Rival Darling: A Young Adult Hockey Romance (The Darling Devils Series)

AN INVOLUNTARY SHUDDER ran through me as I pushed through the front doors of the ice arena. This morning was bitterly cold, and the thick layer of fresh snow that had fallen overnight seemed like a sign from the universe that perhaps I was better off staying home today; perhaps I was better off not knowing the truth behind Reed’s scar.

I’d considered texting him several times to say I couldn’t make it this morning. I had to get to work soon anyway. However, my curiosity had won out over my dread, and here I was, mentally preparing myself for whatever explanation Reed had in store.

I’d arrived a little early to the arena since I’d given myself extra time to navigate the snowy roads this morning. I wasn’t sure if Reed was here already or where exactly we were supposed to meet, but I figured he’d be inside near the ice.

The center was quiet this morning, with only a few people hanging about, but as I approached the ice, I heard high-pitched squeals of laughter and the sounds of blades scraping against the smooth firm surface. It was coming from a group of young girls who were skating around the wide perimeter of the rink. They were so tiny I was surprised they could walk, let alone skate, and most of them clung to support frames for stability.

“Look at me, Reedy,” one girl cried, as she skated past with no support. “I’m doing it.”

“That’s great, Amelie.”

My jaw dropped as Reed skated up beside the tiny girl and cheered her on. It looked like Reed was teaching the kids to skate. Surely this wasn’t related to the injury he’d received? And why would he be worried I’d think less of him for it?

I continued to watch as Reed gave the small children pointers, supporting them when they needed it and praising them when they’d done well. His gentle gestures and kind words radiated a sense of genuine care that would have surprised anyone who didn’t truly know him. It was certainly a stark contrast to the guy who intimidated pretty much everyone he met or the Devil who took to the ice every weekend. I’d come here today, bracing myself for bad news, but it was difficult to keep that in mind as I watched him playfully lift one of the girls into the air and spin her around.

Eventually, the class came to an end, and as Reed called the group together and said his goodbyes, two of the little girls grabbed his legs and gave him loving hugs. He smiled affectionately down at them and patted them awkwardly on their heads.

“I’ll see you girls next week,” he said. Again, I struggled to believe what I was seeing. How was it that no one knew the big bad Devil Reed Darling taught little girls to skate.

He hadn’t realized I was here yet, and when he turned from waving farewell to the kids, he finally caught me watching. His cheeks turned slightly pink, but his expression was stoic as he moved across the ice toward me.

“So, is this what you wanted me to see?” I asked.

“Uh, no.” He scratched the back of his neck and glanced toward the retreating figures of his tiny little students. “You’re early.”

“Wait, that wasn’t why you asked me here?”

“To see me teach a beginner’s figure skating class? No, that’s not what I wanted to show you.”

“Figure skating?”

Reed’s cheeks turned pinker still.

“Why would you teach figure skating?”

“It’s a long story.”

I crossed my arms as I waited for him to continue. He’d dragged me here on a Sunday morning, and he couldn’t leave me hanging now.

“Meet me by my bag,” he said, nodding at the entrance to the rink. He skated off before I could refuse, and with a sigh, I walked to meet him.

When I reached him, he was pulling another set of ice skates from his bag. “You’re the same size shoe as my sister,” he said, offering them to me.

“And you know that because…”

“We went bowling together,” he replied. “Not because I have a thing for feet.”

“Now, that would be a good rumor.” I smirked. “Maybe I’ll have to start that one on my own.”

“Don’t you dare.”

I laughed before frowning down at the skates. “You don’t actually want me to put those on, do you? I’ve never skated before.”

“I guess it’s lucky I’m a good teacher.” He thrust the skates closer to me, but I didn’t take them. The thought of stepping onto the ice filled me with dread; it seemed like a disaster waiting to happen.

“How about you explain why you brought me here instead?”

