Out on the ice, the season’s going great, but in the locker room the pranks are getting out of hand. It was time for me to remind everyone not to mess with me— so I came up with a prank the team, and my best friend, would never forget. Renee Weber is my best friend’s sister. And like me, she’s also ready to teach her brother a lesson. Together, we work out the ultimate April Fool’s prank— telling everyone that Renee is having my baby. Our plan works perfectly, except for the part where I fall for Little Weber. What’s the worst that could happen? Either lose my best friend or Renee. Quite frankly, I don’t know which one is worse. It’s not in my DNA to lose so I’ll have to come up with something big. I’ll pull out a win one way or another.
Hockey Hunk is your best friend’s sister romance filled with sexy hockey players where a fake pregnancy prank goes horribly awry— or did it go perfectly? Grab the fourth novella in the Loving the Puckers series for hockey-filled dreams tonight.
I was lounging on my sofa and reading a book when I heard my phone go off. It was weird to see Matt Shoresy’s name pop up on my phone. He was my brother’s best friend. We’d chatted a few times since my last trip to visit Colton. Anytime he called, I would think the worst, like my brother was at the hospital, even though most of the time he was just checking in with me.
My interest piqued when he asked for a favor. “What’s the favor?”
“So, your brother and Lager have been relentless with the pranks lately and I want payback.”
I laughed. Colton had always been a bit of a prankster in the locker room at school. Since Lager joined the team, Colton had increased his pranks because he had a partner in crime. “How big are you talking about?”
“Fake pregnancy big.”
I was so glad that I wasn’t drinking anything at that moment, although I still choked on my saliva. Once I could form a cohesive thought, I asked, “Seriously? A fake pregnancy?”
“Yup.” He was so calm about the idea. This was going to have consequences. They were best friends, and there was no way Colton would be cool with the idea of me sleeping with Shoresy. If he hadn’t been my brother’s friend, I might have tried to make a move on him since he was totally my type.
“Okay, what’s the plan? Besides, why do you want to do something this big? What has Colton done to deserve this?” I was all questions at this point, but I had to stop asking them so he could answer.
“Mainly things are adding up. He and Lager thought it was hysterical to hide my pants and nail my favorite sneakers to my stall earlier today. So, I want to make sure those two won’t ever mess with me again, and this was my first idea. Please tell me you’ll do it.”
I could see that adding up after a while. The idea was huge, but what did he want from me? “It’s not exactly easy to fake a pregnancy.”
“Sure it is. We all got super drunk when you came over for All-Star break. Webs passed out before we did. Easy to claim we did something after we put him to bed. All I need you to do is come into town proclaiming that you’re pregnant. Then we play it from there.”
Peter Nguyen has achieved everything he ever wanted. So why isn’t he happier? He goes to his high school reunion to show up all the people who didn’t give the time of day to the skinny, nerdy boy he’d been. But then he runs into his old friend Britt.
She can barely pay her bills.
Brittanica Jones watched her future evaporate when she had to leave college after a brutal attack left her mother incapacitated. She hasn’t done anything she set out to do, and the only reason she even goes to her high school reunion is to reconnect with her old friend Peter . . . even though he ghosted her back when she needed him most.
They’ve got nothing in common…except each other.
When Peter sees Britt again, he realizes how much he misses her. Her acerbic quick wit and “take no shit” attitude are a welcome change from people who fawn all over him. When he realizes that he’s got the means to help her out, he offers her a temporary job.
However, grown-up Britt inspires sexy thoughts, not friendship thoughts. Their relationship deepens into a romance. Britt’s downtrodden heart blossoms with the opportunity to work with Peter and explore their changed relationship. But this interlude has an end date, and when disaster strikes, she’s got no choice but to leave.
Can these old high school friends overcome the hurts from the past and find love with each other?
“Your assistant buys your groceries?” Britt countered.
“Yes,” he said defensively.
