I laugh. “A few hours? I think I’m gonna need a full day.”
His laughter vibrates against my neck. “Yeah. Sorry. I think you might’ve confused me with someone else. That’s not gonna happen.”
I swat at him. I remember telling him something similar.
“Okay, fine,” I relent. “Two hours.”
“Twenty minutes.”
I smile to myself. This really is too easy.
Epilogue
Saturday, May 20th
“I’D LIKE TO MAKE A TOAST,” Kingston tells the crowd of people who are gathered in his oversized backyard. “To the greatest captain this team has ever known. You’re gonna be missed, man.”
I watch the interaction of my new teammates.
No, the Arrows didn’t win the Stanley Cup this year, but they rode the season as far as they could. Farther than my team did. My old team, that is. As of the start of next season, I’ll be wearing black, gray, and teal, living in the land of big hair and big hats.
“Here’s to next season,” Spencer notes. “You guys are gonna go all the way. I can feel it.”
Cheers erupt and laughter ensues.
I think I’m gonna like it here.
When my agent, James Heron, mentioned that there was talk of me going to Austin, I told him to let me know how it goes. He knew I was interested in going somewhere, but honestly, I never thought it would be to the team my brother plays for. Not that I mind. We get along well. I can see this working out for both of us.
“Hey, Heath.” I turn to see my sister-in-law walking toward me, my brother right beside her.
And yes, I said sister-in-law. Turns out, Kingston and Ellie opted to elope in Vegas a couple of weeks ago. Something about not wanting to wait. I actually think it might’ve been some sort of race to the altar. Something about Ellie intending to get married before Noelle. I don’t know for sure, but they look happy, nonetheless.
“Have you met everyone?” Ellie asks when she approaches.
“Most everyone, I think.” I’ve met the team, sure, and several of the significant others. That’s mostly who’s here today, along with the coaches and some of the equipment guys. This impromptu going-away party for Spencer was Kingston’s idea, but it looks as though everyone showed up.
From what I can tell, they are all a little shocked that the man decided to retire. He’s still got some hockey left in him, but according to him, he’s ready to move on. Can’t say I blame the guy. He’s looking forward to settling down. One day, I might even be there myself.
“It’s good to have you here, man,” Kingston says, slapping me on the back a little harder than is necessary.
“You say that now,” I tell him. “Give it a month or two, then check back in.”
Kingston taps me on the head the way he did when we were kids.
“Who’s the girl talking to Noelle?” I ask, peering up at the deck to see Spencer and Noelle standing near a pretty blonde.
Ellie glances over her shoulder, then back to me. “That’s Noelle’s sister, Julie. You’ve met her.”
Julie? That’s Julie? Little Julie Dexter?
Holy fuck. That’s not the Julie I remember. Then again, I’ve only met her once and only briefly at that.
“I think it’s been a while, though,” Ellie notes, obviously seeing my confusion.
“Yeah. Years, I’d say.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” she says, her tone low. “She doesn’t date hockey players.”
“What’s wrong with hockey players?”
“Benne,” Kingston adds, as though that says it all.
I peer over at my brother, confused. Benne? As in Patrick Benne, hockey’s biggest man-whore?
Oh, shit. “The player played her? What a fucking douchebag.”
“Noelle warned her,” Ellie says. “Apparently she didn’t listen. So, don’t go chasing after her. You’ll find yourself disappointed.”
No, I’m disappointed because some dickhead hockey player screwed her over. Guys like Benne give us all a bad name. Not that I dislike the guy. Hell, I was just like him back in the day. Well, maybe not quite as bad as he is. I haven’t spent much time with him, but the fact that he’s got two women on his arm right now kind of says it all.
“Plus, you’re going to have too much shit to do to worry about women next season.”
I look at my brother again. “Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah. I think Spencer’s got the right idea. I’m giving it one more year. That’s all I’ve got left in me. Which means, I need to end my career with that trophy.”
His arm goes around Ellie’s shoulder, pulling her in close, his other hand coming to rest on her stomach. I see the movement, I know it’s supposed to mean something, but it takes a second to register. I jump back, staring at my big brother for a minute.
“You’re shitting me, man. You guys are…?”
Ellie nods, her hand coming to rest on top of Kingston’s. “We are.”
“Congratulations, bro.”
“Thanks.”
“Anyone else know?”
Ellie smiles. “We kinda dropped the hint to Noelle. I figure in a few minutes, our secret will be out.”
I glance back at the deck, and sure enough, Noelle seems to be making the rounds, Spencer right beside her. My eyes lock on Noelle’s sister. Her eyes meet mine briefly, and I swear, for a second, my heart stops beating.
I wasn’t completely sold on coming to Texas—what with the ridiculous heat and the never-changing weather—but let’s just say, I think I’ll come around in time.