“Tell you what,” Reed replied. “Come for one lap of the rink, and I’ll show you.” He held my gaze, and I had a feeling he was determined to get his way.

“Okay, fine.” I accepted the skates from him. It was one lap of the rink. How bad could it be?

It only took two seconds on the ice for me to realize it would be terrible. My skates wobbled as soon as I stepped onto the rink, and when I tried to push away from the boards, they instantly slipped out from under me, sending my feet flying up into the air. I was falling faster than I could blink, but instead of slamming onto the cold, hard ice, I felt Reed’s strong arms wrap around me.

“You’re supposed to wait for your teacher before you launch yourself onto the ice,” he said with a laugh. My heart was already racing with adrenaline from slipping, and the feel of his strong arms keeping me upright only made me more breathless.

“I didn’t realize it would be so difficult,” I replied. “You make it look easy.”

“Probably because I learned to skate before I could walk.”

“Well, I—” For the second time, my skates slipped out from under me, and my breath was stolen from my lungs. Reed gripped my waist tightly as he supported me, once again stopping me from landing on the ground. Reed had already seen me fall in the snow. I could only imagine how much more painful and embarrassing it would be to hit the ice in front of him.

“I’m beginning to think your explanation isn’t worth this,” I said as he steadied me.

He grinned. “You’re doing better than you think.”

“Not likely,” I muttered, which only made his smile grow wider.

I did my best not to look at him or, more specifically, his smile as we continued to skate. Whenever I glanced his way, I tended to send myself sprawling, which was something I very much wanted to avoid.

Reed was sweet as we skated and kept trying to encourage me. But I was a terrible student and constantly on the verge of pulling the two of us down. The only plus to the whole experience was the fact he didn’t let go of me once. That was definitely something I could get used to.

It was only after we finished our lap and I was safely holding on to the boards again that Reed started talking. “The story behind my scar is a little embarrassing,” he said. “I don’t like to talk about it. And if you ever tell anyone, I’m not sure I’ll be able to forgive you.” He was speaking quickly, and his usual confident demeanor was replaced by a hint of hesitation. Was he nervous?

“Is it really that bad?” I asked.

“It is,” he muttered. “But I guess I should just rip off the Band-Aid.”

I was genuinely beginning to worry.

“So, you were right, the scar was caused by an ice skate,” he began.

He’d told me as much last night, and I instinctively gripped the boards beside me a little tighter as I motioned for him to go on.

“And the skate did belong to a girl…”

“Okay…” I braced myself for what was coming.

“But that girl was my sister.”

It took a moment for the revelation to sink in. “Wait, are you serious?” I glanced at the scar again. “Cammie was the one who did that to you?”

“Yes, but it’s not what you think,” he added. “She didn’t throw the skate at me.”

‘Then what happened?”

Reed drew in a breath before he continued. “When we were younger, my dad would work every Sunday morning, and my mom didn’t trust us boys to stay home alone, so my brothers and I would get dragged to Cammie’s figure skating lessons. We had the choice of joining in the lesson or sitting in the bleachers doing homework. I chose to pick out a pair of figure skates.”

He was struggling to meet my eyes, and it was clear he was embarrassed. I wasn’t sure why it would be such a big deal.

“Grayson outright refused to try, and Parker lasted half a lesson before he was kicked out for distracting the girls in class. But I was surprised to find I liked it. I picked up the moves easily, and I enjoyed focusing on the intricacies of skating rather than just the puck and my hockey stick. I didn’t do it all that long. My dad eventually hired someone to help with his workload so my brothers and I could stay home.

“I thought my figure skating days were over, but then Cammie needed a partner to practice with for a contest, so I offered to help. She’s an incredible skater, but she goes through partners like she’s trying to find a new outfit.” He pulled down his top to reveal his scar. “We fell while we were practicing a particularly challenging lift. She accidentally cut me with her skate. That’s how I got the scar.”

“You were figure skating?”

