Icebound (Boundless Players, #1)

by Meredith Trapp

“Do you want kids?” I pinch Betty’s tiny feet. “Yeah, I do.” “Well, that shouldn’t be too hard since you could probably get someone pregnant by sneezing on them.”

“Is everything okay, Rhode? You’ve barely looked at me all night, and you’re only giving me one-word answers. I’m not mad at your cat if that’s what this is about. My back feels fine now.” “That’s not it.” “Then what’s wrong?” She pauses, twisting her hands in my comforter. “You don’t have to push me away if that’s what this is about… I know you don’t think about me like that anymore.” She doesn’t have a clue how much I’m thinking about her, but I’m not about to tell Nina that every time she touches Cruz, I want to tackle the kid. “I’m good.”

She hands me a clean diaper, and our fingers brush. I flex my hand.

OOP

“You can talk to me. I have big ears too.” I battle the urge to grin at our inside joke. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

“If you didn’t want me to come tonight, you could’ve said something. I’m not great at being in new places, so if you don’t want me here, I’ll go because it seems like I’m making you really uncomfortable. Do you want me here or not?” Her words hit like a flying puck. I can’t concentrate when she’s in the room, and that’s on me, but I’ve got a headache from clenching my jaw so hard. I don’t want to be the one to tell her to leave, so I end up staring at her with an open mouth while Betty kicks her tiny legs.

Damn him for looking like the definition of seductive in his classic black tux and tousled dark curls. The fabric barely fits over the span of his shoulders. I’m shocked his biceps aren’t splitting the sleeves.

He’s wearing a tie with tiny cats all over it, and that one little quirk that’s so undeniably him has my lips lifting to the tangerine sky. I’ve never seen him do an interview without one of those patterned ties, and it makes him feel less like Nashville’s Naughtiest Bachelor and more normal.

He leads us to his Range Rover and opens the door for me. As I climb inside, he picks up the hem of my dress, so it doesn’t drag on the asphalt, and it almost looks like his fingers tighten around the material for a second. It’s at that moment that I realize I’ve never dated a gentleman, and Rhode might be the blueprint, but I’m not going to mistake it for something deeper. I refuse to be the foolish, naive college student who fantasizes about the hockey player falling for her.

didn’t realize other people still listened to the radio.” “You were playing it when you first picked me up in your car.” The admission feels like a secret, so I keep my voice to a whisper. “I didn’t know you were paying attention.” “Like I said, it’s my job.” His

It’s like he’s worried I’m going to fall madly in love with him during this car ride. “Oh, really? I thought you were driving me to our surprise engagement party right now.”

“Hey, look at me. Are you alright, Nina?” Rhode whispers in my ear like he can feel the nerves humming beneath my skin. “I’m fine.” I suck in a thick breath of perfumed air. “Just… don’t leave me alone, please? Crowds are a little overwhelming for me.” He presses the softest kiss to my temple, and if he hadn’t been adamant about this night meaning nothing, I’d think that meant something. “I’m not going anywhere. It’s you and me tonight.”

They only accept five percent of the applicants, so it’s one of the most competitive fellowships in the world.” Something molten floods my body, heating me up and ruining me all at once. “How’d you know that?” Rhode flashes that lethal dimple. “You’re not the only one who does their research.”

Isaac never talked about me to his friends, and living in Gwen’s eternal shadow has dimmed a lot of my successes. Rhode’s the first one to celebrate my dreams.

“Yes, I am, and this is my uh, gi–my Nina.” He winces, but the way he says my Nina is enough to make me glow.

“He’s not retiring,” I blurt. “The Guardians wouldn’t survive without him.” If I have to repeat that phrase all night to keep Rhode smiling, then I will.

“Thanks for standing up for me. I’m not used to people doing that.” “You’re an easy person to defend.”

“You’re kind of smart, you know that?” “Kind of smart and my dress looks fine?” I playfully nudge his shoulder. “If you’re looking for a life partner, we need to work on your compliments.”

Someone keeps saying my name, but it sounds like it’s being shouted at the end of a tunnel. “Nina, look at me.” A gentle touch settles at the nape of my neck, breaking through my whirring thoughts. Rhode’s deep blue gaze ensnares mine, anchoring me to their depths. The rhythmic circles of his thumb moving beneath my hair soothes me, but I can’t trust his touch since this means nothing. “Nina. Are you alright?” he asks. “Talk to me.”

He lifts his arm, and then he does something that stuns me—he slides his thumb right between my lips, just far enough that the wet tip touches my tongue. It shocks me enough that I forget about my racing heart for a second. “If you want to breathe, you have to open your mouth for me,” he murmurs in my ear.

um

“Good gi—” He pauses. “Good, Nina. Just like that. Keep breathing.”

For a split second, I imagine throwing myself off a skyscraper, but even when I want to die of embarrassment, I want to live even more.

“Nina,” I grunt. “Please say something.” “Go away, Rhode. I’m fine.” I bump my forehead hard against the door. “Please, Nina. I’m worried about you.” “Just go.” “Just tell me if you’re okay,” I press, bordering on begging.

What the fuq is an albatross?

