Love and Other Games (2 page)

“I have mace.” She answered, still searching. “Stay where you are.”

“Not a problem.” He laughed, a deep laugh that sent tingly sensations from head to toe. God, sleep deprivation must be worse than she thought if she had these thoughts about a sicko.

She shook her head and finally held the mace up. The man remained in the same spot. He had a fabulous smile and a few wrinkles at the side of his eyes, from smiling or being out in the sun. He must be an athlete with that tight physique. “Who are you and what are you doing?”

Instead of answering, he let out a laugh all while his teeth chattered. An ache sat in her throat. Poor guy. If his blue lips and frosted hair was any indication, he was beyond cold.

“Are you okay?” She slowly approached the stairs, not sure what the handsome man would do. But, he looked like he was in trouble.

His eyes perused her from top to bottom and then he looked back into her face. “Better now.” He smirked. “I’ve been stuck here for about ten minutes and you’re the first person I’ve seen.” His lips trembled.

She ambled over to him. For a moment she was glad she had a large ski jacket on, a fuzzy scarf and woolen hat. This guy had close to nothing. “Why are you stuck here?”

He jiggled his hands behind him, sounding like a chain on metal. “My buddies thought it was a funny joke.”

She looked closer and saw that he was strapped to handcuffs. Oh, geez, his fingertips were blue, too. “That’s not funny.”

“And it’s freaking cold. Want to help me out?” He wiggled his upper body, as if moving it to warm himself.

She looked around, trying to find anybody else. “Are your friends around here?  Am I part of the joke?”

“If they were around here, they’d have let me loose by now. Come on, I’m freezing. See the necklace around my neck?” He dropped his chin to his chest, his teeth chattering. “There’s about seven keys. You have to try all of them.”

She sighed, all while looking at anywhere but him. He had a ruggedness and vital power that attracted her and she couldn’t let her thoughts go there … not in a random moment like this. The keys around his neck dangled across a tight chest that she, for just an instant, wished she could feel. His gorgeous green eyes pulled her in like a magnet. But, if this was some game – people always tried to get her into trouble, since she was the serious one. Taking a deep breath, she put her mace back into her purse and looked directly at him. “I really don’t have time to play games. I need to be somewhere.”

“Yeah, the party. Me, too. I got tied up.” He lifted his leg and rubbed his other one. At least he had boots on. “Please. I’m not going to hurt you. I couldn’t feel you if I tried.” He wiggled his fingers behind him.

She eyed his face, anywhere but his chest … but his fascinating eyes dragged her in. They brimmed with humor and warmth … and need. He needed her and she knew she could trust him. Agreeing, she slid next to him, touching his shoulder. “Oh, all right. How do I get the keys?”

An irresistibly devastating grin formed across his blue lips. “You have to undo the necklace first.”

She stepped closer and stood chest-to-chest. “If you’re fooling with me, I promise I’ll turn you in.”

His mouth slackened. “I won’t fool with you … unless you want me to.” He winked his frosted lashes falling against his cheek.

Surprisingly, a warmth spread through her body and butterflies swarmed her belly. Why did this particular guy have to have such an effect on her? “I’m just going to reach back and undo the string.” She leaned forward, but first looked into his eyes – so green they reminded her of the evergreen trees outside her home in Lucerne.

“Any day now.” He said slowly and smirked, awareness in his eyes.

She cleared her throat and stepped the one-step forward needed to reach behind his neck and undo the string. But it was a tight knot. She leaned in closer and could feel the man’s chest rise and fall beneath her own jacket. Her breath fell out of her mouth onto his neck and she murmured into his ear. “It’s tight. Hold on.”

He tilted his head into hers, their cheeks touching. “Take your time.”

An unbelievable urge to nip his ear overwhelmed her, so she tried to hurry, her fingers fumbling with the darn knot. “I thought you were in a hurry.”

“Your body heat is warming me up.”

She flinched and stepped away. “Now, really … ”

He leaned his head back and moaned. “No, don’t leave me.”

She pointed at him. “Only because your lips are blue, will I continue to help you.”

He pulled his hands and winced. “You can get closer.”

