Aces Hockey

As the captain of the Chicago Aces, Marc Dupuis is all business. The apartment he shares with his teammate and best friend, Duncan, is a refuge from the pressures of fame. But when the sexiest woman he's ever seen interrupts his early morning coffee wearing only a skimpy cami and matching panties, Marc can't exactly say that he minds. Their chemistry is off the charts. Unfortunately, this girl's no random puck bunny. She's Duncan's little sister, and she's moving in. Lovey Armstrong could stare at Marc's chiseled abs and listen to his French-Canadian accent all day. She just has no idea what's going on inside his head: When he's not charming her pants off, Marc makes a Zamboni machine seem warm and cuddly. Lovey knows that the team's bro code says no messing with sisters, but all these mixed messages are hard on a girl's self-esteem, especially since she's finally getting her new life together in Chicago. She decides that he's worth another shot . . . because if anyone can melt the ice around Marc's heart, it's Lovey. Contains mature themes.

The Christmas season always puts a smile on Jenna McFadden's face. Even though she's bringing a boyfriend home for the first time, inside she's dying to see Andrew. Years ago, when the McFaddens took the troubled teen into their home, Jenna had to keep her blazing-hot crush a secret. And now that he's playing pro hockey for the NHL's Chicago Aces, nothing's changed. With his wide shoulders and taut muscles, Andrew's the most tempting package in the house . . . one that Jenna's dying to unwrap. Andrew Ross just can't make a play for Jenna. Her dad and brothers wouldn't approve, and he could never betray the trust of the wonderful people who treated him like family when he lost his own. That's what makes the holidays so hard. Whether Jenna's skating with Andrew on a frozen pond or sitting on his lap while he plays Santa, she's pushing all their boundaries, and there's only so much a man can take. Andrew knows that she's off-limits, but something deep down tells him that Jenna's heart is the one prize he simply has to win. Contains mature themes.

Duncan Armstrong may be an NHL star, but he's a country boy at heart. His ultimate fantasy is going home with the Stanley Cup, not a gold-digging airhead who aspires to be a trophy wife and nothing more. Newly single and hoping to enjoy a night out with his teammates, he ends up hitting it off with a down-to-earth waitress who's a complete breath of fresh air - until Duncan learns that she's a part-time model. He tries to forget about her, but their sizzling chemistry has him coming back for more. Amber is working hard to put herself through school, and has zero interest in dating a professional athlete. She's seen firsthand how fame and fortune can mess with their heads - her father's brilliant football career ended in a firestorm of addiction and infidelity. So Duncan's attentions immediately have her on the defensive. Still, there's something different about him. And once she stops trying to freeze him out, irresistible temptation turns into all-consuming passion. Contains mature themes.

Not only is Jared Rupp one of the stars of the NHL's Chicago Aces, he's also the owner of the Sin Bin, the after-hours hot spot where the whole team hangs out. Lately, Jared can't take his eyes off the woman he's hired to give the Bin a more modern feel: a sexy, sophisticated consultant who has carved out a niche updating drink menus. She's as passionate about her career as Jared is about hockey-and yet he can't help wondering what kind of cocktail she really wants. In her line of work, Sidney Frayne is used to guys hitting on her in bars, but Jared gets her hot enough to burst into flames. When he's wining and dining her, he's sophisticated as hell; on the rink, he's a testosterone-fueled powerhouse. Still, Sidney's bitter divorce taught her to keep her emotions on ice. With her busy schedule-and Jared's playboy reputation-she's not sure she's ready for a fling. Because if she lets Jared into her bed, she just may have to let him into her heart. Contains mature themes.

Tanner Bennet hates weddings. They just remind him that he simply isn't cut out for any kind of healthy, committed relationship-never has been, never will be. After getting rejected by the girl he thought was "the one" all those years ago, he made a huge mistake and married the wrong person. Now that the divorced heartbreaker has reluctantly agreed to be a groomsman for one of his NHL teammates, the last thing he expects is a chance at redemption with the one that got away. After Marc Dupuis of the Chicago Aces hires wedding planner Katelyn Medford, she discovers that her big break comes with a twist: a reunion with her college sweetheart. The way she dumped Tanner still haunts her. Eight years-and three broken engagements-later, Katelyn knows she'll never have that kind of innocent, wide-eyed passion again. Still, she and Tanner soon generate enough body heat to burn up the sheets. And even with Tanner's career with the Aces up in the air, Katelyn's wondering whether the time is right to let him in for real. Contains mature themes.

