Guarding the Crease

The knight charging to her rescue is the last person in the world she wants to see. Now she owes him, and he's ready to collect.

When I spot Serena Lambert in danger, I don't think twice-I jump in to help. It's only after that I realize what I've done: I've played the knight in shining armor for the woman who probably hates my guts more than anyone else on the planet. Serena, the Blizzard's PR director and the bane of my existence, looks just as shocked as I feel. Guess she thought she was finally rid of me. But bad pennies? We always turn up.

Being an NHL goalie has its perks, and trust me, I've taken full advantage of every single one. But when I end up becoming the league's most infamous netminder, all those perks disappear, along with my spot on the roster. I want back in, and for that, I need Serena's PR magic. Sure, she's prickly as hell, but I can deal with that. She's already had to clean up my tabloid messes before. Plus, let's be honest, she's not exactly hard on the eyes.

Serena's laser-focused on her career, trying to cement her place on the team while dealing with a backstabbing coworker. Helping me is the last thing she needs, but there's something undeniable between us, something that goes beyond my usual charm. The more time I spend with her, the more I find myself wanting to dig deeper, to figure out what makes her tick.

Yeah, we're like oil and water ... and they don't mix.