barely heard over the loud beating of his heart.
After another moment Nadia cleared her throat.
And the spell was broken.
“While we’re waiting on the sauce,” she said, “I’m just gonna check my email.”
Reid helped her down from the counter, then tweaked her nose. “It’s supposed to be your day off.”
“I know. But I need to take care of a few things for my coworker. She’s going to be out for a couple days this week, so I promised to pinch-hit for her.” Nadia shook her head at herself. “What’s with me and all the baseball jargon today?”
Reid chuckled and playfully swatted her backside, making her giggle. He watched as she padded over to the breakfast nook, sat at the table with her knees pulled up to her chest and powered on her laptop.
Turning away, he lowered the heat on the sauce and then took out a big pot to boil water for the spaghetti noodles. Before leaving that morning, Mrs. Keller—his ever efficient housekeeper—had tossed a Greek salad, baked a loaf of her homemade French bread and whipped up some tiramisu for dessert. So all he had to prepare was the main course.
“Aww,” Nadia cooed from the breakfast table.
“What?”
“One of my former students just had a baby, and her husband shared some pictures on Facebook. Their daughter is so adorable.”
Reid smiled. “Congrats to the new parents. But what’re you doing on Facebook? You’re supposed to be checking your work email.”
“I know, I know. I need to get off here before I get sucked into the vortex.” She chuckled. “I’m following you on Instagram, by the way. Not that you’d ever notice. You have, like, a gazillion followers. And everything you post gets millions of likes. Seriously.”
Reid chuckled. “I wouldn’t know. I’m hardly ever on there.”
“Really? Then who updates your page?”
“Aria.” He turned on the oven, setting the temperature on low to warm up the French bread. “She’s the one who insisted that I had to have an Instagram account. Since it was her idea, she volunteered to maintain the page for me. I only post occasionally. It’s not really my thing.”
“Thank God for your sister, then. She’s very social-media savvy. She really knows how to keep your fans engaged and excited, and she posts some fabulous pictures. Where does she get those amazing action shots from your games?”
“The team photographer.”
“They’re great,” Nadia raved. “She has the perfect balance between your personal and professional—”
Reid frowned. “I hope she’s not sharing personal pictures.”
“Only a few. And they’re very popular with your groupies. But then again,” Nadia said wryly, “those chicks go absolutely crazy over every new photo that’s posted. That sneak peek from your Gatorade commercial—the one where you’re wearing your hockey pants and an undershirt and you’re all sweaty? Holy shit, Reid. I’m surprised that picture didn’t break the Internet. It had over three million likes last I checked. And some of those women’s comments…Dude, you should seriously consider hiring a security detail for your own safety.”
Reid was only half listening, his mind working as he slid the loaf of French bread into the preheated oven. Nadia had just given him an idea. She probably wouldn’t go for it, but he had to put it out there.
Opening a package of spaghetti, he ventured casually, “So, listen, babe. Now that we’re—”
“Um…what the hell?”
He turned around to see Nadia frowning at her laptop screen. “What’s wrong?”
Her frown deepened. “Do you know a Holly Britt?”
He stiffened in surprise, his blood running cold. “Why?”
“She just sent me a friend request on Facebook. And she included a little note.”
No…no, no, fuck no!
Clenching his jaw, Reid strode across the room and stood over Nadia’s shoulder to look at her laptop screen. Sure enough, Holly had reached out to her on Facebook.
Her message read: We have a mutual love interest. Thought you might want to know what happened between us in Boston. Hint: They don’t call him The Rocket for nothing.
Reid glared at the screen, his chest tightening with fury. That conniving little bitch!
Nadia was staring up at him. “Who is she?”
He ground his back teeth together. “She’s my ex-girlfriend from college.”
“From college?”
He nodded shortly. “She came to the game when we played the Bruins during my rookie season. After that we started hooking up every time I came to town.”
“I see.” Nadia’s tone was cool, her eyes narrowed on his face. “Did you hook up with her when you were in Boston this past weekend?”
