Players on Ice Series by Cathryn Fox

Cole: My only goal is to heal from this concussion and get back on the ice—until Nina Callaghan shows up at my door asking for hockey lessons. She’s my best friend’s kid sister, which puts her in the hands-off zone, so I used to tease her without mercy—the ballerina on ice—until a knee injury grounded her. But little Nina is all grown up now, and wants something from me, and I sure as hell want something back. Now it's game on, and I'm pulling out all the plays... moreCole: My only goal is to heal from this concussion and get back on the ice—until Nina Callaghan shows up at my door asking for hockey lessons. She’s my best friend’s kid sister, which puts her in the hands-off zone, so I used to tease her without mercy—the ballerina on ice—until a knee injury grounded her. But little Nina is all grown up now, and wants something from me, and I sure as hell want something back. Now it's game on, and I'm pulling out all the plays. Nina: Asking my old nemesis for a favor is the last thing I want to do, but when my editor charges me with writing a romantic series about hot hockey players, I have no choice but to turn to Cocky Cole Cannon, and he didn’t earn that handle from flashing his infamous grin. When he agrees to teach me, little did I know he’d have a hidden agenda. I want to say no, but when the Playmaker introduces me to his off-ice moves, the only word on my lips is yes. Cole: No way can I fall for the girl I’ve been crushing on since…forever. Not only will her brother kill me, we don't belong in each other’s world. I should have kept things in the neutral zone, but when one sweet taste becomes a game changer, I fear it could uncover everything I spent years hiding, and destroy Nina right along with it. less

Luke: I’m known in the NHL as The Stick Handler, but according to a conversation I accidentally overheard between my fiancé and her friend, I’m The Money Maker, and marrying me will get her daddy—who just happens to own the hockey team I play for—off her back and secure her financial future, whether the marriage lasts or not... moreLuke: I’m known in the NHL as The Stick Handler, but according to a conversation I accidentally overheard between my fiancé and her friend, I’m The Money Maker, and marrying me will get her daddy—who just happens to own the hockey team I play for—off her back and secure her financial future, whether the marriage lasts or not. Now, call me a prick for canceling our Valentine’ wedding at the eleventh hour, but when she threatens to ruin my career and reputation, it’s the icing on the uncut wedding cake. She gives me a week to reconsider, and I take it—at the Italian resort booked for the honeymoon that will never be, and there’s no one I’d rather take with me than Katee, the girl who has held a special place in my heart since forever. When the concierge mistakes her for the bride, we go with it. Only problem is, the place reeks of romance and keeping my hands to myself might prove to be the toughest game I’ve ever played. Katee: A honeymoon in Italy and I’m not the bride? How can I say no when Luke needs a shoulder to cry on, and no matter what, I’ll always be there for him. The problem is, none of my imaginary kisses come close to the reality of Luke’s mouth on mine, even if it’s just for show, and it’s going to take more space than a king-size bed provides to keep things in the friend zone. I’m weak, I admit it, but this is Luke, and the more we pretend, the more real it feels. Will our make-believe honeymoon be the end of a lifelong friendship? Will returning home mean the end of his career, or the beginning of something so much more? less

Zander: In the NHL, I’m known as the Hard Hitter but my puck-handling skill isn’t my greatest accomplishment. That would be my four-year-old daughter Daisy and I’ll do anything to protect her. I’m careful who I let into our lives, but the more I’m around Samantha, my daughter’s speech pathologist, the more I’m reminded of how long I’ve been functioning solely as a dad. I don’t want to trust her, don’t want to get close... moreZander: In the NHL, I’m known as the Hard Hitter but my puck-handling skill isn’t my greatest accomplishment. That would be my four-year-old daughter Daisy and I’ll do anything to protect her. I’m careful who I let into our lives, but the more I’m around Samantha, my daughter’s speech pathologist, the more I’m reminded of how long I’ve been functioning solely as a dad. I don’t want to trust her, don’t want to get close. I don’t want to fall in love with her or her big, welcoming family but sometimes, don’ts have a way of becoming dos, no matter how hard you fight it. Samantha: Getting involved with a client’s father is a strict “no,” but when Zander shows me how good he is at talking bad, it sets off a firestorm of need hot enough to melt the ice in the rink he plays on. I’m not good at relationships and have basically given up on men, but a brief fling with a dirty talking hockey player sounds pretty good at the moment. I didn’t expect to actually fall for him and his daughter, or that it would be so good, but leave it to me to do the one and only thing that taps into his darkest fears and incinerate the fragile trust that’s built between us. less

