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I t wasn’t what I’d meant to say, but his quick laugh told me he wasn’t offended by my thinly veiled accusation that he’d stolen my underwear. He also didn’t deny that he had them.

“I want Deacon’s key back. Asshole made me replace it and won’t tell me his new hiding spot.”

My temper flared at the image of him trying to take someone else into Deacon’s room, and I vowed to never return the key—which made me no better than Amanda.

I cleared my throat. “Sounds like a smart plan if he wants to keep people out of his room.”

Reece’s teasing gaze traveled over my body, lingering on the pearls around my neck. “Sounds like a little thief wants her own access.”

Disbelief dropped my mouth open, but I recovered quickly. “I really don’t.”

He chuckled. “We’ll see.”

Heat filled my cheeks from his slow appreciation, but I needed to focus on the task at hand. The bet. My room. He was surprisingly kind the last time. I couldn’t mention the bet directly, but maybe I could appeal to him with a portion of the truth.

“Can we go somewhere and talk? Alone?”

Reece’s grin widened. “That’s what they all say. Then I’m fending off half-naked attempts at my honor.”

“I’m not interested in your honor.” I felt the lie as soon as the words were out of my mouth.

My body warmed at the prospect of another round with him, but I wasn’t much of an exhibitionist, and I could feel Amanda’s gaze burning into my back. He must have felt it too because his eyes darted past my shoulder before returning to my face.

“If you’re trying to get me alone for Amanda, pass. She’s a little too intense for me.”

I strangled the surge of triumph rushing up my throat and composed my face into a polite smile. “It’s not for Amanda. It’s for me.”

He crossed his arms and raised a brow. The motion popped his biceps and strained the material of his shirt. With god-like effort, I kept my eyes above his collarbones.

“Normally, I don’t do repeats, but if you tell me what you’re running from this time, maybe I’ll reconsider.”

“I’m not running. I’m proving a point.”

“To who?”

“Everyone.”

He nodded slowly, then waved at my carefully curated outfit. “Quite a difference from before. What do I call you this time?”

I winced. “Kenzie. Short for Mackenzie. Booth.”

If I hadn’t been staring at him in an attempt to ignore my sorority sisters not so quietly sneaking closer, I might have missed the subtle shift on his face. His amusement sharpened into something purposeful.

He extended his hand. “Well, Kenzie. You’ve succeeded in intriguing me. Where do you want to talk.”

I slid my palm against his, and a shiver coursed down my back. “My room.”

Reece shook his head with another laugh. “Okay, little thief. Lead the way.”

We only made it two steps before Amanda inserted herself directly in my path. She’d somehow gained noticeably more cleavage since I’d left her, impressive since she wasn’t big to begin with.

“Leaving so soon?” She spoke to me, but her eyes stayed on Reece.

He squeezed my hand gently, urging me to keep moving. “I found what I came for.”

I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect response. Amanda’s lips pinched in displeasure, and I threw out a parting shot.

“You can handle the rest of the refreshments, right? I’m going to be too busy.”

We sidestepped her, and I held her eyes long enough to be sure she knew she’d lost the bet. If looks could kill, I’d be dead on the floor, but I’d spent years being glared at by puck bunnies. Amanda had nothing special to offer.

Reece leaned over my shoulder to whisper in my ear. “Vicious. I like it.”

I couldn’t seem to take a full breath, so shallow panting would have to do. No one had to know I was on the verge of hyperventilating because I was taking an extremely attractive hockey player who was already intimately familiar with my nether regions back to my room. To be alone. While half the party watched.

Including my ex.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him glance my way then do a double take. His brows furrowed, and he nearly turned his back on the redhead to scowl at us. Until I made the mistake of meeting his gaze. With the knowledge I was aware of him, the frown disappeared. He hauled the redhead closer, sweeping her hair to the side and kissing her neck.

I recognized the move. He’d used it on me countless times with his apologies, whispering how special I was to him. Belatedly, I jerked my attention back to the people I’d have to slalom around to get to my room. Guess I wasn’t special after all. He’d hurt me in so many ways already, I hadn’t thought I could experience more.

Could I have been any stupider? How many other girls did he make feel special while I sat in my room, content to honor his wishes that I stay away from this huge part of his life? My stomach revolted, and my steps hitched for a second. Reece was either a mind reader or hyper aware of me because he slid his arm around my waist, supporting me as we walked.

I shouldn’t care. The peacemaker in me wanted to smile and pretend nothing was wrong—smooth over the outside so no one could see the turmoil underneath. My shoulders tightened to the point of pain, and Reece pulled me closer to put his mouth against my ear again.

