He needs donuts. She needs a date. Their deal is temporary but their love might be forever…. DIEGO. As the new Scorpions alternate captain, I have one job–leading my hockey team to victory. Too bad my pregame donut ritual is disrupted and now I’m in the biggest slump of my career. It’s a problem–one only Angela, the granddaughter of the local donut queen, can fix. The curvy, inked goddess next door isn’t anything like the shy, quiet cutie I remember from high school... moreHe needs donuts. She needs a date. Their deal is temporary but their love might be forever…. DIEGO. As the new Scorpions alternate captain, I have one job–leading my hockey team to victory. Too bad my pregame donut ritual is disrupted and now I’m in the biggest slump of my career. It’s a problem–one only Angela, the granddaughter of the local donut queen, can fix. The curvy, inked goddess next door isn’t anything like the shy, quiet cutie I remember from high school. But when she needs a fill-in boyfriend, we agree to a trade: fake dates for fresh donuts. Soon my cravings curb from her sugared dough to her sweet kisses. While faking isn't my forte, making big plays is. So when I discover she doesn't plan on staying, I'll make my biggest play yet to win her heart. ANGELA. When I left Soltero Beach, I didn't think I'd return to face the rich and snobby residents who ruined my high school experience. But now I'm back in town for two reasons: to help my grandma revamp her donut shop and to attend the reunion to prove my bullies didn't break me. All I need is a date, preferably one that's everything I hadn't been — someone cool, cute, and crazy about me. That last bit might be a stretch, but when my childhood crush Diego turns out to be the pro-athlete party-hardy neighbor next door with a donut habit he can't break, I wind up in a fake relationship that quickly gives way to real feelings. Staying here was never part of the plan. .. but am I prepared to pass up the chance at true love and connection, or can I find the courage I need to face-off against my past for good? ___. Fake Dating the Defenseman Next Door is a sweet and steamy multicultural hockey romance novella featuring a superstitious cinnamon roll professional athlete who falls first for the curvy woman who'd harbored a secret schoolgirl crush on him. This two-hour instalove short story is part of the Soltero Beach Scorpions Hockey series and can be read as a standalone. It has no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed HEA, however, it does deal (lightly) with some sensitive, difficult topics. Readers are encouraged to review the included content warning to make an informed decision before continuing. less
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