Dangerously Yours: Caught Between My Step Brother and His Rival

005. He Remembered...

"Just a second!" I yelled, my voice cracking at an embarrassingly high pitch.

I scrambled off the bed, my legs feeling like absolute jelly. I shoved the toy back into the nightstand drawer, slammed it shut, and grabbed my phone. I quickly locked the screen so Ryder's glowing, shirtless picture vanished into black glass.

BAM. BAM. BAM.

"Amy, I know you're in there. Open the door."

"I'm coming, give me a minute!" I grabbed my oversized bathrobe from the chair and pulled it tightly around my body, tying the belt with shaking fingers.

I took one last deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart, and pulled the door open.

Cole was standing in the hallway, dressed in dark jeans and a fitted black t-shirt. He looked huge, filling up the entire doorframe. He stared hard at me, his dark eyes immediately sweeping over my messy hair, my flushed chest, and the sweat dotting my forehead.

His jaw locked. "You look like you just ran a marathon. Why are you sweating like that?"

"The AC is acting up again," I lied quickly, crossing my arms tight. "It was blowing hot air all evening. What are you doing here, Cole? It's past ten."

He stepped into the room, pushing the door shut behind him. He stared at me, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "You're breathing really heavy, Amy."

"I literally just woke up from a nightmare because you were pounding on the door."

I held my breath, praying he couldn't smell the distinct scent of arousal in the room, or worse, the faint lingering smell of Ryder's mint body wash that was still on his jersey across the room.

Cole stared at me for a long moment.

Finally, some of the dark tension left his broad shoulders. The harsh, suffocating co-captain faded, leaving behind the guy who had helped me pack my boxes when my mom moved us into his dad's house.

"I didn't mean to scare you," Cole said softly, running a tired hand through his dark hair. "I know I was... a lot today. I'm just stressed about the pro scouts coming. I shouldn't have yelled at you in the hallway."

"It's fine," I murmured, genuinely surprised by his apology. "I'm okay."

"I brought you something." He held out the sleek black shopping bag he’d been holding.

"What is this?" I asked, hesitating before taking the thick rope handles.

"Open it."

I reached inside and pulled out a stunning, white silk slip dress. It was beautiful and way out of my intern budget. "Cole, you didn't have to do this," I said, my eyes widening. "This is the exact dress I was looking at online last week. It's so expensive."

"I remembered," he smiled, a genuine, warm smile that made my chest ache with a weird mix of guilt and affection. "I want you to wear it to the massive team party tomorrow night. Just come and have fun. Take a break from the equipment checklists."

"I'm just supposed to be dropping off the clipboards to the coaches. I don't really plan on staying long."

"Stay," he insisted gently, his hand reaching out to squeeze my shoulder. "You should try and hang out with more people asides your roommate. You deserve to have a good time, Amy. I promise I won't hover."

"Okay. Thank you, Cole."

"Lock your door," he ordered, his voice dropping back to that bossy older-brother tone as he stepped back into the hallway. "I'll see you tomorrow."

—

The music was so loud the floorboards of the hockey frat house were literally shaking.

I stood near the kitchen island, clutching a red solo cup filled with water. I was wearing the white silk dress Cole bought me. It hugged my curves perfectly, the thin straps barely holding it up. I felt totally exposed, but Maya had insisted I looked amazing before we left the dorm.

"Amy!" Maya yelled over the music, appearing out of the massive crowd of sweaty college students. "Have you seen Cole?"

"Coach dragged him into the den ten minutes ago," I shouted back. "Something about the pro scouts arriving early next week."

"Good," Maya smirked, taking a sip of her drink. "Because the other captain has been staring at you for the past twenty minutes, and I think my clothes are going to catch fire from the heat."

My stomach flipped completely upside down. "Ryder is looking at me? Like… looking looking?”

"Don't turn around," she whispered excitedly. "But yeah. He's leaning against the stairs and he literally hasn't blinked since you walked in."

Of course, I turned around immediately.

Ryder was standing by the staircase, surrounded by three gorgeous girls. He was wearing a black leather jacket over a dark t-shirt, looking effortlessly dangerous.

But he wasn't paying attention to the girls. His ice-blue eyes were locked dead onto me.

A slow, wicked smirk spread across his lips, and he raised his red solo cup to me in a mock toast.

My face burned instantly. I knew he was thinking about his last night’s text to me.

"I need to go outside," I gasped, setting my cup down on the counter.

"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her smile fading.

"Just hot. The AC sucks in here." I pushed past her and shoved my way through the sweaty bodies, heading for the sliding glass doors that led to the backyard pool area.

The night air was cool, hitting my flushed skin like a blessing. The backyard was packed too, but at least I could breathe. The large pool was lit up with glowing blue lights, illuminating the crowd drinking around the edge.

"Well, well, well."

I stopped dead in my tracks.

Chloe stepped in front of me, blocking my path to the empty patio chairs. Britt and Jess filed in right behind her like loyal soldiers. Chloe was holding a massive, sticky-looking red cocktail.

"I don’t have time for this, Chloe," I sighed, trying to step around her.

She stepped sideways, blocking me again. "Nice dress, charity case. Who paid for it? Because we all know you can't afford silk."

"Move."

"Did you steal it?" Britt laughed loudly, tossing her hair. "Or did you rent it and plan on returning it tomorrow?"

“Or maybe she did some extra ‘favors’ for the captains.

A few people nearby turned to look at us, sensing the drama. My hands curled into tight fists. "I bought it myself. Now get out of my way before I make you move."

Chloe's eyes flashed with anger. "You think you're so tough now just because Ryder felt sorry for you yesterday? You're a joke."

"He broke your phone because you're a psycho," I snapped back. "Now step aside."

"Oops," Chloe said, totally deadpan.

She flicked her wrist forward. The entire red, sticky cocktail splashed right over the front of my brand new white silk dress.

I gasped in shock as the cold liquid instantly soaked through the thin fabric, staining it a bright, ugly red and making it completely see-through against my chest.

The crowd around us erupted into loud laughter. People started pulling out their phones, camera flashes going off in the dark.

"My bad," Chloe giggled, covering her mouth with a manicured hand. "I guess red is your color."

"You b***h," I breathed, my eyes stinging with tears of pure humiliation.

"What are you gonna do about it, loser?" Chloe laughed.

Before I could even wipe the sticky mess from my face, Chloe shoved me hard in the chest with both hands.

My strappy heels slipped on the wet patio tile. I stumbled backward, my arms flailing wildly for balance. But there was nothing behind me but the glowing blue water.

I hit the empty air, falling backward.

But I wasn't going to be the victim again.

My hand shot out, grabbing a heavy handful of her expensive designer dress right at the neckline.

“What the… hey!” Chloe shrieked as my falling weight dragged her with me. Her feet flew out from under her, and we both crashed into the icy water.