Christmas Interference: The Baltimore Banners, #11.5

By Lisa B. Kamps

This story originally appeared in the Hockey Holidays Anthology in November 2018.

Shane Masters wants nothing to do with Christmas. His idea of holiday fun is hanging out with the single guys from the Baltimore Banners while the team has a few days off for the season. The last thing he wants to do is go home and face the memories that haunt him at night--but this year he has no choice. He heads home, convinced he can put the past behind him.

Chloe Hunter needs a miracle and will stop at nothing to make it happen--not if it means keeping her brother from his downward spiral. Pulling Shane Masters into the picture seems like the perfect solution--until she sees him again and realizes the past isn't as far away as she thought.

But Shane doesn't believe in second-chances or happy-ever-afters, not anymore. And it's going to take a Christmas miracle for the woman who knew him best to thaw his heart before it's too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BimHaven Press
• Release date: Dec 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386004882

Lisa B. Kamps

Lisa B. Kamps had a zest for life at an early age. As a young child she wanted to do many things, from being an astronaut to becoming a marine biologist. A strong calling came from somewhere in between, and instead she chose to become a firefighter. She successfully served in a job dominated by men, becoming highly respected in her field. After a rewarding career with the Baltimore County Fire Department, she retired and found new happiness in retail management. Throughout her entire life, Lisa has had the ability to express herself through writing. She has never looked back, and has never regretted any of the detours that life may have thrown at her, because she knows that she is able to become anything she wants through the power of her writing. Lisa lives in Maryland, where her two energetic sons constantly keep her on her toes.

Book preview

CHRISTMAS INTERFERENCE

A Baltimore Banners Warm-Up Story

––––––––

Lisa B. Kamps

CHRISTMAS INTERFERENCE

Copyright © 2018 by Elizabeth Belbot Kamps

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the express written permission of the author.

The Baltimore Banners™ is a fictional professional ice hockey team, its name and logo created for the sole use of the author and covered under protection of trademark.

All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation to anyone bearing the same name or names, living or dead. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any individual, place, business, or event is purely coincidental.

Artwork and Cover Design by Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art

http://www.simplydefinedart.com/

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Other titles by this author

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Other titles by this author

DEDICATION

In memory of my dad, Paul Belbot, who gave me my love of words and encouraged me to put them to good use. Miss you, Dad!

Other titles by this author:

COVER SIX SECURITY

Covered By A Kiss, A CSS Novella, Book 0

The Protector: MAC, Book 1

The Guardian: DARYL, Book 2

The Defender: RYDER, Book 3

THE BALTIMORE BANNERS

Crossing the Line, Book 1

Game Over, Book 2

Blue Ribbon Summer, Book 3

Body Check, Book 4

Break Away, Book 5

Playmaker, A Baltimore Banners Intermission Novella

Delay of Game, Book 6

Shoot Out, Book 7

The Baltimore Banners: 1st Period Trilogy

Books 1-3 Boxed set

The Baltimore Banners: 2nd Period Trilogy

Books 4-6 Boxed set

On Thin Ice, Book 8

Coach's Challenge, A Baltimore Banners Intermission Novella

One-Timer, Book 9

Face Off, Book 10

First Shot At Love, A Baltimore Banners Short Story

Game Misconduct, Book 11

Christmas Interference, A Baltimore Banners Short Story

Fighting To Score, Book 12

Matching Penalties, Book 13

THE YORK BOMBERS

Playing The Game, Book 1

Playing To Win, Book 2

Playing For Keeps, Book 3

Playing It Up, Book 4

Playing It Safe, Book 5

The York Bombers Boxed Set 1

Books 1-3

Playing For Love, Book 6

Playing His Part, Book 7

THE CHESAPEAKE BLADES

Winning Hard, Book 1

Loving Hard, Book 2

Playing Hard, Book 3

FIREHOUSE FOURTEEN

Once Burned, Book 1

Playing With Fire, Book 2

Breaking Protocol, Book 3

Into the Flames, Book 4

Second Alarm, Book 5

Feel The Burn, Book 6

Coming Soon

STAND-ALONE TITLES

Emeralds and Gold: A Treasury of Irish Short Stories (anthology)

Finding Dr. Right

Time To Heal

Dangerous Passion

Dangerous Heat

Illicit Affair

Coming Soon

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Chapter One

Shane Masters stared at the house, dread filling him as the festive lights twinkled in the cold darkness. White. Red. Green. Alternating flashes of holiday cheer, beckoning visitors in from the cold.

It was enough to give him a fucking headache.

He didn't want to be here. Didn't know exactly why he was here. Misplaced loyalty? A twisted sense of obligation? Both. Neither. Maybe for some other reason, one he didn't want to acknowledge, one he couldn't face.

Guilt slammed into him, forcing him to acknowledge it no matter how hard he tried to bury it. How long had it been since he'd last been home? Two years?

He frowned, thinking back. No, three years. Christ, had it really been that long? Yeah, it had. Three fucking years—even longer since he'd been to this particular house. And he wouldn't be here now if not for his uncle quietly insisting he show up; if not for his aunt slyly throwing that guilt trip on him the minute he walked through the door this afternoon.

It's time, Shane. You've been gone too long. Don't let your inaction turn into regret.

Regret.

Yeah, that pretty much summed everything up. Regret and guilt, his adopted life mantras. The emotions that had been tearing him apart for the last five years. The emotions that wouldn't quite stay buried, no