Free Wicked Games (Denver Rebels) by Maureen Smith Page A

Nelson paused, looking appropriately solemn before he continued speaking. “So get this. The AP picked up my story with Reid’s quote.”
    “Are you serious? The Associated Press?”
    Nelson nodded, beaming. “I couldn’t believe it. People have been calling all day to congratulate me.”
    Nadia grinned, bumping her shoulder against his. “That’s awesome, Nels. Congratulations.” Despite her earlier annoyance with him, she couldn’t help sharing his excitement. He was her twin. His good news was her good news.
    Turning toward the counter, Nelson picked up the bottle of Moscato and swigged from it.
    “Hey!” Nadia protested, swatting him on the arm. “How many times have I told you to stop doing that? I don’t want your backwash in my wine! Ew!”
    Nelson laughed, moving out of her reach. As she glared at him, he chugged down the rest of the wine, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and let out a satisfied burp.
    Nadia wrinkled her nose in disgust. “You’re really feeling yourself, aren’t you?”
    “Yup. It’s been a damn good day. The only thing that would make it better is having my name mentioned on SportsCenter. ” He grinned, setting the empty bottle down. “But enough about me. What happened when Reid showed up at the college fair tonight?”
    Nadia frowned, peering into her glass as if checking for cooties. “He asked me to have dinner with him.”
    Nelson’s grin widened. “Really?”
    “Really.” She took a sip of wine.
    “So what’d you say?”
    She sighed. “I proposed a compromise.”
    “Which was?”
    “Just coffee.”
    Nelson raised an eyebrow. “So you had coffee with him?”
    “Yes.” And a whole lot more.
    Her brother eyed her knowingly. “I was right. You do like him.”
    “Oh, please,” she scoffed. “I don’t even know him.”
    “Then why’d you agree to go out for coffee?” Nelson challenged.
    Her cheeks warmed. “Like you said,” she grumbled, lifting her glass to her mouth, “he can be very persuasive.”
    Nelson laughed.
    “Baby,” Bianca called from the living room, “they’re talking about hockey now!”
    “Oh, snap.” Nelson grabbed Nadia’s hand and raced out of the kitchen, tugging her along behind him.
    Back in the living room, Bianca had turned up the sound on the television. Two sportscasters were sharing their predictions on which NHL team would take home the Stanley Cup this season.
    Nelson plopped down next to Bianca while Nadia sat on the loveseat. Sipping her wine, she half listened as the talking heads droned on about team stats and standings and likely playoff scenarios. Things she knew absolutely nothing about.
    Just as her eyes started to glaze over, a picture of Reid suddenly appeared in the top right corner of the screen. She sat up straighter, her heartbeat quickening as she stared at the television.
    There he was.
    The man she’d just made out with in a public parking lot.
    The man who’d nearly made her come just from a kiss.
    “…Perhaps one of the biggest stories heading into this season is the news that Denver Rebels defenseman Reid Holden has apparently called a truce with the media. According to the Associated Press, after the Rebels’ practice last night, Holden broke his long silence to take questions from a reporter at the Denver Dispatch . Say what now? Say who?”
    The other sportscaster snickered. “You heard right, folks. A paper most of us have never even heard of before scooped The Denver Post , the city’s biggest newspaper. By opening up to the Dispatch , Holden has definitely put those folks on the map.”
    “Hell, yeah!” Nelson hooted, grinning from ear to ear.
    “Well, whatever prompted him to end the stalemate with the media,” the first anchor said, “let’s just hope it lasts so we can finally get some good sound bites out of the All-Star blueliner. As one of the most electrifying players of this era, Holden has consistently led the NHL in total points by a defenseman. Last season,