Christopher?
What the hell was he doing here?
Isa unlocked the door. "What are you doing here?" she asked in a harsh whisper. "It's eight thirty in the morning! You're going to wake up my neighbors!"
Before Isa could even respond, Christopher brushed past her, holding something in his hand. Isa frowned and shut the door, hoping Dorothy hadn't called the cops. Christopher had been loud and insistent, but there was no need to involve law enforcement.
"What the hell, Isa?" Christopher whirled around and tossed a newspaper at her. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Isa frowned, kneeling down to pick up the paper. If she had been able to catch it, she might have been the athlete in the family, rather than Christopher.
"Judging by your outfit, I take it he's still here, hmm?"
Isa furrowed her brow and opened the paper. Her mouth opened, ready to tell Christopher to fuck off, when she saw it. There was a picture of Isa and Xander together on the front page of the sports section from last night. They were holding hands and Xander had his head towards her while she had lifted hers up, like she was telling him an intimate secret and he was listening intently. It was actually a nice picture.
"Xander!" Christopher shouted as he began to pace up and down her small living room like some sort of caged beast. "Oh, Xander! Why don't you come out and tell me to my face why you're fucking my sister."
Before Isa could stop herself, she went over and slapped Christopher across the face. "Don't be an ass, Christopher," she snapped. She had gone from dazed and tired to angry in less than a few seconds. "My romantic life isn't any of your business."
"Of course it's my business," Christopher said. "I'm your big brother, and I care about you. Xander Vane slept with Katella Hanson before she got with Negan. He has had multiple partners, sometimes at one time. He doesn't care about any of them, Isa, and I refuse to let you become another casualty."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Isa demanded to know. "I know all about Xander's romantic history because he told me. We're friends, Christopher. We were friends before we ever got together. He treats me like I'm a goddamn princess. You should be happy for me."
"Xander has a reputation—"
"So do you," Isa shot back. "You mess around with different girls at different times. You don't commit to any of them. You string them along. You make them fall at your feet. You know, one of these days, you're going to meet someone who's different, Christopher, and I hope I'm there to watch it all unfold. Because I want to be right there when you meet her so I can go to you and tell you I fucking told you so."
"What's going on here?"
Isa closed her eyes. This wasn't the best moment for Xander to make his appearance, but she couldn't exactly warn him about Christopher. However, the fact that he came out into the living room in nothing but his slacks from yesterday and a muscle shirt he’d worn under his tuxedo, with thick, messy hair, wasn't exactly the best impression to give Christopher, who was already angry over some picture.
"Christopher," Xander said, stepping out of the room and padding with bare feet across the floor until he reached Isa. At least he had the good sense not to touch her. "What are you doing here? Why are you screaming at your sister?"
"Why are you fucking my sister?" Christopher demanded.
"I'm not," Xander said before pressing his lips together, as though he realized that maybe he needed to rephrase because lying certainly wasn't going to help the situation. "I care about her."
"Xander, you don't have to explain anything to him," Isa murmured.
"I know, but he is your brother, and judging by the way he found out about us, we do owe him an explanation," Xander said, his voice nothing more than a low murmur. He picked his eyes up and looked at Christopher. "I'm in love with your sister."
Before Isa could even process what Xander had told Christopher, Christopher lunged for Xander and punched him in the face.
"Hey!" Isa managed to get between the two just before Xander got his bearings. Judging from the flared nostrils and the snarling, Xander probably would not have continued to be so respectful. "You guys will not fight in my apartment complex. I have a coffee table, for crying out loud."
"He can't talk to you that way," Xander said.
"And he can't touch you or do things with you, to you, whatever," Christopher said, waving out his hand.
"Actually, you guys don't get to make decisions for me at all," Isa said, raising her voice and looking between both men. "I'm with Xander because I want to be with Xander. Because I love him."
"Isa—"
"Don't Isa me," Isa snapped. She started wagging her finger at him the same way their mother used to back in the day. "You also don't get to tell me how to feel."
