Staring at the feisty five-foot-something tatted-out blonde in front of me, I’m struggling to make sense of what she’s asking.
For some reason, I thought she’d be this tiny little thing, but she’s taller than I thought. I like tall women, though, because it makes doggie style a hell of a lot easier on my knees, since I don’t have to bend as much.
I jerk my head, steering my thoughts away from sex positions when I’ve got this woman staring at me with her big, soulful eyes.
“You want me to pretend we’re on a date?”
She nods like my vintage Cujo bobblehead. “Yes, we can spread some condoms on the pavement or something to make it believable. Actually, never mind, a bird could choke. That’s a terrible idea.”
I like that she’s environmentally conscious, but I’m having a hard time keeping up with this whole conversation because I’m exhausted. I can’t believe I haven’t crashed on the sidewalk. The prospect of my spearmint bath is fading fast, which is a goddamn travesty.
“So, all I have to do is act like we’re on a date?” I repeat.
“Yes, I know I have nothing to offer you, but that’s my ex. It’s a long story, and we’re completely over, trust me, but I’d really appreciate it since he basically thinks he invented the female orgasm.”
“Pretty sure that was a guy named Rhode Tremblay,” I joke.
Instead of laughing, Nina blinks those hazels like she doesn’t know my name.
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
My name’s in the app, right?
Heat rushes to my face. What was I thinking? I know how to treat a woman in bed, but that wasn’t funny. That was dumb as fuck. I glance around to find a few people watching us, but at least they didn’t hear that comment.
A car door slams, saving me from having to awkwardly explain the horrible joke I just told. I’m still processing everything she said when a guy with shiny dark hair and black earrings climbs out of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, wearing a sweatshirt that reads… I squint at the boxes. N. Er. Dy. Is that a band shirt?
Nina stops him with a palm to his chest. “What the hell are you doing here, Isaac?”
The cold air thickens with more tension than a bad ref call. It’s clear there’s some history between them, but I’m not about to skate onto the ice uninvited and demand answers. I hate when reporters pry into my personal life.
The guy pinches the bridge of his nose. “Why are you always so intense? I’m sorry, okay? I just hauled ass to come get you.”
“Would you like a gold medal or a silver one for that?” Nina crosses her arms. “Where’s Gwendolyn? Why didn’t she come? Why are you here?”
Forget being a neurosurgeon. This woman would make one hell of an interrogator, but people who speak their mind and cut right through the bullshit are my favorite type.
The guy shoves his hands into his hoodie pocket. “She passed out when she got home. I saw the message and figured I’d come, but I wasn’t going to text you because I knew you’d tell me not to bother. You’re welcome.”
Nina scoffs, but what gets to me is the way she wraps her arms around her stomach like she’s trying to hold herself together. She glances at me, and something passes between us that I can feel but can’t see.
My sister says that I have a savior complex, courtesy of our damned father. Doesn’t matter. If she needs a fake date for five minutes, I can be that for her.
What’s the worst that could happen?
I stride over, draping my suit jacket around her shoulders from behind. She tenses but then lifts her chin, and I catch a glint of gratitude in her eyes.
I tug Nina closer until her back meets my chest. “You cold, babydoll?”
That slipped out.
“Babydoll?” She winces, brows climbing upward. “No. That’s even worse than sweetheart. We’re not doing the whole cringy nickname thing.”
I shrug, resting my chin on the top of her head. It’s awkward, but it’s happening. “I give everyone nicknames.”
“Well, not me. You can call me by my real name.”
I’ve got a whole arsenal of nicknames I’ve called women over the years, mostly because my younger asshole self couldn’t remember their names, but if Nina doesn’t want a pet name, I’ll respect that.
She’ll be the first that doesn’t get one.
“Alright, Nina it is, then.”
The guy’s gaze flickers between us, but they snag on my face a second longer, narrowing slightly, then widening in recognition. His jaw drops.
Dammit.
I don’t even get a second to mull over this decision before he strides past one of the first responders with an outstretched hand.
“Hold up, are you Rhode Tremblay?”
Nina snaps her fingers. “Rhode,” she says, like my name is an explanation.
“What?” I ask.
She flicks a hand. “Oh, nothing. It’s just an interesting name. Is that Rhode like a road?”
I tug the end of her hair so she remembers we’re pretending. “You know it was my mom’s maiden name. I told you that last week.”
“So, it is you?” the guy asks.
