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Aces Hockey #1
Kelly Jamieson
Releasing Oct 13th, 2015
Loveswept
In Kelly Jamieson’s seductive new Chicago Aces romance—perfect for readers of Sawyer Bennett and Toni Aleo—a fun-loving free spirit tempts an uptight hockey star into opening himself up to love.
As the captain of the Chicago Aces, Marc Dupuis is all business. The apartment he shares with his teammate and best friend, Duncan, is a refuge from the pressures of fame. But when the sexiest woman he’s ever seen interrupts his early morning coffee wearing only a skimpy cami and matching panties, Marc can’t exactly say he minds. Their chemistry is off the charts. Unfortunately, this girl’s no random puck bunny. She’s Duncan’s little sister—and she’s moving in.
Lovey Armstrong could stare at Marc’s chiseled abs and listen to his French-Canadian accent all day. She just has no idea what’s going on inside his head: When he’s not charming her pants off, Marc makes a Zamboni machine seem warm and cuddly. Lovey knows the team’s bro code says no messing with sisters, but all these mixed messages are hard on a girl’s self-esteem—especially since she’s finally getting her new life together in Chicago. She decides he’s worth another shot . . . because if anyone can melt the ice around Marc’s heart, it’s Lovey.
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“Oh
my God. What have you done now?”
Lovey
frowned, her cellphone held to her ear. “What kind of greeting is that?”
Her
brother, Duncan, sighed.
Lovey
beamed at the taxi driver as he hauled her last suitcase into the condominium
lobby on East Monroe Street in the Chicago Loop. She shifted the phone away as
she handed him some folded bills so she wasn’t speaking to Duncan. “Thank you
so much.”
He
smiled back at her. “Sure you don’t want me to help get them up to your condo?”
“No,
that’s fine. My brother and his roommate are big strong guys. They’ll help me
with things.” She heard a faint snort on the phone. “Thank you again for your
help.”
He
nodded and chilly air rushed into the lobby as he opened the door and walked
out.
“Where
are you, Lovey?” Duncan asked.
“I’m
standing in your lobby!” She turned a circle in the elegant lobby, taking in
the arrangement of modern furniture and huge potted plants, winter sunshine
flooding through tall windows. “I’m here to stay with you.”
“Uh
. . . why?”
She
briefly bit her bottom lip. “Just felt like coming to see my big brother in the
big city.”
Silence.
“Lovey . . .”
“Can
you come down and help me with my luggage?”
Another
audible exhalation. “I’ll be right down.”
Lovey
smiled. “Thanks, Dunc.” She ended the call and dropped her phone into her
purse. She grabbed her suitcases, but with her purse over her shoulder, her
carry-on balanced precariously on top of one case, and both of the pieces of
luggage huge and heavy, she struggled across the pale stone-tiled floor toward
the elevators in her high-heeled boots. Then the carry-on slipped, pulling her
off balance, tipping the suitcase. She released the other one and fought for
control of the weighty beast, purse falling off her shoulder, throwing her even
more off balance. “Oh, for the love of cheese.”
Her
hair fell across her face and she began to sweat. The sweater and wool pants
were appropriate for Chicago in October, but inside the warm lobby, fighting
with uncooperative luggage, she was getting hot. Also high-heeled boots were
stylish but not exactly helpful when wrestling suitcases.
She
was just getting the suitcase righted when the elevator doors slid open. Then
her other suitcase topped over with a bang. Duncan strolled out, taking in her
flustered state with a long-suffering big-brother look.
Lovey
pushed her hair back and straightened, bestowing one of her highest-wattage
smiles on her brother. She threw out her arms and rushed at him for a hug.
“Hey! So good to see you!”
He
hugged her back, then with a shake of his head and a reluctant smile he set her
away from him. “Good to see you too, Lovey. Still not sure what the hell you’re
doing here . . .” He surveyed her luggage. “With apparently your entire
wardrobe.” He lifted an eyebrow. “But come on up.”
He
grabbed her suitcases, including the carry-on, and headed back into the waiting
elevator. Lovey slung her purse over her shoulder and tapped along behind him.
Easy for him. Big bro was an NHL hockey player—six foot two, two hundred
pounds, big muscles everywhere. One corner of her mouth kicked up. There were
advantages to having a brother who was big. Really big. And strong.