"I'm not—I'm trying to protect you."
"You trust Xander to protect you on the ice," Isa said. "And I bet you trust him to protect you off the ice as well, right?"
"It's not the same," Christopher insisted.
"Just answer my question."
Christopher rolled his eyes and cocked his head to the side. "Of course that is what I think," he said. "I know Xander will be there, no question. I would do the same for him."
Xander nodded his thanks and Isa had to hold back a scream. She did not understand men.
"And you trust me, don't you?" Isa continued.
"Of course I trust you."
"So why can't you just trust us being together?" Isa asked. "This has nothing to do with you, to be honest. Our relationship doesn't concern you. It's going to happen, whether you support us or not. I would hope that you do support us, but if you don't, that's your choice. I can't force you to feel something, just like you can't force me."
Christopher opened his mouth and Isa readied herself for another one of his outbursts. That, or he was going to tell her, again, that they couldn't be together for whatever reason. He surprised her when he stopped himself from saying anything, and, instead, shut his mouth altogether. He resumed pacing, but it wasn't as aggressive as before. His gaze was on the floor and each time he took a step, he would shake his head to himself and then mutter under his breath.
Isa glanced over at Xander and he shrugged, as though he didn't know what was going on, either.
After another moment, Christopher stopped pacing and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Okay," he finally said. "You're right. I can't make you feel one way or another, and I definitely can't stop you from being with Xander if that's what you want. I don't have to like it—and I don't, I don't, Isa, I don't—but I can try to be happy for you. I can try to stay out of your business and trust you to make your own decisions. I can do that. I can try, at least."
"I appreciate it," Isa said, before throwing her arms around her brother and pulling him into a tight hug.
Christopher awkwardly patted her back before stepping back and running his fingers through his hair. He turned to Xander.
"You break her heart—"
"I know, I know," Xander said. "You'll kick my ass."
"No." Christopher shook his head. "She'll kick your ass. I'll just be there watching with popcorn." He stuck out his hand. "I'm not sorry for punching you, though."
"I wouldn't expect you to be," Xander said with a grin.
After Christopher left, Isa ran for Xander and jumped into his arms. She didn't know why, but having Christopher finally know about them being together made her feel free. It made her feel like this was real.
"You know," Xander said as he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her in place. "You still haven't said it."
"Said what?" Isa asked, locking her wrists around his neck.
"You know." He shrugged once. "That you love me. I mean, you told your brother you did, but you didn't tell me yet."
"Maybe you should take the hint—"
Before Isa could even finish her sentence, Xander placed her on the couch beside them and started tickling her. She squealed and started kicking out, hoping to catch h
is chest or his gut.
"The hint?" he asked. "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Okay, okay, okay." It was hard for her to breathe. "Please. Stop. Stop."
Xander finally relented. "What was that?" he asked. "I think you wanted to tell me something."
Isa took a moment to catch her breath and Xander pulled her back on his lap.
"You're right," she said. "I really, really love...your cock."
Xander jumped, ready to tickle her again.
"You, I really love you," Isa squealed. "There. Are you happy?"
"More than you'll ever know," he said, pulling her in for a heavy kiss. "Now that you've told me about your love for me, let's go back to your point about my cock."
About the Author
Full disclosure: I am an acquired taste. I'm a typical blonde Orange County suburbanite who says 'like' more than necessary, laughs loud and probably obnoxiously, and loves to dance in the rain. I'm a 28 year old college graduate with more than a few tricks up my sleeve, and I also happen to be a pretty big Ducks fan. Oh, and I'm a writer. Like, for real.
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I don't speak in third person (normally) nor do I wear glasses (except when I'm feeling particularly mischievous). I'm lucky to have found my soul mate at the ripe old age of 22. We live near Disneyland and have two beautiful girls. He has two amazing boys, and has gotten me hooked on Smallville, watching soccer (okay, okay FOOTBALL - FC Barcelona, baby!), and Cancun Juice.
