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306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2016
“I adore you, Jules. And I know I’ll adore you even more tomorrow, and more the day after that.”
... A romantic at heart, Max believes in love; he’s just not great at relationships. So when he finally meets a nice girl who’s not blinded by his celebrity, he’s feeling the heat—and the pressure to save her from herself.
Between working two jobs and raising her sister’s kids, Julianne Bradley doesn’t have time for sports—or men. All she knows about Max is that he’s the sexiest customer to ever grace her gas-station counter. And he sees past her tired eyes and makes Jules yearn for things she can’t have: a glamorous fling, a passionate lover, and the time to enjoy both. Max makes her feel like Cinderella, even though Jules has enough baggage to crush a glass slipper. Luckily, he’s no prince—only a fierce competitor determined to win her heart.
“That kiss,” he says, his voice deeper than I’ve ever heard before and his hand tightened its hold on my ponytail.
“Yeah, that kiss,” I agree dreamily.
“Just the beginning, Jules,” he whispers before leaning in one more time and brushing his lips against my temple.
I stand up, now angry at her leap from this article to even remotely hinting I view her that way. “That is not fair, Jules.”
She throws her arms out in frustration. “I know it’s not. But I’m operating on an overload of emotion right now. Give me some latitude.”
… I step in to her, slip my arms around her waist and look right into her eyes. “I’m sorry someone hurt you. It hurts me that you’re hurt.”
She nods in understanding. “I’m sorry I took my bitch-moment out on you.” “I think I can handle it,” I tell her.
Max’s hands come to mine. They grip my fingers and halt my actions.
I look up to him.
“You get my jeans open,” he growls at me, “I’m not going to be able to stop. I’m not a saint, Jules.”
I smile at him, lean in and give him a light kiss. “You are a saint, Max. You’re an absolute saint. But right now… I’m completely fine with you sinning.”
It really didn’t hit me until I walked into this arena tonight with the kids.
My boyfriend plays professional hockey.
My boyfriend is Max Fournier… the starting goalie for the Carolina Cold Fury.
Not once in the past five weeks have I really had that sink in, and it’s probably because Max and I haven’t really spent much time together, but our developing relationship was never about something like that. It was about a man seeing a woman who he wanted to help and lift up, and a woman taking a chance on a man who believed in her.
But here… listening to the fans chant his name or scream at the top of their lungs when he makes a great save… it’s a heady feeling knowing that he’s mine.
That’s the story of Julianne Bradley’s life. Work, sleep. Work, sleep. Work, sleep. Actually, that’s not quite right. It’s more like Work. Sleep. Take care of kids. Work. Take care of kids. Cook and clean for Glenda and kids. Work. Sleep.
I do believe she’s what I’ve been searching for. I do believe she’s what I’m ready for now.
As I sit in the parking lot of Tony’s, I pull my phone out and dial Jules’ number, my heart pounding hard as I wait for her to answer and slightly terrified she won’t.
"I hope that makes it clear to you, I think you’re pretty much a one in a million type of woman, and babe . . . those are a rarity. It was imperative I snatch you up fast before someone else scooped me.”
"Why are you such a good guy, Max?”
“It’s easy for the right girl,” he says back.
“What do you want to do?” he asks, and there . . . right there. I hear it. His voice is low and rumbling with need. Still, I don’t want to assume anything.
“Want to make out?” I ask him with a grin.
“Fuck yeah,” he says with an answering grin and then his hands are on my wrists and he’s pulling me on top of him.
GOLD DIGGER OR CINDERELLA
“So how does one go about meeting a famous hockey star? Because I want to go hang out there.”
“We met at a convenience store where I was working.”
“No fucking way.”
“Yeah . . . two rednecks were harassing me and Max sort of ran them off.”
“Oh my God . . . that’s so romantic.”
“There’s something about you that makes me believe everything is possible.”
“I think you’re pretty much a one in a million type of woman, and babe… these are a rarity. It was imperative I snatch you up fast before someone else scooped me.”
“I have a feeling you have layers upon layers, Jules. I look forward to peeling them.”
“I can’t figure out for the life of me why this enigmatic man who is famour and rich and hot would be sitting here looking at me this way.”
"I want to kiss her until the sun comes up and I want to touch every inch of her skin."
"One in a fucking million."Told in dual POV, Max offers another Cold Fury Hockey winner with witty text, passion, and tender romance. The central theme of family and friendship resonate as these pro-players strive to be their best on the ice and off. I adore the dynamics between these characters. Max and Julianne are unique because Julianne has two children to consider. I adored the commitment Max offers her and the way in which she learns to trust him in every situation.
“And gorgeous too,” Max says with a grin. “I’m gorgeous, right?”
“I’ll give you anything you want, Max,” I tell him quietly. “Anything at all.”
❝ There's something about you that makes me believe everything is possible.❞
❝Why are you such a good guy, Max? ❞
❝It's easy for the right girl,❞ he says back.