Read Online Wicked Games (Denver Rebels) by Maureen Smith - Free Book Online

flirted some more with Reid, asking him if he’d enjoyed the soup as much as she’d promised he would. She didn’t pretend to care about Nadia’s opinion—which might have annoyed her if she weren’t still reeling from the things Reid had said.
    After the barista left, Nadia drew a shaky breath, then picked up her purse and slung the strap over her shoulder. “It’s getting late. We should be going.”
    Disappointment flickered in Reid’s eyes, but he nodded and reached into his back pocket for his wallet. After dropping a large bill on the table, he rose from the booth. Just that quickly, Nadia had forgotten how tall he was.
    “We’ll go to a nice restaurant next time,” he told her. “I have a few in mind.”
    She frowned up at him. “There won’t be a next time.”
    He stood over her, contemplating her with narrowed eyes. “Tell me I’m the only one who feels this insane chemistry between us.”
    A shiver moved through her. She swallowed convulsively. “Just because I’m attracted to you—”
    Something like triumph flashed in his eyes. “We’ll discuss it on the way back to your car.”
    Before she could argue, he helped her from the booth and then steered her out of the café.
     
     

5
     
     
     
    H is hand stayed at the small of her back as they crossed the street and made their way toward the campus parking lot. The weight of his touch sent tingles of awareness through her, making it difficult to concentrate on the task of walking and breathing at the same time.
    Talking was out of the question. So she was relieved when he remained mostly silent during the walk back to the university.
    The parking lot wasn’t as full as before. The bulk of the crowd had come and gone for the evening.
    “This is me,” Nadia said when they reached her little blue Ford Fiesta.
    “American,” Reid observed with an approving nod. “Good girl.”
    She grinned. “I take it you’re one of those guys who only drives American cars.”
    “Yes, ma’am. My father worked for Ford for over thirty years. It’d be sacrilegious to drive anything but American.”
    Nadia’s grin turned teasing. “So you haven’t spent all your millions on foreign cars? If I came to your house, I wouldn’t find any Ferraris or Lamborghinis in your driveway?”
    “Nah.” He winked. “But you’re more than welcome to come see for yourself if you don’t believe me.”
    She laughed. “Um, that’s okay. I’ll take your word for it.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Positive.”
    Reid smiled at her. His eyes were glittering, reflecting the parking lot’s lights.
    A cool breeze drifted over them, tugging strands of hair from Nadia’s ponytail. It had been warm earlier, so she’d left her cardigan in the car. But now that the temperature had dropped, the night air was chilly.
    “Well, um, thanks again for the coffee,” she said, adjusting the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “And the soup.”
    “Anytime.” Reid reached out and gently cupped her cheek in his large, callused palm. Her entire body tingled, warmed by his touch.
    “I should…” She trailed off, the word go getting stuck in her throat.
    He stroked her cheek, searching her gaze. “Should what?”
    She could only stare up at him.
    His eyes dropped to her mouth, causing her stomach to flutter. When her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, he groaned.
    “What?” she whispered.
    “Drives me out of my damn mind every time you do that.”
    Nadia blushed. “Sorry.”
    He smiled. “Don’t be.”
    She couldn’t move as he traced the shape of her lips with the pad of his thumb. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured. “So fucking beautiful.”
    Her heart nearly flew out of her chest, and her knees felt dangerously close to buckling. “Reid—”
    He cupped her face between his hands, lowered his head and slanted his mouth over hers.
    The heat of the kiss slammed through her, jackknifing her heart and stealing her breath. Her hands lifted to his chest,