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Acknowledgments
My family
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My friends
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Suzannah Lynn - for the amazing cover
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Theresa Schultz for your amazing edits!
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And last but not least, my readers
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The Slapshot Series: A Sports Romance
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Blood on the Rocks, Snapshot Prequel, Book 1 Her grandfather’s murdered and she’s suddenly thrust with the responsibility of owning and managing a national hockey team. That, and she decides to solve the murder herself.
Grace on the Rocks, Slapshot Prequel, Book 2 A chance encounter at the beach causes sparks to fly...
Charm on the Rocks, Slapshot Prequel Book 3 When you know it's wrong but it feels so right
The Slapshot Prequel Box Set
Exes & Goals, Book 1 of the Slapshot Series Most people have no regrets. She has one.
Black Eyes & Blue Lines, Book 2 of the Slapshot Series He drives her crazy - and not in a good way. But she can't get him out of her head.
Lip Locks & Blocked Shots, Book 3 of the Slapshot Series He's the last person she should fall in love with and the only one that ever stood a chance.
Positives & Penalties, Book 4 of The Slapshot Series One gorgeous hockey player plus one night of passion equals two pink lines...
Rumors & Roughing, Book 5 of The Slapshot Series Rumor has it NHL bad boy Alec Schumacher is a criminal...
Trainwrecks & Backchecks, Book 6 of The Slapshot Series It's not pretend when feelings get involved...
Brutal Love & Stanley Cups, Book 7 of The Slapshot Series Passion, regret, and destroying sofas all in the name of love.
Wedding Rings & Champions, Book 8 of The Slapshot Series One night. That's all it takes and Natalie Bowman finds herself married to a professional hockey player.
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The Darling She's everything he wants. The only problem is she's his stepsister.
The Captain He has a thing about possessions.
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Modern Jane Austen Retellings
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Four Sides of a Triangle Matchmaking is supposed to be easy. But Madeline is going to learn that love can't be planned when she starts to fall for the last person she ever thought she would, who also happens to be the man her best friend claims to love as well.
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Four Sides of an Attitude When fire meets ice, steam is supposed to form. Instead, Ronnie and Aiden produce puddles.
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New Adult Contemporary Romance
Save the Date As daughter of a man in charge of the CIA, Gemma knew her father was overprotective. She just never thought he would assign a man she couldn't stand to be her bodyguard under the rouse of a fake marriage.
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On Tour with the Rockstar Holly Dunn didn’t know that when she began studying at a rock concert, the lead singer would call her out on it. Tommy Stark didn’t know he’d be intrigued by her odd sort of ways, which was why hew invited her to go on tour with him.
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Foolish Games She was everything he didn't want in a woman and everything he couldn't resist. She thought he was arrogant on top of other things.
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Falling Over You She wasn't supposed to see him, hear him, or feel him because he was dead - a ghost. She wasn't supposed to fall in love with him because she was engaged.
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Hollywood Snowfall It's getting cold in Hollywood, so cold, there's a good chance the City of Angels will finally get snow.
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Dark Romance
A Beauty Dark & Deadly He’s the most beautiful monster she’s even seen
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A Reputation Dark & Deadly Logan Jeffrey has a reputation
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A Corruption Dark & Deadly Jericho is the nicest criminal Annie Brennan has ever met.
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A Diagnosis Dark & Deadly Olivia Goodson breaks up with her abusive boyfriend and hooks up with her boss the same night.
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Young Adult Novels
Trainwreck Detention is not the place where you're supposed to meet your next boyfriend, especially when he's Asher Boyd, known pothead and occasional criminal. But he makes good girl Sadie Brown feel something she hasn't really felt before - extraordinary.
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Science Fiction/Fantasy
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Battlefield Just because they were, quite literally, made for each other didn't mean they had to actually get along.
Enticing Enforcers: A Slapshot Novella Page 9