Page 2 of Ice Cold Rival

“Watch where you’re going,” she growled.

“You ran into me, sweetheart,” I pointed out, maintaining my grip on her in case she was one of the crazy ones.

“Sorry.” The tone was basically an insult, but I knew how to deal with beautiful women who were upset through no fault of my own. Flirting was my primary form of communication.

“You don’t sound sorry. How about this… tell me your name and we’ll be even.”

Her expression transformed from annoyed to speculative to determined, and I was fucking mesmerized. Every thought was broadcast across her face. I’d never seen someone so expressive before, and a dark part of me wondered what she’d look like when she came.

A group of puck bunnies who might as well have been the ones Sellers ran off with tried to squeeze past us in the foyer, sending us dirty looks. Not us, actually. Her—the only woman to get my attention in ages. Specifically, they glared at my hand on her arm.

I ushered her to the side, closer to the stairs, and blocked the mean girl energy with my body. They could scowl at my back for all I cared. The girl in front of me licked her lips and leaned closer.

“You can call me Kay. Are you here with someone?” She chewed on her bottom lip, clearly nervous, and I grinned. All my previous reticence for a hookup vanished at the prospect of getting a taste of this girl.

“No. I came alone, and I’m leaving alone. Are you looking for some company?”

Her gaze flitted to the stairs, then back to me, and her eyes ignited into blue flames. “Yeah, I am.”

With a deep breath and another fascinating shift of expression on her face, she grabbed my hand to lead me up the stairs. She was powering through despite her nervousness. Not the usual reaction for me, but Kay wasn’t a Kappa party girl or a puck bunny. I got the feeling she was a good girl looking to be a little bad. I’d happily give her that experience.

The email to Coach could wait until tomorrow.

2

What the fuck was I doing? I didn’t pick up random hot guys at parties. I didn’t even go to parties. My idea of a fun night was making my fancy mac and cheese and curling up with a good book. But tonight, I’d followed Toby instead.

Nope. Not thinking about him and his wayward dick. The rage bubbled hot and liquid behind my ribs, but I wasn’t ready to address the scene taking place in the bedroom at the end of the hall. The pictures I’d taken would provide plenty of fodder for torture later.

I slowed as we reached the second floor. Hot random guy’s hand was warm and firm around mine, and he paused along with me at the top of the stairs. My heart pounded in my ears, but I could still hear the low chuckle from behind me.Veryclose behind me.

“Do you know where you’re going?” Even his voice was hot. Low and rumbly.

I shouldn’t be able to hear him over the sound of the party, but the words danced along my skin. “Upstairs.”

He laughed again. “Mission accomplished.”

Spite fueled my actions, but doubt tried to force me back into my usual good girl ways. I’d told Toby we were done, but he was so drunk I wasn’t sure he’d even processed it wasmestanding in the doorway. Still, unlike my newly minted ex, I wasn’t a cheater.

Did this count? A random hookup ten minutes after walking in on my boyfriend cheating on me with not one, but two women?

The fury flared up, and I searched the dim hallway for an open door. Fuck him. Fuck the last five years. Fuck everything. I was ready to burn down the world and rise from the ashes as someone new.

I came alone, and I’m leaving alone.His words didn’t scare me. I wasn’t as sheltered assome peopleliked to believe, so I knew what these parties were about. Hot guy—I should really find something else to call him—was offering me a night of what I’d been missing out on all this time.

I glanced over my shoulder and felt the same sharp pull as the first time I’d met his eyes. “What’s your name?”

His brows rose. “Reece.”

I mirrored his surprise. “Like the candy?”

He shrugged and grinned. “Peanut butter is the king of all food groups.”

Some of my anger and uncertainty melted away as I returned his smile. “Okay, Reece. Do you have any suggestions?” I gestured down the hallway full of closed doors.

His eyes drifted over my face for a long moment, then he nodded. “I know a place.”

With a gentle squeeze around my hand, he took the lead. A dangerous part of me hoped he’d take me to the last room I wanted to see again. Maybe if Toby saw me with Reece, who was objectively the most attractive guy I’d ever seen, he’d have some small understanding of the pain I was currently shoving down with all my power.

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