by Cari Quinn
Upcoming books in the TAPPED OUT series:
Available now: HOT INK, an anthology with Carrie Ann Ryan and Sidney Bristol that contains TAKEDOWN, book 1.5 in the Tapped Out series, the story of Slater’s brother Liam Walsh and Abby Sinclair. TAKEDOWN is also up for preorder now for solo release and will come out on its own March 24, 2015.
Up next, a new Mia and Tray long novella, SNEAK ATTACK, book 2 in the Tapped Out series, will be available spring 2015.
After that, Carly and Giovanni’s story, ON THE ROPES, book 3 in the Tapped Out series, will be available summer 2015.
Titles by Cari Quinn
Lost in Oblivion: Untwisted (with Taryn Elliott)
Lost in Oblivion: Twisted (with Taryn Elliott)
Lost in Oblivion: Rock, Rattle and Roll (with Taryn Elliott)
Lost in Oblivion: Rocked (with Taryn Elliott)
Lost in Oblivion: Seduced (with Taryn Elliott)
Going Long
Drawn Deep
No Promises Required
Proving His Worth
Guarding His Heart
Protecting His Assets
Jingle Ball
Tempted By His Best Friend
No Romance Required
Nailing His Target
Dirty Distractions
Love Bites
Melt
Need Me
Test Shot
No Flowers Required
Cowboy Lust: Riding Double
Virgin Territory
Heart Signs
No Dress Required
Unwrapped
Hot Text
Bad Kitty
Provoke Me
Insatiable
Reveal Me
Personal Research
Ex Appeal
Full Disclosure
About Cari Quinn
USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn saves the world one Photoshop file at a time in her job as a graphic designer. At night, she writes sexy romance, drinks a lot of coffee and plays her music way too loud. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she’s watching men’s college basketball, reading excellent books and causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.
Visit Cari at www.cariquinn.com to sign up for her brand new newsletter and visit the Word Wenches on Facebook, her fun, sexy reader group with Taryn Elliott!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/346424552124487/
Crashing the Boards
(Seattle Sockeyes)
Game On in Seattle Series #2
Jami Davenport
‡
Crashing the Boards (Seattle Sockeyes)
Can a party crasher melt the icy heart of a reluctant party guest or will she crash and burn along with her fledgling business?
Professional party crasher, Izzy Maxwell, has been hired to ensure the Seattle Sockeyes team party is a rousing success, while team captain Cooper Black is determined that it will be anything but. Armed with killer heels, a provocative dress, and loads of confidence, Izzy is determined to win over the ruggedly handsome hockey player and save the party and her business.
Seattle Sockeyes team captain Cooper Black can’t get beyond his anger over the new owners moving his team to Seattle, the one place on earth he swore he’d never live. Izzy hijacks Cooper, posing as his girlfriend, and his best buddy plays along despite Cooper’s protests, but Izzy’s persuasive talents, their undeniable chemistry, and a couple of intimate liaisons destroy Cooper’s resistance.
But when Cooper finds out Izzy was hired to crash the party, and he’s been played a fool, the beginning of something special ends before it starts. Can Izzy convince Cooper to take another chance on her or will they both crash into the boards?
Copyright © 2014 by Cedrona Enterprises
All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this book ONLY. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Jami Davenport. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
This Ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This Ebook may not be re-sold or given away to others. If you would like to share this book with others, please purchase an additional copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
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This book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning
This book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. This book is for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.
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Dedication
A special thank you to Cassandra Carr, Toni Aleo, and Catherine Gayle, my go-to ladies for all things hockey.
Chapter One
Shutdown
Cooper Black skidded across the ice on his ass and slammed into the boards behind the net, taking the puck with him. Stevich, the Boston defenseman, was on the puck like Coop’s old tabby cat attacking the neighbors’ chickenshit dog. Cooper scrambled to his feet, digging the blades of his skates into the ice, trying to get his balance, only to fall again. Stevich fought like a crazed man, gaining control of the puck, and executing a perfect pass to his center.
If Cooper hadn’t been so preoccupied with keeping one eye on the clock winding down and the other on the puck, he might’ve seen the Russian coming on his blind side. He might have had one more chance on goal, one last desperation shot for a tie to send game seven of the semifinals into overtime.
Only he didn’t get that chance.
The final buzzer sounded.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to end with Boston celebrating on the Giants’ home ice. His five-year-old nephew skated better than he had tonight. Struggling to his feet, Cooper skated around the victors and headed for the locker room with his head down. Boston moved on to the Finals, and his team moved on to prepare for next season. Always next season.
He couldn’t avoid the press blocking his exit. Too weary to put up a good fight—he’d left all his fight out on the ice—he patiently answered their inane questions.