Jamie: In the NHL, I’m known as the Risk Taker, and I happily lived up to that handle, especially in my private life, until tragedy struck and turned my world inside out. I still play hard on the ice, take chances in every game and reap the rewards when they pay off, but when the buzzer sounds, ending the game, The Risk Taker takes the bench. Off the ice, I’m cautious. No commitments, no tomorrows. Then my late brother’s wife returns to Seattle with her four-year-old son, asking me for help... moreJamie: In the NHL, I’m known as the Risk Taker, and I happily lived up to that handle, especially in my private life, until tragedy struck and turned my world inside out. I still play hard on the ice, take chances in every game and reap the rewards when they pay off, but when the buzzer sounds, ending the game, The Risk Taker takes the bench. Off the ice, I’m cautious. No commitments, no tomorrows. Then my late brother’s wife returns to Seattle with her four-year-old son, asking me for help. Fallon an I used to be best friends. Used to be. I don’t want to get close. I’ll only end up hurting her again. But how can I say no to the woman I’ve secretly loved for as long as I can remember? The woman who is a widow because of me. Or do I let down my guard and take the biggest risk of my life? Fallon: Coming back to Seattle and facing Jamie is the second hardest thing I’ve done in my life. The first was burying his brother and then walking away. But my son needs a positive male role model, and there’s no one I trust for the job but his Uncle Jamie. I ran away from him after the fatal car accident—not because I blamed him, but to protect him. He’s agreed to help us, opened his home to us, and for the first time in my life, I feel I’m finally where I was always meant to be. When I’m in his arms, I’m sure of it. When I learn he blames himself for the accident, I know I must tell him the truth, but will knowing the real reason behind the crash give him the freedom to forgive himself and move on, or will it destroy everything he’s believed in, including me? For Jamie’s sake, it’s a risk I have to take. less

Rider: Both on and off the ice, I’m known as the Wingman. When it comes to my teammates, I’m the ice breaker, happy to help them look good with the ladies, and once I set the play in motion, my job is to disappear. I have zero problems fading into the background. Hell, being invisible saved my ass more than once in foster care. Now, a hot little nurse has asked me to be her wingman, but the uncertainty in her big, brown eyes slay me... moreRider: Both on and off the ice, I’m known as the Wingman. When it comes to my teammates, I’m the ice breaker, happy to help them look good with the ladies, and once I set the play in motion, my job is to disappear. I have zero problems fading into the background. Hell, being invisible saved my ass more than once in foster care. Now, a hot little nurse has asked me to be her wingman, but the uncertainty in her big, brown eyes slay me. I know that feeling—the fear of rejection—all to well, and for once, watching from the sideline is a no go. Jules: When it comes to relationships, I need all the help I can get. When Rider agrees to be my buffer, I happily put myself in his capable hands. It isn’t his fault my date goes south, but the tough as nails hockey player takes it personal. Under his wing, I find the freedom to let go, and the joy of having it accepted. But can two people, one afraid he’s unlovable and the other afraid to love, trust in themselves enough to realize this could be their shot at happily ever after? less

Alek:There was a time when I got off on the instant recognition, the endless flow of puck bunnies, and media exposure. That was then. Now, after a successful NHL season, I’m just looking for some down time. To slide under the radar, kick back and soak up some peace and quiet in Vermont…until I accidently hit another vehicle and meet the driver... moreAlek:There was a time when I got off on the instant recognition, the endless flow of puck bunnies, and media exposure. That was then. Now, after a successful NHL season, I’m just looking for some down time. To slide under the radar, kick back and soak up some peace and quiet in Vermont…until I accidently hit another vehicle and meet the driver. With her amber hair tied back in a ponytail, and dirt on the knees of her coveralls, she’s different from any woman I’ve ever met, and the best part? She has no idea who I am.Alyssa:All I want is to build my landscaping business and take care of my grandmother. But when some hot out-of-towner rams his vehicle into mine, and doesn’t have the funds to pay for repairs, we come to a compromise. He works off the damage by working for me. When a touch leads to a kiss, I quickly learn that while he might not have a green thumb, he certainly has a magical touch.Who knew a collision would lead to a crash course on love, but after I discover the secret he’s hiding, will our feelings for one another wither or will they bloom into something more? less