“No.” His voice was emphatic. “Absolutely not.”
He didn’t like the way Nadia was looking at him. With uncertainty. And suspicion.
“When you were in Boston,” she said evenly, “I asked you about catching up with your old college classmates. Why didn’t you mention Holly?”
“Because she’s not important,” Reid growled. “We barely dated in college, and since then we’ve only seen each other once a year. We had a casual arrangement that worked for both of us. But I had no intention of contacting her this weekend. When she showed up at my hotel room, I told her we couldn’t see each other anymore. She was upset, and now she’s trying to get back at me.”
Nadia chewed on her lip, searching his face. She looked like she wanted to believe him, but was afraid to. Given the painful things she’d just shared with him, he couldn’t blame her for being leery. He had to convince her that he was telling the truth.
He gestured to her laptop. “May I?”
She hesitated a moment, then nodded and slid the laptop over.
He sat down next to her, accepted Holly’s friend request and then fired off a scathing response to her: This is Reid. Why are you trying to start some shit? We both know nothing happened in Boston. Don’t play yourself like this. It’s embarrassing.
He frowned and leaned back in the chair, drumming his fingers on the table.
“What’re you waiting for?” Nadia asked him.
“I know Holly didn’t expect me to respond to her message,” he explained. “If she insists on claiming that we slept together, then you and I can continue this conversation until the issue is resolved to your satisfaction. But if she ignores my message or responds with an insult, you’ll know she’s lying.”
Nadia bit her lip, trying not to look anxious.
Reid reached over and touched her cheek. “Holly’s a troublemaker. Don’t let her get in your head.”
“She’s not,” Nadia mumbled. “I just hate dealing with ‘other woman’ drama. It’s so messy.”
“There’s no other woman,” Reid told her. “You’re it.”
Just then the laptop chimed to indicate a new message. He and Nadia leaned forward together to read Holly’s response: Bastard.
Reid chuckled darkly and gave Nadia an “I told you so” look.
“Ohhkay, then.” She looked amused, disgusted, and a little relieved.
He passed the laptop back. “Unfriend her and block her.”
She nodded, her fingers already flying over the keyboard.
“While you’re at it, you should change your settings so that complete strangers can’t send you messages.”
“Good idea.” She gave him a sideways glance. “So…do you have a fuck buddy stashed away in every city you visit?”
He scowled. “No.”
Her skeptical expression got under his skin.
He shoved a hand through his hair and blew out a frustrated breath. “Look, baby, I’m not gonna lie to you. When we’re on the road, we meet a lot of women whose only goal in life is to sleep with a hockey player so they can brag to their friends. They hang around the arena after games, follow us to bars and try to sneak into our hotel rooms. I’ve never pretended to be a Boy Scout. I’m a man with a healthy libido, and I enjoy getting laid.” His voice softened. “But here’s the thing, Nadia. Ever since we met, I haven’t wanted any other woman. You’re all I can think about. You’ve got me daydreaming about you and singing Justin Timberlake songs.” He smiled. “And that’s not a bad thing.”
He could see the corners of her mouth tipping up in the barest hint of a smile. But she said nothing.
Reid covered her hand with his, looking into her eyes. “I know it’s hard, sweetheart, but you’re gonna have to trust me. It’s the only way this relationship can work.”
Her lashes flickered downward, concealing her eyes. After another moment, she took a deep breath and nodded slowly, as if she’d reached a decision.
“I—” She was interrupted by the sudden chime of her laptop, signaling a new Facebook message.
Reid frowned as she returned her attention to the screen to read the message.
He watched her, tension knotting his shoulders. “Who is it?”
Her expression was carefully blank. “No one.”
He narrowed his eyes. “No one?”
“It’s not Holly, if that’s what you’re wor— Hey!” she protested when he grabbed her laptop and swiveled it toward him.
He quickly scanned the message she’d just received. It was from some dude named Jarrett.
