Team Niklas (The Saints Team #3)

by Ally Adams

  Me, well I didn’t tell Prada, but eventually I want to travel the world too. Absorb inspiration and design, write about the experience, live for months on end in Paris, London, New York, Melbourne, Amsterdam… Nik, well he’s a speed bump. I drew a deep breath and typed a message.

  ME: Hey Nik, going 2 pull the pin, dressmaking speak. Hey thx tho.

  There was a knock at the door and I sent the text, dropped the phone back on the kitchen bench and went to let Saffy in.

  “Sash,” she squealed two decibels higher than the average ear can bear and embraced me in an all-encompassing hug. “I’ve got it—the fabric and the perfect pattern.”

  “I never doubted that for a minute,” I teased her.

  She rushed in and I closed the door behind her. Her long brunette hair was tied up in a ponytail and she wore fitted gym wear. We couldn’t be more different: Saffron was full-figured, I was a stick; Saffy was a few inches shorter than me and she was tanned while I was lean and as white as milk, usually—Saffy had been trying spray tans for her wedding which means I was trying spray tans with her… does kind of make you wonder what I’m doing living near the beach.

  “Hello Prada, you handsome puss,” she greeted my black cat as he leapt down and came over to welcome her. I watched Saffron patting him; she caught me staring and smiled.

  “Are you okay, Sash?” she asked.

  “I’m great. Coffee, drink, are you hungry?”

  “No thanks, I’ve got to be at Daniel’s place in an hour. We’re looking at invitations tonight, so exciting. But you go ahead,” she said, with just a hint of hope that I didn’t.

  “Nope, let’s get right to it,” I said, and watched her brighten.

  “I love your place,” she looked around. “We’re going to move into Daniel’s apartment when we get married, but we’re saving for something with a yard. Dad’s on the lookout for us.”

  “You’ll need a yard for all those kids,” I said, and rolled my eyes.

  Saffron saw my expression and laughed. “You’ll love being Aunty Sasha, I know it.”

  “You know more than me,” I told her. “Hand it over.”

  She reached into the shopping bag she was carrying and pulled out the pattern.

  “Ta da!” she announced and I looked at her and smiled, before I looked at the pattern. I slowly looked down and she laughed.

  “Oh Saff, it’s gorgeous.” I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew she was a traditionalist but this was perfect and would suit her—an elegant sweetheart neckline and an A-line dress with a flared skirt. “It’s you, you’ll look breathtaking.”

  I looked up as she blinked tears from her eyes and I squeezed her hand.

  “Right, let’s check your measurements.” I took a new set of her measurements and took a peek at the beautiful fabric she had selected. “Perfect.” I put it back in the bag. “Okay, Friday night I’m cutting,” I warned her.

  “You’re not going out?” she asked.

  “What? No, Prada and I are staying in, two pussies in the house! So if you change your mind about the pattern and the fabric, you have until then, right? Because after that, snip, snip,” I said, and imitated the scissors cutting.

  “Right,” she agreed. She grabbed her purse to depart, and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I walked her to the door.

  “Say hi to Daniel for me,” I told her. “Tell him I’m happy to do his mom’s dress and thanks for asking.” I opened the door and nearly got tapped on my forehead—raising his hand to knock was Nik. He looked from Saffron to me and back.

  “Hi Sah-sha,” he started. He looked hot, unbelievably hot, but he didn’t look happy at all. His brow was furrowed and his eyes were glaring at me with a look that said please explain.

  “Nik! What are you doing here?” I asked, swallowing. I knew exactly what he was doing here. He wasn’t happy at my date turndown by text.

  “Hello.” Saffron brightened, and turned to me with a raised eyebrow. “You sure you’re cutting Friday night?”

  “Um Niklas this is Saffron, Saffy meet Nik,” I introduced them.

  “Hi Nik, good to meet you. Got to run,” Saffron said, and with that she was out in the hallway. I saw her look back to admire him and she gave me a thumbs up. Then she was gone and I was alone with Nik, again. I looked down the hallway but couldn’t follow her, bummer, there was no escape.

