by L. P. Dover
“You were married once and share a son. There’s always going to be a connection.”
She nodded. “I didn’t think I’d still feel anything after all these years. It was one of the worst mistakes I’d ever made in my life. Well, besides marrying Mitchell.”
“You got that right.” I pointed to the box. “What’s in there?”
She handed it to me. “It’s our project. I thought I’d let you give it to Kellan. That way he’ll know how important it is.”
“I’ll be happy to. I can’t wait to tell him. He’s been getting suspicious about all of our phone calls.”
She laughed. “I bet. Well, now he doesn’t have to worry anymore.” Her eyes went wide when she glanced down at her phone. “Shit, it’s time to go. I need to get to my seat.” She kissed my cheek and then sighed. “Which is probably right next to Graham and his girlfriend. That’ll be a little awkward.”
“You’ll be fine, I promise.” She hurried out of the room and I walked over to the window. The harpist played her magical tunes and for a moment I got lost in the music until I noticed the looks on everyone’s faces; they were panicked. “What the hell?” I looked farther down to see Dallas and Braeden standing on the stairs alone with the preacher. Where was Kellan? I kept waiting by the window for him to show up, but he never did.
A set of arms wrapped around my waist and I gasped. Kellan chuckled in my ear and bit my lobe. “Did I scare you?”
I jerked around and smacked his arm. “What the hell are you doing? They’re looking for you down there.”
“I know, but I wanted to see you. I’m sure they’ll come up here looking for me.”
His smile made me melt. Not to mention he looked sexy as hell in his tux with his hair gelled in messy spikes. It was hard to stay mad at him when he looked at me with such raw heat.
“You’re not having second thoughts are you?”
He held me closer. “Never. I just wanted to kiss my bride. Plus, it’s kind of funny seeing everyone’s expressions down there. They’re probably trying to figure out who’s going to be the one to tell you I ran away.”
“You’re so evil. But I guess since you’re up here, I can give you your present.” The silver box was by the window, so I reached for it and handed it to him. Heart racing, I couldn’t wait to see what was inside. I had no clue what the secret project was going to look like.
Kellan opened the box and pulled out its contents. “Oh wow,” I breathed.
Brows furrowed, he glanced first at me and then at the scale model of our new ice rink. There were even drawings of the design for the inside. “What’s this?”
“It’s our wedding present. I’ve been helping put it together for months now.”
“With my mother?” he asked.
I nodded. “It was her idea. This is her way of getting back into your life. She knows how much you love teaching kids hockey and how much I love to skate. Now we can have our own place to make dreams come true. Being on the ice is like breathing; we can’t live without it.”
He stared at me, his expression unreadable, but then a slow smile spread across his face. “My mother got you to talk to me because she knew that if she did, I’d turn her down.”
I chuckled lightly. “Correct.”
“What makes her think I won’t still turn it down?”
“Because it’s something I want for you, too. I wouldn’t have agreed to help her if I knew this wasn’t a good thing.”
Tilting my chin up with his hand, he kissed me softly. “How can I say no to that?”
I winked. “You can’t.”
I was about to kiss him again when a hard knock vibrated the door. “Kristen, you in there?” It was Graham and he sounded desperate. Kellan held back his chuckle, knowing his father was coming to tell me they couldn’t find him.
“I’m here,” I called out.
“Um…can we talk?”
Kellan strolled to the door and opened it, chuckling at Graham’s shocked expression. “Looking for me?” Kellan asked.
Graham glared at him. “Dammit, son, what were you thinking? Everyone believes you bailed on your wedding. Now get your ass down there.”
Kellan patted him on the shoulder. “Give me one more second and I’ll be right there.” He shut the door and closed the distance between us. Taking my hands, he brought them to his lips and kissed each one. “I love you, Kristen Robinson. In just a few minutes, you’ll be my wife.”
“I won’t be if you don’t ever get downstairs.” I laughed.
He leaned down and kissed me, placing his forehead next to mine. “How long do you think you’ll love me?”
Tears fell down my cheeks as I looked into his soft, gray gaze. “I will love you for the rest of my life and then far beyond that. Always and forever.”
This book is dedicated to all of the readers out there who love sexy men and hard sticks
Acknowledgments
To my amazing husband, Matt—thank you for your undying love and support. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to follow my dreams.
To Kim Walker (the most amazing assistant in the world and best friend)—I honestly don’t think I can live without you. You have no idea how much I appreciate everything you do for me.
To Heidi McLaughlin (best friend and co-writer)—we have lots of adventures in store for us. You’ve been one of my biggest supporters and I’m so grateful to have someone like you in my life.
To my readers—thank you so much for everything you do. Your encouraging words are what inspires me to write. Your support is everything!