♥▫▫▫▫♥▫▫▫▫♥
I hope you enjoyed Spencer and Noelle’s story. I have to admit that Noelle’s positivity was just what I needed when I was writing this book. It’s an eye-opening experience to see things through that perspective. And, in case you didn’t know, The Secret is a real book written by Rhonda Byrne. I read it for the first time back when it first came out and again before I wrote this book.
Want to see some fun stuff related to the Austin Arrows series, you can find extras on my website. Or how about what’s coming next? I keep my website updated with the books I’m working on, including the writing progression of what’s coming up for the Austin Arrows.
Want a simple, fast way to get updates on new releases? If you’re in the U.S., you can also sign up for text messaging - just text NICOLE to 64600 or fill out the form here. I promise not to spam your phone. This is just my way of letting you know what’s happening because I know you’re busy, but if you’re anything like me, you always have your phone on you.
If you want to see what’s going on with me each week, sign up for my weekly Hot Sheet! It’s a short, entertaining weekly update of things going on in my life and that of the team that supports me. We’re a little crazy at times and this is a firsthand account of our antics.
And last but certainly not least, if you’re interested in getting monthly updates and announcements, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter.
And, as always, thank you so much for reading. I hope you’ll be able to leave an honest review as this is the best way to share your thoughts about the book with others.
♥▫▫▫▫♥▫▫▫▫♥
Acknowledgments
First of all, I have to say thank you to the Texas Stars (AHL). I’m blessed to live in the Austin area and have the opportunity to see them play. It’s a rush, every single time. On that note, I also have to thank the Dallas Stars (NHL). My passionate love for hockey came about when I watched them win the Stanley Cup back in 1999. I’ve been a fanatic ever since.
Of course, a ton of thanks also go to my amazing husband who puts up with me every single day.
I have to give a huge shout out to Shauna Kruse whose images always catch my attention and Jonny James for being on the public side of that camera. The
instant I saw the photo of Jonny James, I KNEW he was my Spencer. Thank you Shauna and Jonny for making my muse come to life.
And Chancy Powley … you never let me down. Ever. I’m honored to call you a friend and I’m so grateful that you are always willing to talk me through my doubts and questions.
Amber Willis … lady, you don’t know how much I love you. At the last second, you were willing and able to beta read Kaufman and give me valuable input. Thank you for being you and thank you for agreeing to be my beta reader!
I also have to thank my street team, the Naughty & Nice Posse—Jenna, Annette, Traci, Maureen, Alison, Karen, Missy, Joy, and Kathy—for all of their hard work and dedication.
I can’t forget my copyeditor, Amy. This was another challenging one for me since I’m not used to writing in 1st person present tense, but it was fun and I think I’m addicted. Thank goodness I’ve got you to catch all my punctuation, grammar, and tense errors.
Nicole Nation 2.0 for the constant support and love. This group of ladies has kept me going for so long, I’m not sure I’d know what to do without them.
And, of course, YOU, the reader. Your emails, messages, posts, comments, tweets… they mean more to me than you can imagine. I thrive on hearing from you, knowing that my characters and my stories have touched you in some way keeps me going. I’ve been known to shed a tear or two when reading an email because you simply bring so much joy to my life with your support. I thank you for that.
Keep reading for an excerpt from:
A Million Tiny Pieces
Standalone Novel
Nicole Edwards
Ménage Romance
Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Mia Cantrell is happy to be rid of her lying, cheating, ex-husband. With her divorce final, Mia is moving on, grasping the reins of life once more. She’s learning to deal with the shattered remains while putting one foot in front of the other, taking control of her own decisions, and ultimately living one day at a time. Too bad the universe has put a hiccup (or two) in her well thought out plan.
Phoenix Pierce is putting the pieces back together after the death of his father. Between his multi-million-dollar company, the NHL team he now owns, and the endless supply of women willing to share a bed for one night of uninhibited sex, he finds himself going through the motions. Until he meets Mia. Although he’s on a mission to win her, that doesn’t solve his problem of the other person he wants… the man he has denied himself for years.
Tarik Marx doesn’t think anyone could ever fill the void in his life the way Phoenix unknowingly has. That is until he meets Mia. Thanks to a fractured childhood, Tarik has to face a bigger problem: he doesn’t know how it feels to be loved. His past adds additional complexity when Tarik finds himself trying to figure out how he can have them both.
Is it possible for a million tiny pieces to come together again? And if they do, will that make the bond even stronger than before?
Prologue
End of August
AFTER THE SUDDEN death of his father three months ago, venture capitalist Phoenix Pierce has become the youngest team owner in NHL history. We are here to announce that, with the NHL board of governors’ official approval, Phoenix’s minority share in the Austin Arrows combined with his father’s majority share now puts twenty-nine-year-old Pheonix at the helm of the Arrows organization.
When recently asked whether there would be changes to the team in the upcoming season, Phoenix advised that there had already been plans in the works prior to Sidney Pierce’s death. Sid died suddenly from a heart attack back in May.
From what we’ve learned from Tarik Marx, the public relations spokesperson for the Arrows, Phoenix intends to implement those changes and move forward. He has assured us that the team is healthy and strong and looking forward to a solid year ahead.
