Page 1 of Three Hockey Hotties

CHAPTER 1

KANE

Are there better ways to meet the love of your life than nearly breaking her nose with a door?

Without a fucking doubt.

Yet this has to be fate.

And who am I to argue with the universe?

I mean, why else would the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen just be standing on the other side of the door I’m walking through at this very moment? Especially a door that never has anyone standing on the other side of it?

This door is on the side of the building that houses our ice hockey rink and is the closest to the locker rooms. Only the players and coaches use this door.

I also would not have chosen, “Oh shit, sorry!” to be my first words to the woman I intend to marry someday.

But here we are.

I reach out and grab her elbow, steadying her as she rocks back on her heels to avoid the heavy metal door that nearly clocked her in the face.

“Are you okay?” I ask quickly.

Eyes the color of the water around the island of St. Thomas lock on mine and I feel like I’ve been sucker punched.

Fuck, I love St. Thomas. I’ve never seen water that blue or that gorgeous.

I’ve met a lot of beautiful women in my life. A lot. And someday when I’m a professional hockey player and not just the starting forward on this minor league team in Willow Bay, Wisconsin, there will be even more. But I know that as of this moment, none of them will matter. These are the eyes I want to look into for the rest of my life. This woman is who I’ve been waiting for. She’s my destiny.

When I tell Benjamin and Dash, they’re going to say I’m being dramatic. But that won’t be the first or last time they say that. And when they find out that I’m in love, they’ll give me a break.

Maybe.

She still hasn’t spoken, so I squeeze her elbow gently. “Did I hit you?”

Surely not. I would’ve felt the impact if the door actually smacked her.

She clears her throat and shakes her head. “I’m okay.”

Hearing her voice for the first time, I feel like she trailed her hand down my spine. All of the nerve endings in my body sit up, fully awake and alert.

She’s still staring at me, somewhat dazed, and while I would love to think it’s because she recognizes me and is starstruck, I can’t shake the niggle of concern and the accompanying surge of protectiveness.

I suddenly need to see her smile more than I need to take my breath. “Are you sneaking in the players’ door to find me? And before you answer, know that saying yes will make me the happiest man on the planet.”

Those blue eyes widen even further, and she tears her gaze away from mine to scan over the side of the building.

“Am I not allowed to go in this door? I was supposed to meet everyone on the side of the building.”

“Well, this is the entrance to the locker room. Like I said, if you’re trying to get to see me, this is the right door.”

She shakes her head quickly and looks slightly panicked. I definitely don’t get the smile that I need.

“No, no. I’m sorry, I’m in the wrong place. I’m here to prep for the Stick It To Cancer event.”

I smile at the mention of one of my favorite events our team participates in. The cancer charity and this specific event that involves the hockey team and little kids with cancer is near and dear to both my and my stepbrother’s heart.

“Oh, well that’s not happening for a few weeks.”