“Yes.” He grimaced. “And if anyone ever found out, it’s safe to say I’d never hear the end of it. I’ve been doing my best to hide the fact I’ve been covering Cammie’s figure skating class for the last couple of weeks. If anyone ever found out I could actually figure skate myself, I’d be laughed off the ice at my next game.”

“So, you don’t normally teach the class?”

“No, it’s only temporary. Cammie’s got a new partner, and they have extra training sessions at the moment. I wouldn’t be doing it if she hadn’t begged me. Especially this season when a Saints player could walk in here at any moment.”

I leaned against the boards as I peered up at him. “You seriously expect me to believe you’re a secret figure skater?”

“I’m not a secret figure skater. I just got injured doing it.”

“Hmm, okay.” I pretended to look thoughtful. “So, did you ever have to wear Lycra?”

He closed his eyes and gave a deep sigh. “No, I never wore Lycra. I just practiced Cammie’s routine with her. I never actually performed.”

“What music did you dance to? It was Swan Lake, wasn’t it?”

“It wasn’t Swan Lake.” He’d opened his eyes now, and I could see a hint of amusement dancing in them. He could tell I was enjoying this.

“Look, to be honest, this is difficult to believe,” I said. “I think I’m going to need to see the receipts for this rumor, Reed.” I was totally messing with him because the truth was I believed every word. I just wanted to actually see him skate.

I think he must have realized that because he cocked his head at me and raised an eyebrow. “Seriously, Sunshine?”

“Seriously.” I grinned back at him.

He shook his head but returned my smile before he shot away across the ice at lightning speed. It was only now I’d tried ice-skating myself that I could really appreciate just how talented Reed must be. He made it look so simple. As easy as if he were walking or running but with infinitely more power, speed, and grace. It reminded me of the first time I’d seen him skate when I’d showed up to the wrong game. He glided all the way to the far side of the rink before curving his way along the boards and speeding back toward me. I wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing, but as he drew closer to me, he launched himself up in the air and spun effortlessly in a full circle before landing neatly on one skate.

I’d completely stopped breathing, and my eyes were wide with shock. “What was that?” I gasped as Reed came to a sudden stop before me.

“An Axel,” he replied.

“That doesn’t look like something most hockey players can do.”

“Because they can’t.” Reed grinned, almost proudly. “Although, Parker would probably try to tell you otherwise.”

“Well, it was incredible.”

“Thanks.”

“But, if Parker thinks he could do it, then I’m going to have to see the whole routine before I’m fully convinced.”

“No way,” Reed replied with a laugh. “No one will ever see me do that routine. My reputation would be destroyed.”

“Not even me?”

“Sorry, Sunshine. But I would have to be out of my mind to embarrass myself like that. It would be the death of the Darling Devils.”

“Well, now, I really want to see it.”

Reed simply smiled and shook his head, and I knew there was nothing I could say to convince him to show me the routine. It had been worth a try though. He might have been embarrassed, but if the full routine was half as impressive as that one single jump, I imagined it would be pretty spectacular.

“So, I guess you didn’t get the scar from a heartbroken and angry ex-girlfriend throwing an ice skate at you.”

The smile dropped from his face, and he eyed me closely. “You believed that rumor, didn’t you?”

I shrugged.

“Well, just so you know, I’d never hurt a girl that way.”

‘Perhaps not intentionally,” I agreed. “But I would have thought it came with the territory when you have so many girls throwing themselves at you.”

“Violet.” His voice lowered, and a shiver went down my spine as he said my name. “Despite what everyone says, I’m not some player. There’s only one girl I care about, and she’s standing right in front of me…”

My eyes widened, and I stood before him stunned.

He didn’t wait for a response, and instead he held out his hands toward me. “Now, are you going to give this skating thing another try?”

I hesitated. Not because I was terrified of falling on the ice but because I was terrified I was falling for him. Every moment I spent with him, I could feel the protective barriers I’d erected around my heart slipping away.

