Carolina Reapers

The NHL’s been at my door since I was 18, but I’d never leave the Swedish Hockey League—not while raising my little brother. But now he’s grown, and the Carolina Reapers show up with my greatest weakness: Langley Pierce, their new head of PR. I’ve never been able to say no to her. She’s fierce, independent, and the sexiest woman I’ve ever met. She also has a stubborn streak wider than my entire country. One comment from her smart mouth about never dating again, and I propose. No, really, I actually propose.

I never thought I’d achieve my dream of playing for the NHL—not while I’m my mom’s sole caretaker. But the Carolina Reapers offer me a deal I can’t refuse: a spot on their roster and top-rated support for my mom’s battle with Parkinson’s. Balancing an NHL schedule and my mother’s care fills every minute of my day, but one glance at Scythe’s bartender, and I’m looking for ways to make time. Echo Hayes is my exact opposite: she’s wild—I’m reserved. She’s fearless—I’m careful. She’s a 1 a.m. last call, and I’m a 7 a.m. practice.

After a prank goes wrong, I’m sentenced to six weeks community service under none other than the sexy, rule-abiding, smart-mouthed city clerk of Sweet Water—Annabelle Clarke. Lucky for me it’s off season. Unlucky for me? I want Annabelle like I want my next breath. She’s smart, luscious, and wound-tighter than a Scottish drum. Och, I’d love to be the one to help loosen her strings. She’s made it clear that while I’m under her employment, she won’t be under me. The white-hot chemistry we can’t deny must be ignored at all costs.

Ridiculous, but I’ve been dubbed the “pretty boy” since rookie year. Pair the looks with my multi-million-dollar career, and it’s a recipe to get used. I’ve been burned before, and it’s never happening again. Then I meet Delaney Collins—Charleston’s impossibly sexy librarian. She’s brilliant, funny, and the chemistry between us crackles every time we touch. But she doesn’t have a clue who I am. Delaney treats me like a normal person, seeing straight to the heart of me. And all it wants is her.

I’m the fastest and most feared skater in the NHL. With a temper like mine, I can’t afford to make mistakes. But one insane night in Vegas, and I wake up married to the biggest mistake of all: Persephone VanDoren—the head of our team’s charitable foundation. Sure, the petite blonde is sweet enough to give the entire state of South Carolina a toothache, but I’ve never been one for the debutantes. She’s everything I’ve fought against my whole life—wealthy, perfect, gorgeous, and her sharp little tongue presses every single one of my buttons.