Two rivals, one secret, and a shot at forever…
Length: 70,000 words Series: Elmwood Stories, #6 Genre: contemporary, sports Tropes: Light-angst, hockey, enemies-to-lovers
Jake
Favorite things and peeps: hockey, family, friends. Least favorite person in the entire history of the universe: Mason Trinsky. I have my reasons, but since you’re curious, Trinsky is a showboat and a loudmouth. Sure, he’s a great athlete. Good for him. I accept that we have mutual friends, and I grudgingly accept that he’ll be a coach at Elmwood Junior Camp this summer—however, I plan to keep my distance. Of course, some wise guy pairs us up for a camping expedition, and everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Guess who I’m stuck with? Trinsky Favorite things and peeps: hockey, surfing, and my kid brother Least favorite person in the entire history of the universe: Jake Milligan Look, I might be in the minority, but if you ask me, Jake is a nitpicking diva who wants everything his way. I hope my NHL team crushes his, and this summer, I want my campers to out-prank his. Childish? Nah, it’s all in good fun. Until it starts to feel…complicated. I shouldn’t care if he’s happy, should I? I don’t want to be Jake’s friend. I don’t want to have feelings for him at all. The only thing that matters is hockey. It’s all about the puck. Not love. Or is it? Puck Love is an MM bisexual, small-town romance featuring hockey’s hottest rivals, a hiking trip gone wrong, and a shot at forever…
Look, I was no mathematical genius, but I quickly deduced that we had a big problem. One tent and two guys left…Milligan and me. I released an exhausted sigh—the kind that originated from my toes—as I mentally sorted through my options. First come, first serve, right? One of us would have to cuddle up elsewhere. Not me. I grabbed my backpack, ducked inside the low-slung tent, and— “Sorry, this one is taken,” Jake said, eyes glued to his cell, head propped on his hand as he lay on his side. My gaze stalled on his broad shoulders and the curtain of blond hair covering his forehead. I expected a flare of rage at his hoity-toity attitude and maybe at myself for not sussing out that the sleeping arrangements were fucked. “Yeah, I don’t think so,” I huffed. “What the hell happened here? We were supposed to split up between our people. My people got sick, and that means I get this tent to myself and you get to snuggle up with those two…over there.” I gestured wildly, frustration growing by the second. And why couldn’t I stop gaping at his biceps? His fucking T-shirt was too snug, and I was going to tell him that as soon as he showed his ass out the door. Jake dropped his cell next to his pillow and cast a weary look my way. “Dream on.” “Well…you can’t stay here,” I whisper-hissed. “This is mine. Get out.” He groaned and mumbled something that sounded like, “I wish” as he turned off the lantern. I blinked like a newborn owl in the dark. “I’m serious, Milligan. I’m not sharing with you.” Jake chuckled humorlessly. “Sleep by the fire. It’ll be nice and toasty. And if any bears come around, you can be our alarm.” “This is not a joke. I mean…how do I know you don’t fart in your sleep?” “How do I know you don’t jerk off before bed?” he countered. “I do. I definitely do. In fact, I can’t sleep until I jack the python, so…vamoose.” Jake turned on the light again and leveled me with a scathing no-nonsense glare. “Very fucking funny. Do not jerk off or even pretend to jerk off. It’s been a long-ass day and I’m tired, so just…shut up and go to sleep.” With one last fierce scowl, he rolled to his side. End of sentence.
Lane Hayes lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesn’t mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, who’s pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write. She’s been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yes…romance is much more satisfying! Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolate…in any order. Add a book and she’s set!
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