As I lifted them into the air, Nico wrapped his hand around mine and took them from me. My gaze collided with his and he stared down at me with a fire burning in his irises.
“I like how you look when you blush, knowing I’m the one who put that color in your cheeks.”
My breath caught in my throat and my heart pounded erratically against my rib cage as I tried to regain my composure. There was no reason for him to be having this effect on me. We hooked up one night, if you even want to call it that.
If his friend hadn’t interrupted us that night, we would have definitely had sex. That was in the exact direction we were heading, but it didn’t happen. We had a moment and it should be left at just that.
Nico walks himself over to the passenger’s side of my car and sets my bags inside before making his way back over to me. Part of me knows I should have stopped him but his forwardness has me feeling like I have vertigo.
“What did you want to meet up to talk about?” I asked him as he stopped in front of me.
The look in his eyes was indistinguishable and the tension between us was palpable. The air was electric and I was afraid I was going to get shocked if I dared to reach out and touch it between my fingertips.
“I wanted to see you again.”
The words fell from his lips with no hesitation. He didn’t say it with a question, he wasn’t asking if he could see me again. He was telling me what he wanted and Nico already made it clear that Nico Cirone gets what he wants.
“Well, I’m here, and honestly, I’m exhausted,” I told him as I attempted to brush away the effect he was having on me. It could be my own little secret and not one that I needed him to know about. “So, if you wanted to talk, I’d get to it now.”
He tucked his hands in the front pockets of his pants and his expression softened as his eyes searched mine. “I was surprised to see you when I got here today. You’ve been on my mind since the night at the club and I was literally going to give you another day or two to call me before I called you.”
“I was equally surprised,” I reminded him. “I suppose we both could have told each other more about our jobs, but we didn’t really leave a lot of room for conversation.”
This earned a smirk from him. “No, we didn’t, did we?” His wavy dark hair poked out from the top of his hood that was pulled up around his head and I remember how soft it was. How it felt like silk between my fingers. “I meant what I said that night.”
I swallowed roughly as his words from that night played over in my head. His gaze was glued to mine and the way he was staring at me had me ready to climb into the back seat of his car.
“I wasn’t done with you that night and I’m not done with you now.”
Cue melting into a puddle on the ground around his feet.
My chest expanded as I inhaled deeply and slowly let out the breath in my lungs. “This changes things now, Nico. We both work for the same organization. You know how their policies are regarding fraternizing with other staff.”
His jaw tightened and he glowered at me. “Fuck the policies, Harper. You don’t strike me as someone who follows the rules.”
“Maybe not, but I need this job.”
His face relaxed and he took a step toward me. “Can I tell you a secret?”
My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth like I had a mouthful of peanut butter. He was so close I could smell the scent of his body wash from the showers inside the locker rooms. I didn’t dare speak a word, but stupidly nodded instead.
“Tonight was literally the best game I played since they moved me up from the farm team.” He paused for a beat and I counted two erratic heartbeats in my chest before his beautiful lips parted again. “I think I found my good luck charm for the season and I’m not giving that up.”
I stare at him for a moment in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”
Hockey players were known for their superstitions and ritualistic behavior. If something worked for one game as a good luck charm, that was the be-all and end-all until it didn’t work anymore.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” he said with a dead serious look on his face. “I need you around, Harper. And I think I can help you too. Kind of like a mutual trade-off.”
My brows pinched together and I eyed him skeptically. “What are you proposing, Cirone?”
“You wanted me to erase the memories of your ex,” he reminded me from the night in the club, and I instantly blushed again. “Let me replace every bad fucking memory of him. I’m not going to be your rebound, but more like your stepping stone to getting back into the game.”
“Did you not hear a single word I said about the policy against fraternizing?” I argued with a frustrated sigh. “If we get caught doing anything together, I would most likely lose my job.”
Nico stared at me. “So, we don’t get caught.”
“I’m not in the habit of sleeping around.”
He smirked and shrugged. “It’s not sleeping around if you’re sleeping with the same person.”
“I cannot believe we’re seriously having this conversation right now,” I muttered under my breath as I shook my head. “Look, I’m flattered and appreciate your forwardness, I guess?” I shook my head again. “This is beyond bizarre and I think I’m just going to go home now.”
Nico stepped out of my way without arguing. Something lingered in his gaze as he watched me walk to the driver’s side door and pull it open. “Think about it, but don’t take too long.” He fell silent for a second, his gaze colliding with mine just as I was about to lower myself into my seat. “Have a good night, Harper.”
My stomach was in my throat as I dropped down and quickly closed the door behind me. I didn’t bother looking at him again, but I could feel his eyes watching me from where he stood by his car.
And as I pulled out of the parking lot, my phone vibrated in my bag. I paused at the exit, pulling it out as I unlocked my phone and read the message that had come through.
Nico
Don’t forget, Harper… I get what I want.
I quickly locked my screen and tossed it onto the seat beside me as a rush of adrenaline raced through my veins. There was no way I could get away from him now. My mind couldn’t even fully process what just happened, but there was one thing I knew for sure.
I was officially fucked by Nico Cirone and he hadn’t even fully touched me yet.
CHAPTER FOUR
NICO
I had no intention of being as forward as I was with Harper. It was one of those situations that you find yourself going too far in and there was literally no turning back. Once I had started, I felt like I had to follow through, even if it meant pushing her away. I wasn’t sure if that was truly the case or if I had just confused her that much.
Either way—she left me without an answer and I had no intention of accepting that.
She had just become my new obsession.
It had been almost a week since I had run into Harper at the Orchid Beach Arena and I hadn’t heard from her since. I kept glancing down at my phone, waiting for it to vibrate. It had become a recent habit and it made my eye twitch when I realized how ridiculous this was becoming.
We were flying home later tonight and had a home game in two days. After being on the road for three straight games, I was ready to be back at my apartment. But more importantly, I was ready to see Harper again.