When she angled into him again to reach for the necklace, his eyes lit up. Damn, he was cute. She shook her head clear, so she could do the job. If she didn’t hurry, she’d be too late to the party. “I’m just going to wrap the necklace around to your front, so I can untie it from there.” She did so as she spoke and loosened the cord. Finally, the keys came off into her palm. “Okay, let’s try this out.

“I can’t wait.” He squinted, a smoldering in his eyes.

If she wasn’t careful, she’d be pulled in by his charm. His endearing green eyes and chiseled chest would be hard to pass up. She bent down and reached around his trim waist to grab the handcuffs. A bit of a compromising position, given the state of her thoughts, but she had to help the poor guy out before his nose froze off. “There’s a saying here in Switzerland. To be a fool at the right time is an art.” She caught his eye before continuing with the knot. “You better hush, now.”

“Well, there’s a saying in the US, too. Imagination is worse than the truth. I have a real vivid imagination, and you bent over me like this is not helping.”

She jerked back after trying the first key and accidentally dropped the other keys by his feet. Great, now she’d have to bend down directly in front of him. “Just my luck.”

“Yeah, luck.” He nodded his head a big grin on his face. “Wait ’til the guys hear this one. The tradition
is
lucky.”

She narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you’re not lucky. You’ve been out in the cold for fifteen minutes now, and I dropped the damn keys.” She knelt and dug through the snow for the keys. Finally finding them, she looked up to see what he was doing.

He widened his eyes and nodded. An actual sigh fell from his lips. “Yep. Lucky.”

She stood up straight and held up a key. “This is the one. I know it.” She reached behind him and – “
Dort gehst Du
.” She held up the cuffs and let him grab them.

“
Dort
what?” He rubbed his wrists and stomped his feet up and down. When he stopped, they stared at each other for a few beats, and she swore time stood still, like in those silly American movies. “Thank you. Now, I’ve got to find my clothes.”

“I believe that must be them, over on that wall.” She pointed, keeping her eyes on the statue rather than the athlete in front of her.

He ran to them and picked them up, then back to her. “So, what’s your name?” He pulled on his sports pants on top of his boxers, finally enough so she wouldn’t stare at the part of him that she had wanted to see in the five minutes they’d been together, but somehow avoided it with great discipline.

“It doesn’t matter. I probably won’t see you again.”

“Not if I can help it. I owe you. Can I buy you a drink at the party?” His shirt finally covered his chest and Nadia could look at him without drooling.

Enough of this distraction. She had to get away. She turned to walk away. “Nein.”

Before she knew it, he grabbed her wrist and stopped her. “I’d like to get to know you.”

“I already know you. You’re a big flirt, you have too much fun, and you are American. I cannot do any of that. I take the Olympics seriously, and I need to get to the party.” She looked at his smile, at his dreamy eyes, at his fit body and at his mouth with a small dimple on the side that she wouldn’t mind kissing.
Can’t go there, Nadia.
“Good Night.”

He zipped up his jacket and walked in the opposite direction. “I’ll see you at that party, Lucky Charm. You can count on that.”

Nadia refused to turn around and look at him again, even though her beating heart wanted her to. Somehow, in the last ten minutes, this American had confused her. Leaving the dorm, she was all about business, but leaving the American had her mind on other things – like a chiseled chest and sea-green eyes that bore into her thoughts.

It took Ty a half hour to warm up in his dorm shower to the point where he could feel his fingers again. The whole time thinking about the blonde lucky charm who saved him. Funny how a situation like that, a small flicker of her fingertips turning him on, he’d normally have to take a cold shower. The opposite effect took place now.

There was something about the woman that hit him like a ton of bricks – what scared him was that the moment he laid eyes on her it felt like the first time he set foot on a snowboard. A click. Something powerful taking over his mind and body as if it was meant to be. Stupid really, since he didn’t even know her name.

But he did know she was captivating – and hot. Her long blonde hair tucked under a snowcap, her jacket with the fur hoodie around her neck. The cute little accent when she talked to him. The jade-green eyes that bore into his face as if he told the most interesting story, and he hadn’t even spoken a word.

He would find her and thank her properly. He straightened his Team USA jacket and removed his Madsen gloves when he walked into the community building. The Meet-and-Greet Party was well underway with hundreds of athletes swarming the room. A makeshift dance floor spread out in the middle of the area while rock music blasted from speakers in the corner, and other Olympians sat around in the sofas and chairs.

