Skating the Line (San Francisco Strikers Book 2) Read online

  Skating the Line

  San Francisco Strikers, book 2

  by Stephanie Kay

  Skating the Line

  Copyright © 2017 Stephanie Kay

  eBook Edition: September 2017

  Edited by Chelsea Kuhel www.madisonseidler.com

  Cover Art by Caitlin Fry

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are a product of the author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Stephanie Kay. www.stephkaybooks.com

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  SKATING THE LINE

  San Francisco Strikers, book 2

  Amanda Pearsall never wanted to put down roots. To trust putting her happiness in someone else’s hands. Her mother tried that—repeatedly—with disastrous results and Amanda is not interested. You can’t get your heart crushed if you bail before it starts beating. Six years ago, she put California in her rear-view mirror and set out to travel the world, one adventure at a time. Eighteen months ago she returned home for a family emergency, and she’s still here, with no departure date in sight. The job she took to tide her over is stifling at best and she needs to get back out there. To throw caution to the wind and live her life on her terms.

  Ben Chester, stoic captain of the San Francisco Strikers, lives and breathes hockey. From the tender age of three when his father strapped a pair of skates on Ben’s feet, hockey has been his life. What could be more enjoyable than being out on the ice and winning with your team? His nickname might be Cheesy, but he has no time for jokes when he’s playing the game he loves. And he has no time for distractions, especially from the media. He learned his lesson years ago to never trust anyone with a press pass, and when he discovers what Amanda does for a living, he wants nothing to do with her.

  Ben knows they are all wrong for each other, no matter how good she feels in his arms. He likes skating in the lines. But Amanda can’t even see them.

  ~*~

  Please sign up for my newsletter for upcoming releases and exclusive excerpts. You can also email me at [email protected] or find me on Twitter or Facebook. For more information, please visit my website, www.stephkaybooks.com. You can also join my reader group on Facebook, Stephanie Kay’s Sassy Strikers. We discuss books, romance, dessert, and hockey butts.

  Dedication

  To my mom, the strongest woman I know.

  You prove that every day with every new adventure you’ve taken since dad passed.

  I’m so glad you finally get to travel the world.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Book

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  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

  Excerpt from Breakout

  About the Author

  Book Signings

  Books by Stephanie Kay

  Acknowledgements

  There are so many people to thank that I don’t know where to start.

  To Chelsea Kuhel, my awesome editor, thank you for polishing up my writing and catching every word I missed. And I’m so sorry for not listing you in the acknowledgements in Unmatched. See what happens when I don’t list the acknowledgements in the version of the book I send to you!

  To Iveta Cvrkal, proofreader extraordinaire, thank you for finding every comma I missed…I hate commas!

  To Caitlin Fry, my fantastic cover artist. This cover is perfect for Ben and Amanda.

  To Samantha Wayland for getting me hooked on hockey. Bet you didn’t think I’d get this obsessed this quickly! Can’t wait for our next hockey road trip, you know, for research purposes. Maybe we can run into another AHL team on the road and recognize them by their outstanding asses.

  To Aven Ellis, for your awesome blurb skills and for helping me try not to over-analyze everything. I’m a work in progress.

  To my critique partner, Susie Warren, thank you for your helpful and speedy feedback.

  To my new and fantastic beta readers, Elaine, Sita, Janel and Megan. Your comments helped immensely and I’m glad you enjoyed Amanda and Ben’s story.

  To the Bergy Babes. Thank God for summer hockey.

  To the Hearties. Thank you for welcoming me into this group of amazing hockey romance authors and for answering all of my questions. I’m sure I will pester you all with each book.

  To my Sassy Strikers. I can’t believe that people want to join my reader group and talk about my books! I know you’re just here for the hockey butts.

  To the members of Rhode Island Romance Writers, New England chapter of RWA, New Hampshire chapter of RWA, and all the writers I’ve met in the last decade, thank you for your workshops, conferences, and critiques. I’ve learned so much since I joined RWA. I shudder to think of how horrible that first historical romance is in comparison to my writing now.

  To my mom. You and Dad showed me how to have a successful 40+ year marriage through laughter and affection. You’ve also shown me that even in grief, you can become the strongest woman I know. So glad you are finally able to travel the world and have a social life I envy!

  To my amazing in-laws, thank you for letting me watch your hysterical Italian family for the last 10+ years. I still think about that first Christmas Eve. After everyone gorged themselves on seafood for dinner, my mother-in-law asked if anyone was hungry, and the family sat down to a lasagna she just had in the fridge and dove in…at eleven p.m.

  To my family for always encouraging me to go after my dreams and for your unwavering support, even if most of you don’t read romance novels…I’ll forgive you for that last indiscretion.