Phoenix refused to comment further on the pending lawsuit from real estate mogul Damien Landry. According to our sources, prior to Sid’s death, there was a rumor that the team was to be sold to Landry for a reported $280 million. Forbes.com recently valued the Arrows at $205 million, although the team has reported an estimated $10 million loss each year due to its continued decline in rankings.
We were told by a source close to Landry that Sid had backed out of the deal two months prior to his death; however, no documentation has been provided to support Landry’s claim. Yet Landry refuses to go away quietly.
As Tarik made his way into the room, Phoenix hit the button on the remote to turn off the television, causing the darkened room to be cloaked in silence.
Dropping onto the arm of the sofa, Tarik forced a smile as he watched his boss stare at the blank TV screen. It was far too early in the morning to be drinking, but since neither of them had gone to sleep yet, it was fitting.
Twisting so that he could face Phoenix, Tarik held up his beer bottle. “You’re in full control now. It might be bittersweet, but it’s still a win.”
“Bittersweet,” Phoenix echoed, not bothering to look up from where he was slumped on the sofa as he blindly held up his beer bottle, clanking it with Tarik’s. “Bitter-fucking-sweet.”
»»»»»♥«««««
MIA CANTRELL PROPPED her shoulder against the wall, staring out one of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the high-rise condominium she had recently purchased and moved into as she willed her fluttering heart to settle. Kings of Leon softly crooned through the speakers in her living room but did little to ease the tension that had been building for the last few days.
With her second cup of coffee warming her hands, she watched the sun peek over the Austin skyline laid out before her, trying to get a grip on herself. It would’ve been decidedly easier if she weren’t pondering how her life had gone so wrong.
Wrong? No, wait. She tossed the word around in her mouth for a moment but didn’t like the feel. Maybe wrong wasn’t necessarily the appropriate word.
Touching her lips with the tips of her fingers, Mia realized she was smiling. Now that she thought about it, she was inclined to say that she was actually quite content for the first time in a very long time, even excited about her new lease on life. So maybe it was more accurate to use the word different in this case.
Yes … things were now so very different.
Moving her hand to her chest, she noticed her heart had finally stopped pounding, although she could still feel the anxious flutter in her tummy.
As soon as she had crawled into bed last night, she had realized how eager she was for this day to start. Naturally, that excitement had carried over into her dreams. Two hours ago, just as Mia had done in grade school when her mother would wake her on the first day of a new school year, she had practically leaped out of bed. But not from her mother’s sweet words or her mother’s gentle hand nudging her awake. Nope, Mia’s alarm clock had belted out a noise — one that should be illegal in at least half the country — that got her moving today. It had had the same effect a fire alarm would have. She had thrown off the covers, shot upright out of her bed before she’d even realized she was awake.
As she’d learned that morning, it was vastly different getting ready these days than it had been for the last few years. When it wasn’t necessary to get perfectly coifed, lacquered, and spit-shined, things were considerably easier. After drying her hair, Mia had realized that she didn’t need to curl her long blonde locks. And when she went to put on her makeup, she recognized it was not necessary to accentuate her bright blue eyes with tons of eyeliner and mascara, either. She wasn’t that girl anymore.
So, instead of spending an extra hour polishing herself to perfection, Mia had pulled her hair back into a ponytail, secured it in place with a brightly colored rubber band, applied a clear gloss to her lips, and pulled on her favorite outfit these days — jeans and an oversized, comfy T-shirt.
What was left was a much younger w
oman staring back at her, and she happened to like the new image. This new version of herself … well, she seemed less confined, less restricted.
Significantly more confident.
As far as Mia was concerned, this was exactly where she was meant to be. And in a few minutes, she would be taking the next steps in jump-starting the rest of her life.
Her first day of college.
A Million Tiny Pieces is available now!
By Nicole Edwards
The Alluring Indulgence Series
What’s hotter than a Texas cowboy? Seven Texas cowboys.
All with a heart of gold and a sexy, devious side.
Kaleb
Zane
Travis
Holidays with the Walker Brothers
Ethan
Braydon
Sawyer
Brendon
The Austin Arrows Series
The Austin Arrows know what it’s like to be the best in the NHL. They’ve been there.
Now they just need to figure out how to get back.
The SEASON: Rush
The SEASON: Kaufman
The Club Destiny Series
Come see how hot these powerful men and their lovely ladies can get.
All from the comfort of the infamous Club Destiny.
Conviction
Temptation
Addicted
Seduction
Infatuation
Captivated
Devotion
Perception
Entrusted
Adored
The Coyote Ridge Series
The Walker brothers started it, but it ain’t over yet.
Curtis
Jared (series crossover)
The Dead Heat Ranch Series
Love cowboys?
Love smokin’ hot cowboys and the sweet, sexy cowgirls they love?
Come on in and stay a while.
Boots Optional
Kaufman: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 2) Page 32