Hey, Nadia. Haven’t talked to you in a while. Wanted to see if you’d like to have dinner again. Are you free on Saturday? BTW, a friend just told me you’re going out with that hockey player Reid Holden. But I didn’t believe her. I know you don’t get down like that. Let me know about Saturday.
Nadia was frowning and shaking her head at Reid. “Seriously—”
“Who the fuck is Jarrett?”
Her eyes widened at his harsh tone. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Who’s Jarrett?”
She snatched her laptop back. “Just some guy.”
“Some guy you went on a date with.”
“That’s right.”
“Where’d you meet him?” Reid’s voice was barely above a growl.
“Our fathers are in the same fraternity. They introduced us to each other at a picnic over the summer.”
“And you liked him enough to go out with him.”
“Obviously.” Nadia gave him an exasperated look. “Please don’t tell me you’re jealous, Reid.”
He was insanely jealous. Wanna-rip-dude-apart-with-my-bare-hands jealous. He’d never felt this degree of possessiveness over a woman before. He didn’t know how to handle it. Judging by the disapproving frown on Nadia’s face, he apparently wasn’t handling it very well.
Too damn bad.
“Why don’t you write him back and tell him you’re no longer available.”
She lifted a defiant brow. “Is that a suggestion or an order?”
He just looked at her.
She snorted, shaking her head in disgust. “I can’t believe you’re acting like this.”
“Like what?”
“Like a Neanderthal.” Grumbling under her breath, she turned away to respond to the guy’s message, her fingers pounding on the keyboard.
Without an ounce of shame, Reid leaned close to read what she was writing.
Hey, Jarrett. Thanks for thinking of me, but I’m afraid I’ll have to pass on dinner. And your friend was right about me and Reid Holden. So I guess I do get down like that.
A surge of satisfaction coursed through Reid’s veins. He wanted to pound his chest and let out a triumphant roar, but that would only reinforce Nadia’s Neanderthal accusation.
As she closed out of Facebook, he said somewhat humbly, “Thank you.”
She gave him a sour look. “I was gonna turn him down anyway. You didn’t have to order me to do it.”
Reid lowered his head, kissing the delicate place where her shoulder met her throat. Feeling her shiver beneath his lips, he smiled softly and murmured, “Did we just have our first argument?”
That coaxed a small laugh out of her. “I think so.”
He lifted his head and grinned at her. “Let’s commemorate the occasion by taking a selfie together and posting it on our Instagram pages.”
“What?” Nadia stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “We can’t do that.”
“Why the hell not? We’re a couple. Sharing pictures is what couples do.”
She shook her head. “Not us.”
He frowned. “Why not us?”
“Because…” She made a helpless gesture. “We’re not a normal couple, Reid. You’re a famous hockey player and…and….”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “And what?”
She sighed. “Have you seen the wives and girlfriends of most NHL players? Newsflash: I don’t look like them.”
Reid cocked an eyebrow. “And that’s a problem because…?”
“I’m not saying it’s a problem. I’m just pointing out how uncommon our relationship is.” She let out a breath. “Look, I don’t consider myself an insecure person. I know my worth and I know what I bring to the table. But you’re a sex symbol, Reid, and I’d rather not be picked apart by jealous fangirls on your Instagram page—some of whom are probably already wondering what you’re doing with a black woman. Hell, I still remember how certain fans badmouthed Nicole Beharie when she was dating Michael Fassbender. And don’t even get me started on the vicious backlash against FKA Twigs for having the audacity to get engaged to Robert Pattinson. Those Twihards lost their damn minds!” Nadia shuddered and shook her head. “Sorry, but I don’t want to be subjected to that kind of nasty vitriol from your fangirls.”
“Then don’t read their comments,” Reid said calmly. “Aria will delete them anyway.”
Nadia threw her hands up in exasperation. “It’s not that simple, Reid!”
He sat back in his chair and gazed at her through shuttered eyes. “Are you going to allow the racist opinions of strangers to dictate our relationship?”
She frowned. “Of course not.”
“Then what’s the problem?” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Are you embarrassed about being with me?”
