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Prologue

Garrett

Thesleep I've had in a while I had set the alar tunes of White Zo that never fails to getto tear s that surround me

I dislodge the wo on one of my shoulders, and rather than hit "snooze" or turn off the music, I hit the volume button and turn it up evenbass vibrate withinon my chest with one arm wrapped around my waist, jerks in her sleep

"Turn that down," she mutters as she pushes up off my body and looks at me with bleary eyes Golden blond hair that comes down almost to her ass floats all around her body, and she is quite the vision I think her name is Donna

Shoulder-resting wo her equally golden blond hair from her face "What time is it?"

Bringing one hand to her hip, I stroke her skin and give her et on the road I have to be at the arena in a few hours"

She ser I think her name is Debbie, but I can't be sure Both women look eerily similar and could definitely pass as sisters, and hellmaybe they are, for all I know What I do know is that they brought ht after we all posed in a photo shoot for a azine It was a cheesy spread, in my opinion, where they hadunderwear as they undressedthings like "Oh, that is hot You are scorching my lens" and "More lustI must feel a littleca tomorrow

I was so ready to get back to playing hockey This su up the golf course with Alex,the beautiful beaches on the coast of North Carolina But that can sustain an athlete likeEspecially when I eat, breathe, and dream hockey

"How about we give you a nice send-off?" Donna says

Or is that Debbie?

No clue

She lays her hand on my chest and scrapes her nails down to my abdomen The other woman--shit if I knohich one is which--leans down to swirl her tongue around one of my nipples

And, daht interest I knohat both of these woht

But I work my way past the threat of a lust-induced haze and push myself up out of their ministrations to crawl off the bed

"Sorry, sweet girls," I tell therin as they both flop down to the bed in a huff "I have tooBest I've ever had"

That's true enough That was my first ti I'ain

"How about an encore perforht, then?" one of theer into her mouth and sucks on it

Yeahinterested in trying that again, just not with these two They were fucking fantastic last night, but I rarely do repeats because it smacks too much of commitment

"Can't tonight," I say as I lean down and pick through so on the floor I toss a couple pairs of panties at them and then reach forto look forany to start, I pull et them up around my waist, and quickly zip my fly "I have plans"

"Maybe soht?" the other one asks as she rolls off the bed and starts to get dressed

"Sure," I lie through my teeth as I pull ive you a call"

And then they are both forgotten I leave the little aparted to Debbie--or was it Donna?--then s I need to do today Eat, shower, and then head to the arena for the tea break over the su as much time with their faaone from home just as much as we are here

After the photos this ht we're having an end-of-summer team party at Coach Pretore's house, where Alex and I will probably tie a good one on in celebration

Alex Crossed a few o to one of the coolest chicks I know, is about the coolest dude I know We've becoht over the suave up his assholeish ways after finding true love with his fiancee, Sutton We work out together several ti out at their house a lot, and even pal around sometimes with Sutton's kid brother, Glenn

Yupsettling in to my life here with the Cold Fury teaeles Dragons, three years with the Chicago Vortex where on back-to-back Stanley Cups, one year on injured reserve with a concussion, and then a fewtraded here A

t age twenty-six, I was glad to finally be a part of a tealove, but haveI can live out the rest ofshot in this business--but a ht?

So, yeahteaets exciting Training caet back on the ice It's swa to etthem But they take a backseat to hockeymy one true love

Always have, alill

Chapter 1

Garrett

The tea by the time I arrive, which is always late, and Coach Pretore and his wife, Suzie, have gone all out I find them in the kitchen of their seven-thousand-square-foot hoe crystal bowl tee with peeled shrimp

Coach gives me a hearty handshake and a thump on the back "Good to see you, kid"

I give him a smile and then bend down to kiss Suzie on the cheek "Great to see you both You throw a mean party," I tell them as I snap two shrimp up

"Use a plate," Suzie chides me, and thrusts one into my hands "So how has your summer been, Garrett?"

"It's been great, but I'et back at it Can't wait for camp to start tomorrow"

"Enjoy yourself tonight," Coach Pretore says, "but not tooto work you hard tomorrow"

"Bring it on," I say with a grin as I pop the shri the eive h their house to the backyard, where I know

I'ive and receive high fives and back slaps, as well as one hard ser

Rubbing ive him a playful punch on his shoulder with the other

"What's up, dude?" he asks as he wraps his arirlfriend, Gina He pulls her into the side of his body, and I watch with interest as she wraps her arht They are about as close as two people can get They're not married and have no plans to be, as far as I know, but fuck, they are co on close to seven years now, and they have a little boy, Benja adorable

"Not et back on the ice," I tell him

"No shit," Zack agrees "It's been a great suet bored"

"So bored," Gina adds in with a laugh "He's drivingI'et back on the ice too"

Nodding, I ask, "Where's the rug rat?"

Zack jerks his head over his shoulder to the double doors that lead out onto the back deck "Outside, playing with Andre and Mely's kids We took hi about Mickey I think he has the other kids riled up now"

Laughing, I clap hi so to take their kids next summer"

"Exactly," Gina says impishly