  Chapter 4

  We stood at the door staring at each other. I didn’t want to invite him in because I had a fair idea where that would lead. I tried really hard not to admire how good he looked in the team track pants, a fitted long-sleeved t-shirt and his runners… hot as hell. His hair was still damp from the club’s showers, his shoulders were so broad and his body tapered to lean hips and… focus.

  “Did you get my text?” I asked him.

  “Yes, Sah-sha, that’s why I’m here. I don’t understand it.” He met my eyes with a cool blue gaze and blinked, waiting to be enlightened.

  “But, it was simple English, oh hang on, pull the pin, didn’t make sense, sorry.”

  “I understood the term.” His eyes flashed. “I don’t understand why.” His voice had turned to ice, which instead of chilling me, made me super cranky. Why the hell did I have to explain anything to him?

  “So, you can’t take no for an answer?” I frowned at him.

  “Apparently not.” He cleared his throat. “If you are saying no to the date because you think we’re jinxed, then I’m going to prove that’s not true,” he said. “But, if you are saying no to the date because you can’t see how manly, handsome and adorable I am Sah-sha, well we have a problem.” He had just the hint of a smile as he crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.

  I tried not to smile but it didn’t work. I stood aside and he came in. He pulled his phone, wallet and keys from different pockets and put them down on my entrance table. I stayed near the kitchen open plan bench and watched as he wandered around the room, glanced up to my bedroom loft and traced the stairs from the top down until he landed his gaze back on me. I could smell his freshness—soap, shampoo, deodorant, cologne, so manly. His presence in the house was distracting.

  “Was that one of your friends or a client?” Nik asked after my sister.

  “Why? Want to ask her out?” I asked.

  The man just shook his head. “No, Sah-sha, I want to ask you out but I’m not having much luck.” He continued his tour of my place which he didn’t cover in as much depth last night and looked out the windows.

  “She’s my twin sister,” I said.

  Nik spun around to look at me. His hand went to his heart. “No, there’s two of you?”

  I gave him a wry look. “Yes, but we’re very different, not identical.”

  “I got that,” he said, and lowered himself to sit on the windowsill stretching one long leg out in front of him. He added a nice touch to that corner, and I wondered if I could talk him into staying there. I moved to lean on a stool in the living room where I could keep him in sight, just in case.

  “There’s actually five of us,” I said, “I have three brothers as well… triplets.”

  “Fuck, really? Are your parents rabbits?” Nik asked with a serious face. I grinned at the thought.

  “Yes, they are, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny.” I rolled my eyes at him and he gave me a winning smile. That man belonged on the catwalk, preferably my catwalk.

  “Mom and Dad couldn’t have kids so they did IVF,” I explained. “When Mom got pregnant she found out she was having triplets. She says it was a wonderful blessing—you can decide if you ever meet my brothers,” I said.

  “I’m bound to meet them at all the family dinners we’ll be having, Sah-sha,” he teased me. “So how did you and your twin come on the scene?”

  “Mom and Dad decided they wanted to try for a girl. They did another few cycles of IVF and then presto, but only two this time.”

  “So Sarf-fron and Sah-sha. Is there an ‘s’ theme happening with your big brothers?” he asked.

 
; “Nope, nothing like that—Jason, Ethan and Sam. Jason is a carpenter. He built my catwalk and bridal stage; Ethan is a counselor; and, Sam is a mechanic.”

  “Ah, so that’s how you can afford to have an Alpha Spider… always in the garage getting fixed.” Nik shook his head.

  “Yes, how did you know I had a Spider?”

  “I saw you leaving work when I was training. It suits you.”

  “Mm, thanks. She’s gorgeous, a series three. I wanted one for a long time and Sam kept an eye out, eventually finding one for me that I could afford. I pay him in kind—I dress him, he services the car.”

  “No other men in your life?” he asked.

  “Well, Mr. Direct, there’s my best friend Max, and his partner Ren.”

  “Ren is male or female?” Nik asked.

  “Male. You got a problem with that?” I narrowed my eyes.

  “What? With you having a best friend or him being gay? Why would I care?” Nik shrugged.