How do you feel after coming so close but coming up short?
“How do you think I feel?”
What are your plans for the off-season?
“Take a few weeks off for my body to heal and go back at it.”
How many more seasons do you plan on skating?
“Heck if I know.”
And so it went, he’d just managed to extricate himself from the bloodsuckers when the Giants’ PR guy pulled him off to the side. “There’s a group of kids from Make-A-Wish anxious to meet you for pics and autographs.”
Cooper almost said no. He was that tired, but he never said no to kids, especially kids with disabilities. He’d never forget his childhood hero walking right past Cooper and his little brother as if they didn’t exist despite their pleas for an autograph. They’d waited outside the visiting locker room shivering from the cold for what seemed hours, and the jerk couldn’t take one minute to make two small boys’ dreams come true, completely destroying Cooper’s image of the man. Cooper would never be that guy. As long as a kid wanted a moment of his time, he’d give it.
Several minutes later, he put on his best
team captain face and yanked open the locker room door. Despite how miserable he might be inside, he’d never let the guys see him defeated or discouraged. Cooper paused in the doorway and swung his gaze around the solemn locker room. He’d attended funerals more cheerful than this.
“What the fuck is going on? Who died?” Cooper faked a grin he didn’t feel and strode into the room, the picture of upbeat confidence. There were too many young guys on this team to let this setback get them down.
No one even looked up at him.
“Hey, guys, we’ll get ’em next year. We were that close.” He held up his hand using his thumb and forefinger to illustrate just how fucking damn close they’d been to winning that last game and making it to the Finals—the dream that had eluded him for ten years.
Finally, Cedric, his best buddy on the team, lifted up his head and rubbed his beefy, scarred hands over his face. Heaving a deep sigh, he turned toward Cooper. Cedric’s stricken expression struck fear deep in Cooper’s gut. “They fired Coach.”
“They? Who the fuck is they?”
“Our new ownership.”
Cooper stared at his friend, certain he’d heard wrong. “New ownership? I’ve been gone from the locker room thirty minutes, and we lost a coach and gained new owners? You guys are playing me.”
Ced just stared at him.
“Right? You’re bullshitting me. Isn’t he, Crandall?”
Crandall glanced up and then buried his head in his hands again. He turned to the others. The young guys wouldn’t even look at him.
A cold shiver sliced through him. They weren’t shitting him.
“What new owners?” Sure, there’d been all sorts of rumors, but there’d always been rumors. He’d been with this organization since he’d come up from the minors, thirteen years ago. And he’d heard every rumor known to man until he quit listening.
“The Puget Sound Hockey Alliance.”
“That Seattle group that’s been stalking every team with a shaky fan base and money-starved owners?”
“The very one.”
“They do have deep pockets, so that’s a good thing.” Cooper forced himself to remain positive. The team’s now former owners had been douches that bled the team dry.
“Sure, if you like rain.”
Cooper sank onto the bench. “No.”
“We’re moving to Seattle.” Cedric confirmed his worst nightmare.
Cooper’s future turned as dismal as a gray Seattle sky. He knew all about Seattle weather. As a kid, he’d been forced to spend a few weeks there every summer with a crotchety old aunt. He hated it there, swore it was one place on earth he’d never live.
He looked at all the down faces in turn, and the truth was reflected in each one. “We’re going to Seattle.” He said the words with such despair, a guy would think he’d been sentenced to death row. In his mind, he was.
As captain of this team, he should be singing Seattle’s praises, waxing poetic over the billionaire owner, and convincing the team this was the best thing that had ever happened to them.
He wasn’t that noble. In fact, he was fucking pissed.
Chapter Two
Attacking Zone
Party crashing was an art—if done right.
Isabella Maxwell should know. She’d been crashing parties for years, at first to get a decent meal and later—much later—as a part-time profession with her three younger sisters. She’d never crashed a party she didn’t take from dud to memorable in minutes.
Tonight she might have met her match.
She’d done her research and knew the obstacles and challenges, but nothing prepared her for the scene awaiting her on the party deck of the Washington Queen, a local tour boat rented by the Seattle Sockeyes hockey team for an evening dinner cruise around Elliott Bay.
As security checked invitations at the door, Izzy snuck past them and peeked in the doorway, scoping out the scene inside—DJ in the corner, empty dance floor complete with mirror ball and flashing lights, not a dancer anywhere. Hockey players were slouched in chairs clumped around tables, reminding her of pimply faced preteens at a junior high dance. Only these boys weren’t preteens or pimply faced. They were a formidable wall of broad chests, muscular thighs, and determined expressions. Each one mirroring the other, but she’d done her research. There was one man she needed to win over to salvage this party, and he hadn’t arrived yet.
