This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2018 Brittney Mulliner
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1730757181
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.
Contents
Also By Brittney Mulliner
Exclusive Content
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Thank you!
Coming in December:
Buzzer Beater
About the Author
Find Out More
Also By Brittney Mulliner
Romance::
Utah Fury Hockey
Puck Drop (Reese and Chloe)
Match Penalty (Erik and Madeline)
Line Change (Noah and Colby)
Attacking Zone (Wyatt and Kendall)
Buzzer Beater (Colin and Lucy)
Young Adult:
Begin Again Series
Begin Again
Live Again
Love Again (Coming Soon)
Charmed Series
Finding My Charming
Finding My Truth (Coming Soon)
Standalones
The Invisibles
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Attacking Zone
Rule 103 (c)
These three areas shall be identified as the “DEFENDING ZONE” (the area in which the goal each team defends is placed), the “NEUTRAL ZONE” (the center area between the blue lines) and the “ATTACKING ZONE” (the area farthest from the defending goal). The blue line shall be considered part of the zone that the puck is in.
(per USA Hockey Rulebook, https://www.usahockeyrulebook.com/)
Chapter One
Wyatt
I stepped out of my building pulling my cap lower over my eyes with my left hand, strategically blocking my face from any lurking cameras. Even with my lame excuse for a disguise, it was hard to cover up the fact I was over six foot and a bit more muscular than the average person.
I walked down the sidewalk with purpose and checked in the windows of the shops I passed but didn’t see anyone following me. Had they really missed me?
Huh. Maybe moving had worked.
When I asked Chloe and Colby for recommendations on where to live, they both said the same building as Noah Malkin. It was close to the arena and within walking distance of plenty of restaurants and cafes.
It was fine with me. My address had gotten out to too many reporters, and even the public. The guys helped me move in at night, so no one saw.
The reporters and paparazzi at this building were on the lookout for Noah and Colby, so I was able to hide in plain sight. They were one of the most famous couples right now, at least in the sports world. Noah was the top rookie in the league and people loved them together.
Their notoriety was a blessing for me. It’d been almost a month since I moved in, and still no one outside of the team knew where I was. It was glorious. I had more freedom than I’d ever had since joining the NHL almost ten years ago.
I checked over my shoulder one more time before walking into the café Noah had introduced me to. He said no one had ever bothered him there and the other customers ignored him. It sounded perfect the first time he told me about it, and now it was a part of my routine. I came every morning that I could.
I had a regular drink, a regular seat, and a regular barista.
It was predictable. Reliable. My one source of normalcy in my crazy life.
I got in line and waited. I didn’t check my phone or look at the TVs. This was my place of peace.
When I got to the counter I paused. This was not Matt. Matt was a college student with more piercings than a tattoo parlor and a beanie that had most likely never been washed. I liked Matt. He didn’t talk.
I eyed the perky looking blonde in front of me. She looked like she was in her early twenties.
Blue eyes.
Big smile.
Beautiful.
She looked like a fan.
I almost turned and walked out.
“What can I get started for you?”
She had a cup in one hand and a marker poised in the other.
“A regular with sugar.”
“No cream?”
I shook my head.
“Your name?”
Matt didn’t ask my name. He didn’t even write anything down. We just made eye contact when it was ready, and he gave me a nod.
“Dave.”
She nodded and wrote on the cup.
“That will be two-thirty-nine.”
I handed her three singles and walked away. I didn’t like how attentive she was. She was the type to draw attention. Yell my name so everyone turned and looked. The last thing I wanted was for this place to be exploited.
Maybe the Pride girls were right. I should have my assistant do things like this. As nice as it would be, I knew I couldn’t. This was one of the few things I did on my own, for myself. My world was the team. Everything I did was somehow related to the team. This, my cup of coffee, was my only place outside of that world. Sure, it would be more convenient. My stress levels would decrease but giving this up would further isolate me from the rest of the world.
Chloe said I needed a hobby.
I told her it was hockey.
Madeline said I needed a girlfriend.
I told her I was planning on being an eternal bachelor.
Colby said I needed a vacation.
I told her I didn’t have time.
I didn’t have time for model cars or dating. I only had time for workouts, practice, meetings, interviews, charities, galas, events, and whatever else the team needed me to do. Time for myself was a foreign concept.
