Hockey Hero: Loving the Puckers, #3

By Kat Obie

The last thing I expect when I bring a gorgeous woman home at the end of a perfect date is to have her run out on me.

Correction: The last thing I expect is for that same woman to step in as the emergency backup goalie for The Sound.

Life is complicated. Hockey isn't supposed to be. Now I've made things even more complicated by kissing her. But I can't bring myself to regret it when she kisses me back, and I get a taste of the passion she denied me.

Now I just have to convince my perfect girl that taking a chance on love doesn't mean giving up on her dreams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kat Obie
• Release date: Aug 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223170259

Book preview

Prologue

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Lily

S old to the lady in the front row. Please pay at the table in the front so you can begin your date.

I pushed myself up from the chair. It was an easy walk to the cashier's table. On my way, I pulled the black AMEX card that our family used for charity out of my small clutch. It was a wee bit ridiculous that I’d just spent $4000 for a date with Colton Weber. He was easily the sexiest player for the Cleveland Sound and one of the most talented. Plus, according to Klaus Lagerfield, a family friend and Colton's teammate, Colton was one of the nicest guys on the team.

After signing my name on the credit card slip and tucking away the receipt in my clutch, I found Colton leaning against the wall. He had a smile on his face. He said, Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I'm all yours for the next three hours. He held out an arm and I slipped my hand in. So, I'm at a disadvantage—what's your name?

Since I was unlikely to meet him again, I decided to tell a little white lie. Lily Williams, I said.

Williams was Mom's maiden name. My last name was actually Peterson, and I was an heiress to the Peterson fortune, which included the ownership of the NHL team, the Vancouver Legacy. But the main reason I was here to support the Sound's charity gala was due to the fact that my dad used to play for the Sound and he liked to support his old team as much as he could.

That's a pretty name. He flashed a priceless smile, but the feature that stuck out was his eyes. They were emerald green and so bright. So, I hope you don't mind, I got a reservation here at the restaurant.

Works for me.

I wasn't in the mood for dinner. I was in the mood to eat him. Which was so unlike me because I was such a newbie when it came to dating. That was the risk of being a massive tomboy and always playing on guys’ teams. The guys didn't see me as someone they wanted to date, and the few that were interested in me were chased off by my twin brother. As a result, this charity date was only my third proper date.

The restaurant was a fancy American/Thai fusion place. He pulled a chair out like a gentleman. As he pushed it in slightly, he asked, So I guess I have to ask, why me?

I laughed. I should have expected that. No way I was going to tell him that I had some inside intel that he was a good guy on the team. I like your hockey style?

My style?

You’re one of the most skilled players on the team but you liked to set up the play and give the assist. You’re not flashy but you make yourself known through your dependability.

He smiled so widely. I’m impressed you know hockey.

Yeah. I said with a coy smile. He had no idea how much I really knew hockey or that I played. Let alone worked with my dad to keep tabs on the Vancouver Legacy. You probably thought I just wanted you for your body.

The thought might have crossed my mind. His eyes sparkled. But I’m glad to know you aren’t. Did you want to share a bottle of wine?

Only if you want wine. I said with a smile. It’s not necessary. No need to pull out the stops just for me.

The way his face lit up, I knew he liked my reaction. I wasn’t expecting to be wowed nor was I playing hard to get. I knew I would be flying back to Vancouver soon enough and it was just one date. But it was turning into a lot of fun. I liked him a lot.

Time flew by at dinner. Everything was delicious and well made. The conversation was easy going. I never told him that I played or that I knew his friend Klaus. Instead, I wanted him to like me for me. It seemed like we really clicked.

When dessert came out, he surprised me by kissing me. It was pure bliss, and I swear that I saw stars. Men shouldn't be allowed to kiss like that. Then again, on second thought, they should.

After he picked up the bill, he said in a low voice, What do you think about going back to my place?

I nodded. It sounded like fun.

But as we drove over to a luxurious condo, doubts crept in. So many doubts. First, was I as good a kisser as Colton? While he had a grin on his face, I wasn't sure if he’d loved it. Then I realized that the main reason he’d brought me to his place was for sex. While I would have loved to have sex, I wasn't ready.

I couldn't lose my virginity to a guy who was sex on wheels. Well, I could if I wanted to be an utter failure.

He pressed me against the wall and I was losing myself in his embrace. The thing was, I couldn't lose myself. Not yet.

As he reached for my silk blouse I knew I had to leave. While I’d loved my entire evening with Colton, things were going too quickly. Far too quickly. Before he could even catch sight of my bra, I pulled my shirt down. I closed my eyes. I can't.

Then I ran out of the condo. I just kept running.

Even as I ran, I realized that I’d made a massive mistake. I would be forever known as the girl who couldn't handle sexy time and bailed. God, that was probably worse being bad at sex.

Chapter 1

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Lily

It was just another day raising money for the Vancouver Legacy charities. In some ways, working for the hockey team's charitable fund was a perfect job while I figured out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I was surprised to see my dad calling me from his office phone. Sure, he was the owner of the team, but he seldom worked on site. I looked at the calendar and realized we were playing his old team, so of course he was here. He wanted to run into old friends who were part of the Sound. Before I could say anything, he said, Ready to make history today?

That was not the opener I expected to hear. What?

You got your gear with you, right?

That’s when it all clicked: they needed a goalie. I'd been on the Legacy's emergency backup goalie (EBUG) list the moment I decided to take the year off. The desire to play hockey in university prevented me from playing professionally this year. I trained daily so I was ready once I knew my major. Of course, I have it. I played this morning.

He sounded happy when he said, I thought you might. Come to conference room two.

Alright. Be right there. I hung up the phone and locked my computer screen. I made the short walk to the conference room.

Inside the room was my dad, a couple of guys from our legal department, the Sound's coach and Dad's old friend Scott Wheiland, another coach that I didn't know the name of, and freaking Colton Weber. While I knew he was a team captain, so was Klaus Lagerfield, and Klaus was practically part of our family.

That meant I would be the EBUG for the Sound. That made it sweeter. I would be signing a contract with the same team that gave my dad his start. I wished I stood a chance of playing, but I knew that was unlikely since few EBUGs saw any real playing time. Just suiting up would be a big deal thanks to my gender. I wouldn't be the first female goalie to sign a personal try-out (PTO) or even play a game in the NHL, but I would be the first EBUG and potentially the first female in a regular season.

My dad introduced everyone the moment I walked in and then turned the floor over to Scotty.

Scotty said, "Not