“What? Of course I’m not embarrassed.”
“You sure about that?”
She stared at him in disbelief. “Seriously? Have you not been listening to me? Why on earth would I be embarrassed about our relationship? You’re Reid Holden, one of the hottest freakin’ guys on the planet! Any woman would kill to call you her boyfriend.”
“Not you, apparently.” He wasn’t above laying a little guilt trip.
Nadia frowned at him. “That’s not fair.”
“Then prove it,” he challenged. “Post a picture of us.”
It was asking a lot, he realized. He knew what an intensely private person she was. He knew how much she’d already sacrificed just by being with him. That should have been enough. But he was greedy, and he wanted even more. It was that caveman compulsion, the urge to claim his woman in front of the world.
“There are already pictures of us out there on the Internet,” he pointed out. “Why not share our own photos, take back control of our own narrative?”
Nadia hesitated, worrying her bottom lip. He could see her contemplating the merit of his proposal.
So he went a step further. “It would really mean a lot to me.”
Her expression softened at once. She stared at him, searching his eyes for several moments.
He found himself holding his breath, waiting.
Finally she gave him a soft, winsome smile and nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
His chest swelled with gratitude and relief. Not giving her a chance to change her mind, he pulled her out of her chair and onto his lap, then grabbed her phone.
“Wait.” She tugged down his jersey over her legs and quickly combed her fingers through her hair.
Chicks, Reid thought with a grin. He held the phone out in front of them. “Ready?”
“Not yet.” More primping. “Okay.”
“On the count of three…”
She giggled nervously. “One—”
“Two—”
On “three” he turned his head and kissed her cheek, making her laugh as he snapped the picture.
“No fair!” she protested. “You caught me off guard!”
He grinned. “Unguarded moments make the best pictures,” he asserted. When he checked the photo, his breath caught in his throat. Nadia’s hair was slightly mussed, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled bewitchingly as she laughed into the camera.
“God, you’re beautiful,” Reid breathed.
“Lemme see.” She leaned closer to inspect the selfie.
“We look good together,” he said.
“We do,” she agreed in a soft whisper. “We look like…a couple.”
His heart nearly swelled to bursting. They looked up from the photo and stared into each other’s eyes.
After a long moment, Nadia took her phone from his hand. “I’ll go first.”
As she pulled up her Instagram page, Reid nuzzled her nape and the silky skin of her shoulder exposed by the loose jersey.
“Here goes,” she murmured.
He watched as she typed out a caption “Chillin’ with The Rocket,” then posted the selfie to her page.
“Atta girl,” he said proudly.
She sighed with satisfaction. “I feel empowered.”
“Good. My turn.” He snagged her phone and sent the picture to himself just so he’d have it. Then he signed into his Instagram account and uploaded the selfie with the simple caption: “Everything.”
Nadia looked over her shoulder at him. Her eyes were soft, her smile tender.
No other words were needed.
They exchanged an affectionate fist bump, then Nadia slid off his lap and stood. “The sauce should be good and marinated by now. I’ll set the table while you boil the spaghetti so we can eat.”
Twenty minutes later, the table was set with a crusty loaf of French bread, two small bowls of salad and one generous plate of spaghetti topped with steaming sauce. Reid had suggested eating family-style for an intimate dining experience, and Nadia had happily agreed.
Once they were sitting side by side at the table, she twirled her fork in the plate of spaghetti and took the first bite.
“Ohhh,” she breathed, her eyes closing as she chewed. “That’s sooo delicious.”
Reid smiled, warm pleasure spreading through him. “Glad you approve.”
“Oh, most definitely.”
His smile turned mischievous. “So does that mean you’re having my baby?”
She choked out a laugh, then reached for her glass and took a gulp of wine. “Um,” she croaked, “that’s not what I said.”
Reid played dumb. “Isn’t it?”
“No.” Her eyes glimmered. “I didn’t say I’d have your baby if the spaghetti tasted good. I said I would name my firstborn after you.”