I’d made my bed, and now I had to lay in it.
Not that I regretted any decision that got me to this point. I was living my dream. I was in a position very few ever experienced. I was in my prime, playing hockey professionally, and on the championship team.
I just wished I could go outside without feeling paranoid. Like someone was going to attack me or rabid fans would maul me for the chance to say they touched my shirt. No thanks.
“Dave.”
I looked up to see the blonde smiling wide and holding out my cup. I walked to the counter and took it from her.
“Thanks.”
“Have a nice day.” She said it a little too sweetly. I eyed her before turning and walking to my normal spot, a leather chair in front of a coffee table packed with old newspapers.
I sat down and closed my eyes for a second. I needed to relax. I was getting paranoid.
Maybe yoga could be my hobby. I bet none of the guys would mock me for that.
What d
id I care? I was the captain. Actually, I could probably tell Coach it would be good training and make all of them do it with me. That wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Every athlete could stand to be more flexible and calmer.
I took a sip of my coffee. Paused. Lifted the lid up enough for me to promptly spit it out.
What the world?
That was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever had. I looked to the counter where Blondie was smiling. She didn’t even bother looking away. She did this. She ruined my coffee. My one moment of peace. My sanctuary.
I stood and stomped toward her. “What did you do?”
She smiled and shrugged. “I’m not sure what you mean, Dave.”
The way she said the name made me suspicious. I looked around the prep area. You have got to be kidding me. There was a salt shaker next to the sugar.
That little…
“Oh no.” Her eyes went big, round and she pouted. “Did I mix up the salt? Oh boy, it’s my first day and I’m still getting used to things.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You mixed up salt and sugar?”
She batted her eyes at me. “It’s an honest mistake, mister.”
Alright, she was laying it on a little thick. The whole oh golly me act wasn’t working for her.
I tried to keep my voice even. I was ready to yell and scream at her like I would to an opponent on the ice. “Can I ask what I did to deserve this?”
Her eyes narrowed and her entire demeanor changed. She crossed her arms and sized me up. “Ollisac, game four, that was an illegal hit and you know it.”
I stepped back. Wait, she knew who I was? So much for staying incognito.
But what was she talking about? Ollisac. The center from the Baltimore Harbors? We’d played them in the finals two years ago.
I couldn’t remember what hit she was talking about.
“What are you –“
She took a step closer to me, almost toe to toe. “Cut the crap, Hartman. You know what you did.”
I held up my hands and took a step back. “As shocking as it may be I don’t remember ever single hit or penalty. I do remember that we beat the Harbors four to oh that series.”
She leaned forward, not backing down. “Because Ollisac was out the rest of the game.”
I rolled my eyes. “There’s no coming back in game four. They weren’t going to come back and sweep the rest of the series.”
She looked defiant. “Guess we’ll never know since you seem to slide by the refs without ever getting called.”
Alright. Now she’s just being dramatic. “You and I both know I spend my share of time in the penalty box. Don’t act like I’m never sent in.”
She folded her arms. “Barely.”
I shrugged. “I don’t do things to deserve it.”
She shook her head and mumbled. “If only my uncle was here.”
“Why, so he could get revenge on something that happened two years ago to someone you’ve never met?”
I didn’t actually know that. She would be Ollisac’s cousin for all I knew.
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I stay loyal.”
I looked around. “So loyal you moved to the heart of the enemy territory?”
Her eyes dropped for just a second. “It’s not by choice.”
Yeah, I understood that. It wasn’t an excuse for bad customer service or ruining someone’s drink, though. I looked around for Matt, or anyone else I recognized, but it looked like she was alone.
“Where’s the manager?”
Her face when blank and she jumped back. “What?”
“The manager? Or Matt?”
She stuttered and seemed to have lost all the fight she’d had moments before. “Uh. Oh. Um. Why?”
I held up my cup. “This is not okay. I don’t care if you have some old vendetta against me. I’m a paying customer. I’m a regular here. I want to talk to someone about making sure this won’t happen again.”
The color in her face drained. Huh. Not so cocky now.
“That won’t be necessary. I can assure you it won’t happen again.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh really. You are going to reassure me? The person that did it in the first place?”
“I had to. My uncle would never let it go if I didn’t get some sort of revenge when I had the chance.”