My name's Max Hall. As a pro hockey player who's been away from the game for over a year, my libido has picked one hell of an inconvenient time to come roaring back to life. After my wife died from a rare form of cancer, sex was the last thing on my mind. Same with hockey, the other love of my life. Now, after fifteen months of eating too much, drinking too much, and generally just feeling sorry for myself, I'm facing a steep uphill battle to get in shape and play my way back onto the Chicago Aces. So I'm not looking for a relationship. Yeah, I know how that makes me sound. But the truth is, I'll never love another woman the way I loved my wife. When I meet a sexy bridesmaid at my teammate's wedding, I decide to scratch that itch. A fling with Kendra Armstrong in her posh hotel room could be just what the trainer ordered. Since she lives in New York anyway, we agree to keep things casual, no strings attached. The arrangement is perfect . . . until one of us falls in love. Contains mature themes.

Chase: The last thing I'd ever want to do is let my team down. After overcoming my bad-boy reputation, I was dominating on the ice. But things aren't going so well this season, and even my parents think I'm partying again. Now I'm really worried about my career. The only bright spot in my life is the Twitter flirtation I've struck up with pop princess Jordyn Banks. Turns out she's a huge hockey fan-and she's willing to wager a date on her favorite team . . .Jordyn: Even though I'm an L.A. fan now, I've always had a soft spot for the Aces, since I grew up in Chicago. Then I lose a bet to Chase Hartman, and suddenly I'm up close and personal with a pro athlete who's anything but soft. Not only is Chase the hottest guy I've ever met, he's secretly super sweet. As if I had time for a relationship . . . yeah, right. But when I suddenly have nothing but time on my hands, he's the only one who understands. Now, with both of our careers at stake, Chase is tempting me to put my heart on the line too. Contains mature themes.

A brooding hockey hunk learns to embrace life-and love-from a single mom who takes the world one puck at a time. Big move . . . Jodie's motto is "Don't wait for the perfect moment-take the moment and make it perfect." And that's just what she decides to do when she moves to Chicago with her two-year-old daughter. Now all Jodie needs is a place to live, and her best friend's boyfriend has just the answer. Big stick . . . Nick Balachov has zero interest in socializing, partying, or flirting right now. It's not that he doesn't like women. He loves them. It's just that hockey, casual hookups, and hanging out at home are enough for him these days. Now Nick has a big problem-because the woman living in his empty coach house is a major distraction. Big deal? The more Nick tries to keep his distance, the more Jodie needs him-around the house, that is. First he helps with the snowstorm, then the power outage. Nick even finds himself trying to impress her little girl. What the hell is wrong with him? Jodie represents everything Nick doesn't want. But maybe she's just what he needs . . . Contains mature themes.

Cam Brickley and his pro hockey teammates bet on everything: who can win five faceoffs in a row, who can do forty pushups in less than a minute, who can eat a ghost pepper without puking. But when his buddies bet him he can't date the same woman-like, say, the hot blonde over at the bar-for two months and not fall in love, he'll take that bet all day. Then he'll laugh all the way to the hockey arena, where they'll be washing his jock straps for the rest of the season, because Cam's never giving up his bachelor lifestyle. Olivia Lockwood, heiress to the Lockwood Industries fortune, is used to people using her for her money and family connections. When Cam Brickley hits on her in a club, Olivia's first instinct is to brush him off. But he couldn't be using her for her money, since he has more than enough of his own. Cam's gorgeous and built, and it would be no hardship to go out with him . . . besides, he'd be the perfect spokesperson for the children's charity she works with. Maybe it's time for her to start using people. Cam and Olivia are both in it for something. What they don't know yet is that they're playing for keeps. Contains mature themes.