“Fuck him. He never deserved you.”

A shaky laugh burst out of me, and I turned to face Reece, barely a breath away. “Isn’t he your teammate?”

“Not in any way that counts. Which room is yours?”

We’d reached the hallway and stopped without me realizing it. Chi Omega didn’t host many parties, so the usual procedure was to post a freshman by the bedrooms to keep our personal spaces private. Coleen was nowhere to be found, but she was another of Amanda’s groupies so I’d let the queen bee deal with it.

I pointed to the second door, and Reece ushered me inside. The door closed behind us silently, blocking out the party sounds from the rest of the house. As soon as I’d officially won the bet, relief weakened my knees.

Reece deposited me on the edge of the bed, then backed away, shoving his hands in his pockets as he walked around examining my stuff. There wasn’t much to look at since I hadn’t had time to decorate before finding out Toby was a liar and a cheat. After, I hadn’t felt much like doing anything.

The lamp on my nightstand lit the room, but it only made the tight confines seem smaller. With the furniture taking up most of the space, Reece chose to lean against the door instead of joining me on the bed. Probably for the best since I could still feel the imprint of his fingers on my hip. At least I’d cleaned up a little, but the gross nacho plate was still taking up residence next to my jewelry.

He pointed at it and saved me from the awkward silence. “Was this all you had for dinner?”

Warmth filled my cheeks, and I clasped my hands together in my lap. “That was yesterday’s dinner. I didn’t get around to dinner tonight.”

“Is that why you look pale?”

I looked pale? I resisted the urge to get up and check the mirror hanging on my closet door and offered what I hoped was a casual shrug. “Maybe?”

It was probably a combination of not eating, seeing Toby, and wearing the stupid dress out of spite. Well, mission accomplished. I’d proven I could still fit into it. No need to keep torturing myself.

I stood, wincing at the pain in my ribs. “Can you turn around please? I need to change.”

His brows flew up. “You’re not really convincing me you didn’t drag me in here under false pretenses.”

“I want my panties back before I get naked in front of you again.” I twirled my finger in a circle, and Reece did as he was told.

“Ah, so if I produced your panties right now, I could turn around and enjoy the false pretenses?”

“I thought you weren’t interested in the pretenses.” I grunted as I strained for the zipper.

He tilted his head to speak over his shoulder without looking. “I’m not interested in relationships. Pretenses in the plural tend to lead that direction.”

“Then why make it look like we were together out there?”

He shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. “The pleasure of petty vengeance. I don’t like your ex.”

“Join the club,” I muttered, starting to get light-headed from fighting with my clothes.

No matter how I contorted myself, I couldn’t get the zipper to budge. Dammit. With a groan, I admitted defeat.

“Can you unzip me?” I held up my hair and turned away from him.

Clothes rustled, and his clean shower scent hit me a split second before his hand trailed between my shoulder blades. Goosebumps rose in his wake, but I didn’t move. Slowly, he tugged the zipper down.

His breath tousled my hair, and my eyes drifted closed as image after image of our brief encounter crashed into my mind. I would not proposition him. I would not proposition him. Jesus, how long did it take to undo one zipper?

“There you go,” he said in a rough voice.

I sucked in air and nodded like an idiot, not daring to turn around. “Thanks.”

The clothes I’d worn earlier sat in a heap by my feet, so I took the chance he’d returned to his previous position and shimmied out of the dress. When I bent to grab my sweats, a strangled noise came from behind me. I spun around with my pants clutched to my chest to find Reece staring at the ceiling.

He held up his hands. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist. Nice undies.”

“Planning to steal these too?”

“Not tonight,” he murmured. “Are you decent yet?”

My lips pressed together as I hurried into my clothes. “Have you considered you might have a panty fetish?”

He grinned. “Only for yours apparently.”

“Awesome,” I grumbled, fighting the slow warmth blooming in my chest. I would not let another hockey player fool me into thinking I was special. “I’m dressed.”

His chin lowered, and his green gaze caught mine, full of humor and heat. “So… what did you want to talk about?”

I broke the connection and slumped back onto the bed. “Have you ever had a massive failure of a day and reached a point where you snapped and did something crazy?”

Reece nudged me over so he could sit too. “Yes. I took a swing at a d-man my freshman year of college. Twice my size and three times as mean.”

I squinted at him, trying to imagine this laid-back guy with a response for everything losing his shit. “Nope. I can’t picture it. Did he flatten you?”

“Oh yeah, but it’s how I met Mase, so I don’t regret a thing. Bruises heal. Friendships last forever.”

“Who’s Mase?”