“You’re too good to hit the local Safeway?” She shook her head. “Man, we live in different worlds.”
That didn’t sound like a compliment.
“It frees up my time.” He felt compelled to defend the practice.
Britt tugged open his fridge, making herself at home. “Whatever.”
He loved that about her. No hesitation. The birds rippled in response as her muscles moved. He desperately wanted to lick his way along the path of those swallows.
Then he noticed her stillness.
“You have Dom Perignon in here.”
“Ah, I guess.” Pete couldn’t decipher the note in her voice. “Is that a problem?”
“It’s insanely expensive.”
“Okay?”
“I could feed my mother and myself for a week on what that bottle costs,” she said wistfully.
“Well, then, let’s open it.”
“You’re supposed to drink it to celebrate something momentous.”
He didn’t give a rat’s ass about momentous. Besides, she was looking at the bottle longingly. “You like champagne?”
“I love it, but I don’t have it very often.” She laughed but it was a sad sound. “That’s a lie. I never have it.”
Then he was going to change that. He pulled the green bottle out of the fridge.
She gripped his arm, the touch burning through his shirt. “You can’t open that,” she cried.
“Yes, I can.” He popped the cork before she could object.
“Oh my God. Don’t let it spill.” She grabbed the bottle and caught the bubbles cascading out the top with her tongue. “Mmm.” She closed her eyes and pursed her lips, making sure none of it was wasted.
The look of bliss on her face propelled him forward, unable to stop the impulses clanging through him.
He kissed her.
The moment her mouth met his, angels began to sing. She tasted of the tartness of white grapes and fermentation. He wanted to delve further into her mouth and taste her. He cupped her jaw in his hand, his fingers tunneling into the loose collection of curls at her nape, and he brushed his thumb over her cheekbone.
Britt’s eyes drifted closed.
He rubbed his nose along hers and plundered her mouth, holding her in place as she wrapped her arm around his shoulders. The champagne bottle thumped against his back, and a little of the cool liquid spilled between his shoulder blades.
He slid his arm around her waist and tugged her closer, her breasts snug against his chest. The full skirt of her dress pouffed around him as he tested and tasted, trying to figure out what she liked.
What made her moan. What made her soften against him. She’d gone all-in on the kiss.
He didn’t want to pressure her. But the kiss was off-the-charts hot. His brain had definitely moved from wanting the kiss to wanting more.
He pulled away to give her a moment.
And maybe him too. To assess the attraction. After all, this was Britt. His old friend. And yet…not.
“What was that for?” she asked breathlessly.
“I wanted to capture that treasure.”
“Very pirate-like of you,” she teased.
He took the bottle from her hand.
“Open your mouth,” he commanded. “Tilt your head.”
She blinked at his authoritarian tone, but she complied.
He poured a shot of champagne into her mouth.
She swallowed and moaned. “So good.”
The look of bliss on her face made him want to be the one who caused that reaction rather than the champagne.
Then she said, “But it’s meant to be sipped.”
“Life is meant to be swallowed whole and gorged upon.”
“Good point.” She took the bottle from him, took another swig, and then placed it on his quartz countertop. Then she hoisted herself onto the counter and spread her legs. The move put her breasts level with his mouth. Her fancy ballgown flared out as she grabbed him by the waist and pulled him to her.
“What are you doing?”
She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him again. “Gorging.”
His smooth fingertips traced the line of her dress over her breasts, dipping his finger into her cleavage. His fingertips sizzled at the sensual contact.
Britt arched her back.
Pete pulled away from her mouth and trailed a line of kisses over her chin and down her neck until he buried his face in the plump valley of her breasts. She clutched his head to her.
“You taste amazing.”
“It’s the Dom.”
He licked a path over her skin. She shivered at the light caress. His arms reached around to unzip her dress. “It’s you.”
USA Today Bestselling Author Lisa Hughey has been writing romance since the fourth grade, which was also about the time she began her love affair with spies. Harriet and Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys later gave way to James Bond and Lara Croft and Jason Bourne.
