From rivalries to
secret glances across the rink, dive into a story filled with passion, ice, and
a little bit of chaos.
Luka
A Los Angeles
Quakes Hockey Series Book 2
by Alisa Jean
Genre: Sports
Hockey Romance
As the hottest
left-winger in the league, I was the handsome golden boy for the L.A. Quakes.
But after suffering horrific injuries during a game, my life is on a breakaway
to disaster. My biggest fear is a darkness from my past is about to repeat
itself. All I want to do is hide from the world, but fate has another plan.
Feisty beauty Liliana Alvarez doesn’t suffer fools lightly, especially when it
comes to her kids in her new non-profit outreach. She’ll drag me, kicking and
screaming, if necessary, from the hole I’ve crawled into if it’s the last thing
she does. For some reason, she is patient enough to wait for me to heal and
something sparks between us, wounds, and all. But her abusive ex-boyfriend
threatens to shatter our hopes of a happily ever after.
Can enemies-turned-lovers help save each other or is the ice tilted against us?
EXCERPT
LUKA
Easing open the door, I slip through, bolting to the
welcoming darkness of the closed Quakes’ Cove bar. I lean against a wall,
shrouded in shadows, and stare down at the rink below. It’s late morning, and
the rookies are doing drills under the watchful eyes of Jason Tolls, Linc, and
a couple of other player development coaches. My friend looks in his element.
Happy. Shit. I miss him, as well as Sonny and Bri. But I don’t go out much.
Between scaring a kid at the grocery store and panic attacks that strike out of
nowhere, I keep myself hidden away. The guys have their lives, and I don’t need
to ruin their happiness by freaking them out. They wouldn’t care, but I do.
“Hey.” The soft, whispered word makes me glance away from
the ice. F**k. Catherine Bishop, the Quakes’ owner, and Linc’s girlfriend,
steps into the bar and stands next to me. I turn my face away, seeking refuge
in the shadows.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Catherine’s finger touches my chin and
turns my head so I’m facing her. “You will not hide from me.” She stares
directly into my eyes. Her family did everything in their power to help me
recover, starting with the best sports ophthalmologist so I wouldn’t lose my
eye. Then a world-class plastic surgeon to keep my scarring to a minimum. I
have a functioning eyelid, thanks to them. “Your features were way too pretty
and perfect. The scar helps. You now look kind of like a bad boy. Women will go
crazy.”
I can’t help the snort which escapes me. “In my dreams.”
She nudges me with her shoulder. “How’s your mom? I miss
Maja.”
“She’s good. I spoke with her this morning.” Catherine came
over a few times and took my mom out to lunch or dinner so she could have a
break from me. I’d been such a hurting asshole that my boss took it upon
herself to look after my mom. They hit it off. Why not? They’re both powerful
women. Catherine shattering glass ceilings and my mom raising three kids on her
own after my dad lost his mind.
She gestures to the ice. “How’re the rookies? See anyone
impressive?”
I break our eye contact, relieved to go back to the shadows
and study the players below. Some of them are in their young and gangly stage,
like Bambi on ice. But some of the older kids are filling out and showing the
promise of their mature athletic bodies to come.
“Your giant six-six goalie looks promising. He’s going to
kill it in the AHL for the Tsunami. Linc must be drooling. For his size, the
kid is agile, and he knows how to stay deep in his crease. He’ll be a brick
wall for our opponents.”
“Yeah, I have high hopes for him. I also like the left
winger, Berglund.” She slants her gaze my way. “He reminds me of you at his
age—fast, full of energy, great hockey sense.”
“Looking to replace me? Afraid I’ll scare the fans?”
She glares at me. “Stop it, or I’ll tattle to Linc that
you’re feeling sorry for yourself.”
Catherine never takes my bullshit. I sigh. “Too soon to
joke?”
“If I thought you were joking, it’d be okay, but I know you
weren’t.”
How does she read me so well? “Fine. You’re right.” We watch
the rooks in peaceful silence. I can almost relax.
“Hey Ribi, good to see you.” An L.A. Quakes’ blogger calls
out in passing.
Suddenly, my heart starts pounding. I break out into a sweat
and dizziness swamps me, making me sway. My whole body shakes. F**k. I can’t
have a panic attack. Not here. Not now.