YAS CRUZ IS A SWIFTIE CONFIRMED

Not my girl, and some jackass called me out on being a creepy older fucker with Nina. Cruz Has she started calling you daddy yet? Me *middle finger* Cruz I’ll take that as a yes

The fact that this girl thinks she could ever embarrass me is downright laughable.

Well, shit. That one panic attack almost broke me, and the idea of facing that hell over and over again? I can't wrap my head around it.

she leaps into my arms and wraps her hands around my neck, pulling me against her soft body. Her glasses fly off her face from the force of her hug, clattering to the tile. I’m frozen, hands dangling at my sides because she feels too good against me, but I snap out of it quickly. I wrap my arms around the curve of her waist and pull her as close as possible, telling myself that this is how I would hug any woman.

Every time she breathes, that nipple piercing that’s going to be the death of my resolve brushes against my chest. It makes me a jackass for noticing, but I do. Her hair also smells like citrus. I notice that too.

“Don’t,” she mumbles against my suit, but her grip stays tight. “I’m all sweaty and flushed.” I lift her chin, bringing her mouth closer to mine. Dammit, I want to kiss her. “Good. I like you all sweaty and flushed.” Fucking hell. I shouldn’t have said that.

“You know…” She bites her bottom lip. “If you like me all sweaty and flushed, you could see me that way tonight.” Tempting. She’s too damn tempting.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I just meant that you look fine sweaty or not.” Her face turns even more red, and now I feel shitty. “Fine? The compliments just keep coming.” I wince at her sarcasm. “Sorry. Want me to take you home?”

“You’re so far out of my league that we may as well be in different solar systems.” Regret fills me, and I catch her wrist, gently stroking her soft skin. “Hey, don’t talk about yourself like that. You should be proud of the dreams you’re chasing, and trust me, I never could’ve gotten a girl like you in my twenties. I was a shithead you wouldn’t have looked twice at.” “I definitely would’ve looked twice at you. Maybe even three times.” Her smile steals my next breath, so I let her hand go because I shouldn’t be flirting with her, but it’s hard when I’m always wondering what’s going to come out of those beautiful lips.

“And Nina?” “What?” I pull my jacket tighter around her, so she’s all warm and covered up. “When I said you looked fine earlier…” I swallow. “What I meant was that you looked absolutely breathtaking tonight, and the person you end up with is going to be one lucky bastard.” Her lips tilt to the starry sky. “Now, that’s a compliment worth spending two hours getting ready for.” “Should’ve just lead with that.”

As I drive, I can’t stop thinking about the way she stood up for me. Her solid strength. I’m not used to having someone standing tall by my side.

I glance at the box of cinnamon gum by her bed, and my eyes drift to her lips. Without a second thought, I pocket the gum, stashing it in my jeans. I’ll chew this just to know what she tastes like.

I'm impressed at how she keeps finding new treats for Chicken and mails them to my apartment like that’ll make my cat like her. She's got all my stats memorized and has my back, even though she swears she can't stand hockey.

but people rarely notice the small stuff like she does. The hardest part of all of this is that I like Nina’s strong personality the most, which makes it hard to stay away.

closer. I brush my lashes against her warm cheek like she said her sister used to do. This is the closest I’ll let myself come to kissing her.

I’m not going to be the man who forces her to change her priorities. It doesn’t matter how big or small her dreams are, the last thing I want is to hold her back.

“Goodnight, beautiful,” I whisper, stroking her hair. She shifts a little, but her eyes stay closed. “Don’t have sweet dreams. Have wild ones.”

There aren’t a lot of men like Rhode Tremblay on this planet. In fact, there’s only one, and every time I picture him at night with my hand dipping beneath the sheets, I try to remind myself that I don’t want to date someone when I’m leaving for Argentina.

Micah resends my picture to the group, so Rhode sees the image. My heart rate kicks up as I stare at the screen. Your favorite What do you think old man? She looks good with my number on her back, right? *angel face* Rhode *thumbs up*

prayers to cruz

I know he can’t hear me, but it looks like he tilts his ear as if he feels me watching.

Ever since he sent that picture of Nina in his jersey, it’s all I can think about. Those comments he made about how good she looked don’t help. He’s been throwing out innuendos that hit me like knives. I have no reason to care, but I do, and I can’t stop thinking about what she would look like with my number on her back—better, that’s for damn sure.

Instead, I’m getting distracted by a girl who I have no right getting jealous over, but I can’t stop myself from imagining them together. Nina doesn’t belong to me, and I’m not hers. I know this, don’t I know it, but all I can see is her smile directed at Cruz. It was her real one, too, which hurts.

I’ve never lost it this much over a girl. It’s got to be the adrenaline. Yeah, it’s the adrenaline.

stop gaslighting urself

I thought it would be easy because I love her so much, but it’s not.”

But when I’m on the ice, I feel like I should be with her. Then, when I’m with her, I miss being on the ice because it’s where I feel the most like myself. It’s like the only thing I’m good at is fucking up.” “Hey, that’s not true.”

“What if that doesn’t work?” “Then, you’re fucked because it’ll just make you want more of what you can’t have.”

Patty’s wrong. I shouldn’t fuck her into the mattress just to get her out of my system—no matter how hard I get at the thought.