BY L. P. DOVER
Second Chances
Love’s Second Chance
Trusting You
Meant for Me
Fighting for Love
Intercepting Love
Last Chance
Catching Summer
Defending Hayden
Intended for Bristol
Breakaway Novels
Hard Stick
Armed & Dangerous
No Limit
Roped In
High-Sided
Gloves Off
A Fighter’s Desire: Part One
A Fighter’s Desire: Part Two
Tyler’s Undoing
Ryley’s Revenge
Paxton’s Promise
Camden’s Redemption
Kyle’s Return
Society X
Dark Room
Viewing Room
Play Room
Forever Fae
Forever Fae
Betrayals of Spring
Summer of Frost
Reign of Ice
Royal Shifters
Turn of the Moon
Resisting the Moon
PHOTO: REGINA WAMBA
L. P. DOVER is the New York Times bestselling author of the Second Chances series, the Forever Fae series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed and Dangerous series, the Society X series, the Royal Shifters series, and a standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. She loves to not only write but play tennis, hike in the mountains, go white-water rafting, and sing. A southern belle with a former life in periodontics, L. P. Dover lives in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls.
lpdover.com
Facebook.com/lpdover
Twitter: @LPDover
Read on for an excerpt from
Intended for Bristol
Second Chances
by L. P. Dover
Available from Loveswept
Chapter 1
Jaxon
“This is fucked up,” Derek grumbled, his tone just as discouraged as we all felt.
“No shit,” I replied, adding my two cents.
We’d just gotten the news that our star quarterback, Cooper Davis, wasn’t going to be returning. During our game a couple of weeks ago, he was sacked by a Denver cocksucker who felt the need to go at him full force, resulting in a broken tibia when he rammed into Cooper’s legs. A fight ensued on the field and it turned into a huge clus
terfuck. If I had been out on the field, I would have beaten the shit out of that bastard.
Unfortunately, no amount of fighting was going to help Cooper. After he fell to the ground, we all knew it was over for him. A hushed silence fell over the crowd, because not only did we lose one of our most valuable players, we knew our chance of getting to the Super Bowl again in a few months was now out of reach. Our season of undefeated wins had come to a close. Samson Allen, our backup quarterback, just wasn’t going to be good enough to get us there. It fucking sucked. I wished I could take on the task myself, but I wasn’t a quarterback…I was a kicker. The best goddamn one in the league.
Joel Harris, our coach and Cooper’s uncle, stood by the locker room door, his expression glum. He was a middle-aged man with more gray in his dark hair than ever before. I guess that was what dealing with us football players did to him. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed heavily before lifting his gaze to ours. We all knew what he was about to say—especially after we’d just had our asses handed to us by New Orleans, a team we should have been able to beat with our eyes closed.
“Boys, I’m sure it comes as no shock to you, but Cooper won’t be returning…ever.”
All heads lifted and the room fell into complete silence. I’d had a feeling he wasn’t coming back for the rest of the season, but I had no clue it was going to be indefinitely. Everyone stared at Joel as if he’d just spoken in a foreign language. No one wanted to believe this was it.
“So that’s it?” Blaine McCarthy hissed. He turned his platinum-blond head toward Samson and jabbed a finger in his direction. “We’re stuck with this fucktard who can’t even throw a ball straight.” All I could see was red.
“Why don’t you shut the hell up, McCarthy,” I spat. His fiery blue gaze turned to me, but Coach Joel stepped in his way, blocking him from view. I hated McCarthy. I used to be the most hated player on the team until that bastard joined us. Samson’s jaw clenched and he averted his gaze, clearly not wanting the fight. That was why he wasn’t going to get us the wins; he wasn’t a fighter.
Joel glared back and forth at me and McCarthy. “Enough of this bullshit. We don’t have time for that. I wanted to give you an update on the changes about to occur.”
Derek slid closer to me. “And we all know what that means,” he whispered low. I didn’t even want to listen to what Joel had to say. The thought of not having Cooper put a sour taste in my mouth. I didn’t want to be remembered as being on a losing team, and that was exactly what was going to happen if a new quarterback was brought in.
“I can’t believe this shit. I don’t want to imagine who they’re going to bring in as a replacement,” I replied.
Derek shrugged a shoulder and slid his worn-out Tennessee hat over his auburn hair. “Don’t know, but I hope it’s someone good.” His focus landed on Blaine and he snarled his lip. I wasn’t the only one who hated him. “Just do me a favor and stay the fuck away from McCarthy. The last thing you need is to be on everyone’s bad side again. I’ve worked my ass off trying to get you back in the team’s good graces.”
I slid a T-shirt over my head and huffed. “I know, but that guy just pisses me the fuck off.”
“Same here,” he agreed.
Derek McLaughlin was our star outside linebacker and one of the best in the league. He was the only one on the team who actually didn’t loathe me after everything I’d done to his best friend, Evan Townsend, our best wide receiver. I hated Evan for being so damn good, and I admit I was a douche and tried to steal his girl by putting together a whole scheme. I had one of our cheerleaders, Lindsey Rink, try to slip in bed with Evan so Summer could catch them together. It was a dick move, and of course, it didn’t work. I went about it all the wrong way and landed myself in a shit ton of trouble. My dislike for the golden boy didn’t go unnoticed and I was questioned by the police when someone ran Evan and Derek off the road, killing Derek’s girlfriend, Brianna, in the process. No matter what I did, no one believed my innocence and I was shunned by the team, suspended until the investigation came to a close. Once I was cleared, the damage had been done; everyone hated me when I returned to the team. Over time, I’d been welcomed back…but not by Evan. He still hated me for trying to take Summer away. Now they were married with a family of their own. Before, I never cared much about the consequences of my actions, but I truly felt bad for hurting Summer. She was a good girl and didn’t deserve the shit I had put her through. Now Evan, on the other hand, was a different story. We had some bad blood before everything with Summer went down, but I was hoping to change all of that. Karma was certainly a bitch and it had bit me in the ass.