  Good answer. I might have been a bit defensive then. We sat in silence for a few moments. God, even indifference looked sexy on him. Nik eventually broke it.

  “I love your place, it’s very cool and…” he looked at the catwalk, “… interesting. Do you model?”

  I laughed but he said it in all seriousness.

  “Uh no, it’s for my clients and my workout,” I said.

  “Yeah.” He grinned. “How? Do you run up and down it?”

  “No I dance on it or I do my handstands and flips.” I wish I hadn’t said that because I knew straight away what was coming

  “Great!” His face lit up. “Show me Sah-sha.”

  “I’m not dressed for it,” I said, looking down at my jeans, sneakers and hoodie.

  “I’ll spot you, come on,” he said, humor in his voice as though he didn’t expect me to do it. Therefore, I had to do it.

  “Fine, but I need to warm up,” I said. I stood up and removed my hoodie, revealing a light gray fitted cotton t-shirt underneath overhanging my jeans. Unfortunately the t-shirt read “Journalists do it on the front”, but hey, I wasn’t expecting to be flashing it to Nik.

  Nik laughed reading it. “Can I help?” he asked, seductively. I’ve not doubt he could help me get to orgasm in under a minute but when it came to flips, I had them covered.

  “I’m good,” I said. I walked to the catwalk and tucking just the front of my t-shirt into my hip-cut jeans so I didn’t flash too much, I did a handstand, followed by a walk over front and back to warm up. Then I started down the end where Nik was sitting, took a deep breath and flipped down my catwalk, counting four and stopping with a final leap, back down and feet together.

  Nik burst out in applause. “Fantastic. Do it again,” he said.

  “No, your turn,” I said, eyes narrowing on him. “Show us your tricks.”

  Nik grinned and stood up. “I can’t do that,” he said. “I could probably pull off a handstand or two.” He reached for my hoodie and brought it over to where I stood on the catwalk. He held it out so I could slide my arms in, then he trapped me. He flipped me around pulling the front tightly around me, my face was level with his as I stood on the catwalk. He looked directly into my eyes, then to my lips and back to my eyes again. My breathing hitched.

  “Why won’t you go out with me, Sah-sha?” he asked in soft voice. “Is there someone else?”

  “No. Is there someone else in your life, or lots of someone elses?” I returned the question.

  His eyes narrowed. “Of course not. Why would I ask you out if there was someone else?” He continued to stare at me, keeping me pressed right against him at eye level.

  “I’m not ready, I’m liking the space I’m in and…” My voice trailed off.

  He didn’t look convinced, not one bit.

  “You’ve been hurt,” he said, directly. I spluttered trying to come up with some form of denial and he released me from his grip. “We can take this very slowly, Sah-sha, I have all the time in the world,” he said.

  His words calmed me and freaked me out in equal measure. All the time he watched me saying nothing.

  “Everyone’s been hurt,” I finally spluttered out, “I’m just having time out to focus on work and my designing.”

  “Right,” he said, again not looking at all convinced. “Are you going to offer me a drink because I’d love a coffee, white with none.”

  “Nik, would you like a coffee?” I asked.

  “Thanks Sah-sha, that would be great,” he said, with a smile. He picked me up at the hips and lifted me down from the catwalk. So sexy, for fuck’s sake.

  I cleared my throat. “Have you eaten?” I asked, knowing he wouldn’t have since he probably came straight over from training.

  “No, I’m fading away, but I’ll last until you send me home.”

  “Hell no. You got a nose bleed on me last time. I’m not calling Doc to say this time you’ve collapsed from lack of carbohydrates.” I waved a menu at him. “There’s a really good noodle place around the corner that delivers; what do you think?”

  He grinned. “You want me to stay? That’s sweet Sah-sha. I trust you to order.”

  I gave him a look that said don’t make a habit of this buddy. He probably misread it to mean I can’t wait to feed you noodles—we weren’t really good with the comprehension. I flicked the kettle on and dialed the noodle bar whose number was in my phone.

  “Anything you don’t eat?” I asked.

