Between the Pipes - Linda O'Connor - Wattpad

Story cover for Between the Pipes by lindaoconnor98

Between the Pipes

Reads 285,076
Votes 6,872
Parts 23
Time 2h 52m

Reads 285,076
Votes 6,872
Parts 23
Time 2h 52m

contemporary goalie hockey hockeyromance medical medicalromance romance romcom sexy sports sportsromance texttospeech

Sarah Jain is a family doctor in a hockey-crazy town. She hates hockey. She hasn't gone anywhere near a rink in years, until her friend, the team doctor, calls in a favour. Mike Wallace is the starting goalie for the Clarington Quakes, the local professional hockey team. He's not about to let an injury slow him down or a rookie doctor call the shots.

Sarah and Mike don't respect each other's jobs. When they have to work together, sparks fly and ice melts. Can they play a game they both can win? 

Love on the ice doesn't always go smoothly.

Between the Pipes is the sassy, sexy  book 1 of the In the Game Hockey Romance series. All four books in the series can be read as stand-alones.All Rights Reserved

contemporary goalie hockey hockeyromance medical medicalromance romance romcom sexy sports sportsromance texttospeech

23 parts

Sign up to add Between the Pipes to your library and receive updates

or

#273sportsromance

Content Guidelines

You may also like

Heroine by CassieMay111

She never believed in rescue. But then came the hockey goalie who didn't just see her fire-he stepped into it, willing to burn with her. Book 2- Heroine (Book 1 is 'Figurine' go check it out!!) Tessa "Tess" Navarro learned early that heroes don't come for girls like her. In the city, saving yourself isn't selfish-it's survival. With a father who uses his fists to make a point and two younger siblings looking to her like she's the only shield they've got, Tess doesn't have the luxury of hope. Only grit. Only fire. Only the next fight. She doesn't trust. Doesn't flinch. Doesn't break. Not for anyone. Lucian "Luke" Dawson is Lakehurst's star goalie, the backbone of a team built on loyalty and brotherhood. Hockey is more than a sport-it's his escape, his control, his reason to stay grounded. But when Tess storms into his life-all sharp edges, heavy silences, and bruised knuckles-Luke sees the fracture lines she's desperate to hide. She's built for survival. He's built to protect. But she's not some damsel in distress. And he's not the hero she wants. Still, there's something between them. Something electric. Dangerous. Real. But the past doesn't let go easy. And when the line between protector and protected begins to blur, Tess is forced to decide: can you let someone in without letting everything else fall apart? Because in her world, love is a risk. And being someone's heroine... might cost her everything. "He wasn't scared of my darkness. And for the first time in my life, I wasn't scared of someone else seeing it."

Touch My Neck ✓ by MaFIABooks

"You're on my schedule," he stated, his tone laced with an unusual intensity. "On your schedule?" I questioned, curiously. "We need to have sex." . . . Haunted by a tragic mistake during her residency, Dr. Angel Novak has reshaped her career, trading the hospital for sports medicine. When offered a prestigious fellowship with the world's most renowned hockey team in New York, she sees it as a fresh start, a chance to leave her past behind. Amid the fast-paced world of professional athletes, Angel's focus shifts to rehabilitating players and helping them reclaim their glory on the ice. But one player stands out, rude and distant - Eros Candreva, the team's goaltender. Despite Angel's diligent efforts, he avoids every appointment she schedules for him. As Angel delves deeper into Eros's mystery, she discovers he holds the answers to questions she never knew she had. Drawn together by an irresistible pull, they're entangled in a dance of secrets and unspoken desires. But with her professional ethics at stake, she's forbidden to cross the line between doctor and patient. Yet, as the intensity between them grows, Angel finds it harder to deny her feelings. Beneath Eros's icy facade lies a past as tumultuous as her own, and together, they might find healing. But when the truth finally surfaces, it threatens to shatter their fragile bond.