Ty stood still, his eyes adjusting to the lights and, hell, looking for the mystery woman. She was his goal tonight, and he wouldn’t leave without finding her.

Unfortunately, the first person he found was Adam. He meandered to his friend, who jabbered away with a Canadian, from the looks of the flag on her jacket, and stopped when Ty stood in front of him. “Well, if it isn’t Trouble. You survived, old pal.” He patted Ty on the back.

“Yeah, no thanks to you.” Ty nodded to the brunette. “How you doing?”

The girl grinned back and sipped her water.

Adam smiled wide and wiggled his own water bottle. “Want some?”

Ty smelled the liquor on Adam’s breath and flinched back. “Nah, man.”

“There’s no alcohol in the Village, but there’s always alcohol in the fun.” He tipped back the bottle and drank.

Adam divulged the story to his Canadian companion of how they tricked him, and Ty ignored Adam to look around the dance floor for “Lucky Lady.” Other women smiled at him, but for some reason he didn’t acknowledge them. He had to find
her
.

Adam brought him back to the conversation. “So, how did you get loose, anyway?”

Then he saw a sparkle of blonde hair and that grayish-white jacket.
Got her!
“I happened to get lucky, dude. Talk to you later.”

He wandered to the side of the room where she sat and stopped short for a second to watch her before she recognized him. Laughter arose from her throat and she leaned over to whisper something to the guy who sat next to her. Hmm. She brushed back her blonde hair layered around her ears and shoulders and crossed her slim legs. Her long fingers stroked the chair as she looked around the room and then stopped when she saw Ty standing a few feet away.

He offered his smile and strolled over to the settee in front of her, placing his hand on her knee. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”

She jerked her knee out of his hold and widened her eyes. “Why are you following me?”

“I’m just here for the party.” Ty turned to the man next to her, who had straightened and reeked of testosterone. He reached out to shake his hand. “Hey, I’m Ty Madsen. US Snowboard Team.”

The guy shook his hand, frowning and scrutinizing his rival. “Sven. Volunteer.”

“Volunteer, huh? Well, thanks for your help. You’re here with … ” Ty nodded at his Lucky Lady whose teeth ground and eyes narrowed with a penetrating stare.

“Yeah, Nadia and I go way back – college and the sort. We’ve worked together since the 2010 Olympics.”

Ty smiled at Nadia. “So,
Nadia
, you were at the last Olympics, too? Impressive.”

“Ah, hell, Mr. Sorensen is calling me over.” He eyed them both pressing his lips together in a slight grimace. “I’ll be back, okay, Nad?”

“But Sven —” Nadia reached for the tall, Swedish-looking guy, but he left before she could stop him.

“Just you and me, then.” Ty put his hand back on her knee, rubbing it in little circles. He couldn’t help but touch her. “I need to thank you properly.”

“And what gives you the right to pop into my conversations and just interrupt like that? And put your hand on my knee?”

“Well, you’ve touched far more of me than I have you. It only seems fair.”

She breathed out a humph. “Really, that was a whole other situation. And what if Sven was my boyfriend, hmm?”

Ty shook his head. “You’re far too beautiful to be his girlfriend, Nadia.” He squeezed her knee and this time she didn’t move. Progress.

“Well, I … um … ” Her face flushed, and it was another endearing trait of hers, next to her cute little accent.

“So, where are you from, Nadia?” He scooted to the edge of the settee so that their knees touched.

She held out her hands and smiled. “Switzerland.”

“Home country, then? I could learn a lot from you.” He rubbed his chin. “Let me guess your sport … You have a classic look about you, like a ballerina … Figure skating?”

She lowered her head and batted her lashes. “No, I’m not a figure skater.”

“Well, you do have that ice queen appearance —”

“I beg your pardon?” She pulled her knees away from his. “I’m not an ice queen.”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that.” Shit. There he went and put his foot in his mouth. “It’s a good thing. You have that perfect lean body and you’re well poised – like someone on the ice.” Shit. He ran his hand over his forehead. Just when he was making some headway into getting to know her.