Cason:I’m the guy with a two-week rule. Women know straight up what they’re getting into when they crawl into my bed, but one night in Vegas, it was me doing the crawling—straight into the right bed, occupied by the wrong woman. But I can’t complain; turns out, sleeping with my long-time friend, Kinsley Palmer, was the best mistake of my life. And I wanted more, so when fate presented me with the perfect opportunity, I was more than happy to step up and be her thirty-day husband... moreCason:I’m the guy with a two-week rule. Women know straight up what they’re getting into when they crawl into my bed, but one night in Vegas, it was me doing the crawling—straight into the right bed, occupied by the wrong woman. But I can’t complain; turns out, sleeping with my long-time friend, Kinsley Palmer, was the best mistake of my life. And I wanted more, so when fate presented me with the perfect opportunity, I was more than happy to step up and be her thirty-day husband. Problem was, thirty days with Kinsley wasn’t going to be nearly enough.Kinsley:I had perfected turning a bad situation around and making it work for me. But when dream sex turns out to be real and too much tequila ends up with Elvis and a sidewalk wedding that’s actually legit, I thought I’d reached my limit. First, I’m not the type of girl Cason Callaghan, aka The Troublemaker, goes for, but the love marks on my body the next morning told a different story, so imagine my surprise when he offers to be my temporary husband to help me get my trust fund. Talk about turning a reckless mistake into a win-win situation! What could possibly go wrong with having a harmless affair with the hottest guy on the planet? Oh, only just about everything. less

I needed a role model for my son. A big brother to mentor him. What I didn’t need was a rebellious hockey player famous for his on and off rink fights.I should have said no.Should have vetoed the idea the second I heart it. But I didn’t.Why, you ask.Two words.Liam. Dalton.God’s gift to the universe, not to mention the needy spot between my legs.I didn’t want to like him. I didn’t want his name on my lips... moreI needed a role model for my son. A big brother to mentor him. What I didn’t need was a rebellious hockey player famous for his on and off rink fights.I should have said no.Should have vetoed the idea the second I heart it. But I didn’t.Why, you ask.Two words.Liam. Dalton.God’s gift to the universe, not to mention the needy spot between my legs.I didn’t want to like him. I didn’t want his name on my lips.But the second I heard mine on his, I couldn’t help but wonder if my son’s big brother……could be my big daddy. less

When Weston Hatfield rides back into town like he owns it, I don’t want anything to do with him.I definitely don’t want to take the mean boy from my youth out on my tour boat.Or laugh with him as we watch the whales play in the Bay.Know what else I don’t want to do? Fall for him.He’s an NHL superstar…I’m a girl who knows her way around a lobster boat. Can you say opposites?But I like who I am, and you know what? I’m beginning to think he likes me for who I am, too... moreWhen Weston Hatfield rides back into town like he owns it, I don’t want anything to do with him.I definitely don’t want to take the mean boy from my youth out on my tour boat.Or laugh with him as we watch the whales play in the Bay.Know what else I don’t want to do? Fall for him.He’s an NHL superstar…I’m a girl who knows her way around a lobster boat. Can you say opposites?But I like who I am, and you know what? I’m beginning to think he likes me for who I am, too.Until he does the one thing that proves otherwise…the one thing I’m not sure I can come back from. less

I wasn’t looking for love.Falling for someone would dishonor the memory of my late fiancé.But wouldn’t you know it.Love found me anyway—in the form of a NHL player who was celebrating Christmas in Holiday Peak.Brody Tucker’s reputation preceded him.But he brought me back to life again—made me realize I was only going through the motions.Now one question remains... moreI wasn’t looking for love.Falling for someone would dishonor the memory of my late fiancé.But wouldn’t you know it.Love found me anyway—in the form of a NHL player who was celebrating Christmas in Holiday Peak.Brody Tucker’s reputation preceded him.But he brought me back to life again—made me realize I was only going through the motions.Now one question remains.Can I move forward with him, find happiness again with a guy who seemed to know my deepest thoughts, my private secrets even though I had no idea how?I was ready to make the leap, take a chance on love, until I discovered the Sweet Talker was playing an off ice game I knew nothing about. less

Every year, NHL superstar Declan Bradbury comes home for Christmas.But he’s more than a hockey player to me.He’s my best friend. The man I’m in love with—the man I can’t have.Problem is, it rips my heart out every time he leaves.I need to put some distance between us, find a way to move on and protect my heart.I plan to do just that, until he begins showing up at every turn, and every single person in Holiday Peak starts acting strange... moreEvery year, NHL superstar Declan Bradbury comes home for Christmas.But he’s more than a hockey player to me.He’s my best friend. The man I’m in love with—the man I can’t have.Problem is, it rips my heart out every time he leaves.I need to put some distance between us, find a way to move on and protect my heart.I plan to do just that, until he begins showing up at every turn, and every single person in Holiday Peak starts acting strange. had no idea what Declan was up to behind the scenes, or that the town was conspiring with him.When I found out, there was one thing I did know.My life would never be the same again. less