Slayers Hockey

This team hates me. Something about my chronic case of resting prick face and that thing with the captain when the season started. My fist, his jaw. Coach says no more “confrontational BS” or I don’t play at all. And that’s a hit my career in the NHL can’t take. So I'll keep my head down and finish out my contract. There’s just one problem. Allie. The girl from Vancouver eight months ago with the sexy, shy, and sinfully bold smile. The girl who blew my mind and then blew out of my life without giving me her number. Turns out she’s the captain’s little sister.

I should walk away, find some puck bunny to gleefully sit on my lap and tell me what a big, hot hockey stud I am - totally true, BTW. But there’s just something about this feisty redhead I can’t let go. She’s got an edge to her that’s sexy as hell and a smart mouth that’s been tying me up since the night I met her. She tells me to forget it, we’re not happening. But she’s not the kind of woman a guy ever forgets. Especially when the air starts to sizzle and pop every time we get within 10 feet of each other.

Cammy’s my best friend - the one person I can’t live without, the girl with the sunshine smile, the loaded fridge, and the most awesome kid I’ve ever met. She’s also the hot AF single mom I’ve made it my mission to protect from guys like me. And I won’t risk ruining our friendship by pushing for something more. I’m not that guy. I’m the good time, the class clown, the hockey stud. I’m the happy-for-now, not the happily-ever-after.

Ten days. That’s all I’m asking for. But not one of my NHL teammates is willing to cough up a sister, cousin, or trusted friend to play my fake girlfriend for this wedding. Pucking BS. Yeah, my mouth has been known to get me into places I don’t belong. But this Class Five panty melter is on lockdown because the last thing I need is another complication. I’m about to give up when fate delivers the answer to my prayers.

There I was, working to get a rise out of my cranky little rule-following, fun-wrecking, soon-to-be ex-neighbor when my one-night stand from last season shows up…in labor. Next thing I know, I’m a single-dad begging for a crash course in caring for this tiny miracle from the neighbor who loves to hate me. It turns out Nora raised half her siblings. She knows things. And I know my son needs her. Unfortunately, she’s not impressed by my NHL career, my legendary charm, or the rumors surrounding the size of my stick (all true btw).

It seems like a solid plan: Get hitched, Vegas-style. Lose each other’s numbers, permanently. Avoid pitfalls of real marriage forever. Until I sober up, and my wife is already gone. It’s what we agreed to. But I don’t like it. A year later, I find her. I have another solid plan to undo our mistake. Only now, I’m not so sure the cocktail napkin with our prenup can protect me from the one thing I swore I wouldn’t do…fall in love.

Yeah, she's my buddy's little sister and every kind of off limits. She's frustrating, infuriating, chaos in motion. And she's my new roommate. There's no defense against this girl.

I’m Ben Boerboom, the NHL’s favorite puck boy, and Lara's my slamming hot former bestie. She's also the friend who got away and my dirty, dirty accomplice from those two insane weeks that weren't supposed to change anything...but did. I wanted it all. Would have wrapped my forever around her finger if she'd let me. But if making bad decisions is my special skill, Lara's is making good ones...like prioritizing her career goals and the kind of security she didn’t have growing up. Hard pass on that kind of heartbreak again. So cue the bunnies. Years of bunnies.