Page 82 of Ice Rebel

I didn’t.

Even if it meant honoring her request and staying away.

Even if that was the last thing I wanted to do.

CHAPTER 18

Chelsea

Cole.

I envisioned his dazzling green eyes, so intense. Especially when his body was crushed down on mine, pinning me to the bed or the wall.

Or the kitchen table or…

Oh, God, this was horrible. I fisted my forehead and tried to breathe normally.

Why had I pushed Cole away?

Honestly, the question had haunted me for days. I’d buried myself in work, expecting to see a stupid reporter hanging out at the gym or outside the condo.

But there’d been none.

And damn if he didn’t look hot on the ice. Okay, so maybe I’d searched online until I’d found clips of the two games held in Reno. No one was as sexy in a uniform as Cole Kendrick, aka the Rebel. No one.

Stop it, girl. You need to concentrate and the two of you aren’t compatible.

True. My brain knew that. Try telling my aching body that very same thing. I was even clenching my thighs together because a single thought about the deep V cut in his abdomen leading to his long… thick… cock was too much for my brain to handle.

I’d also glimpsed at social media only a couple of times, fearful in doing so I’d throw up or have a panic attack. Maybe Sam and her brother were right in that with nothing else to feed the beast including pictures or eyewitness accounts, the story was dying naturally.

I hoped so, but I couldn’t help but feel as if the ugly shadows all around me were just waiting to drag me into submission. Or to hell, whichever came first.

“Are you okay?” Hearing Samantha’s voice allowed a smile. She’d insisted on coming to watch me dance.

At least I had one person in my corner. Even if the possible scandal wasn’t hanging around, I’d known better than to waste my time inviting my parents. Dad would be too busy with business, my mom with whatever she did to fill her time. Maybe a hot young guy.

And honestly? I didn’t want them here.

“I’m fine. I just…” Uh-oh. I’d almost admitted to Cole’s sister of all people I wished he could be here. Another reminder, ding-ding-ding, that I barely knew him, we weren’t an item and I’d sent him away.

“Missing Cole?”

“I don’t… know.”

She laughed. “It’s okay. I knew someone would like him one day.” Her teasing, haughty tone cut through the tension of my creation. She had a way of doing that, which was exactly what I needed.

“Did they win their games?”

“You really didn’t pay any attention?”

I shook my head. “I wanted to, but was terrified of what I’d see.”

“Comments or the girls hanging all over him?”

“Both?” I lifted my eyebrows, my voice squeaky. Fortunately, we both laughed.

“You two should really sit down and talk. I know,” she said, throwing her hand out, “easier said than done, but two stubborn people could mean years fly by. Don’t allow that to happen.”