Wicked Games (Denver Rebels) (26 page)

“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.