“My roommate slash goalie slash potential vampire bestie. We’re not one hundred percent on the last one, but he really doesn’t like daylight. What made you snap?”

“Amanda.”

He nodded sagely. “Understandable. Want to talk about it?”

With a dry laugh, I pulled my simple ponytail over my shoulder. “You really want to hang out in here and listen to me complain?”

“I was promised tea, and I plan to collect. In case that wasn’t clear, yes, I’d much rather sit in here and listen to you talk than fend off Amanda and her minions.”

I shook my head. “Fair enough. She said I was boring, and she didn’t know what Toby saw in me. Right before she sprung him on me. I’m not supposed to leave the party since we’re hosting, but man, I wanted to walk right over her smug face on my way out.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“You showed up and distracted her from torturing me. We ended up making a bet about whether or not I could get you to come to my room.”

Reece burst out laughing and held up his fist. “God, I’m so glad you picked me. I had my own shit day, and this could not have made it better.”

I tapped my fist to his. “She’ll definitely get worse now, but I’m enjoying my first taste of revenge. Why was your day shit?”

He shook his head and leaned back on his elbows. “I’m trying to convince my coach to consider me for captain, but I keep getting the same run around. Not captain material. Not serious enough. As if having fun and working hard are mutually exclusive.”

“They’re not?”

“I don’t think they are. My motto is work hard, play harder. Got it tattooed on my shoulder.”

I leaned over to look, but nothing peeked out from under his shirt. “Is that why Amanda was surprised to see you? Because you’re trying to show you’re serious captain material by not going to parties?”

“Something like that.”

I shifted to face him, tucking my legs under me. “Aren’t we a pair? You’re too fun, and I’m too boring.”

He didn’t answer, only studied my face long enough heat crept up my neck.

“What?” I asked.

“I have an idea,” he said slowly.

I waited, but he didn’t elaborate. Oddly, I didn’t mind the lull. Reece was clearly working something out in his mind. I didn’t know him well, but I was completely comfortable with him. Actually, it didn’t even feel like I didn’t know him well. It felt like I could tell him anything—like he’d listen and nod and accept in the easy way of his.

About the time I realized I’d never been this comfortable with Toby, Reece sat up and grasped both my hands. “Go with me on this. What if we could fuck with Amanda and Kane at the same time?”

My eyes narrowed. “What do you have in mind?”

“I’ll be your fun, and you’ll be my serious.”

Confusion had me tugging on my hands, but he held tight. “What does that mean?”

“We pretend to date. Not just date, but be obnoxious about it. The newest disgustingly in love couple. We’ll be the next Voren.”

I had no idea who Voren was, and I was having trouble following his train of thought. “How will us pretending to date help?”

“I was serious about no repeats. I haven’t been in a relationship since high school, and everyone around here knows I never go back for seconds. We’ll have to do some convincing, but once they believe you finally tamed the beast, you’ll never be accused of being boring again. Bonus, Kane will haaate it if his girl chose me over him. That one’s for both of us.”

I finally understood what he was asking. Like our little show on the way in here. If we could convince Amanda and Toby I’d brought Reece in here for a hookup, why couldn’t we convince them it had become more?

A tiny ball of pain ricocheted around in my chest. I wasn’t so sure Toby would care. He’d claimed to appreciate me, but I couldn’t recognize his lies unless I walked in on them.

“And how does this help you?”

“Coach still thinks I’m going to go back to my old ways. If I show him I’m serious about settling down, he’ll have to reconsider.”

I wrinkled my nose. “By lying to him?”

“Who’s lying? I’ve already retired my partying ways.” I raised my brows at him, and he lifted a shoulder. “Okay, except for tonight, but I wasn’t planning to hook up with anyone. I’m done with that.”

“Good to know because I’ve already been humiliated by one boyfriend, I’d rather not experience it again.”

His thumb traced a delicate line across the back of my hand. “I’m all yours, little thief. What do you think? You and me against the world?”

I stared into his green eyes, bright with amusement, and felt a shift inside me. Petty revenge on Amanda? I was here for it. Messing with Toby’s mind? Yes, please. Spending time with a hockey player I liked way more than I should considering our brief acquaintance? That’s where I hesitated.

The last thing I wanted was to immediately repeat my mistakes, but Reece wasn’t actually asking me out. He wasn’t telling me I was special with one breath and whispering the same thing to a puck bunny with another. And he wouldn’t be shoved in my face at every family function between now and Christmas.

In the back of my mind, another evil plan started to take shape. “How would you feel about taking this show on the road?”

“Positively. Where are we going?”

I smiled, finally feeling the death grip around my ribcage relax. “My sister’s wedding.”