by Toni Aleo
“Can’t wait,” she said, gasping when he stood with her in his arms. She slid down his body, and he held her steady as she found her balance.
“Last chance,” he teased, brushing a quick kiss across her lips.
She tugged him to the front door.
“Don’t worry, if we can’t find any mistletoe, I have a sprig in my purse. Can you zip me?” she asked, turning her back to him.
“I’d rather not,” he grumbled as he slowly fixed her dress, pressing kisses along her back. Then he spun her, his arms tight around her waist. “I love you, Maggie. You walking back into my life is the best present ever.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down so their lips were inches apart. “Definitely the best present ever. I love you, Alex. And maybe tomorrow we could visit one of the ornament kiosks at the mall.”
“Yes. We have years to make up for.”
And then she closed the distance, her lips meeting his.
They were going to be extra late to the holiday party.
~ THE END ~
Books by Stephanie Kay
Love by the Bay
Unmatched
Last Call
San Francisco Strikers
Breakout
Skating the Line
Delay of Game
Faceoff
About Stephanie Kay
Stephanie Kay has always loved a good romance, and she got hooked on the dirty ones at the tender age of 14, when she told her mother that if the cover wasn’t a bodice ripper, then there was no sex in the book. As an avid mystery reader, her mother never checked to see if Stephanie was lying. Twenty plus years later, Stephanie’s most prized possession is her Kindle, and she may have a Hallmark movie obsession.
Sports were never her thing, but after beta reading for another hockey author and buying NHL Game Center within one month of watching her first hockey game a few years ago, she dove into learning everything she could about the sport and the hot men that play it. Now she spends her spare time visiting hockey arenas in the name of research and loving every second of it.
Email | Website
Jennifer Lazaris - Lucky Holiday
A Las Vegas Kingsnakes holiday novella
Tyler Quinn made the biggest mistake of his life when he broke Ella’s heart, and he’ll need more than an ace up his sleeve to win her back in time for Christmas.
Chapter One
“I'm getting married! A Christmas engagement!”
Ella's co-worker, Chloe, held out her left hand—now adorned with a sparkling diamond ring.
The break room of the Brynnley L. Morrow Foundation exploded in congratulatory shrieks. Ella forced a smile, swallowing down her own painful emotions.
Would hearing news like this ever get easier? She glanced down at her bare left hand—her own beautiful engagement ring now buried away in a drawer.
It had been two years since Ty had broken their engagement—two years since she'd heard from him—and it still hurt just as much now as it did then.
He'd given no warning. Just a ragged, “I can't do this anymore, Ella.”
Three whole years of love, laughter, and promises erased with six words.
Ella waded through the group to congratulate Chloe, then escaped back to her cubicle, staring at the little fiber optic Christmas tree in the corner of her desk.
She'd tried everything to get over Tyler Quinn—moving from their shared apartment in Winnipeg back home to Ontario, throwing herself into her work for the past two years, and even online dating—but nothing had worked.
When the Brynnley L. Morrow Foundation offered her a position at their corporate headquarters in Las Vegas two months ago, she'd leaped at the chance. Still, she couldn't outrun her broken heart.
Though her personal life might be in tatters, things were looking up professionally. Getting this job was a dream come true, and she’d already been given a few important projects, despite being the newest member of the staff. Her boss was trusting her with more tasks, and she already felt at home here. She was excited and looking forward to her new career.
Lina, her boss, paused outside her cubicle. “Ella, I need you to do a coffee run. One of the Las Vegas Kingsnakes hockey players is visiting this morning. He's bringing an autographed jersey from the entire team for a future raffle, and he'll be signing photos for us to give out to the local Foundation kids.”
Lina handed Ella a press release. “The Kingsnakes are partnering with the children's hospital for their annual Holiday Charity Carnival, and kids from the Foundation are participating. You’ll be our social media point person for this. I’d like you to take the reins when it comes to gathering content, talking to those involved, and so on. Ideally, I’d like to move you from my administrative staff to our art and media division full-time if you’re successful with this project. That was always my plan, but I wanted to make sure you got a feel for how things work here first. You’ve blown me away with how well you’ve adapted, and you’ve done a great job with the projects I’ve given to you. But your talents will be better utilized as part of that team.”
Ella's mouth went dry. She was beyond thrilled that Lina was moving her up. It was a major accomplishment, and she welcomed the chance to work on such an important project for the media department.
But why—why—did it have to involve hockey?
Ty played center on the third line for Winnipeg, and after the breakup, she'd severed all ties with professional hockey—freezing out hockey news and losing touch with the other girlfriends and wives. That life was firmly behind her.
But this was business, and her past charity experience had helped her land this job. Lina probably thought it was a great fit. And it was… at least professionally.
“That’s amazing, Lina. Thank you so much for the opportunity.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll introduce you to the player, then you and I can meet later this afternoon and go over a few things. For now, coffee. I texted you the order.”
