Wild Tendy (IceCats Book 2) Read online

  His eyes don’t leave mine. “You know it’s you.”

  “I don’t.” I’m not fooling around. Why would he be here for me? Also, how would he know I was here?

  “Don’t play like that, Aviva. You’re extremely confident and smart. That’s why I’m attracted to you.”

  Oh, the desire in my gut is going crazy. I’m a bit breathless as I say, “How would you know I was here?”

  He waggles his brows at me. “I had a source.”

  I tip my head as I try to read him. He has a source… That brat! “Callie?”

  “I won’t confirm or deny that.”

  I smack him playfully. “Don’t use my sister to get close to me.”

  He grins. “Hey, I’m not. If she was the one, she gave up the info without me asking.”

  She would do that. I roll my eyes. “She’s a thorn in my side. As are you,” I accuse, and he grins.

  “How am I a thorn in your side?”

  “You’re always there. Flirting and being cute. I am busy. I have things to do.”

  “Can I be one of those things?”

  “Nico!” I exclaim, smacking him once more. But this time, I lean in closer. It was unintentional, but now that I’m here, I don’t want to leave. His eyes have lighter flecks of gold in them. His lashes are long and lush. Lord, he is beautiful.

  “You know you like it. You know you like me.”

  Oh, my face hurts from grinning. “Do I now?”

  “You do,” he says, and then he winks again. I don’t know why more men don’t wink like that. It really sets my panties on fire. He swallows hard as he orders another beer. When he takes a long pull, I eye him. “Thirsty?”

  He looks around as he shrugs. “I don’t like bars.”

  That surprises me. “Really? I thought this would be your scene.”

  He shakes his head as he leans toward me. His body is so big, and he smells absolutely sinful. “No, I like being home.”

  He holds up his finger for another beer, and I raise a brow. Being the daughter of an alcoholic, I know the signs. Plus, I’m pretty sure I read an article that said athletes struggle with vices. Drinking, drugs, both, and that is not something I want to be a part of. Not when I have Callie, and not when my dad is enough to handle. “Wow. Another one?”

  He sighs heavily. “I really don’t like bars, and usually, this one is not this packed. Or so Kirby said. I guess they were running a special or something. I don’t know.” He must have noticed that I don’t like that excuse, for he stands up taller as he looks down at me. “Drinking numbs the need to run out of this place.”

  I perk my brow. “Why do you want to run?”

  “There are too many people. I feel like I’m suffocating, but drinking makes that feeling go away.”

  “Claustrophobic?”

  He shrugs, and I can tell he’s holding back. “I guess. I don’t know. I’m good on a bus with the team or on a plane. But when it’s people I don’t know, in a place like this, all these people…it makes me feel a certain way.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, and since there is no way I’m missing this opportunity to be with you, I’m gonna drink to numb myself so I can stay.”

  The narcissistic part of my brain wants to tell me that it’s a line, but I feel it isn’t. I feel he’s being truthful, and I know I don’t know him that well, but I’ve never seen him look like this. He looks nervous, freaked out, and my heart goes out to him. I put my hand on his wrist, stopping him from lifting his drink. “If I’m getting to know you, I want to know real you, not drunk you.”

  My hand is tingling with desire as his eyes meet mine. He pushes the beer away and takes a deep breath. “So, I’m about to fast-forward our moment.”

  I perk my brow. “How?”

  “By asking you to leave with me.”

  “Leave with you?” I ask, my heart jumping into my throat. “Where to?”

  “The car, a restaurant where we can hide in the back, a park, the beach, anywhere.” He runs his hands down his face, and when he looks back at me, I can see the panic in his expression. “I swear I’m not just trying to get in your pants. I just want to get to know you, and I can’t here. I’m too worried about what’s going on around us—”

  I don’t know what the hell has gotten into me, but I cup his jaw. His words stop immediately as his eyes bore into mine. I run my thumb along his bottom lip as I inhale deeply. I honestly don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I need him to feel better. If leaving is what will do that, then we need to leave.

  And yes, I know I said we.

  Holy Grilled Cheese Jesus.

  “Let’s go.”

  He exhales in relief as he stands up, throwing a few twenties on the bar. “For hers and mine,” he calls to the bartender as I turn to Jaylin.

  “We’re leaving,” I say because I don’t know what else to say. The excitement on my best friend’s face makes me feel like an idiot, but I don’t care.

  I want to fucking live.

  “Okay. Call me tomorrow?”

  “I will.”

  “And have fun.”

  I feel giddy. “I will?”

  “You will,” she says with a nod.

  As I stand, I glance back at her. “Can you drive by the—”

  “I’ll text you if anything is wrong.”

  I swallow hard just as Nico’s fingers thread through mine. I look up at him, and I’m out of breath. How in the world did this happen? I’ve never even noticed a guy before, but this guy… I see and I want. Badly.

  “Do you want to run by the shop? We can do a drive-by to check on things.”

  My heart is pounding like a drum. One of those big steel drums they use in the symphony. “Yes, please.”

  “No problem,” he says, and it really doesn’t seem like a problem. It’s almost like he wants to. Like he cares about Callie, but I guess I know he does. Before he can turn away, I grab his tie and pull him toward me. I don’t know what I am even thinking, but I rise up on my toes and press my mouth to his. The hand that is holding mine wraps around my waist, pulling me closer to him as he grasps my face. I fall into the kiss as my insides clench, and every single inch of me is set on fire. He tastes like beer and everything naughty. His lips are soft, inviting, and when his tongue meets mine, I’m in utter heaven.

  I swear, it’s like an out-of-body experience.

  When I pull away due to the intense catcalls from my so-called best friend, I look up at him through my lashes. His lips are curved, his eyes playful as he whispers, “Hey, no fair.”

  “What?” I ask breathlessly.

  “I was supposed to kiss you first.”

  I swallow hard. “I couldn’t resist.”

  He smirks. “I know. It’s hard to resist me.”

  Oh, I’m in big trouble with this one.

  Chapter Eleven

  Nico

  “I know it’s silly that I wanted to check on her.”

  I shut the truck door behind her and shake my head. “No, it’s totally cool.”

  “I should be fine with all the cameras and the new security system, but she makes me nervous.”

  “You don’t leave her much.”

  I feel like there is more to the story, but Aviva just nods her head. I could tell how important it was that we checked on Callie. Thankfully, everything was fine, and it seemed Callie was already in bed. The apartment was dark. I almost thought Aviva would want to stay, but she was the one to ask where we were going. With everything closing and the weather a bit chilly, I suggested my house. I thought she’d say no, but here we are.

  “I really don’t,” she laughs as she walks beside me up the sidewalk. “This is a really beautiful home.”

  “Thanks.” I dig my keys out of my pocket. “I actually bought it from Amelia’s grandparents. She used to live here, but when she and Chandler got together, she moved in with him. The place was for rent for a while, but then I had a few stalkers, so they let me buy it.”

  I