Exploring the complex nature of a profession that requires subterfuge and lies fascinates her. She loves combining her two passions into fiction. As evidenced by her Black Cipher Files series.
Archangel Rafe was her first foray into the paranormal but after spending time in the Angelic Realm, it won’t be her last. At their heart, the Seven novels are about the dynamics of family relationships. But the really hot Archangels don’t hurt.
And recently she’s been immersed in the Stone Family novellas, four stories about a blended family of brothers and sister who have a lot more in common than they realize. But of course she couldn’t just write about family and romance. There are complex plots, bad guys, and suspense too.
Lisa loves to hear from readers and has various places you can connect with her, although, shh, Twitter is her favorite.
A seductive Welsh earl on the brink of ruin. A wealthy cit in search of a hero.
Miss Evelina Franklin reads too many romance novels. She’s certain a handsome duke—or dashing highwayman—is in her future. In the meantime, Evie entertains herself with the admirers vying for her fortune.
The Earl of Brecken needs cash. His late father left their Welsh estate in ruin, and his mother will not let him rest until it is restored to its former glory. Notorious for his seductive charm, he searches the ballrooms for a wealthy heiress. His choices are dismal until he meets Miss Franklin. Guileless and gorgeous with an enormous dowry, she seems the answer to his prayers. Until his conscience makes an unexpected appearance.
They made their way down the center aisle, seats flanking them in rows of four. As Lord Brecken stopped at the third row, Lady Franklin reached out, clasped Fenella’s wrist, and pulled her toward the chairs. Then she stepped out of the aisle and sat next to her eldest daughter, leaving the earl next to Evelina. Evie closed her eyes at her mother’s audacity and wondered whether to pinch her or hug her. The voice in her head screamed in embarrassment; her heart leapt with joy.
She kept her gaze lowered, the white beaded reticule in her lap suddenly of great interest. Her eyes slipped sideways when his hand moved to rest on his lap, his thumb laying on his… fall. She sucked in a breath as he crossed one ankle over a knee, brushing her dress. Stop staring, you hoyden. It was too late. She couldn’t have dragged her eyes away if someone had shouted, “Fire!” The hem of his trousers hitched up, and he reached down to pull it back over his boot. Evie watched his fingers grip the material, a square gold ring with a B studded in tiny diamonds adorning the right fourth finger. The stones seemed to wink at her with his quick movement, and she imagined the pads of his fingers lightly tracing her cheek.
Breathe! she reminded herself for the second time that hour. Gracious, it was stifling in this room. Were there no windows to open? She licked her lips, her mouth as dry as a stone in the Sahara.
“So, are you enjoying your first season, Miss Evelina?”
His voice made her jump, guilt singing her cheeks as she forced her gaze away from his lap and up to his face. She wasn’t sure which was a sweeter torture. What would his beard feel like? Would it tickle? His lips would be soft, just like in her dreams. A sigh escaped.
“Is that a yes?” The amusement in his voice snapped her back to reality.
“Heavens, where did my mind wander?” she said, snapping her fan open. Perhaps Papa should invest in ladies’ fans. Evie might need several replacements this season.
He bent low, his eyes flashing with challenge, and whispered, “I don’t know, but I’d like to come along.”
Bestselling and award-winning author Aubrey Wynne is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by night. She resides in the Midwest with her husband, dogs, horses, mule, and barn cats. Obsessions include wine, history, travel, trail riding, and all things Christmas. Her Chicago Christmas series hasreceived the Golden Quill, Aspen Gold, Heart of Excellence, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and twice nominated as a Rone finalist by InD’tale Magazine. Aubrey’s first love is medieval romance but after dipping her toe in the Regency period in 2018 with the Wicked Earls’ Club, she was smitten. This inspired her spin-off series Once Upon a Widow and the Scottish Regency series A MacNaughton Castle Romance with Dragonblade Novels.
