Girlfriend…without benefits? Hometown hockey hero, Blake has life completely figured out. He’s footloose and fancy free with the world’s coolest job and an endless parade of puck bunnies ready to help him celebrate his victories. The status quo is working for him, so why does he agree to co-parent a stray puppy with his too-serious, workaholic neighbor, Erika? And why is he so annoyed when she suddenly starts dating some tool named Doug? And why can’t he stop finding excuses to see her and touch her and kiss her and… She’s not his girlfriend, right? Erika has enough on her plate as an ER doctor without adding any more stress to her life. So adopting a dog with Blake, the fun-loving, never-take-anything-serious, commitment-phobe across the hall is a stupid idea, right? Of course, she also probably shouldn’t be his plus-one for charity galas either. Or seeking comfort from him during a thunderstorm. Or kissing his five-for-fighting boo-boos better. Or letting him teach her how to “reduce stress” with her personal toy collection. After all, he’s not her boyfriend. Is he? So what happens when two people reluctant to commit find love where they least expect it… Right across the hall.

This one-night stand is going into overtime. The Stingrays call goalie Coulton Moore their gentle giant. The tall, imposing man is the team’s rock, their steadying influence on and off the ice. However, that mild disposition disappears completely when the beautiful bartender he’s been lusting after from across a crowded bar is attacked. Then, it’s all bets off as he steps in to defend her, protect her, and claim her as his. Ainsley doesn’t have time for any more men in her life. Between serving a rowdy bunch of guys in her family’s dive bar, caring for her ailing father, and dealing with her brother and his ever-growing pile of gambling debt, her cup overfloweth when it comes to the male population. When her brother’s enemies track her down, looking for retribution, a sexy, dominant stranger steps forward to save her. At first, it’s simple enough to accept his help and his kisses and his tantalizing touches because, after a lifetime of crap, she figures she’s due a night of mind-blowing passion with Coulton, the hottest man she’s ever met. The problem begins when morning comes and he informs her what they shared was never going to be just a one-night stand. Nope. Coulton, the stubborn, determined, possessive man is settling for nothing less than her. And forever.