Matthew Holt uses his anger on the ice, gaining him the title of enforcer for L.A. Quakes and high minutes in the sin bin. But hooking up with a teammate’s little sister may earn him the highest penalty of all.Matthew:
Hockey Romance
Sunshine-Grumpy
Teammate's Little Sister
Sneaking Around
Haunted Hero
Sin Bin Leader
Early readers are giving it rave reviews!
"There is tension and chemistry that jumps off the pages, not just between potential love interests, but the team as a whole. This story is a definite attention grabber, so much I couldn't put it down. It has a gripping and incredible storyline, making you want to read it again. If I could, I'd give it 5 plus stars. "
"Loved this book great read."
"I enjoyed how there is more to him that no one knew. He definitely was an enforcer on the ice but deep down he was a big softy. And Phoebe is a girl who can’t stay on her feet literally...Definitely worth the wait. Can’t wait to read book 4."
Bri goes inside with Linc to order beers and pizzas, so I grab us the open seats at the end of the table near Holt. He’s brooding, his chin-length wavy brunette hair a convenient curtain to hide behind, but he wears it well. “Hey,” I give him a hip check. “What’s up?”
He turns to me with a scowl that melts once he recognizes me. “I know that ass,” he says with a grin, pushing his mop of hair off his face to reveal deep brown eyes. “Last time I saw it, it was heading to the floor at maximum speed.” He pats the bench next to him, which I take as an invitation to sit.
“Thank goodness some big Neanderthal stranger saved me.” I put an extra breathy sex goddess tone to my voice, which cracks him up. I like his smile. It makes him look a lot less mean. I want to see more of it, so I ask what I think is a simple question. “Where’ve you been? You missed the joy of helping me move into my new place.” And just like that, his smile flees, and he goes back to staring into his beer.
“I had to go back to Pennsylvania for the annual visit.”
“You make it sound like a proctology exam,” I joke, giving him a shove with my shoulder. Most guys would have smiled at that, but his smirk is humorless.
“Something like that.” I wait, but that’s all he’s going to give me. Interesting. There’s a story there, and someday I’m going to get it out of him, but I leave it for now since Brian returns with our beers.
Brian growls in the back of his throat. “Why don’t you sit over here with me, Pheebs? It’ll make it easier to split the garlic cheese puffs I got us.”
Mmm. I love garlic cheese puffs and the convenience of having them so close is appealing, but not more so than annoying my brother when he gets into this protector mode. So instead of changing seats, I wriggle even closer to Matt. He looks at me in surprise, not quite smiling, but not scooting away from me either. Since Bri is holding my beer hostage all the way across the table, I take a sip of Matt’s beer and grin. “No thanks, I’m good where I am. You can put the basket in the middle, and we can all share.”
Not being an idiot, Holt clocks the look between me and my brother and shakes his head with a huff. I remember reading somewhere that he has a sister, so I’m guessing he understands the dynamics of being a sibling. Keep poking the bear until they growl, then run for mom. He reaches across the table for my IPA, slides it over to me since Brian isn’t going to, and then reclaims his darker, amber-colored beer without saying a word. I cock my head to get a better look at him. Three days of beard stubble and dark smudges under his eyes tell me whatever happened in Pennsylvania was no fun. The smile that lit his face when he saw me was so adorable that I’m determined to do what it takes to bring it back.
“So, where were you and all these glorious muscles earlier today?” I stroke his bicep, tracing the design I now recognize as a colorfully inked Celtic tree gracing his skin. “We could have used the help moving me into my new place.”
He cocks an eyebrow at Brian and then me. “New place, huh? Tired of couch surfing with Mr. Sunshine and Rainbows?”
“I have a spare bedroom, asshole. She never had to sleep on the couch.”
We both ignore him. Linc, who sits down next to Grumpy Pants, gives him a nudge as he glances over at Matt with a look I can’t quite read. Sympathy? Sadness? Then Linc shakes his head ever so slightly, and Brian rolls his eyes. Whatever their secret message is, Matt is just as puzzled as I am and huffs impatiently. If anyone can beam “screw you both” without a sound, Matt does.
“Sorry, Cupcake, I never got the invite, or I’d have been happy to help. Where’d you land? The McMansion next to Big Brother?”
“No, don’t be silly.” I trail my fingers along his arm, pushing the shirt sleeve higher, ever so slightly, to get a better look at his intricate tattoo. “It’s an amazing apartment in Marina del Rey, with two pools, and so much fun stuff.” Since I do love it, the excitement in my voice is real, while the batting of my eyelashes is admittedly a bit forced.
“It was just a few boxes,” Linc tells him. “Nothing the three of us couldn’t handle.” He says it as if that explains why he hadn’t been invited. Now that I think about it, I feel a little guilty for not having called him. And sort of bummed that I missed the chance to see a shirtless Matt Holt because then I could have seen his tattoos on full display.
“No furniture?” His frown directed at Brian is easy to read. You cheap bastard. I know I shouldn’t do it. I owe Brian so much, but it’s just too hard to resist having a little fun after the hell Chad put me through. So, I lean in even closer, pushing my breasts into Matt’s arm.
“Not even a bed,” I say in that same breathy sex kitten voice that got him to laugh before. It’s a close call what I enjoy more—Brian’s face turning purple or the slight upward tilt of one corner of Matt’s mouth.
L.A. Quakes’ fans stomped their feet to cheers of “Caveman!” when I made incredible saves in the crease, leading the team to two Stanley Cup victories. I thought I could go on forever, but at thirty-six, the clock’s counting down even for Lincoln Cavanaugh. Social media and fan sites are filled with rumors of me being traded. Or worse. My future looks as uncertain as a loose puck on the ice. 
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Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteI am really excited to check this book out.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds very interesting. Great cover!
ReplyDeleteSounds good!
ReplyDeletehockey romance? i'm in!!
ReplyDelete