  “I’ll taste anything,” he said, rising to join me in the kitchen. Again with the sexual reference, and now all I could think about was his tongue. When I pulled my gaze away from his mouth, I pointed to the cupboard and he found two coffee mugs. I waited on hold, and directed him to a Lady Grey tea bag for me and the coffee for him. I wondered if he knew that what he was saying was suggestive… the noodle bar answered their telephone.

  “Hi Yuki, yeah it’s me. Yes the usual please plus I’ve got a friend here so can I also get the Teriyaki Chicken with thick egg noodles, and the Mongolian Beef with the same and a serve of steamed dim sims and the dumplings, plus two house salads with low fat dressing, thanks. Yeah… he’s very hungry. No, he’s not fat, yet. Thanks Yuki.” I hung up.

  “You’ve got a friend here, huh?” Nik pulled the tea bag out. “You hurt me Sah-sha.”

  “Boo hoo, you,” I said, and thanking him took my tea.

  He stood about an inch from me. “Sah-sha.” He said my name followed by a noise of sheer exasperation. I thought he was about to put me over his knee next and smack me for being naughty. He took a deep breath, getting his frustration under control, finished stirring milk in his coffee and moved back to the window. I joined him, taking the sofa while he took the windowsill. Prada watched, perched above.

  “Now you know my family structure, tell me about yours,” I prodded.

  I hit a nerve; Nik stiffened and I saw walls shutting down all around him. I could almost hear them clanking and locking in place.

  “Nothing to tell, Sah-sha, no brothers or sisters. Speaking of which, you’re clearly not identical to your twin sister,” he said. Interesting segue. I wondered what the story was there. He wouldn’t get away with that though, research is my middle name. Actually it’s Elizabeth, but you get my drift.

  I thought about my sister and me, and how we were anything but identical. “No, my sister is like that Carpenters song, you know where the angels get together to make a dream come true?”

  “No,” he said, flatly.

  “Right, well just follow along,” I suggested. “So the angels rock up and they decide to make this beautiful soul, who is pretty, gentle and affectionate. They sprinkled moon dust in her hair or something similar… whatever… anyway when they finish they put her in the womb to be born. But while they were doing that, one of them said ‘hold up, crap, there’s two eggs here’. Following me so far?”

  Nik smiled and nodded. “Is that part about the two eggs in the song?”

  “No, from now on the rest of the story is all min
e.”

  “Go on,” he encouraged me.

  “So these angels thought since they had perfection going on with the first one, they’d have to fish around for leftovers. Then one of them says, ‘ah, I’ve got this changeling’… you know the folklore…”

  “I know about changelings,” Nik said, listening attentively as though he enjoyed fairytales.

  “So they agree, that’s a perfect solution—they drop this skinny, blonde, white, reclusive changeling in next to perfection and the changeling falls madly in love with the perfect offspring and they live happily ever after,” I said, and sipped my tea.

  Nik studied me, not smiling, not speaking. He sipped his coffee.

  “Your sister seems very lovely, but you Sah-sha, you’re…”

  The doorbell rang and I rose quickly, trying not to spill my tea. “That will be the noodles.”

  “I’ve got this,” Nik said, putting his coffee down and with his long legs he got to the door before me, grabbing his wallet off the table on the way. He greeted the small Asian delivery guy who had to look up a foot or more to see him. Nik whipped out some notes to cover it and thanked the driver with a good tip.

  “I’ll give you half,” I said, pulling the dollars from my purse.

  “No you won’t,” he said. “Plates?”

  I gave him a frustrated look.

  “I’ve got this Sah-sha, I’ll eat most of it anyway,” he said.

  “Okay, thanks, but you’re wrong there,” I said, and put my cash away. I entered the kitchen to get us some plates and cutlery. “I think you’ve mistaken me for one of the beautiful people who hang around you nibbling while they watch you eat, or purge up their food later. I’m not starving to watch my figure… I eat.”

  “Good,” he said. “That would be refreshing, then we can try some different places. I haven’t been anywhere good to eat since I got here and fuck I’m hanging for a good meal. I’d really love to try some real restaurants.”