Fear of Falling by OutOfMyLimit17

{THIS BOOK IS SELF-PUBLISHED!! If you want to read a newer improved version you can read it in paperback or kindle (ku) on amazon!!} Getting stuck in the elevator with a famous hockey player was an accident, but falling in love is a choice. ***** Josie Scott was looking forward to a normal Friday evening of red wine and TV on her couch, but the building elevator had other ideas. Stuck in a tiny space with hockey star Wyatt Boone, they get to know each other to pass the time. But Josie never expected a little flirtation to turn into a steamy romance, an onslaught of paparazzi, and strangest of all: self-acceptance. [[word count: 80,000-90,000 words] Cover designed by Adam Budny {BOOK 1 OF THE FALLING SERIES} {BOOK 2-FEAR OF INTIMACY} {BOOK 3-FEAR OF LOVE}

Center Chase by LA202413

Book 1 of 3 UNEDITED. She's learning to trust. He's learning to love. Together, they're learning the rules don't matter. Lindsey has spent two years in hiding after her best friend and boyfriend's ultimate betrayal. Now she's ready to start fresh-to trust again, to take her life back. Love? That's off the table. Until her brother's teammate and captain skates into her world, making her question everything. Chase has been hockey's golden playboy for five years, but the game has lost its thrill. He's craving something real, something deeper than puck bunnies who only see his jersey. Just when he's about to give up, he meets Lindsey-his best friend's fiercely guarded little sister. She's everything he never knew he wanted, and absolutely everything he can't have. When sparks fly between the off-limits sister and the reformed playboy, both must decide: Is love worth risking everything? Or will the ghosts of their pasts destroy their chance at forever?

Lonely for you only by AyssaJAllen88

Book 1 of the Mayer Familly series After a messy break-up from her NHL all star hockey player boyfriend of 2 years, Allison Mayer winds up from Colorado to New York, a new Job, and a clean slate. She swore off dating athletes, especially hockey players. So the last thing she expected was for Danny Callister, NHL's infamous playboy to be someone she would even care for let alone fall for no matter how charming he was she would do everything in her power to resist but can she? Danny Callister himself is a walking sex god on skates. Women wanted him and Men wanted to be him. Danny always knew he was Hook-up able but commitment unattainable. But one night he locks his eyes on Allison and his whole world turns upside down. Will he change for her? Will she even believe that? Will she be able to trust again? will he be able to finally give his heart to a woman?

In Pucking Love by aveeywrites

Everyone knows the number one rule in the locker room: Don't even look at the coach's daughter. But Maddie Blake has never been great at following rules. After years of living in her dad's shadow, legendary head coach of the NHL's top team, she's finally back in town, older, bolder, and completely over hockey... or so she tells herself. Then she meets Levi Hunter. Captain of the team. League MVP. NHL's golden boy. And the one guy her dad has literally warned every player about. He's cocky, charming, and stupidly gorgeous. And for some reason, he won't stay out of her way, or her thoughts. What starts as innocent flirting turns into stolen glances at practice, late night texts, and a spark that threatens to become something deeper. In a world where the game comes first, falling for him might just be the riskiest play Maddie's ever made. And in hockey, one wrong move can cost you everything. *closed door romance*

Penalty Kill [NY Hockey #1] by katrinarust

[actively editing] With her nose in books and his brawn getting him nowhere on or off the ice, they find themselves drawn together, sharing their baggage and learning what it might mean for each of them to love again. Jake Bryers is no stranger to the pressures of being a professional hockey player. It's something that he's dealt with consistently for the past fifteen years. Throughout his career, he's experienced it all-the electric thrill of winning divisions and conference titles, and even making it to the Stanley Cup Finals on more than one occasion. His dream was always to skate the cup at least once, but as he enters the late stage of his long, tumultuous career, he finds himself struggling to perform like he once had as a younger, inspired player. Harper Clark has been proficient at one thing throughout her life-constantly moving forward without really going anywhere. After having moved to the Big Apple to pursue a better life outside of the dangerous one she found herself leading in the Midwest, she finds herself stagnating after getting her degree from Columbia. She quietly enjoys her job at the public library, treading water while the undeniable feeling of discontent grows stronger within her. It's nothing short of fate when Jake and Harper happen to cross paths at the library, and though their lives couldn't be any more different, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another as they try to navigate mending each other's wounded hearts.

A Fire Like This (Mature Jocks Series #5) by mirabrendanauthor

FREE STORY. PAID BONUS CHAPTERS. When a devastating injury threatens the career of Terence Tiles, the superstar goalie for the Seattle Kraken, the foundation of the life he meticulously built over eight years crumbles. Overwhelmed, he retreats from everyone - his best friends, family, coach, team, and the essence of life itself. In a crucial moment, Terence's loyal friends step in to break his isolation. Ivy Martins, a woman of indomitable strength and ambition, striking fear among athletes and sports agencies. Renowned in the NHL, NBA, and NFL, Ivy stands as an award-winning author, psychology expert, and therapist specializing in athletes leading double lives and grappling with mental challenges. Despite her firm decision to steer clear of love, especially with athletes, she's inexplicably drawn to Terence - finding him not only interesting but also irresistibly sexy and infuriating and she hates those facts. But what happens when this strong, ambitious woman develops feelings for this particular Athlete? Will she embrace this unexpected connection, risking her heart for the sake of a different kind of victory, or will she adhere to her resolve, potentially denying both of them a chance at something extraordinary? As the narrative unfolds, orchestrated by an intriguing setup, it reveals new insights, embarks on thrilling adventures, fosters healing, and sets ablaze a love that burns like fire. This gripping tale marks the grand finale of the Mature Jocks series, promising a conclusion brimming with emotion and passion.

