You've Been Cherished: Carson City Saints

By Katie Kenyhercz

Cherish Bishop co-runs the premiere event-planning company in Carson City, and business is good. Until it isn't. Clients are mysteriously withdrawing, but that's not her biggest problem. That distinction belongs to the Carson City Saints' goalie, who happens to be her temporary assistant and the man who secretly owns her heart. Very secretly. As in, he doesn't know. And it's going to stay that way if she can help it. Her love 'em and leave 'em habit stops with him. He means too much to her. If only he weren't so damned irresistible.

Chase Donovan has been in love with Cherish since high school, but he remains one of the very few men in Carson City she hasn't dated. When her twin sister sets him up to be Cherish's assistant for the team's Santa With the Saints events, it's the perfect opportunity to show her what she's been missing. A tell-all blog threatens to destroy her business and their budding relationship, but all's fair in love and hockey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Katie Kenyhercz
• Release date: Jun 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223375647

Book preview

Chapter 1

Sunday, November 27

Chase Donovan sat on the bench and began the arduous process of taking off his goalie gear. Post morning practice, the locker room buzzed with energy. Guys were in high spirits after winning a streak of games and were joking, laughing, and pranking. Well, when Coach wasn’t looking. Nealy didn’t tolerate hijinks well, and the punishments were rarely worth the crimes, so his teammates tried to keep it under the radar or at least anonymous. All signs usually pointed to Connor Lucas, though.

Today? Lucas had rigged the drop-down’s locker with shaving cream, which exploded in Jimmer’s face with great success, earning a round of applause from the room. There was a rumor floating around that Jimsen was getting called back up to Vegas after recovering in Carson City from his early season injury, and Lucas wasn’t about to let him return to being a Sinner before officially christening him a Saint. At one point, every single man in the room had taken a face full of shaving cream or opened their car door to an avalanche of packing peanuts. It was a rite of passage.

Chase shook his head but smiled to himself. The guys called him Dad not because he had kids but because at twenty-eight, he was the oldest on the team. He was often the voice of reason, but they tended to read it as buzz kill. Whatever. He kept them from getting arrested or injured or worse. At least off ice.

We should warn him. Don’t you think we should warn him? Center Sawyer Bennett nudged shoulder pads with him on the bench while taking off his own gear.

The time to warn him was before she asked him out. We don’t even know for sure she’ll do it. Maybe Jimmer’s different.

Bennett snorted. "He’s not different. No one’s ever different. If we heard he’s getting called back up, Cherish heard it too, and the dumping is imminent."

Cherish Bishop, his lifelong friend, teenage crush, and event organizer for the Saints, had dated her way through all of Carson City except for him. It stung, but at the same time, he had no desire to be another steppingstone in her trail of broken hearts the way Jimmer was about to be because he definitely wasn’t different. He was just Cherish’s type. Hockey player. Handsome. Temporary. Drop-downs were her boyfriends of choice because they had a ticking clock from the start. They were never in Carson City to stay, so they usually took it pretty well when she broke up with them. Well, when Truly broke up with them for her. Speaking of…

Bennett’s head whipped toward the locker room doors, and Chase followed his line of sight to Truly Bishop, Cherish’s twin. They were identical on the outside except Cherish was blonde and Truly had dyed her hair red. Where Cherish was tough, bold, and driven, Truly was soft, shy, and vulnerable. She didn’t hide behind an emotional shield, and that open kindness made her good at this particular task. As cringey as it was to watch. She lifted a hand and wiggled her fingers at Jimsen with a sad smile.

Jimmer waved back with a big, if confused, smile, no idea what was happening. Maybe they should have warned him. But some small, petty part of Chase was glad. He hated seeing Cherish with other men. At least he’d get a short reprieve until the next one. Truly cocked her head, motioning Jimsen to follow her back through the doors. He went, and the room was absolutely silent, trying to catch what they could of the speech. They could all recite it by now, but sometimes Truly changed it up here and there. My sister was so lucky to spend time with you, and it meant so much to her, but you’re going in different directions now, and it’s best to move forward with the memories. She’ll never forget you and wants nothing but good things for you.

Through the windows in the double doors, Jimmer stood there in shock and actually looked sad. Truly hugged him, and Bennett’s posture straightened as he watched it. Chase smirked and shook his head. Easy. She’s just being nice.

When Jimsen came back in to find the whole team staring, he shrugged helplessly. What the hell was that?

You’ve been Cherished, everyone said in unison.

"What?"

They all looked at Bennett. It had become his unofficial job to explain to the drop-downs their fate once Truly had done her thing. They were like an unwitting tag team of heartbreak, cleaning up Cherish’s messes.

Benny stood. We’re never sure whether to warn guys about Cherish when they get here or let them take their shot. Flings are her thing. Sorry you got flung, but you’re in good company.

Jimsen blinked as if trying to absorb all that. How many of you have… He trailed off as every hand in the room went up save three: Lucas, who had always been in love with Mercy Scott, Bennett, who apparently had a thing for Truly, and Chase himself.

Fuck.

Again, sorry. If it makes you feel any better, you just completed the Carson City hat trick. Bennett counted them out on his fingers. "You got reamed out by Nealy—an accomplishment back on your first day here. Kudos. You survived a Lucas prank.