Theo: Boston Bay Vikings, #8

By Lexi Buchanan

Theo

Player. That's me. Until I caught sight of Anya Pavlova. Petite, with mouth-watering curves. Blonde hair to her bottom, filthy things filling my head. She's young, sweet, and innocent. Too innocent to spend time with someone like me. It makes me regret not listening to Noah when he warned me about the reputation I was gaining by fucking around.

Ivan wanted to kill me for even looking his sister's way. He isn't here though, is he? He won't know if I sneak kisses with the innocent Russian Princess.

Anya

I'm lonely in Boston, even though I shouldn't be. I've made new friends, but I still feel like the odd one out. Because of the attention I receive from some of the hockey players, Mama keeps a close eye on me. Not only do they make me blush, but it's comforting to know that I'm not lost amongst the crowds in this city.

Theo Ward, the Boston Bay Vikings' goalie, has gone out of his way to spend time with me. When he's close, he causes more than my cheeks to flush. His smile makes my heart melt. I desperately want to throw myself at him, but I'm aware of his reputation as a jerk. Ivan made certain of this before he left.

With danger lurking around every corner and Ivan in Russia, there is only one man I can rely on to keep me safe, and he has vowed to do so.

Meet Theo Ward and Anya Pavlova in the eighth book of the Boston Bay Vikings series by NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Lexi Buchanan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HFCA Publishing
• Release date: May 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201827274

Book preview

1

THEO

Knox, being an asshole, has done nothing but laugh his ass off since I arrived at Dukes. He thinks it’s hilarious that Anya Pavlova, the woman I can’t get out of my head, has decided to get married. Not to me, thank the Lord, but to a total stranger she met at some tearoom. I mean, who meets the man you are gonna marry in a tearoom? I scoff.

This whole situation stinks.

My friend, of course, thinks I have my, and I quote, panties in a wad over the beautiful Russian princess. I certainly do not.

Her brother will go nuts when he finds out what she’s up to. It doesn’t help that her mother, Maria, is also getting married. To Coach!

There is something wrong with everyone. I grunt and drop beside my irritating friend.

What? he asks, and smirks after cramming fries into his mouth.

Don’t you think it’s weird that everyone is getting married?

I’m not getting married. He pauses. And you’re not.

Stop being obtuse, you know exactly what I mean.

Knox swallows down a mouthful of food, and says, They’re Russian. Anya doesn’t want to go back. The only way to stay is to marry an American. He shrugs. Makes sense to me.

It doesn’t to me. Don’t I feel like the sulking teenager I once was.

You know… Knox pauses to run a fry through the hot sauce on his plate and shove it into his mouth. If you’re upset about her marrying this guy, then why don’t you marry her? He grins. Problem solved.

Snapping my mouth shut, I narrow my eyes at my so-called friend. All color drains from my face, causing me to go lightheaded.

Hey, man. That was a joke. Knox waves a hand in front of my face, which I ignore. Theo! His fingers snap. Anyone home in that thick skull of yours?

I’m not getting married.

Yeah, I know. Knox sits back and holds my gaze. "It’s an option, though, if you don’t like her marrying that dude she picked up over a cup of tea."

She did not pick anyone up. I bristle. Anya is pretty. It’s no wonder the guy wanted to snap her up before someone else did. Crossing my arms, I stare off into space while I feel Knox eyeing me with amusement. What?

I think you’re delusional.

Who is? Jericho asks, tugging a chair out and dropping his large ass onto it.

Knox points at me. He’s bent out of shape because Anya Pavlova is getting married.

I am not bent out of shape, I protest.

Both men fold their arms and give me a pointed you are bullshitting us stare.

I’m not.

He protests too much, Knox says, his eyes wandering toward a group of girls who’ve just entered Dukes full of giggles. He’s all yours. With a distracted smirk, Knox follows the group deeper into Dukes.

I suppose you have something to say?

Expressionless, Jericho replies, No. He taps a finger on the bar. I asked her to marry me.

What the fuck!