“Same difference.”
She laughed again. “Uhh…no.”
Reid grinned, twirling spaghetti around his fork and putting it into his mouth.
Candles flickered on the table, lending a soft glow to the darkened room. Smooth jazz played softly in the background, a soothing counterpoint to the rain lashing against the windows.
Nadia took another bite of spaghetti and made a rapturous, throaty sound of appreciation. “It’s official. Casa Holden beats any five-star restaurant in town.”
Reid grinned broadly. “That’s quite an endorsement.”
“A well-deserved one.” As her tongue swept a streak of sauce off her lower lip, his groin tightened with need. “Seriously, Reid. This is the best spaghetti I’ve ever had.”
He leaned closer until their thighs touched. “Does that mean I can expect a generous tip?”
“Umm-hmm.” There was a naughty gleam in her eyes. “Your tip will be very generous.”
“How generous?”
Holding his gaze, she sensuously twined her tongue around her fork and purred, “Do you accept payment in orgasms?”
His cock surged in his pants. “Jesus, woman.”
She laughed, a sultry sound that left him breathless. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Definitely. Now hurry up and eat so we can get busy settling your bill.”
They both laughed.
Over the next several minutes, they rarely took their eyes off each other as they ate from the same plate, each working from one end toward the middle. The sensual, mellow sounds of saxophonist Montana Wolf floated through the soft-lit room, enhancing the romantic ambience.
“Ooh, this just gave me an idea,” Nadia said with sudden excitement.
Reid smiled indulgently. “What?”
“Let’s reenact that spaghetti dinner scene from Lady and the Tramp!”
He blinked slowly. “What?”
“You know. Lady and the Tramp, that old Disney movie about the two dogs that fell in love. C’mon, Reid. It’s a classic.”
“Never heard of it.”
“What!”
He laughed at her flabbergasted tone. “Just kidding. Of course I’ve heard of Lady and the Tramp.”
“Good. Then you know what to do. I’m Lady—” she teasingly pointed from her chest to his “—and you’re the Tramp.”
His mouth twitched. “I’ve been called worse.”
She laughed. “I know you have. Not too long ago, as I recall.”
He scowled at the reminder of Holly’s little cockblocking stunt.
Grinning, Nadia picked out a long noodle from the plate, put one end of it in his mouth and then took the other end.
Staring at each other, they chewed the strand of spaghetti, eating from the ends as their heads moved closer together. When their mouths met in the middle, Reid felt Nadia’s breath hitch, and damn if his toes didn’t curl.
Their lips clung hotly before she pulled away with a breathless little giggle.
He smiled, feeling somewhat dazed by the kiss and the way her eyes sparkled in the candlelight. If his brother or teammates could see him right now, they’d permanently revoke his man card. But he didn’t care. He was having the time of his life. He never knew he could enjoy a woman’s company as much as he was enjoying Nadia’s.
Taking a sip of her wine, she sighed and grinned. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“Yeah?” Reid’s voice dipped low and husky. “Was it everything you ever hoped for?”
“Better.” She stared into his eyes. “So much better.”
It was all he could do not to pick her up right then and carry her off to bed. Who knew that sharing a plate of spaghetti with a woman could be so erotic?
He took a slice of bread from the basket, tore off a piece and brought it to Nadia’s mouth. As her warm lips closed around his fingertips, his cock throbbed. He bit into the remaining half of bread, enjoying the flaky warmth while watching her mouth as she chewed.
“So good,” she murmured. “Everything’s so good, Reid. Even the salad is delicious.”
He smiled, pleased. “Save room for dessert. Mrs. Keller made her tiramisu, and it’s outstanding.”
“Ooh, tiramisu. Yum.”
“Indeed.” He topped off their wine, then picked up his glass and sipped, watching as Nadia leaned back in her chair. Flickering shadows from the candlelight danced across her face as she closed her eyes, her body swaying to the seductive wail of Montana Wolf’s sax.
“Speaking of firstborn children,” she whispered, “this is some serious baby-making music right here.”
