Easton: The money, excitement, and glory of being a professional hockey player meant more to me than a family, a home, and a forever. Another man has my forever, and I have hockey. I thought making the big bucks and playing against the best in the world would feel better than this. Instead I’m empty and hollow, like a big piece of my heart was hacked off. There's something missing. Something big. Something I can never get back. Caroline: I loved him, but he wasn’t the love of my life. My husband died too young, too suddenly, too tragically. I was unprepared with no education, no job skills, and no future plans. When a DNA test reveals my twins' true parentage, I have no choice but to do the right thing. I turn to the one man who’d turned his back on me all those years ago. I'd been shutout from his life, and I'd shut him out from mine. Can two strangers make a family? Do we have what it takes to forgive and move on?

Axel: Playing for the Seattle Sockeyes is a dream come true. Yet in less than twenty-four hours, my life is a hot mess, and my dream has turned into a nightmare. It all starts when I have a one-night stand with my teammate's estranged wife, only I'm not aware she's married, let alone his wife. Now she's stalking me, my teammate hates me, and I'm madly attracted to his sister. Not a situation I'd wish on anyone, especially me.

KADEN: My teammates think she's married. I think it's more than that. Other than her name, I don't know anything about her, but I can't get enough of her. She's my obsession, my world, my everything. If only she would let me in, tell me why she's terrified, why she stays in the shadows, why she can't be seen in public. Then, as quickly as she came into my life, she disappears. DELANEY: As the daughter of a powerful politician, I was my boyfriend's perfect alibi until I wasn't. My life is in danger, and I have no choice but to disappear. I met Kaden in a bar, and the attraction was instant. We can't keep our hands off each other, but I'm careful not to tell him too much. He can't know who I am or why I'm running. My safety—and his—depends on it. Then my ex's conviction is overturned, he's out of prison, and witnesses are dying. I have to run again and leave behind the one man I'll never forget. But fate has a way of interfering, and this time, leaving isn't so easy.

Steele: I'm a second-year hockey player for the Seattle Sockeyes. Imagine my shock when I return from a trip to find my former roommate has transferred his lease to my nemesis. She's so annoying I can't stand to be in the same room with her. She pushes all my buttons and is my exact opposite. Despite it all, I want to rip off her clothes and make mad passionate love to her. What is wrong with me? Hyacinth: I'm the free-spirited daughter of a radical activist. I've marched in my share of protests, and saving the world is my life's mission, but lately I'm wondering where my life is headed. When I'm offered the chance to share the lease on a fancy condo only two blocks from my bartending job, I jump on it. Like with most things, this one is too good to be true. My roommate is a finicky, annoying AF hot hockey player I've butted heads with in the past who thinks my causes are ridiculous. He pushes all my buttons, and I never expected to fall for him, but I did.

She's every man's girl next door. I'm the playboy your mother warns you about. I'm the party-boy extraordinaire and perpetual playboy of the Seattle Sockeyes. I thought this was the dream life, but after multiple poor choices, it's all gone too far and I'm about to lose everything. My reputation has been shot to hell, I'm on thin ice with the team, and I'm financially broke AF. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I'm about to agree to the last thing an irresponsible dude like me should ever do. Darcy is the sweetheart of reality TV and every guy's girl-next-door fantasy, but her luster is fading, her show is on the chopping block, and she's now living in my condo. Did I forget to mention she's also my fake girlfriend and soon-to-be fake fiancé? And not a fake girlfriend with benefits, but the hands-off, leave-me-alone except when the cameras are rolling girlfriend. I crave attention and notoriety. She craves stability and love. We both have our secrets...and chemistry. We have a lot of chemistry. Together we're explosive, but explosions have a way of hurting those closest to the blast. And this celebrity match made in heaven is about to detonate.

Andy: I just ended my rookie year with the Seattle Sockeyes in a win-or-go-home game, and we went home. I played a big part in that loss thanks in part to my lack of team play. It's time to lick my wounds, re-examine my role, and come to terms with demons I've been avoiding for too long. I buy an RV and take to the wilderness for a little solitude and lot of soul-searching. Just me, my dog Bones, and nature. There's one problem. My campsite neighbor is a too-cheerful, busy-body camp host. She brings out the worst in me, but I can't stop thinking about sharing a sleeping bag with her. Kennedy: As a brand ambassador for a large RV manufacturer, it's my job to make sure everyone is enjoying their camping experience. Usually I'm quite good at fixing problems and assisting campers until I meet the hot, grumpy hockey player next door. He claims he wants to be left alone; but after one look at his lost expression, I'm certain that's the last thing he needs. To complicate things, we have chemistry, the kind which blazes past all misgivings and singes everyone in sight.