I counted to ten to keep from yelling at her.
“That’s cute that you and your uncle can have your little joke, but I’m real. I’m not just an athlete on the TV. This is my life. This is my neighborhood. My home. This is the café I come to every day.” I paused and looked at her. “Well, maybe not anymore. I’ll have to find somewhere else to go.”
She looked panicked. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
I set down my cup and slid it toward her. “No. You shouldn’t have. You’re a grown woman, and this is your job. You shouldn’t abuse that situation for your own kicks and giggles.”
I turned and strode out.
I was so sick of being treated like a character. Like I’m only a hockey player. Something for people to cheer at. Mock. Dissect. Discuss.
I was a person. Someone with a life outside of the arena. I had friends and family and my own issues to deal with.
I just wished people realized that.
The guys on the team were lucky. Olli and Porter got married young, before their status became their identity. Erik, Reese, and Noah found women that really got their lives and all that came with their profession. They understood what they were getting into. They knew the person, rather than the player.
I doubted I’d ever find that.
Since my relaxation time was cut short, I headed back to my building to grab my bag. Might as well get some alone time in the gym.
I snuck by the cameras waiting outside again and made it to my apartment without incident. I was in the locker room ten minutes later. I changed and walked into the gym, finding it lit up. I looked around and saw Noah and Brassard at the squat rack.
Not the alone time I’d been looking forward to, but at least it wasn’t the whole team.
“Hey guys.”
Noah waved but kept his eyes on Brassard who was mid-squat.
I went to a treadmill to warm up and put in my headphones. The peace only lasted one song. The guys were waving me over and I didn’t want to seem like a jerk.
I paused my music and walked over. “What are you guys doing here?”
It wasn’t surprising to see them together. The two defensemen had formed quite the bond over the last few months of Noah being here. I’d called it a bromance once, but they didn’t care.
“Fitting in an extra leg day. What are you doing here?” Noah looked suspicious. He’d already made comments about my routine and tight schedule. I was here when I should be at the café. He thought I was too uptight. I thought he was too young, and spontaneous.
“My morning plans changed.” I knew I sounded gruffer than I should have, given it was just a cup of coffee. But it was more than that. It was my place.
“Did something happen?” Noah looked to Brassard who looked back to me.
“I had an encounter with a new barista. You should probably stay away from her, Noah.”
Brassard chuckled. “Did she hit on you?”
“No.”
“Did she make a scene?” Noah asked.
“No.”
“Did she get your order wrong?” Brassard wasn’t even trying to hide his smile.
“Sort of.”
They both smirked. Noah had to decency to shake it off. “What happened?”
“She put salt in my coffee instead of sugar. When I called her out on it, she told me it was to get back at me from a hit two years ago.”
Brassard looked confused. “You hit her?”
“No. I hit Ollisac.”
“When?” Noah looked equally perplexed.
“Two years ago. During the finals.”
Noah held up a hand. “So, this chick ruined your coffee b
ecause of a play, two years ago?”
I nodded. They seemed to finally understand the level of crazy I’d confronted.
“That’s messed up.” Noah shook his head.
“So, I’m guessing she isn’t a Fury fan.” Brassard cringed.
“Nope. Baltimore Harbors.”
Brassard chuckled. “That’s a rarity here.”
“Yeah, and apparently, she hates us, or at least me.”
Noah gasped. “Someone that doesn’t fall at the feet of the all mighty Hartman?”
I glared at him. “That’s not the point. That café has been compromised.”
He smiled. “Don’t worry, man. I’ll go in with you tomorrow and make sure the big scary lady doesn’t mess with your drink.”
I considered punching him. I really wanted to.
Coach would probably frown upon that.
Instead of starting a fight, I walked back to the treadmill and turned my music up to block out the noise. Sometimes running was the best option for getting out my frustration. Today, it saved Noah’s face.
He could tease me now, but just wait until she got him. He might be new to the team, but he’d already created some upsets. I’m sure she wasn’t a fan of his either.
Chapter Two
Kendall
“Well, I’m not sure if I should fire you or applaud.”
I froze. Joey was here? I thought she had left for day. I forced a smile and turned around. “Applause should be held until the end of the show.”
Attacking Zone (Utah Fury Hockey Book 4) Page 1