Everyone dispersed, and I’d just realized I hadn’t heard who Coach Joel said would be joining our team. Derek slapped me on the shoulder and squeezed. “Want to go to the tavern tonight? Townsend owes me dinner.”
I glanced over at Evan and his jaw tensed; he didn’t want me there. Summer owned the Carolina Tavern, and sometimes at night he had to help out while she stayed home with their baby girl. Shaking my head, I slung my bag over my shoulder.
“Maybe some other time, D.”
Evan blew out a frustrated sigh and jammed his clothes into his bag before facing me. His dark, gray gaze stared at me with such contempt. The guy fucking hated me. I had yet to apologize to him for what I’d done, but it wasn’t like it was going to help anyway. Evan had his mind set and there was nothing I could do to change that.
“You can come, Reed. As long as you don’t cause problems, I don’t mind you hanging around the restaurant. Just stay out of my way.”
I held up my hands. “Got it. No problems.”
He scoffed. “That’ll be a first.” Then he turned to Derek. “See ya later, D.” Without another glance my way, he took off out of the locker room.
Derek bumped me in the shoulder. “Give him some time. Maybe if you apologized to him he’d forgive you.”
I shook my head. “It’s too late for that.”
A small smile spread across his face. “You never know until you try. Now come on, we’ll have fun.”
“Where’s Hayden?” I asked, following him to the door. Hayden Hunter was his wife and a good friend of mine, the only female in the world I could actually say that about. She was a veterinarian and had been trying to get me to adopt a dog for months now. That girl was more stubborn than any woman I’d ever known.
“She’s working late at the clinic and told me to fend for myself tonight.”
“Nice. Well, then I guess I’ll join you. Hopefully Evan won’t poison my food,” I joked.
Derek rolled his eyes. “I’ll meet you at the restaurant in about forty-five minutes. I have to go home to let Bear out first.”
“And that’s why I don’t want any fucking animals. Your girl’s about to drive me insane with adopting one.”
He burst out laughing. “That’s my Hayden for you. She got me suckered into taking one of her animals and look at me now. It’s hard to tell that woman no.”
“I can see that,” I laughed. He and Hayden had the perfect relationship, something I’d never have. I didn’t do relationships; I fucked and I loved it. I was twenty-eight years old and nowhere near ready to settle down. There were too many women out there to choose just one.
Derek said his goodbyes to the team and I rushed over to catch Joel before he could leave. “Coach, hold up,” I called out. He turned around and lifted his brows, waiting on me to continue. “I’m sorry about Davis. I know he was a true asset to our team.”
He nodded sadly. “Yes, he was.”
“And forgive me, Coach, but I didn’t catch who you said was taking his place.”
There were so many great quarterbacks out there looking for a team and I could name a few off the top of my head. However, the second I heard a name escape his lips, I thought I’d stepped into a fucking nightmare.
“Excuse me, who did you say again?”
Joel stared at me with narrowed eyes. “Ryan Delaney. He’ll be here tomo
rrow.”
Holy fuck. Ryan Delaney was a couple of years younger than me and a complete wild card. He was good at throwing the ball, but very unpredictable. Not to mention, he was a fighter, a hothead on the field with a mouth the size of Texas. I knew without a doubt that he and I wouldn’t get along at all.
“Ryan Delaney’s an arrogant prick,” I stated bluntly.
Joel huffed and rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t matter what he is as long as he gets us the wins. The decision wasn’t only up to me, so we have to deal with it.”
I turned my head. “This fucking blows.”
“You listen to me, Reed,” he warned low. I faced him, his expression serious. “The only reason you didn’t get traded is because I know what a great kicker you are. Please don’t make me regret my decision to keep you here. Stay out of Delaney’s way.” When I didn’t answer, he snapped a finger in front of my face. “You hear me?”
“Yeah,” I grumbled. “I got it.”
Once he left, I sat down on the bench and watched everyone leave. Ryan fucking Delaney was joining our team. He was going to try and take over as if it were his own. Little did he know it was mine and I wasn’t giving it up.
—
After practice, I followed Derek to Cooper’s house. Cooper and I were never friends, but we had a respectful understanding. He was one hell of a quarterback and I supported him. I would have given anything to be on that field to protect him, but that wasn’t my job on the team. The way he fell back after being tackled would always stay ingrained in my mind. His leg had twisted underneath him, and even though the noise of the crowd was deafening, it was like I could hear the sound of his bones snapping in half. It was one of every football player’s nightmares.