“Oye gilipollas,” a tiny woman shouts and storms into
the bar. I automatically translate the Spanish into English—Hey, a**hole.
Before I could blink, the petite Latina stabs her finger into my chest, while
glaring at my face, stopping my anxiety attack in a flash.
LILIANA
Frustrated as hell, I flew out of the Quakes’ Foundation’s
office and storm past a man and woman lurking in the shadows of a closed bar,
watching guys skating below. Weirdos. I didn’t know who he was until someone
yells, “Ribi.” I assume it’s some sort of nickname for Luka Ribic, my MIA
hockey player. Not about to miss this opportunity, I spin on my heels and go in
for the kill.
“Oye gilipollas,” I shout, stabbing him in the chest with a
finger. I have to reach to hit my target. The big guy is almost a foot taller
than me. He must have understood my Spanish because he blinks at me like I’m a
crazy woman. This smug a**hole has the nerve to smirk at me. “I came to talk to
the Quakes’ Foundation. Maureen claims you’ve been out on medical leave. What a
load of doody!”
“Doody?” The spark of humor reaches all the way to his light
brown eyes.
Luka:
Hockey Romance,
Enemies to Lovers,
Beauty & The Beast,
Tortured Hero,
Curvy Heroine
Different Cultures,
Stalker Ex-Boyfriend
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Lincoln
A Los Angeles
Quakes Hockey Series Book 1
L.A. Quakes’ fans
stomped their feet to cheers of “Caveman!” when I made incredible saves in the
crease, leading the team to two Stanley Cup victories. I thought I could go on
forever, but at thirty-six, the clock’s counting down even for Lincoln Cavanaugh.
Social media and fan sites are filled with rumors of me being traded. Or worse.
My future looks as uncertain as a loose puck on the ice.
My fate rests in the hands of Catherine Bishop, daughter of the team’s owner
and a power to be reckoned with. And what fine hands they are, along with
everything else about her. A chance encounter leads to sparks between us, but
is falling in love with this incredible woman worth the risk?
Because with her by my side, I’m once again an unstoppable force between the
pipes, and victories pile up like never before. However, our love is a ticking
time bomb because Catherine has dreams of making history as the first female
and person of color to own an NHL team. Sleeping with a player would make that
all go up in smoke. I fear when the truth comes out, it will be the final
buzzer for us.
EXCERPT
I take his tiny gloved hand in my large one and start
skating to where the Tremblers are standing in lines in front of the coaches.
My friends are right behind me when we stop next to the staff, and I give the
boy a gentle push. “Go get back in formation.”
Coach Greer holds out a hand, which I shake. “Thanks for
doing this, it means the world to the kids.”
“It’s our pleasure.” My teammates nod along in agreement.
Greer introduces us to the tiny players and as I gaze over
the group, I’m happy to see a lot of girls. This isn’t always the case at this
age, so I’m glad their numbers are growing. Usually, they’d rather be figure
skating. We’re about to break into groups for drills when I hear another pair
of skates hit the ice. Turning, I’m stunned to see Catherine gliding toward us.
I spin and whisper-shout, “Who the hell invited her?” while
glaring at my friends.
“Um,” Ribi raises a hand. “I thought since she was
interested, she could tag along.”
My lips thin into a frown. All three of them bust out
laughing. Oh shit, this is a setup.
“Hey. Sorry, I’m late. Traffic coming over the hill was
murder.” She murmurs to us, then smiles and gives a wave at the kids. “Hi
everyone, I think I missed the intros. I’m Catherine Bishop. My father, Robert
Bishop, is the owner of the Los Angeles Quakes. I’m not the best hockey player,
so I hope you’ll teach me.”
Which is bullshit. I know she played in college. They
weren’t champs or anything, but she knows her way around the ice. I smile,
knowing she’s fibbing for the kids’ sake.
And she’s adorable. She threaded her ponytail through the
back of her Quakes’ baseball cap. Her hair swishes back and forth every time
she moves. She must have gotten the memo, because she’s dressed identically to
us, from hockey skates, black snow pants, and a Quakes’ sweater, though hers
isn’t numbered. It’s a blank. The hockey gloves swallow her hands, but she
holds her stick like she knows how to use it.
