Love and Other Games Read Free Page A

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.
    “Look, Ty, I don’t know why you’re wasting your time talking to me. There are plenty of women who are newbies here that would jump into your – how do you say —sack. So, go find