Off the ice, into my heart by demiialexandra

Book two in the Westbridge U series Emma Carver has always relied on herself. Growing up with a single mother and a little brother who depended on her, she learned early that love wasn't always enough to keep a family together. Now, as a freshman cheerleader at Westbridge University, she's focused on her future-on making something of herself, no matter how many hours she has to put in. She doesn't have time for distractions, especially not the easygoing, maddeningly charming hockey player who seems determined to get under her skin. Nate Gregori has spent his whole life reading between the lines. With parents who gave him a stable home and a sister who looks up to him, he knows what real love is. And when he meets Emma, he sees beyond her carefully crafted walls-the strength she wears like armor, the vulnerability she refuses to show. She pushes him away at every turn, but he's never been one to give up easily. Thrown together by circumstance and drawn together by something neither of them can deny, Emma and Nate fight the pull between them. But falling in love means risking everything, and Emma's not sure she's ready to take that leap. Can Nate show her that some risks are worth taking? Or will fear keep her from the one thing she never thought she needed-him?

The Goalie's Good Luck Charm by still_just_me

After a one-night stand flips a grumpy hockey goalie's bad luck, he pursues his team's new dental assistant to rebound his abysmal season. One night, fake names, and no strings. Just a reckless escape from the numbers that dictate my life. Now, he thinks I'm his lucky charm. Transplanted to San Francisco, I'm free to steer my life's ship. But with Type 1 Diabetes, every day is a new challenge for normalcy, and a year of sleeping on my sister's boyfriend's couch, cleaning kids' teeth, is not living. One last bite tips me over the edge. I don't want a plan. I want a distraction. Enter the broody, stranger at a hotel fundraiser-the perfect one-night release until morning comes, and I flee in panic. Forgetting him is challenging, but my luck turns when I land a specialist dentist's assistant job. It's for the San Francisco Bears, a pro hockey team, where, unfortunately, my steamy one-night stand is the team's notoriously grumpy goalie. He's in the middle of a career-ending slump, and his sexist coach is looking for any reason to fire the "distraction" in the dental office. I need this job to survive. To afford life-saving medicine. Connor needs me to win. He's convinced that our night broke his losing streak. Now, he's haunting my dental chair, insisting I'm some key to turn his season around. He's stubborn, obsessive, and looks way too good in a jersey. But the Coach and GM are watching. If our secret gets out, my new life will be the next thing to crash and burn. I have to prove that luck has nothing to do with it... before I lose my job, my health, and the one man I was never supposed to see again. 18 + for explicit sexual content #1 sports, #1 spicy Story is complete.

A Heart Like This (Mature Jocks Series #2) by mirabrendanauthor

FREE STORY. PAID BONUS CHAPTERS. ❝What started with a revenge sex, becomes something even more addictive than meth.❞ One buried childhood memory, One lust-filled one-night-stand and One Iconic Defenseman. Walking in on your cheating boyfriend on your birthday is terrible, having revenge sex with a pro hockey player is even more terrible, and even more, when that pro hockey player happens to be her childhood first kiss, a memory she's buried forever. You know who Nick Stones is. A man with a big heart, an Iconic Defenseman, a loyal best friend and teammate, an incredibly sexy and off-the-bunny-business man. But he is no saint in bed.......... When Nick finally decides to do bunnies, he finds himself painstakingly addicted to the hot, bold and fierce Brittany Cole. He wants more, needs more. But Brittany is strong-headed and holding back, giving him only one thing- sex. No cuddles, phone calls or texts..... But the lines begin to blur...... And Nick's heart is patient....... Will it all just be a mere addiction or will She give in and give love a second chance? A Sexy Hockey Player with a moral code and a mysterious past meets a mischievously beautiful woman who just might be the girl in his dreams and clouded past...... A Heart Like This Mature Jocks Series - Book 2 Highest Rankings: #1 - seattle #1 - loveletters #1 - soulmates #1 - girl #1 - icehockey #1 - hot #1 - athlete