Since the introductions are finished, the kids break into
groups for drills and my teammates spread out to help. The time flies and my
cheeks hurt from the constant smiling.
Then Sonny yells over in that commanding captain's voice,
“Caveman, little help in the right circle.” I snap to it, instinctively
following his orders because, on the ice, he’s the leader. We all follow and
would do anything for him. Then I realize he’s sending me over to Catherine,
who is having trouble teaching a little girl how to skate backward. Ribi and
Bri are both closer, so his master plan isn’t exactly subtle. If there weren’t
kids around, I’d tell him where to shove it, but we’re here for them, so I
skate over to help.
“There seems to be a bit of a balance problem over here.”
“I’m a good skater,” Catherine states. “But apparently not
the best instructor.”
“No worries,” I crouch in front of the little skater.
“What’s your name?”
“Lacey.”
“Nice to meet you, Lacey. Can I show you something?”
She nods her head frantically, and my smile turns into a
grin. I stand and hold my stick across my body and lower it to her height.
“Grab on with both hands.” She does. Next, I bend my knees a little and lean a
tiny bit forward at my waist. “Okay, copy me.” Lacey does, and I start skating
forward. She’s pushed along with her grip on my stick. “Good. Keep moving your
skates. Excellent. Now take one hand off.” Her balance wobbles, but she
recovers. “Great job. Now, without losing your position, I want you to let go
and keep skating.”
She looks a little nervous but follows through. She remains
upright and skates backward.
“Awesome, Lacey. Look at you go.”
“I’m doing it! I’ve got this.” Her voice filled with pride
and smiles.
“Yes, you do. Keep going.” I encourage her and step to the
side, watching her skate away.
Catherine skates over. “You’re pretty amazing yourself. It’s
like you have this magical touch. I spent almost twenty minutes with Lacey and
got nowhere. You skate by and in less than a minute, she can skate backward on
her own.”
Before I can reply, I’m slammed from behind, cut off at the
knees. I fall forward into Catherine and we both go down. A little boy does a
victory circle around us before skating off. I hear my friends laughing, those
fuckers. I’ve got to be crushing her, so I move my weight to my arms and look
down. “Are you all right? Did you hit your head?” We aren’t wearing helmets. I
don’t want her to move if she’s hurt. It’s when I’m staring at her I realize
how incredible she feels beneath me, all soft and curvy. I need to banish those
thoughts before my cock gets ideas. There’s no way she wouldn’t notice in this
position.
“I think I’m good.”
“Okay, let’s take it slow.” I get to my feet and hold out a
hand, pulling her up. She’s standing close, so it’s easy to touch the back of
her head. “Any pain or tenderness?”
“N-no, I-I’m fine.”
I stare into her eyes. They’re an amazing combination of
brown and green. This woman. There’s so much more to her than anyone knows.
Screw it. I’m going for it.
“Catherine,” I whisper.
“Y-yes?”
I lean a little closer, our noses almost touching. “Have
dinner with me? Sunday.” This close, I can see her eyes dilate with my
question. She’s attracted to me. “Come on, say yes.”
“It’s a bad idea,” she whispers back.
“Probably, but let’s do it anyway,” I smirk because I can’t
help myself.
“Okay.
“Okay.” I smile and skate backward, away from her. This is
either the best decision ever or the worst mistake of my life.
Lincoln:
Hockey Romance
Forbidden Love
Dating the Boss's Daughter
Sneaking Around
Aging Goalie
Dating Her Secret Crush
He Rescues Her
Future Boss
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About the
Author
Alisa Jean is the
pseudonym for award-winning authors Marla A. White and C J Bahr. They first
teamed up over thirty years ago over a bottle of Zima (don’t ask) while
polishing their gear for a horse show. They’ve since moved on to better
beverages and writing novels. Separately, Marla prefers to murder characters in
the usual way, while C J uses paranormal means. The long-time best friends
joined together as a writing team through their mutual love of hockey. Wonder
twin powers activated! Their hockey romances examine flawed characters with
heart, humor, and sexy sizzle.
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Author
Links
Website: https://alisajean.com/
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Giveaway
$10 Amazon
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