“Got it.” Ella grabbed her jacket and headed to the elevator.
Escaping hockey might not be possible, but the Brynnley L. Morrow Foundation was where she wanted to be. The charity had been there for her family when her little sister, Jessie, was diagnosed with a heart defect at birth. For ten years, through the ups and downs of Jessie's illness, until she'd passed away, they'd helped. Now, she wanted to give back.
Ella placed the coffee order via her phone, and the drinks were waiting when she arrived. Grabbing the tray, she headed back out into the Vegas sunshine, toward headquarters. Late December in the high fifties was a significant change from snowy Ontario winters. She was going to miss all of that snow on Christmas morning. Not that it mattered much this year, because she’d be spending Christmas alone. She was staying with her cousin, Wendy, until she found an apartment, but Wendy was away on vacation with her boyfriend for the holidays.
Ella struggled with the building's front door while balancing the tray, then hurried toward the elevator. “Hold the door, please!”
A tanned arm grabbed the door in the nick of time as she dashed into the waiting car.
“Thanks,” she said, righting one of the teetering coffees.
“Ella?”
Her entire world stopped as the elevator rocketed skyward. She'd know that soft, raspy voice anywhere.
Tyler Quinn.
Ella turned and glanced up into his dark, serious eyes. Surprise flared in their brown depths as they locked gazes.
Just then, the elevator jerked to a stop, going dark as she pitched forward and crashed into him. Emergency lights flickered on as his right arm snaked around her waist, steadying her. He grabbed the drink tray with his free hand as it trembled in her grasp.
His light, familiar cologne invaded her senses, and the gentle touch of his hand, which glided up and down her back in a gesture of comfort, pulled her back to another time.
Back to when he was hers.
No.
Ella jerked out
of his embrace and stumbled backward against the wall.
Ty frowned as he placed the tray on the floor along with a hockey jersey, then stepped toward her. “Ella—”
“Don't,” she whispered, thrusting her hand out in front of her. “Please.”
The gravity of the situation quickly set in, and panic overtook her. She was stuck in an elevator—one of her biggest fears.
Stuck with Tyler Quinn.
He studied her for a moment before backing away and pressing the call button. A woman's voice came over the intercom. “Need assistance?”
“Yeah. We're stuck.” He gave her the address.
“I'll look into it, sir.” The operator disconnected the call, and they were alone again.
Ella squeezed her eyes shut and took a gulp of air. God, she felt as if she were suffocating.
“El? Look at me.”
She unclenched her fists and slowly opened her eyes, but nothing had changed. He was still so handsome it made her heart ache. His dark, wavy hair was longer now, and he looked gorgeous in crisp dress pants and a white button-down shirt.
“That's better.” His soft voice washed over her as she wrapped her arms around her middle, hugging herself.
“Is it?”
“El—”
“No. You don't get to stand there and act concerned about me. You don't.”
Ty swallowed. “Okay.”
Ella sank down to the floor and took a seat before drawing a deep breath. Her gaze landed on the hockey jersey, and suddenly, it all made sense. She'd been so shocked over seeing him that she hadn't put two and two together.
He was the Kingsnakes player that was here for the meeting. She'd run all the way from Canada to escape him and landed right in the heart of Tyler Quinn central.
Could fate really be this cruel?
“You play for the Kingsnakes now, I guess,” she muttered. “You're here to autograph photos?”
Ty raised his eyebrows. “Yeah. But why are you here?”
“I work here.”
“What?” He stared at her, stunned. “You're living in Vegas?”
“Yes.”
“You had no idea I was here?”
“No. I froze out everyone and everything to do with hockey since… that night.”
“But—”
They were interrupted by the intercom. “Sir? It shouldn't be more than an hour.”
“Thanks,” Ty replied. He took a seat on the floor and leaned back against the adjacent wall. “Guess we'll be here a while.”
Hot tears stung the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them back. All of her hurt and anger was seconds away from surfacing.
“Why did the Kingsnakes send you here?”
“They didn't. I volunteered to come in and sign some photos.”
“But why?”
“Because I know what the Brynnley L. Morrow Foundation means to you, El. Also, the team, the children's hospital, and the Foundation are all working together to put on the Kingsnakes Holiday Charity Carnival.” He paused. “I know how much the Foundation helps sick kids and their families. How much they helped your family, and Jessie.”
Ella froze. Why would he care what was important to her anymore?
“It's been two years since you ended things,” she said. “Why does that matter to you?”
He studied her intently, with an expression of which she was well familiar. He was choosing his words carefully. Weighing his responses.
And when he spoke, he broke her heart all over again.
“Because I still care about you, Ella. I've never stopped.”
Chapter Two
The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Not because they weren't the truth, but because of her reaction. Ella shrank away, an expression of stunned wariness on her pretty face, before a single tear spilled down her cheek.
Fuck.
He hated himself more now than he did the night he'd ended things between them. The first time, he'd been prepared for her pain and anger.