Jasper: I ran away from my family, my upbringing, my background, and her. I made hockey my sole purpose in life and mended my broken heart. We were divorced years ago. Imagine my shock when I find out I'm wrong—about everything. Blaire: I've dedicated myself to being a world-class dressage rider at the expense of the only man I've ever loved. When I discover our divorce was never finalized, I go to Seattle to rectify the mistake only to realize I've never stopped loving him. Our disastrous marriage will be over in three months. There's one problem—do we want it to be?

BRYCE: I'm the guy the entire team loves to hate. Not only am I one of the Sockeyes' best players, but I make sure everyone knows it. No woman has ever held my heart until I meet Tia. She's everything I am, gorgeous, rude, arrogant with a capital 'TUDE, and we're both concealing soul-shattering pain. Together we're fire and ice, a combo I can't resist and one that has me worried I've finally succumbed to the worst four-letter word in the English language—LOVE. TIA: After my mother's tragic death, I've lashed out and driven away everyone who ever cared about me. The pain is so great, I feel I don’t deserve friendship or love. Along comes Bryce. We're kindred spirits. He's as damaged as I am. Out of our grief, something special begins to sprout, but our tendency to destroy anything good in our lives threatens the best thing that's ever happened to us. Only Bryce refuses to give up on us while I'm finding old habits die hard and barricading my heart is easier than opening up and risking being hurt again.

I'm the new guy on the team, and I'm struggling to earn my teammates' respect and forgiveness for the dirt I've slung at the Sockeyes in the past. I played my entire life with my twin brother by my side, even in the pro's. Now I've been traded to the Sockeyes, and my brother has been selected in the expansion draft by the Portland Icehawks. I'm facing the unthinkable, competing against my brother in a game where only one of us emerges the ultimate winner. And that's not my only problem. I've developed a huge crush to one of my teammate's sisters, and he's not taking kindly to my interest in her, especially since he and I have butted heads in the past. She's not interested in me, but I'm not able to walk away. There's something special about her, and I have to find a way to convince her that there's also something special about me, even if her brother hates my guts.

This novella was originally included In the On the Line anthology. I've been called up from minor league hockey to play in the bigs. It's a dream come true until it isn't. I return from a road trip to find my beloved dog Wrigley has been dognapped from the boarding kennel. Before I know what's happening, I've been dragged into a social media storm after my vindictive ex is caught on camera dumping Wrigley in a deserted cul-de-sac on a snowy night. Not only am I being crucified on every social around, but Teddi, the nurse who's rescued Wrigley, refuses to relinquish him. I'm fighting to salvage my reputation and hang onto my hockey career while convincing Teddi that I'm not the uncaring guy my ex claims I am. The last thing I expected was to fall for Wrigley's self-appointed guardian on Christmas Eve.

I've been a backup goalie my entire professional career. I've bounced around from team to team, never staying anywhere long enough to feel at home. When I join the Sockeyes, and their starter is injured for the season, I finally have a chance to prove I belong in the league. My career might be on an upward trajectory, but my personal life is in the dumps. I've become increasingly close to a teammate's estranged and emotionally abused wife, Inga Chowaski, rescuing her from situation after situation, causing friction on the team and disrupting my normally quiet existence. As I resist my growing attraction to the sweet, shy Inga, I have to wonder who's going to rescue me from myself?

You met Juniper in Shutout. Now she gets her story. LEVI: My relationship with Juniper is all fun and games until my heart enters the equation. I'm a rookie pro hockey center who's touted to be a future star in the league. I have a rep to uphold as a player on and off the field. Along comes Junie. She's six years older than me, and there's something to be said about older being better. She's unlike any other woman I've dated, but therein lies the problem. I'm not relationship material. When my battered heart becomes involved, I cut and run. Call me a coward, and you'd probably be right. Caring about someone gives them power to do irreparable damage, and I vow to never again allow anyone that kind of control. JUNIPER: Ever since the divorce from my abusive husband I've been playing the field - and loving it. I'm not interested in a relationship, only a good time. Levi and I have a casual arrangement that suits us both until out of the blue Levi ends it. I've always been able to bounce back and move on, but this time, I can't stop thinking about him and how good we were together. Regardless, he did me a favor. I'm starting a new career as the team chef. I can't afford distractions and he's a huge one. Now I'm forced to see him every day. When he suggests we get back together, I resist on the surface, but deep-down I want him so badly I can't think straight. Still, I have other problems to tackle. Someone's sabotaging my position with the Sockeyes, and I'm certain I know who it is. Despite my convictions to steer clear of Levi, I'm too weak, and we're barreling toward our fate at light speed. I'm not sure we'll survive the crash.