Now he grins. She said no. He briefly pats a hand over his heart. She does not want to marry a hockey player. He shrugs. I get it. Their union will be more believable if she’s met a guy elsewhere and had a whirlwind romance. Marrying a teammate of her brother’s, especially when her mother is marrying Coach, will seem too much like…like an arrangement. He shakes his head. It wouldn’t seem like a love match, more like a green card match. You know?

This doesn’t sit well with me. The girl has lost her mind. At twenty-one she should have more sense than to marry a total stranger. He could be a psychopath.

Thanks. Jericho takes a slow drink of the beer the waitress placed in front of him, and says, He seems like a nice guy.

Wait? What? When did you meet him? I lurch forward.

Laughing, Jericho shakes his head. I see what Knox means. You are jealous. Serious, he adds, If you like this girl, why don’t you go and offer to marry her?

I open my mouth to protest, but he continues, It’s not like you’d be tied to her forever. Let her get permission to stay in the US, carry on for a bit longer, then get a divorce. Simple.

I like her.

Jericho raises a brow.

Okay, I more than like her, I admit. But I don’t want to marry her. I’m never getting married. Ever.

Then, my friend. I don’t think there is anything you can do. You’ll have to get over the fact the girl you like is marrying someone else.

I scowl.

Laughing, Jericho snags the attention of a waitress. I ignore his talk of daily specials while trying to come up with a plan of action.

The thought of marriage makes me want to hurl. My parents’ marriage was brutal, and I sure as fuck do not want anything that ties me to another person. I shudder at the thought. But Anya… Ivan’s sweet, innocent sister temps me to sin. We’ve been lightly flirting since she arrived with her mother before Christmas. It’s only recently that she’s stopped. In fact, I’d say she is avoiding me. She shies away from conversation if I join. She no longer meets my gaze. So, yes, it drives me nuts. I don’t like the idea of another man getting to spend time with her. Another man living with her. Taking what I want.

I’m crazy for thinking anything would seriously happen between us. I’m also crazy for denying I have feelings for the girl, because I do, and I don’t know what the hell to do with them.

Certainly not marry her.

I’m going to check the guy out, I say after Jericho’s food is delivered.

Pausing mid-chew, he says, She met him over tea, as though that means he’s harmless.

I haven’t been able to get ahold of Jackson, so I’ll have a friend look into him. I sigh, relieved I’m going to do something. I might call Ivan and tell him.

Jericho starts choking. He takes a long drink of the beer in front of him, and laughs. Ivan can’t do anything while he is in another country. Serious, he adds, Don’t screw this up for her. You don’t know whether she has some sort of deal with this guy. The marriage could only be for resident status.

Chewing the inside of my mouth, I absentmindedly reach for Jericho’s fries. He snatches the basket away.

The advice is free, the food isn’t, he grumbles.

Okay, so if I don’t want to fuck anything up for Anya, how can I make sure she isn’t getting herself into something she really doesn’t want? I pause. Advice being free. I wave my hand around.

Jericho smiles and shakes his head. Talk to Anya as a friend, not someone who’s jealous she’s chosen someone else.

Scowling, I give him the finger.

2

ANYA

I smile as Jason tells me about the work he does. In reality, it goes in one ear and out the other. I have no clue what he is talking about. So far this is the only irritating thing about him—his assumption that I already know the basics.

He has a nice smile and neatly trimmed short dark brown hair. He’s clean-shaven with boyish looks. He is older than me by a few years, yet he has the look of someone fresh out of school. It makes me wince a bit. I hadn’t even thought about marrying to stay in America, until Jason had asked me if I’d be willing to do that.

He’d told his parents a small white lie—that he had a whirlwind marriage. And now he has to show up at his brother’s wedding with said wife. That would be me. He’d asked me in a way that made it difficult to refuse. Mama wanted to marry Van, but I knew she wouldn’t as long as I would have to return to Russia. She wouldn’t leave me to do that alone. That is the only reason I accepted his proposal.

Mama has given up a lot for Ivan and me. It’s now my turn to sacrifice for her. If only the unease in my belly would disappear. I know what I’m doing is wrong. But now I feel like it’s getting out of control. Like a train about to crash, and I can’t do anything to prevent it.

It isn’t Jason’s fault. It’s me.