  And of course, to my husband, John, for more reasons than I can count. You were the one who encouraged me to get back to writing when I was laid off from my day job in 2008. Probably so I would leave you to your books and guitars. Chicken has dried out on the grill and sweet potatoes have been burned because I was working on a scene instead of focusing on dinner, but you never complained…well, not that loudly. And you agreed to let me live out my romance dreams and get married over the anvil in Gretna Green, Scotland, even if you did refuse to wear
a kilt. Thank you for loving my craziness and putting up with discussions about the characters in my head not doing what I want them to.

  And to my readers, thank you for taking the chance on a new author. I hope I make you laugh out loud and follow your heart.

  Please sign up for my newsletter for upcoming releases and exclusive excerpts. You can also email me at [email protected] or find me on Twitter or Facebook. For more information, please visit my website, www.stephkaybooks.com.

  Chapter 1

  First solo trip overseas and yes, I did agree to tandem jump with a stranger, off a bridge in Costa Rica. Take your adventures where you can. Trying something new can be exhilarating.

  ~ Adventurous Amanda, August 2011

  “Tell me again why we’re here? I mean, I know why I’m here,” Penny said, her eyes focused on the ice as her boyfriend skated past, sending her a wink before knocking a puck into the net.

  “If you’re done mentally stripping Ethan, I was just about to explain,” Amanda said, grinning at the flush staining her best friend’s cheeks. Not that she could blame Penny. There was a ton of hotness out on the ice.

  “If you knew what was going on under there, you’d be stripping him, too,” Penny shot back, her cheeks flaming brighter and Amanda didn’t hide her chuckle. She loved how happy her friend was. It was about damn time.

  And it wasn’t like she didn’t know what was going on under those uniforms. She’d seen more than enough images online portraying one ripped hockey player after another. Not that she was scoping out anyone in particular. Nope. Definitely not number thirty-three. She turned her focus back to her friend, the cool air in the arena a welcome relief.

  “So you pitched a hockey article to a lifestyle magazine and you don’t even like sports?” Penny asked, her quizzical expression justified when she stated it that way.

  “I know. Totally random. But I’m so freaking bored and I threw out the idea to Betsy a few days ago and she jumped on it like a person on a diet who hasn’t tasted a donut in ages. Which, in her case, is pretty damn accurate. Nothing good comes from that much kale.”

  Penny wrinkled her nose, and Amanda laughed.

  “I’m still amazed you’ve lasted over a year working for that woman,” Penny said. Amanda had shared her fair share of horror stories about her boss, dragon editor-in-chief.

  “It’s been over eighteen months. Aren’t you proud?”

  “You haven’t stayed in one place for this long since college.” Penny leaned in, wrapping her arm around Amanda. “And I know you’re itching to travel again, but I selfishly want you to stay put.”

  “I know. And I’m glad I’m here, but I’m hoping these articles serve a dual purpose. Mainly, getting Betsy to give me more articles, and to weasel my way in to the travel department.” Sure, it wasn’t ideal. She’d rather go back to traveling the globe, but without a steady stream of income, her ideal was impossible.

  Her salary as an editorial assistant for San Francisco Life only covered her basic expenses, with little left over, and she did not want to be an assistant forever. After traveling to more locations than she could count, being chained to a desk for the last eighteen months was torture. If she could find a way to move from editorial assistant to travel staff writer, she’d at least be able to get a portion of her trips covered by the magazine. They preferred to stay stateside, but a few times a year they covered exotic locales. That’s what she was aiming for.

  “And this article is going to do that?” Penny asked.

  “This isn’t just a sports article. It’s a four-part series about activities tourists can do in the city that aren’t super touristy. Everyone knows to visit the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, take a cable car ride, and shop at Fisherman’s Wharf, but my articles will be different. What to do around the city as a local. Spots you won’t find in a travel guide.”

  “Sounds interesting.”

  “I hope so.” It was a puff piece at best, but it was a start. “And who wouldn’t want to visit the city and take in a hockey game?”

  “They are fun to watch,” Penny said, staring back at the ice. Ethan skated over and blew Penny a kiss before heading back to the locker room to wait for the game to officially start.

  Amanda chuckled at her friend’s sigh. “Not everyone gets to fall in love with a hockey player.”

  “It’s the best way to go,” Penny said, with a grin. “Okay, so tell me more. I swear I’m listening.”

  Amanda shook her head. “Anyway. I’m focusing on all the local pro sports teams, but baseball season hasn’t started, and football just ended. And I like hockey. This isn’t even my first game this season,” Amanda said, scoping number thirty-three as he skated by.

  “Uh huh. Sure you do,” Penny said, but Amanda ignored her and focused on the ice.