The Cross Effect ✓ | Northridge Series # Book 2 by whathepeach

Alex swore no hockey player would ever touch her, especially not Jaxon Cross-the campus playboy known more for his bedroom skills than his game. But when a no-strings hookup pact turns into something deeper, she's forced to choose between keeping it casual or risking her heart. ------- Alex loves sex... maybe a little too much. Her last hookup left her dry spell even drier, and she's convinced no guy can ever satisfy her until Jaxon Cross. Jaxon is Northridge's hockey golden boy, though his real reputation has nothing to do with the ice. Rumors of his bedroom skills spread faster than campus gossip, and while he secretly hates the image he's built, he can't escape it. When Alex and Jaxon cross paths, sparks fly-but not the good kind. She can't stand him, and he's addicted to the way she looks at him like he's the worst kind of mistake. Then Jaxon overhears her venting about her lackluster sex life... and makes her an offer she doesn't expect: a no-strings hookup pact. Alex doesn't do hockey players, especially ones with reputations like his. But eventually, curiosity wins. And what starts as a physical arrangement quickly turns into something neither of them bargained for. Because Jaxon doesn't just satisfy her body. He makes her laugh, surprises her with his sweetness, and shows her a side no one else gets to see. The more Alex falls, the more terrified she becomes. She swore this was only about pleasure. He wants more. And now she has to decide if she's brave enough to want it too. This is the second book in the Northridge Series.

Defying You and Me (Oakwood University Hockey book 3) by HennieMonroe

Jade Santos has watched her best friends fall in love over the past year but have yet to find that spark with anyone. She's way too focused on her academics to have time for that, anyway. But then, transfer student, eternally confident, yet incredibly handsome Rome Washington sits next to her in her favorite class, and he intends to stay. Despite her attraction towards him, she fights her feelings, trying her best to keep him at an arm's length. But even the best built walls crumble in the end and when he proposes an arrangement that will get her best friends off her back about dating.... will she say yes? Rome Washington was the best player at Toronto University before their hockey program lost their funding, and all the students were transferred. He never wanted to live in Boston, but here he is, trying to make the best of the situation. Befriending Jade Santos started as a fun challenge, but now he can't seem to get enough of her attention and when she needs his help, he offers a solution that's not only unconventional, but also intriguing. One moment in a closet is all it takes to kick-start something they're both not prepared to entertain. But will they be able to resist? //♡ This is an interconnected stand-alone. That means it can be read on its own, but is a part of a bigger universe. References to situations that happens in book one and two will be made, so if you want to read more about those, check out book 1 and 2. ♡//

Shot on Goal by emmaroseszalai

Joelle Morrow has her focus set on the future. As an up-and-coming lingerie designer, she's overcome multiple setbacks on the road to achieving her dream of opening her own boutique but has yet to be knocked down, leaving her no time to think about her lack of a love life. That is, until Sebastian Brookes walks into the pub where she's bartending and immediately catches her eye. As the newest addition to the Boston Knights hockey team, Sebastian is back in his hometown and ready to prove to the world he deserves a spot in the big leagues. Despite fumbling their first few encounters, Joelle and Sebastian are unable to deny their mutual attraction and begin to date, but quickly realize that keeping their eyes on the prize is hard when trying to navigate a new relationship. Not only are they dealing with conflicting priorities and intensifying pressure, but with Joelle on the seam of everything she's ever wanted and Sebastian suddenly sidelined, they're faced with an arduous decision. Do they choose to hit the brakes and concentrate on their own careers or fight for a chance at love?

Silent Temptation ✔️ || 18 + by lustenvy

First draft • completed • Cliche She was supposed to leave him behind. Instead, he followed her home-with a grin and a proposition she can't refuse. • • • Leon and Charlottes story (can be read as a standalone but is part of a series - read sinful liabilities first if you want to) • • • Leon Collins has an uncanny resemblance to temptation - and Charlotte Hudson knows better than to touch it twice. As maid of honour to her best friend and sister-in-law-to-be, Charlotte's only job is to keep the wedding week flawless. But that's easier said than done when the best man is Leon: her brother's best friend, her best friend's brother, and the one mistake she swore she'd never make again. They danced too close once - too drunk, too messy, too young, and far too unforgettable. Now they're walking down the aisle together, tension simmering under every glance, every brush of skin, every drunken confession that never should've left her lips. When the week ends, Charlotte thinks she's leaving the past - and him behind for good. She's wrong. Because Leon Collins just got traded to her new team. Now he's in her office, in her space, and in her head - all charm, smirks, and a proposition that shouldn't sound as tempting as it does. One rule. No feelings. Just a physical arrangement to burn off the heat neither of them can seem to ignore. But desire this dangerous doesn't play by the rules. And the closer Charlotte gets to Leon, the more her carefully built walls begin to crack. She promised herself she'd never fall for him again. But Leon Collins has always been the one risk she can't resist.