There’s no hiding from her now. With a shrug stiff enough to creak, I grip the guy’s hand. “Yeah, I am. Nice to meet you.”
He shakes my hand so vigorously, it’s like he’s jacking off. “Holy shit. Isaac James. I’m a big fan. Huge fan. That save you made during the playoffs last year against Seattle was unreal. I swear it defied the laws of physics, and I wrote my Ph.D. dissertation on Newton’s laws of motion. Fucking legendary, man.”
Nice guy. “Thanks, that save was a beauty.”
Nina whips her head between us. “Okay, I’m confused now. How do you know Rhode?”
Isaac blinks like she asked if the Earth’s square and that look instantly puts me on edge. “He’s the goalie for the Guardians? The Wall of Steel? The man with a two-point-five-one GAA and a zero-point-nine-two save percentage. I swear, this guy never gets rattled on the ice.”
Yeah, but he doesn’t see all the ice baths I have to take to soothe my aching muscles. I’m going to need lower back surgery soon. I might’ve won the Vezina Trophy for my skills five years ago, but it’s getting tough to keep my game sharp.
Sometimes, retirement sounds like a dream, but I’d never admit that out loud.
Nina quirks her head. “What are you saying? Rhode’s a pl—”
“Player.” I give her waist a light squeeze so she gets the point. “I’m a hockey player, but you know that, remember?”
She balks like I told her I’m a world-renowned serial killer. Not the reaction I expected. Most women toss their birth control pills out the window when I tell them I’m an NHL player.
Isaac’s head bounces between us like a puck passed around on the ice. “So, how do you two know each other?”
Nina clears her throat. “Rhode and I were on a date when the tire exploded. He saved my life and that boy’s, Gabriel.”
I like that she remembered Gabriel’s name, but what I don’t like is how she pats my chest in the same way my sister does. If we’re supposed to be dating, that’s not going to work.
I interlace my fingers through hers, pressing my mouth to her cool knuckles. Her lips part, and I think her breath hitches, which has me fighting back a grin.
She really is one cute doctor.
And damn, that’s impressive as hell.
“No, you’re the real hero. That was some quick thinking with the cold brew. You were right,” I whisper, scratching my stubble against her soft cheek. “Women’s brains are bigger.”
Isaac splutters, struggling to get his words out. “You’re dating Rhode Tremblay? But you hate hockey?”
My thumbs freeze. I hadn’t realized they’d been tracing slow circles on her waist. “You hate hockey? Do you also hate cats and sunshine?”
She jabs her elbow into my ribs, but I’ve taken worse hits on the ice. “You know I don’t hate hockey. We talked about this. I’m not a big sports person. That’s why I wanted to go to that naked yoga studio for our first date instead of the ice rink.”
Naked yoga?
My mind flashes to all the other tattoos she might have hidden on her body, but I shake off the thought. A woman’s sneeze is enough to get me half-hard these days.
Pathetic, but true.
“How could I forget?” Maintaining a straight face requires every ounce of willpower, but I flash her a smirk. The same one that started the Tenerife Threesome Incident. “Remember what happened after?” I murmur, brushing my stubble against her cheek like I would if my head were buried between her thighs. “In the steam room? With the eucalyptus oil?”
She arches a brow. “Oh, I remember. I had no idea you could do that with your toes.”
My smirk disappears. “My toes? No. I think you meant my hands. You had no idea what I could do with my hands.”
Now, she’s the one smirking as she looks up from below my chin. “I definitely meant your toes.”
“What can you do with your toes? Does it help you on the ice?” Isaac asks, all eager like a fresh sports journalist right out of college.
“You wouldn’t understand, but Rhode’s pretty flexible,” Nina straight-up deadpans. There’s no barely contained laughter or sly tilt to her lips. That poker face must come in handy during brain surgery.
“I am, actually. I can do the splits,” I whisper, lightly pinching her side for good measure. She gasps. Good. The little fox deserves it for that toe comment. “Goalies are very flexible, but you already know that, don’t you?”
“Oh, I know. Your splits got us into some very interesting positions after the naked yoga class. It’s a good thing I have ten boxes of condoms in my trunk.”
I burst out laughing. She’s entertaining, I’ll give her that. I can’t remember the last time a woman made me laugh this much. I’m not sure what’s going on right now, but Nina feels damn good nestled against my side.
Maybe it’s my dry spell.
I’ve had a lot of women over the years under me, on top of me, straddling me, wrapped around me, but never one tucked against me.
