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PROLOGUE
The Daily Snitch
April 20th
You’ve come here for the tea, and we never disappoint. We’re not naming any names, but a certain foxy forward whose name rhymes with Jason Faker is in the hot seat—again. Rumor has it that “Rason Baker” is in a fancy-schmancy rehab facility out west, and he’s been sent there by the Rovers team owner with orders to clean up—or else.
Remember last year when the heartbreaking hockey hunk ended his six-year relationship with model Lexi Caton, raising the hopes of single ladies everywhere (including moi, I must confess)?
Well, ever since, “Kason Waker” has been spotted around the city slinging back expensive bourbon and going home with a new lady every night. Still, we think that “Spason Laker” is going to be in for a shock when he comes home to find that his teammate, right defenseman Dylan Masters, has claimed Lexi for his own.
Okay, okay, you’ve got us. We’re talking about Mason Raker.
1
ROWAN
Four monthslater
“You summoned me?” I sink down on the sofa next to my boss and mentor, Cecelia, owner of Queensby Publicity.
I love being here. It smells like cinnamon and is decorated like a living room, with casual groupings of Bauhaus-style furniture in bright fruity colors, a couple of desks on the far end, and a coffee bar.
Cecelia, a slender sixty-something woman clad in a belted Oscar de la Renta dress with low-heeled pumps, looks every bit the formidable media powerhouse.
“We have a situation,” Cecelia says. She doesn’t look rattled; Cecelia never rattles.
“Oh, shoot. We don’t like situations.” Then I grin. “But we do like chocolate.” I open my purse and triumphantly pull out a box of chocolate ganache, with a New York Rovers logo sprayed across the top, that I snagged on my lunch break. I bought it specifically to show to Cecelia, because the Rovers are one of our most important clients.
Cecelia’s eyes widen. She leans forward and inhales. “Is that from Chocolate Orgasm?”
“You know it is.” I open the box. The chocolates each have an edible picture of a star Rover player. Food technology sure is something these days.
I reach in, pull out goalie Logan Long, pop him into my mouth, close my eyes, and moan. Sweet and bitter silkiness fill my mouth. Chocolate Orgasm indeed. I would move into that store if I could. Of course, within a month they’d need to enlarge the doorway for me to roll back out, but ... worth it.
I open my eyes and smile at my boss. “Have one. I know everyone thinks Mason Raker is extra tasty.” Everyone but me, I don’t add. I’ve never had the displeasure of meeting him in person, but from what I’ve heard of him, I can confidently say that Mason is sexy as sin and arrogant as all the Instagram influencers rolled into one.
I push the box towards Cecelia. She makes the sign of the cross and scooches back away from me on the lime-green couch, as if calories might be airborne.
“Stop tempting me, devil child.”
“Hey, I did an extra twenty minutes on the treadmill to earn this, and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.” I savor the taste a moment more, then swallow and grin at Cece.
“So, what’s the situation? And how can I help?”
She arches an eyebrow. “Well, funny you should mention the Rovers and Mason Raker.”
Uneasiness flutters in my belly. “Uh-oh.”
“Uh-oh indeed. Yesterday, Mason found out that his teammate Dylan Masters is dating his ex-girlfriend, and he did a big uh-oh when he punched Dylan in the mouth in the locker room.”
Oh, not cool. I wince. “Is Dylan pressing charges?”
“No, fortunately. But it was leaked to the press, and now every media outlet on the planet is up Mr. Talman’s butt about it. Mason’s already considered a problem child—he just got out of rehab.”
I nod in agreement. “I remember that. As I recall, he’s a bit of a party boy and that’s not his first fight. He sure can fill out a pair of underwear, though.”
Cecelia’s perfectly plucked eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