But he wasn't prepared for this. This? It destroyed him.
“Bug, please,” he whispered. “Don't cry.”
“No.” The anguish in her voice was unmistakable. “You don't get to call me that anymore.”
Old habits died hard, and the need to comfort her hadn't faded. It never would.
Despite her tears, she was more beautiful than ever. Her blonde hair was still long and wavy, but she'd added soft pink highlights. A few extra pounds made her gentle curves even more lush.
And those eyes… Her eyes were the first thing he'd noticed about her—they were the color of the sea after a raging storm.
Other women faded into the background for him immediately the second they'd met. He'd never believed in auras and all that shit, but Ella stood out in a rainbow of blazing colors—brilliant and vibrant.
Nothing had changed in that regard. She still stole his goddamned breath with her loveliness. But the pain he saw in those beautiful eyes… it was too much.
“I caused that,” he said gruffly.
“What?”
“All that hurt.” He blew out a breath. “El, I want…”
“What?” she whispered. “What do you want, Quinn?”
Hearing her call him by his last name made him cringe. He'd been Quinn his entire life to everyone—except her. To her, he'd always been Ty.
She'd come into his life when all his crazy shit was in the rear-view mirror. He'd never wanted her to find out about that side of him. His struggle with drugs had been firmly in the past when they'd met—or so he'd thought.
Until he'd fucked up all over again.
It was supposed to be the two of them against the whole goddamned world, and he'd thrown it all away.
How had he let it get this far?
“You know what I want,” he told her. “You knew the moment I saw you. I want you, Ella. I want us back.”
A flush crept up her neck, and she looked away.
“I don't deserve you. I know I fucked up. But I miss you, Ella.”
A few moments passed with no response, so he pressed on. “You're angry; I get it. Unleash it, Ella. This quietness? It's not like you.”
“How would you know what's like me? You haven't been around me for two years! I've done what I've had to do to get past this. And I've slept with other men.”
That last revelation ripped his heart apart. He had no right to be jealous—after all, he'd slept with other women.
But it had never been good. He had to be high as a fucking kite to climb into bed with a woman. Sometimes, he was so out of it he couldn't even get it up.
It dragged him down and stole a piece of his soul every single time, because no matter who was in his bed, he couldn't see anything but Ella's face in front of him.
He'd quickly cut out the random hookups.
“You owe me an explanation, Quinn. What happened? What did I do that made you leave?”
He stared at her. “You thought it was your fault? Ella, I've been trying to contact you for the past six months. I've sent texts. Emails. I’ve called.”
She crossed her arms. “After hearing nothing from you the entire first year after you ended things, I gave up and blocked you entirely. I figured if you'd had anything important to say, you'd have said it back then.”
Jesus. His conscience was eating him alive. She'd been blaming herself this entire time when it had been all on him.
“Besides, how could I not think it was my fault?” she asked. “We'd just gotten engaged. We were planning our future together. When you got hurt, you shut down. You avoided me or went out with the guys. I didn't want to know if you were cheating—”
“No.”
Ella jumped at the forcefulness of his voice, and he held up a hand.
“There wasn't anyone else. Ever.”
“Fine. But every time I asked if you were okay, you'd say yes. You've always kept everything inside, Quinn. You shut me out.”
Her voice grew quiet. “You didn'
t just break my heart that night. You smashed it into a million pieces. You weren't just my fiancé; you were my best friend. I lost everything in one shot when you walked away.”
Ty dragged his hands down his face. Hearing that was brutal as fuck. Back then, he hadn't been ready for her to know about his struggle with drugs. She'd never seen that side of him, and he hadn't wanted her looking at him like he was broken.
In their relationship, she'd always seen him as the man he'd wanted to be. He'd never given her a reason to think he was anything else.
Until that terrible night.
“You were my best friend too, Ella. I was just… I was in an awful place,” he said carefully. “You're right—I was deep inside my own head. I didn't handle being injured well. It wasn't good.”
Ella choked back a sob. “For better or worse isn't just something you say on your wedding day. It means something.”
“This isn't an excuse, but I did what I thought I had to do at the time.” He looked down and shook his head. “It was my worst mistake.”
“I've always supported you,” she said, her voice wavering. “I'd have been there for you no matter what. All I ever wanted was you. For better or worse, I wanted you.”
God, he was desperate to pull her into his arms and end this agony, but he knew his advances wouldn't be welcome.
Another tear slipped down her cheek. “Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore. Quinn—”
“Stop calling me Quinn. I'm Ty. Call me Ty.”
Ella looked away. “You're not Ty to me anymore.”
Seeing the haunted look in her eyes, he vowed to prove to her that he could be her Ty again—but a much better version. He'd been working hard on himself and his issues, but now he had to own up to what he'd done and fix the damage he'd caused.
That meant telling her about his struggles with addiction. But she wasn't ready to hear it yet. Not with everything so raw between them. Still, he'd have to face the past if he wanted a chance to move them forward.