Piper Rayne
For Rylan Greene and me, it was simple. Love only got us so far.
I've known him since we were six, long before he became the professional soccer star he is now. We've weaved in and out of one another's lives as rivals, teammates, friends, and lovers. Until three years ago, when my life took a hit and I ran back to my small Alaskan town, Lake Starlight, away from anything or anyone that could hurt me.
He's never far
...I was only looking for a roommate...
I'm the town widow.
Not the only one, but the youngest by far.
My husband died one year after our wedding, casting me as the charity case in my small Alaskan town.
Since then, everyone—including my big family—try to keep me busy as if that will stop the haunting memories from resurfacing.
Do I know it's time to move on? Of course, but that's easier
...Chase Andrews.
The Kingsmen's top tight end.
My brother's friend and teammate.
My new neighbor.
The grumpy to my sunshine.
But underneath that grumpy exterior, there's so much more.
Chase likes to pretend nothing affects him, but I've seen glimpses of his other side in the time we've spent together.
And the more we get to know each other, the more I'm falling for him.
Under
...I should not still be hung up on my high school girlfriend.
I'm a billionaire, with a penthouse in New York City, a private plane, and was recently crowned one of Manhattan's most eligible bachelors.
She's engaged to my rival. A real prick of a guy whose family is about as famous as mine. So, pictures of the happy couple are plastered everywhere, and it's driving me insane.
The last time I spoke to her was
...Brady Banks.
The Kingsmen's best wide receiver.
Rich AF.
Hot as hell.
A stallion in the sack.
How do I know that last fact? I may have shared a one-night stand with him six months ago when I was rebounding from a broken heart.
I didn't forget him, but I was done with him, until I discovered he's the single dad of the boy I've been hired to nanny.
It's near impossible to ignore my
...Lee f'ing Burrows
The Kingsmen's star quarterback.
Legendary throwing arm.
Six-pack abs.
Kissable lips.
Oh, but don't forget, he's also a lying, heartless egomaniac who broke my heart in college.
It took me years to build myself back up after his deceit, and now I have the dream opportunity to prove myself working as a sports therapist for a professional team.
...Imagine lying in a hospital bed and the doctor who pulls the curtain back to treat you is the one who got away. Even if you never really had her in the first place. She's not only your high school crush, she's the ex-girlfriend of your ex-best friend. The one girl you've always wanted.
Here's a step-by-step list to finally win her over...
Key to win #1: Try not to take offense that she snuck back into town without
...I love him.
I loathe him.
It's like plucking daisy petals in my head, but he'll never know.
When Miles Cavanaugh, the best safety in the league, was traded to the Chicago Grizzlies football team last year, I could finally breathe. Temptation was miles away.
How naïve to think it would end there because when the opportunity to write for a national magazine based in Chicago lands in my lap months later, I can't turn it
...Do it.
Don't do it.
Never in my life did I think I'd wager in my head whether to sleep with Chicago Grizzlies wide receiver, Damon Siska.
He's the perfect package—hot body, killer smile, and flirts like he earned a doctorate in it. But anyone who reads gossip blogs knows he is looking for one amazing night and nothing more.
I'm not the usual type of woman he beds. I'm a middle school teacher who cherishes her
...11) Claus and Effect
Two strangers who couldn't be more opposite find themselves on an unexpected cross-country road trip days before Christmas where whatever can go wrong, does.
He's an Army Ranger.
She's a baker.
He's organized and ridged.
She's messy and carefree.
He doesn't do relationships.
She's following her heart.
His family chat blows up his phone.
She
...The girl who loves Christmas falls for the Grinch—it's a Christmas miracle.
What started as a dumpster fire of a blind date turns into a deal.
In truth, it probably didn't help that I showed up dressed like an elf but that's a story for another time. Our start was rocky at best which is why it's so frustrating that I can't stop thinking about his sexy British accent. Or the way his chest and arms fill out his
...My mom always said you don't get a second shot at making a first impression. I've remembered that my entire career. Especially since I'm one of the few black men who play professional hockey.
I'm calculated and respectful in the way I speak to my coaches, the owners, and the media. I've never taken a risk... until her.
I could blame it on the fact that for once I pushed away the pressure of my career for the ocean waves, the sand,
...The last thing any professional hockey player wants is to be the old man in the game. The guy who doesn't know when it's time to retire. Still, I can't bear the thought of leaving the game.
This past year I've reflected on all my regrets, and I told myself that once I retire it'll be the time to find the right woman. But this is where it gets tricky.
I think I've found her—although she'll deny our connection to anyone who
It's the classic story—boy goes off into the world to fulfill his dreams and leaves the girl behind.
Not every boy returns home, and I wish Ben Noughton wouldn't have come back to our small ranching town at all after he retired from playing professional football.
I figure it's a quick layover for him. He always wanted out of this town and off his family's ranch. I just have to bide my time until he turns his back on all of us
...I have a reputation for being tight-lipped. You learn quick when you become a professional hockey player to be guarded with the media, so I've worked hard to cover up the mistakes of my youth.
But when I'm traded to the Florida Fury, where my ex–best friend is the starting right wing, I'm forced to confront my past. Ford and I have a lot of history, especially when it comes to his little sister, Imogen.
My heart still lurches
..."My Lucky #13 is smart, sexy and fun! A hot hockey player, a sassy heroine, the best superstition ever, and a slow burn romance that had me panting until they gave in. And if that wasn't enough, a happily ever after that had the crowd cheering. A definite must read!" - Carly Phillips, NY Times Bestselling Author
Lucky.
The one adjective used to describe my entire hockey career. I prefer to call it hard work, at least
...18) Real Deal
Red Flags...
Too loud.
Too clingy.
Too much make-up.
I could go on and on. The other guys in the Single Dad's Club would say I'm obsessed with finding them. But none of their kid's mothers is the epic fail that my daughter's is, so their opinions mean shit.
Caterina Santora has her own list of red flags...
She's too young.
She's my client's daughter.
She's
...19) Dirty Talker
Turn-ons...
Party girls.
Platinum blondes.
Zero expectations.
I used to think that if you could combine all three into one female, you'd have the perfect woman.
Then why the hell does Ava Pearson—an outdoorsy girl, a brunette, and a woman who screams stability and responsibility—seem to be the only woman on my mind lately?
I've got enough obligations without adding any complications
...Everyone knows that if you play with fire you'll end up getting burned...
What happens when you attend a first responder's bachelor auction with your best friends? Well, if your name is Madison Kelly like me, your friends end up bidding on a date for you with your high school crush.
That's right. Even back when I was 'Fatty Maddie' to all my classmates, I had eyes for the quarterback of our football team. Not like
...