School and Rock (Raptors Book 5)

by RJ Scott

  “Soon. She’ll start sleeping through the night soon.”

  That would be a true blessing. I nodded, enjoying the show overhead, my sagging spirit buoyed by the man I loved and my baby girl. A few moments ticked off as several more shooting stars raced past.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Joe asked a moment later.

  “Yeah, I’m good. It was the right call, for Maddie, and for us.” I pushed down the sigh that wanted to escape.

  “But you loved touring,” he said, his hand coming up to brush some wild hair from my face.

  I’d not gotten it cut even though training camp would open in a few weeks. I had no plans to lop it off. Joe loved it long, and the fans enjoyed my epic hair flips. The hockey fans, that was. My music fans were, sadly, never going to see me flipping hair on stage again. Or, not for at least eighteen years.

  The decision had been excruciatingly hard but hockey had won out for several reasons, but the two that cinched it for me was that it was more reliable and way more family-oriented. I loved the Furballs and the rock and roll lifestyle, but I’d moved past tour buses and different lovers every night. I had Joe and Maddie and I was content. I was the father, and hopefully someday the husband, that I’d always wanted Liberty to be. I had a family.

  “I love you and Maddie more. I’ll keep writing songs for the band. God knows those clowns couldn’t write a greeting card let alone a metal tune.”

  “They’re going to miss you.”

  “Nah, they’ll be fine. They already have Miles Crept lined up for vocals. He’s fucking awesome. Shit.” I hurried to cover Maddie’s little ears. “She’s going to have a mouth like a dockworker.”

  “Probably.” He sniggered a bit, his head tipped up, his fingers playing with a strand of hair by my temple. Another streak of light zipped by. Joe wiggled a bit, just enough to get his belly pressed tightly to my side. The chaise really wasn’t made for two dudes but we were making it work. Just like everything else in our lives. “I could tell you were upset about leaving the band when you asked to come out here.”

  “Mm, yeah, this place and my spirit are linked. I find peace here, and in your arms.” He kissed my chin. “You got all your classes lined up for the fall?”

  “Yes, mostly. I’ll have to probably change a few the first week but overall I’m happy with my schedule. Are you sure—?”

  “Yes, I am sure. I want you there in the house with me and Maddie. Natalie watching her during the day when you’re in classes will work out perfectly.”

  “You’re paying her twice as much as you paid me,” he pointed out with a touch of humor.

  “Well, she’s got a child to feed, and a Simon. Also, she has medical needs and she seriously pulled me out of a tight jam. If she hadn’t volunteered to sit Maddie I would have had to hire a new manny. And what if he was some sexy, science nerd space cadet who made eyes at me?”

  “I’d knock him into the boards,” Joe replied with a bit of snarl. Mm, I liked it when he got all possessive.

  “So see, she’s totally saving our relationship. Also, just so you know, there’s no space cadet nerd boy who could ever steal me away from you. I’m yours forever.”

  He slid his fingers into my hair then twisted my head so he could taste my mouth. Maddie farted. There went that romantic moment.

  “Way to kill the passion, Boo!” I chuckled as my gaze went back to the stars above.

  “I hope Nat knows what she’s doing. I mean, I like Simon, but moving into his house after just a month is just—”

  “You moved in with me after just a couple of months,” I gently reminded him.

  “Still…”

  “She’ll be fine. Simon adores her and Emma. They’ll be blissfully happy just like we are. We’ve all found our homes in someone’s loving hearts.”

  “Wow, that was… beautiful. You ever think of writing songs? Oh! Look at that!” He pointed upward. “That’s an earth-grazer! Oh holy cow, those are rare to see!” We lay there watching the slow-moving colorful meteor moving horizontally across the desert sky. “Wow, that was so incredible!”

  “Earth-grazer, huh? That would make an awesome name for a llama.”

  His head shot up from my shoulder. “A what, now?”

  “Nothing, nothing at all.” I couldn’t just give up all my rock star quirks, now could I?

  “Colorado what are you planning?”

  “Nothing. Just kiss me one more time then we’ll get lost in the stars again.”

  THE END

  Baby Makes Three

  Christmas will never be the same for Ten and Jared when baby makes three.

  There's not much that Tennant Rowe hasn't accomplished, and all before reaching thirty. Hoisting the Cup, marrying the man of his dreams, and becoming a spokesman for LGBTQ2+ athletes' rights have filled his world with great joy. While his successes on and off the ice have been beyond his wildest expectations, he's now wondering if it's time to add one more tiny addition to his already wonderful life.