Reid nearly choked on his wine. Wiping the corner of his mouth, he gave her a crooked grin. “Baby-making music, huh?”
“Oh, yes,” she breathed with a dreamy smile. “That saxophone sounds so hypnotic and sexy. It makes me think of a smoky nightclub…two bodies swaying together on an empty dance floor…hips grinding slowly…sweat sliding over skin to melt between parted thighs. That saxophone makes me want to sneak outside and feel the cool rain washing over my heated body…soaking through my clothes…filling my mouth until water runs out the corners and down my chin….”
Reid stared at her, his own mouth running dry at the pictures her words conjured in his mind. She utterly captivated him. Part innocent, part temptress and all woman.
Slowly she opened her eyes and met his hungry gaze. She bit her bottom lip, her eyes glinting with mischief as her hand disappeared under the table.
“That saxophone,” she whispered seductively, trailing her fingers up his inner thigh, “makes…me…want…to…fuck.”
At that, Reid almost came in his pants. “Jesus H. Christ,” he rasped.
Nadia threw back her head with a wicked peal of laughter that sent shivers through his body and curled his damn toes.
His erection hurt like hell, smashed against the crotch of his pants. It was all he could do not to shove his hand inside the waistband, fist his hard cock and jerk off until he found release. It wouldn’t take long.
As Nadia’s laughter subsided, she wiped tears of mirth from her eyes and sighed. “That was too funny.”
Reid glowered at her, acutely aware of her other hand still resting on his thigh. “Mind telling me what the hell that was about?”
“That,” she said smugly, “was payback for behaving like a caveman earlier and bossing me around.”
Grumbling under his breath, Reid downed the rest of his wine and swiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Just for that, you’re not getting any dessert.”
“Wait, what?” she sputtered.
“You heard me, woman. No tiramisu for you.”
“Aw, c’mon, Reid,” she laughingly protested. “Don’t be like that!”
“Nah. You’re not the only one who can hold a grudge.”
“C’mon, baby,” she cajoled, rubbing her head against his shoulder. “Don’t be cruel. Let me have some tiramisu.”
The heat of her hand on his thigh made him wish she’d reach into his pants and squeeze his throbbing dick. He shifted in the chair, adjusting his pants over his erection.
She smiled beguilingly. “As a peace offering…”
He didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed when she removed her hand. As he watched, she twirled the last few strands of spaghetti around her fork and fed him, her eyes twinkling.
“There. I let you have the last bite.”
“Uh-huh,” Reid grumbled, chewing morosely.
Grinning, she put her fork down on the empty plate, leaned back in her chair and patted her stomach with a sigh of contentment. “That was so good. I’m stuffed.”
“I hope so, because you’re still not getting any dessert.”
She laughed, taking his hand in hers. As he watched, she kissed his knuckles one by one, smiling at him through her eyelashes. “Thank you, Reid.”
He smiled at her. “For what?”
“For making this the best day off I’ve ever had.”
He swallowed. Oh, man. He was such a goner.
Gazing into her eyes, he tenderly stroked her cheek, brushing the pad of his thumb over her lips. “There’s no place else I’d rather be than right here with you.”
She beamed, her face glowing in the candlelight.
As he moved in to kiss her, a sudden clap of thunder rattled the house.
“Goodness,” Nadia whispered, glancing toward the ceiling. “I hope the power doesn’t go out. I was looking forward to us curling up on that plush sofa together and watching a movie.”
“That sounds good,” Reid murmured, rising from the table and taking her hand. “But I’ve got an even better idea.”
Reading the wicked intent in his gaze, she gaped at him. “Now? But we just finished—”
“After tomorrow I’m gonna be gone for ten days,” he drawled, pulling her to her feet. “We need to stockpile as many orgasms as we can.”
She laughed as he lifted her into his arms. “But we just ate dinner. Didn’t your mama ever tell you not to play on a full stomach?”
“Of course.” He winked devilishly. “But who said anything about playing?”