Cruel King | 18+ by BrookeBennett_

[18+] COLLEGE ICE HOCKEY ROMANCE *~*~* Conrad Taylor is an asshole - everyone knows that. But when you're the star player of the hockey team, your father is one of the richest men in the country, and you have the looks of a tortured fallen angel, not many people seem to care. He certainly doesn't, not when he's too busy riding around with a visible chip on his shoulder. And boy, are they nice shoulders. *~*~* Sophie Pritchett craves normalcy after a lifetime of self-imposed isolation. With her dad's support and her therapist's gentle encouragement, she finally feels ready to step out into the world - or at least into a shared off-campus apartment with a few strangers. Tentatively, of course. Totally doable, right? Only it's not that easy. The girls aren't for the faint-hearted, and that's exactly what Sophie is. Her struggles with personal boundaries and social settings make it more than obvious that she's weird - and that's not including her strange obsession. When the hockey team starts volunteering at the hospital where Sophie teaches art therapy, she suddenly has the perfect excuse to feed that obsession - one that just happens to have Conrad Taylor written all over it. But when an unlikely friendship begins to form between Sophie, Conrad, and Casey - a witty little boy who's been dealt an unfair hand in life - Sophie learns there's a lot more hidden beneath the rude, sarcastic, and cold exterior of Conrad. Maybe he's just a broken little boy with a heart that feels too much. *~*~* Grumpy/Sunshine - Bad boy/Good girl - hates everyone except her Romance with a Brooke Bennett spin on it😜 Book 2 in the Campus Kings Series, but can be read as a STAND-ALONE. Mature 18+ (Language, content, all that good stuff) Enough character development to turn the devil back into an angel. New chapters every Wednesday and Sunday. *Big Fat Smooch* Good to see you again, my lovelies.

Not So Alone (West Coast College Book 1) by BeccaRuth_

tw's: descriptions of r*pe, eating disorders, panic attacks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I had to flee. To escape. I couldn't take the pain of people telling me to be okay. That I was a survivor. But what about me being a victim? All because a few people refused to hear me when I said no. Now I carry around pain, fear, a disgusting feeling that is also there. Behind me. In the shadows. But maybe he'll be the light. ------------------------- This is a hockey player x gymnast college romance. A sunshine x grumpy, little forced proximity, he hangs the stars for her romance book where he would do anything to make her feel safe again

A Love Like This (Mature Jocks Series #1) by mirabrendanauthor

FREE STORY. PAID BONUS CHAPTERS. ❝Our eyes met, Our bodies touched, Our hearts fell.....all the way down in love,❞ A Shy Senior Year College Girl A Pro Hockey Player with a track record of bunny scandals....... When your brother is a star hockey player and your sister is a Hollywood actress, everyone would want to hang out with you, to live your life, to have you hook them up with your hot brother, to take pictures with your sister. This is the life of twenty year old Liz Summers, a final year college student. After being dragged to a hockey game by her best friend, Liz witnesses her brother's first loss to a new team in the new season. Jason Summers has never lost a game since his draft, so he takes a personal hatred to the guy who scored the winning shot for the opposing team, Aaron West. Liz and her brother have several arguments, but Liz's bestie pushes her to do what her heart wants. And what does her heart want? To be with Sex god and Pro Hockey Player, Aaron West. The relationship between Liz and her brother gets even more tense when she starts seeing Aaron, but she can't seem to stop herself from seeing him, neither can he. When Aaron meets Liz, he introduces her to a whole new world outside the walls of her overprotective brother, a world of sincere passion, love and mind blowing sex. In anger, He takes his fight with Aaron on the ice, an incident that nearly ruins Aaron's professional career. Will Aaron choose his career over Liz? Or can they have both, his career and their undemanding love? A Love Like This. Mature Jocks Series - Book 1 Highest Ranking: #1 - hockey #1 - icehockey #1 - goodgirl #1 - youngromance #1 - drama #1 - athlete #2 - romance #123 - Love