  Being a dad to Ryker and marrying Ten are the two of the best things in Jared's life, only something is missing. He always wanted more children, but with Ten and the Railers riding a wave of success, how could he even broach the subject of adoption or surrogacy with the man he loves? Jared would give the moon and the stars to his husband, so when Ten reveals his desire to be a father, they start a journey that will fill their Christmas with a new and special kind of love.

  Coming 11 November

  Authors Note

  If you enjoyed this book…

  …we would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a review somewhere on a retailers site, or Goodreads, or on your personal social media platforms.

  Reviews are the reason someone else might pick up this book – or start at the beginning of the series.

  Thank you.

  Hugs and kisses,

  RJ & V.L. xx

  MM Hockey Romance

  For up to date news and information on the Railers series, the next Railers book, a new series based on the Arizona Raptors, free short reads from your favorite characters, and lots of other hockey stuff, go here:

  www.mmhockeyromance.com

  Hockey Romance from RJ & V.L.

  Harrisburg Railers (Hockey Romance)

  Changing Lines | First Season | Deep Edge | Poke Check | Last Defense | Goal Line | Neutral Zone | Hat Trick | Save The Date | Baby Makes Three (coming 11 Nov 2020)

  Railers Volume 1 | Railers Volume 2 | Railers Volume 3

  Owatonna U Hockey (Hockey Romance)

  Ryker | Scott | Benoit | Christmas Lights

  Arizona Raptors (Hockey Romance)

  Coast To Coast | Across the Pond | Shadow and Light | Sugar and Ice | School and Rock

  Also by V.L. Locey

  Lost In Indigo

  Mathieu Beresford was so close to seeing his dream come true.

  The thirty-eight-year-old captain of the Buffalo Surge had led his team to the final round of the playoffs with his aggressive defensive play and leadership. During the first game of the championship series, he was taken down, and his leg snapped upon impact with the boards. From his hospital bed, Mathieu watched his team go on to win it all.

  Adrift in anger, resentment, and the new direction of his life, he returns to his mansion along the St. Lawrence River. Alone and sulking, Mathieu is not prepared for Indigo Neu to enter his life. The genderflux twenty-year-old botany major signs on to play nursemaid, confidant, and groundskeeper over the summer and slowly leads Mathieu out of his confusion––one tender smile and touch at a time.

  The deeper Mathieu falls, the more he wonders if being lost might not be so bad after all.

  The Colors of Love Series

  The Point Shot series – MM Hockey Romance

  Now, you can have the books that introduced Victor Kalinski to the world in one reasonably priced boxed set! With over 350 Goodreads reviews and ratings combined, the romance of Vic Kalinski and Dan Arou is one that once read, will never be forgott
en. In this three-book set, you’ll get to experience all the passion, sarcasm, hockey action, and romance that reviewers have called “Beautifully Written”, “Surprisingly Heartfelt”, and “Hot! Hot! Hot!”

  “The writing in this is snappy and awesome, the story moves at a great pace and oh it’s HOT AS EVER-LOVING HELL. There’s romance that never veers into a too-sappy place, it’s FUNNY and full of great lines right and left, and so engaging that I couldn’t stop reading it. The ending is satisfying, with our characters not becoming perfect people but becoming better together than they are apart, and that’s just about as romantic as it gets.” Avon Gale – Author of the Scoring Chances series.

  The Point Shot Series

  Also by RJ Scott

  Montana (Cowboys, Ranchers, Mystery)

  Crooked Tree Ranch | The Rancher’s Son | A Cowboy’s Home | Snow In Montana | Second Chance Ranch | Montana Sky

  Single Dads

  Single | Today | Promise | Always | Listen | Pride

  Lancaster Falls (Romantic Suspense)

  What Lies Beneath | Without a Trace | All That Remains

  Texas (Cowboys, Ranchers, Family)

  The Heart of Texas | Texas Winter | Texas Heat | Texas Family | Texas Christmas | Texas Fall | Texas Wedding | Texas Gift | Home For Christmas

  And others

  Meet V.L. Locey

  V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee.

  (Not necessarily in that order.)

  She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and two Jersey steers.

  When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.

  vllocey.com

  feralfemale@frontiernet.net

  Meet RJ Scott

  RJ is the author of the over one hundred published novels and discovered romance in books at a very young age. She realized that if there wasn’t romance on the page, she could create it in her head, and is a lifelong writer.

  She lives and works out of her home in the beautiful English countryside, spends her spare time reading, watching films, and enjoying time with her family.

  The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn't like it one little bit and has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

  www.rjscott.co.uk | rj@rjscott.co.uk

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