That Steamy Hockey Romance

I’ve spent three years lusting after Grammercy Graves on my (supposedly anonymous) hockey romance podcast—breaking down his stats, his plays, that panty-melting Cajun accent. . . The entire internet knows he’s my dream guy. What they don’t know? I’m a broke single mom who just lost her job—and the health insurance my daughter needs. When Grammercy finds me crying in a supply closet at a team party, he offers the wildest solution: Fake marriage. Real benefits. One year. No strings. No S-E-X. Just shared coverage and a room with my name on it. But he’s so good with my daughter.

I've spent months dodging Leo Parker's attempts to score a second date. Yes, he's gorgeous. Yes, he plays for the Louisiana Voodoo. Yes, he kisses like it's an Olympic sport. But he's also six years younger than I am and—plot twist—I used to babysit him when he was twelve. But when a hurricane destroys my restaurant (and the storage closet I've been sleeping in), Parker swoops in with the perfect solution. Move in with him. Temporarily.

What do you do when the hot younger hockey player you swore you’d stop banging is the perfect revenge date to your ex’s wedding? Pretend to be a couple. Obviously. I was going to take the high road. I really was. But Nix needs image rehab before management benches him, and I need a plus-one who proves I’ve moved on to bigger and better things. (Especially the bigger part…) Besides, we’re adults. We can pretend to be hot for each other without actually getting it on in the great outdoors. Again.

Sleeping with my teammate's sister? Rookie mistake. Getting her pregnant? Career-ending penalty. They call me the Guru—the guy who never loses his cool, never breaks the code, and definitely doesn't knock up his best friend's little sister after one perfect, reckless night. But judging by Beatrice's new baby bump, six months ago, I did just that. Now she's back in New Orleans, gorgeous, glowing, and determined to do this solo. She doesn't need my money, my help, or my suddenly inconvenient feelings. Too bad.