The Secret of You and Me (Oakwood University Hockey book 2) by HennieMonroe

Arden James is not looking for anything serious. She wants something fun and flirty without all the strings attached. Owen Nash, the charming, hockey-playing best friend of her best friend, fits all those criteria's and is willing to play. But when things get a little too serious for her liking, she breaks it off and swears she's once again never going back to hockey players. That's easier said than done when Owen's always around.. Owen Nash has a plan: finish senior year, get the ladies out of his system, and head to Nashville to become the hockey star he's always wanted to be. But then Arden James bursts into his life like a firecracker, and suddenly his heart has a mind of its own. He should stay away, but there's something about the loud, outgoing girl that tells him that she's hiding a deeper, much darker, story - one he's dying to unravel. Together they make a chaotic match, that probably would've been better off without existing. But they do say that the heart wants what it wants.. // This is an interconnected stand-alone, but there will be things talked about and referenced that happens in the first book. If you would like to see more of those moments you should go read "Between You and Me" the first book in the OMUH-series ♡ //

Not So Perfect (West Coast College Book 4) by BeccaRuth_

tw's: cancer and chemo, loss of loved one due to car accident, loss of parent due to suicide, loss of parent due to cancer, descriptions of bad health care experiences, surgeries Tatum Williams has been through it all. She lost her Dad when she was just a kid before meeting her childhood sweetheart who tragically passed away years later, leaving her to deal with her cancer diagnosis by herself. Now, just over four years later, she's healthy and happy-ish, getting her first teaching job right out of school. But everything crumbles around her when she's diagnosed with cancer again, even more aggressive than the last. Mike Nolan is having trouble getting back out onto the ice. After dealing with a head injury that took him out for over a month, Mike can barely tie his skates up without panicking. Worried he'll never be able to play again, Mike reaches out to Tatum, retired World Champion figure skater for help to get back out there. Learning she's dealing with her recent diagnosis, Mike offers to come support her during chemo while she helps him get his confidence back. Not wanting to do this alone for the second time, Tatum agrees. With this new arrangement, both of them battle many fears, unknowingly healing each other's scars. But when feelings get involve, will Tatum be able to let go of her past and will Mike finally start believing that love does in fact actually exist?

You may also like

Slide 1 of 20

Touch My Neck ✓ cover

Fear of Falling cover

Center Chase cover

Lonely for you only cover

In Pucking Love cover

Penalty Kill [NY Hockey #1] cover

A Fire Like This (Mature Jocks Series #5) cover

Off the ice, into my heart cover

The Goalie's Good Luck Charm cover

A Heart Like This (Mature Jocks Series #2) cover

The Cross Effect ✓ | Northridge Series # Book 2 cover

Defying You and Me (Oakwood University Hockey book 3) cover

Shot on Goal cover

Silent Temptation ✔️ || 18 + cover

Cruel King | 18+ cover

Not So Alone (West Coast College Book 1) cover

A Love Like This (Mature Jocks Series #1) cover

The Secret of You and Me (Oakwood University Hockey book 2) cover

Not So Perfect (West Coast College Book 4) cover

Heroine

She never believed in rescue. But then came the hockey goalie who didn't just see her fire-he stepped into it, willing to burn with her. Book 2- Heroine (Book 1 is 'Figurine' go check it out!!) Tessa "Tess" Navarro learned early that heroes don't come for girls like her. In the city, saving yourself isn't selfish-it's survival. With a father who uses his fists to make a point and two younger siblings looking to her like she's the only shield they've got, Tess doesn't have the luxury of hope. Only grit. Only fire. Only the next fight. She doesn't trust. Doesn't flinch. Doesn't break. Not for anyone. Lucian "Luke" Dawson is Lakehurst's star goalie, the backbone of a team built on loyalty and brotherhood. Hockey is more than a sport-it's his escape, his control, his reason to stay grounded. But when Tess storms into his life-all sharp edges, heavy silences, and bruised knuckles-Luke sees the fracture lines she's desperate to hide. She's built for survival. He's built to protect. But she's not some damsel in distress. And he's not the hero she wants. Still, there's something between them. Something electric. Dangerous. Real. But the past doesn't let go easy. And when the line between protector and protected begins to blur, Tess is forced to decide: can you let someone in without letting everything else fall apart? Because in her world, love is a risk. And being someone's heroine... might cost her everything. "He wasn't scared of my darkness. And for the first time in my life, I wasn't scared of someone else seeing it."