It was impossible to resist him, and I reached out and took his hands once more. “Don’t let me fall,” I said.

“Never,” he replied.

He was skating backward, smiling at me as I glided after him. The longer he held me, the more I began to wonder if perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to fall after all.

We were halfway around the rink when the lights suddenly flicked off. I gasped and stumbled forward, but Reed’s strong arms wrapped around me. It was only dark for a moment before soft colored lights flared above, and gentle music started in the background.

I smiled at the way the lights reflected across the ice around us. It certainly felt romantic, and as I looked into Reed’s eyes again, my heart fluttered. His arms were gripping me tightly, and we were close enough now that I no longer felt unsteady on my feet. The pretty lights and music created the perfect backdrop for a kiss, but I had been wanting to kiss him well before this moment.

“Does the rink normally plunge into darkness on a Sunday morning?” I murmured to him.

“Only when the center manager spots a guy who needs serious help impressing a girl.”

“I don’t think you need much help with that…”

Our bodies seemed magnetized to one another, and I could feel us shifting closer, both unable to fight the pull. The anticipation that hung in the air created a beautifully perfect tension between us, and I didn’t think I could stop what was about to happen even if I tried. Reed lightly placed one hand on the side of my face, rubbing his thumb against my cheek. Gone were the jokes and the banter, and I felt exposed as I looked into his eyes. There was nothing fake about the way my heart pounded. I wanted Reed. And there wasn’t a single part of me that could deny it anymore. His eyes sparkled, and he smiled as he lowered his lips to mine. Our first kiss had been filled with fire, but this time it felt different. Perfect. The moment was ethereal, and as our lips met, it was as light and delicate as snowflakes caressing my skin. Each touch was gentle as if we were handling something precious. Something tenuous and new that could disappear if you looked at it too closely or held on to it too hard.

But a breath later, those tentative first kisses gave way to something deeper, more intense—a collision of desire and longing. As if we’d both been holding back these feelings for too long and they had swelled up into a storm that, once released, couldn’t be controlled. The heat of our breaths mingled in perfect harmony with the frosty air surrounding us. Reed kissed me like I was as essential to him as the air we breathed.

Sounds of chatter drifted over to us, and I heard someone shouting Reed’s name. He pulled away, and as I regained my breath, I realized there was a group of kids giggling as they watched us from the side of the rink. They were all dressed up in costumes and holding balloons. It looked like they were here for a birthday party. I guessed that explained the lights.

An elderly woman was glaring at us as she shooed us from the ice.

“Sorry, Deb! We were just leaving,” Reed shouted to her before gently guiding me from the rink. His cheeks were slightly hot from embarrassment, but he didn’t take his hands or eyes off me until I was safely off the ice.

“Apparently, I don’t have a fifty-year-old wingwoman,” Reed murmured.

“Apparently not,” I agreed with a laugh.

I was all too happy to remove my skates, but I immediately missed the feel of Reed’s hand in mine and the warmth of having him hold me close.

Once my shoes were back on, I glanced at my phone and swore under my breath. “I need to get to work.”

I hated the idea of racing off immediately after the moment we’d just shared, but I didn’t have much of a choice. All I wanted right now was to kiss Reed again, but I was going to have to wait.

“When can I see you again?” he asked.

“Uh, tomorrow? I could meet you after you’re done with training?”

“Perfect.”

We both hesitated, unsure how to part. Did I go in for another kiss? A hug? Did we shake hands? There were a few kids still watching us from the ice and giggling, so a full-blown make-out session was most definitely out of the picture. But Reed quickly made the decision for us both and gently brushed a kiss against my cheek.

It reminded me of the first time he’d kissed me there on the day I’d laid out the rules of our fake relationship. Oh, how things had changed since then. And the simplest kiss now sent my heart and head spinning.

As I dashed from the ice rink, all I could think was how perfect this morning had been, how much I liked Reed, and how I’d well and truly gone and broken my golden rule.