Isaac’s eyes narrow. “Where’d you two even meet?”
Nina and I blurt out, “The naked yoga class.” Our brows shoot up toward our hairlines, and we both give each other an impressed look.
“How interesting.” Isaac stares at us like he’s trying to determine if we’re bluffing. “So, you’re really dating Rhode Tremblay?”
Nina stiffens. “Yes, why are you saying it like that?”
“Because he’s a professional hockey player, and you’re well, you.”
Nina shoots him a glare withering enough to make me shrivel. I have the urge to hit that tone out of his mouth, but we’re playing four away games next week, and that’d mess up my knuckles.
I wrap my arm tighter around her shoulders. “I think the real question is, how did I end up dating Nina because she’s the most amazing woman I’ve met.”
She told me to act like I’m obsessed with her, but after the way she practically saved that boy’s life, I mean every word.
Isaac’s mouth purses like he doesn’t believe me. “Okay, why don’t we all go to dinner? We could double. There’s this sushi restaurant that Gwen’s been wanting to try. I think it’d be a great way to get to know your new… boyfriend.”
“We really don’t need to do that,” Nina interjects, waving a hand. “I’m sure Rhode’s busy being a Wall of Iron—”
“Steel,” I correct.
“Right, that. I’m sure he doesn’t have time, and we both know Gwendolyn would rather shove her hand in a blender than go on a double date with me.”
Isaac faces me, ignoring Nina’s comment, which pisses me off. “What do you say, Tremblay? Want to go out with us? I mean, unless Nina made up this entire situation, and she’s really just your Lyft driver? Which, in that case, I’m sorry she put you through that, but I can’t say I’m all that surprised,” he says like he’s giving me an out. “She can get carried away sometimes.”
“Isaac,” Nina cuts in. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
She pulls out of my grasp to hold herself. That gets to me more than anything. It’s one double date. What’s the harm? If it doesn’t work out, at least I took a chance on a funny doctor.
I don’t believe in karma or all that astrology garbage, but she’s witty, cute, and smart. Good enough for me. My options are dwindling now that everyone’s getting married. The older guys on the team don’t have babies—they have second graders.
“How’s next Thursday work?” Isaac asks. “We can all meet at Nina’s place before we leave because she hates surprises.”
“Isaac,” Nina grits out. “I don’t hate surprises. I just like knowing where we’re going so I can plan ahead and read the menu.”
I glance at the hair whipping around Nina’s pink cheeks. Being a goalie means I watch the puck and wait. I know my angles and make sure to take up as much of the net as possible, but when the puck comes my way, I strike.
“You know what? Sure. Sounds fun.” I press a light kiss to her temple for good measure, and Nina’s body hardens like an ice rink.
Is my mouth that repulsive? It’s been a while since I’ve flirted with a woman, but I don’t think I’ve lost my edge.
Her hazels widen. “That’s sweet of you, but I know you’re busy with the uh, season?”
“Yeah, but I want to,” I whisper in her ear, pulling her closer. “You can tell me all about the brains you saved that day.”
“Or we could talk about anything other than that,” she says in that same tone I use when Coach demands we do bag skates after losing a game.
My lips drop into a frown. I thought she’d be happier about the date. With a glare at Isaac, she pulls out of my grasp and strides through the crowd to the tow truck driver.
“It’s a date then,” Isaac calls after her, and then sidles up next to me. “Sorry about Nina. She gets like that sometimes, which you’ll learn. She can be a lot to handle.”
I shove my hands deep into my pockets, so I’m not tempted to use them on this asshole. “She can handle me anytime she wants.”
“No, of course. Didn’t mean it like that, man. My bad.” He blows out a breath. “Has she uh, told you about us?”
I roll up my cuffs. “You know, you haven’t come up much, and I don’t care about her past. Just her future.”
If anyone judged me for my dating record, I’d never find someone.
He slaps my shoulder, chiefing me, and I glare at the prick. “Just be careful with her. It didn’t work out between us, and we’re both better off for that, but she’s been through a lot. I still care about her even if we were terrible together, so I’m happy she has you.”
Nina’s waving her hands like a flight attendant hyped up on too much airplane coffee. Whatever argument she’s having, she’s winning.
Isaac sighs at her flailing arms. “I don’t want to see her get hurt. She’s a good girl.”
A corner of my mouth tugs up as I watch her.
And here I was hoping the cute doctor would be a little bad.