  They’d arrived early for warm-ups, but really it was so Penny could watch Ethan skate around with no helmet on. Not that Amanda could blame her. So many gorgeous guys in one place and they chose to cover up their faces. Apparently, a stray hockey puck to an unguarded forehead before the game started was not something the players were on board with.

  Safety over pleasing their fans. Hockey players were so selfish. She laughed at herself, remembering that exact conversation she’d had with the team captain a few months ago. The night she’d pathetically flirted with Ben, Captain Cheesy. A nickname that definitely didn’t fit the overly serious man.

  Of course, shortly after that, he’d given her a ride home and shocked the hell out of her with an all-consuming kiss that had rocked her to the tips of her boots. A kiss that wouldn’t leave her thoughts and that she desperately wanted to repeat…and repeat…and repeat again. But he’d avoided her like the plague ever since.

  He was a walking contradiction. Quiet, awkward, serious to a fault, but he kissed with a commanding, take charge attitude that she’d gladly relinquish control to. And she rarely gave up control to a man, if ever. She didn’t know how to read him, but she wanted to strip him down and climb his gorgeous body like a tree.

  “But do you know enough to write an article?” Penny asked, cutting through all thoughts of Captain Cheese and that kiss. His mouth on hers, stealing every breath and brain cell she had. How he’d leaned down to kiss her because of his giant stature. She fought back the shiver and pushed the memory aside.

  “That’s why I have you. Now that you’re an expert, you can help,” she said, turning her pleading eyes on her friend.

  She wouldn’t tell Penny she’d pitched the article just to have an excuse to see Ben again. Or that she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Or his lips pressed to hers, his tongue sweeping away all cognizant thought. No. She definitely wasn’t here for that. It was all about the game.

  ***

  A short while later, the guys were back on the ice. The anthems were sung and the first period started. Amanda turned her focus to the game as the object of her fantasies skated past again, the puck on his stick, his body shifting with each glide on the ice. It really was a thing of beauty.

  “Do you want my book?” Penny asked, pulling Amanda from her drool-worthy thoughts.

  “I should be good. It’s more of a surface piece. Getting tourists to experience more of the city,” she said. Ethan had given Penny Hockey Made Easy, a book to help her understand the sport. Penny’s love of facts was not a secret. It was adorable, and Penny had blasted through the book, becoming an expert in no time.

  “Well, I can answer most of your questions. Or you can ask the guys after the game. Are you coming out tonight?” Penny asked, then popped a pretzel bite in her mouth.

  “Probably not. Talking to the players isn’t something that everyone would be able to do, so I’m just going to base it on my observations. And maybe I’ll cite you as a reference.”

  “Back up. You’re passing up a night out with hot hockey players? Are you feeling okay?” Penny asked, reaching up to put her hand on Amanda’s forehead.

  Amanda leaned back. “Very funny, P
enny. I’m fine. Just have a few posts I’m working on for my own blog that I need to finish tonight.”

  “You work too much.”

  Amanda laughed. “Says the workaholic.”

  “I’ve been much better about that,” Penny said, her eyes glued back to the ice.

  “So true. At least he’s good for something,” Amanda said, grinning. She could kiss Ethan for bringing her friend back to life. Friends for a decade, since Penny had stumbled into their shared dorm room the first day of college, Amanda had never seen Penny this happy. It was about damn time.

  “He’s good for a lot of things,” Penny said, wistfully.

  “Oh, do tell.”

  Penny’s cheeks bloomed a brilliant red. “Nope. We were talking about you working too much.”

  “I’d rather talk about this article. So, explain hockey to me, again.”

  “Just watch. You’ll catch on. Just follow the puck,” Penny said.

  “They’re so freaking fast,” she said, turning her attention back to the ice.

  “They’re amazing,” Penny said, that wistful tone back as she watched Ethan.

  Amanda tried to focus on the puck, on the guys skating up and down the ice. She wanted to go out with them tonight. She always wanted to go out. Being the life of the party was her M.O., and she’d perfected it over the years. But she had to write. Adventurous Amanda might be landlocked, but if she wanted to keep her subscribers interested, she had to dig deep for compelling content. She needed to plan a getaway outside of California in the very near future to give them something.

  “Come on, Ethan.” Penny’s voice cut through Amanda’s thoughts, as did Penny’s grip on Amanda’s arm.

  Amanda looked up just in time to see Ethan streaking down the ice, Cheesy in line with him.

  Cheesy was pure speed and power on the ice. It was hot as hell. She’d bet anything that his face was pure determination. He’d looked at her with that same face right before he’d kissed her. She tamped down the shiver that rocked through her, the shiver that had nothing to do with the chilled temperature in the arena.