He's on the defense against love but scoring in the O zone is so much fun… Owen Cook I have one goal: To be the best hockey player I can be. I’m not going to waste the opportunity I have. All my focus is on hockey. I avoid distractions like women and relationships during the hockey season, but when a quirky subway busker asks me out on a fake date, somehow I’m intrigued enough to accept. Emerie Ross I gave up my music dreams to look after my half-sister. I don’t want her to feel as alone and neglected as I did after our mother died. But my ex-boyfriend is still trying to win me back and now my stepfather is helping him. Gah! I’d rather drink bleach than marry Roman Moretti. If they think I’m involved with someone else, maybe they’ll give up on that idea. All I need is a man…a date for a party. Owen When Emerie introduces me to her wicked stepfather (ha) I realize I’ve made a huge mistake. He’s my boss—the man who owns the team I play for. And he’s not happy to see me with Emerie. Can you say career ending move? Emerie Oops. I hate hockey. How was I supposed to know who Owen is? How are we going to keep Vince from trading him away? How am I going to make sure I stay happily un-married? We’re going to have to keep up this pretense even if it means me going to hockey games. Ugh. Even if it means disrupting Owen’s rigid routines. Even if it means everything gets a lot more complicated…

A hookup doesn’t have to mean just once. Right? Brandon Smith Keep it easy. Keep it fun. Never hold on. That sums up my relationship goals, with hockey teams and with women. I learned early on that love and family equals fights and heartache. So I’m always moving on to the next team, the next hookup, before things turn sour. When I meet Lola at a tropical beachside bar, it’s the perfect set up for a little hot vacation sex. She’s gorgeous, funny, and most importantly, leaving for home tomorrow. But this time, I have a sinking feeling I’ll be sorry to see her go. Lola McGrath I knew after that night in Aruba I’d never see Brandon again. That’s fine; I’m too busy vying for the corner office to make time for relationships. But when our paths cross again in New York, our sizzling attraction leads to “just one more night”. Then another. And another. We never meant to become friends with this many benefits. Especially the one neither of us ever expected—or thought we wanted.

Single dad Nate Karmeinski can’t lose his five-year-old daughter. But a hockey player with a travel schedule needs a nanny…and his annoying next-door neighbor needs a job…