The
doors slid closed and Duncan punched the button for the fourteenth floor.
“Thank
you,” she said gratefully. “Those suitcases weigh a ton.”
“How
the hell did you get on the plane with them? And from the airport to here.”
She
shrugged. “There were always people around offering to help.”
“Guys.”
She
blinked. “Well. Yeah.”
He
shook his head, lips twitching.
“What’s
with the beard?” She touched her own chin with thumb and forefinger. “You look
like a mountain man. I thought you only grew a beard during playoffs.”
He
shrugged. “I got tired of shaving.”
“Duncan!
Eew. No woman is going to find that attractive.”
“Whatever.”
“And
it’s freezing here! Why is it so cold here?”
“It’s
forty degrees,” Duncan said dryly. “And probably not much colder than Madison.”
“But
it’s windy. It is the Windy City.”
“Chicago
is no windier than any other city.”
She
frowned. “But it’s called the Windy City.”
“That
apparently has to do with the long-windedness of Chicago politicians.”
“Huh.”
She tipped her head. “Really? But it is windy today. I’m sure
hundred-mile-an-hour winds.”
He
grinned. “Yeah, Lovey, it’s windy.”
The
doors opened and he let her exit first, but she paused, unsure which way to go.
It was the first time she’d visited him since he’d bought this super lux condo
that had to have cost a gazillion dollars. Nice to have that kind of money.
She’d
felt a few twinges of guilt about arriving unannounced to stay with him, but
she kept reminding herself his condo was huge. He did have a roommate, but
still, there were three bedrooms, so she wouldn’t be putting anyone out. She’d
be sure to stay out of their way. Not interfere with their game day routines.
She’d clean up after herself.
He
led them into his condo and she swept her gaze around, taking it all in.
“This
is gorgeous! Holy cheese-its, Dunc!”
He
grinned. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
Wide-plank
hardwood floors stained a dark chocolate color stretched all through the unit.
Big windows let in bright golden sunshine. She lifted an eyebrow at the
exercise equipment in the dining room instead of a table and chairs. Two big
brown leather couches and a couple of oversized chairs were centered on a
patterned rug in the living room, a big square table in the middle.
She
walked through and turned to the kitchen. Creamy cupboards and granite
countertops formed a U-shape around a substantial island with a couple of
stools at the end of it. She blinked at the empty pizza boxes and beer bottles
littering the counter, then turned away with a shrug.
“This
is amazing.” She shook her head. “How much did you pay for this place? I’m
guessing five million.”
He
laughed. “Not even close.”
“How
much?”
“Not
telling you.”
She
frowned. “Why not?”
“None
of your business, li’l sis.” He leaned against the island and crossed his arms.
“Now tell me what you’re doing here.”
She
swallowed her sigh. “I’m moving to Chicago.”
He
choked. “What?”
She
lifted one shoulder. “I decided there’s not enough for me in Madison. I’m moving
here. I want to live in a big city. There are more career opportunities.”
“Did
you get fired again?”
“No!”
She frowned. “No, I did not.”
He
waited.
She
pursed her lips. “I quit.”
He
shook his head. “Why, Lovey? I thought it was a great job.”
“It
was okay.”
“Then
why did you quit?”
She
avoided his eyes and wandered back into the living room. “It wasn’t my dream
job.”
He
snorted and followed her. “Dream job?”
She
whirled around. “You have your dream job! Why shouldn’t I?”
She
knew he wouldn’t understand. Growing up, everyone had known he was going to
make it big. His hockey talent had been evident from an early age, and their
parents had dedicated their lives to helping him achieve his dreams.
Lovey,
on the other hand, hadn’t even had a dream.
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Kelly Jamieson is the author of more than thirty contemporary romance novels. She’s a married
mother of two who lives a very ordinary life outside of her imagination. She likes coffee (black), wine (mostly white), and shoes (high!). She also loves watching hockey.
mother of two who lives a very ordinary life outside of her imagination. She likes coffee (black), wine (mostly white), and shoes (high!). She also loves watching hockey.
Pre-Order OFF LIMITS (Aces #2)
Releasing Nov 17th, 2015
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