Her sisters had already boarded the boat, managing to sneak past security, every one of them dressed to kill or at least to charm a professional hockey team. Bethany dazzled her plunging Vera Wang gown and deadly high heels. Emma and Avery, the youngest at twenty-one and identical twins, looked every bit like giddy hockey groupies who’d managed to snag an invite to the party. Standing near the buffet table, they giggled and whispered as they stole glances at the players. Several players stared right back. Nearby, Bethany engaged the team play-by-play announcer in conversation, while he stared at her boobs, but men always stared at Bethany’s boobs.
The stage was set.
Time to get this party started. The Sockeyes were going to have the time of their lives if she had to threaten bodily harm with their own hockey sticks.
“Ma’am, I need to see your invitation.” A security guard with a receding hairline, the waist of his polyester pants pulled up to his armpits, and a determined set to his skinny jaw, stepped in front of her before she could enter through the double doors.
“Oh, that.” Izzy made a show of digging through her saddlebag of a purse, not exactly in keeping with her little black sheath, but it served its purpose. “I know it’s in here somewhere.”
The security guard wasn’t the least bit impressed. He tapped his toe on the floor and took a ready stance as if he expected her to run any moment. Just what she needed, a SWAT team wannabe. She batted her eyes at him and continued to dig in her purse.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s here somewhere.”
“Ma’am, you’ll need to leave the boat until you can find it.”
She laughed and rubbed one perfectly manicured finger across his name tag. “Now, Carl, you just hold on one teensy bit. We’ll get this straightened out.” Izzy slipped into her fake Southern drawl; it brought most men to their knees.
Not Carl. In fact, not one hair quivered on his mustache. “My orders are strict. No one, not even the governor, gets in without an invite.” He wrapped scrawny fingers around her arm and pulled her none too gently from the doorway. He might look like a wimp but the guy was surprisingly strong.
No matter. She’d switch to Plan B.
“My boyfriend will be here any moment. He must have the tickets.”
As if on cue, her target for the night walked up the ramp and onto the boat. Cooper Black. The captain of the newly christened Seattle Sockeyes, and the most outspoken man on the team especially when it came to the team’s move and current situation, which he hated—the very man Izzy needed to tame tonight for this situation to turn around.
Judging by the stubborn set of his jaw and those steely blue eyes, this wasn’t going to be easy.
* * *
Cooper stalked onto the boat hefting a boulder-sized chip on his shoulder.
No way in fucking hell would he cooperate at this fucking party. Not after what the new ownership had done to his team, his coaches, and the staff. It was bad enough they’d forced him to attend, and no one forced him to do anything. Attend was one thing, play nice was another. They’d find that out soon enough.
Oh, yeah, he was in a mood. Not even his buddy Cedric could joke him out of it.
A line of people formed at the head of the dock, waiting impatiently to board the boat. A gorgeous brunette with legs longer than his hockey stick appeared to be holding up the line. She kept digging in her purse and pleading with the rent-a-cop who guarded the door with zealous intent. The guard didn’t look the least bit sympathetic or amused. Instead he politely yet firmly pushed her out of the way and began checking the invitations of the couple behind her.
> She frowned and did a quick survey of the area. Her big brown eyes landed on Cooper, and she headed straight for him. Confidence oozed out of her, and he immediately pegged her as a spoiled rich twenty-something who thought the world revolved around her. He’d met plenty just like her in his thirty-two years.
She walked closer with the security guard dogging her heels and turned the full-wattage of her gorgeous smile on Cooper, as if she’d been expecting him. He’d never seen the woman in his life.
Disinterested in whatever game she might be playing, Cooper gazed over the heads of the people in front of him, getting the lay of the land in the ballroom beyond. He caught sight of the suits across the room, minority owners of the team, hanging out with the big guys. Next to them stood the majority owner of the Sockeyes, Ethan Parker, the thieving bastard, and the team’s assistant director of player personnel turned traitor, Ethan’s beautiful fiancée, Lauren Schneider. Cooper frowned even harder. They were the enemy.
Cedric elbowed him then focused his blond, European charm on the woman striding toward them. Good, she could latch on to Ced, and Cooper could get back to his grudge match with the team’s new owner.
Only the gorgeous pair of legs glided past Cedric with the grace of an gold medal figure skater. The woman looped her arm through Cooper’s, catching him off guard. Ced’s grin turned to confusion and his eyes narrowed. He always got the women over Cooper. Always.
“There you are, you bad boy. Shame on you for being late. You know I hate waiting.” She tapped his chest and smiled into his eyes. She was tall, but he was taller, and he wasn’t buying any of what she was selling. Not tonight. Not ever.
Cooper frowned and narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like being touched unless it was his idea. “I don’t know you.”